Dear friends,
Personal News
In my last post I shared with you that Doreen, my wife, had suffered from a bad fall and that we were expecting an MRI appointment. On Monday 25th, following a school ministry I drove Doreen to the fracture clinic at Kettering General hospital. She had been in acute pain since the previous Friday and some medicine for pain relief had to be stopped as it was causing a complication for another health condition she has. The consultant with whom we met felt that an MRI was not necessary. He stated that x-rays showed that Doreen had suffered a number of compression or wedge fractures to vertebrae in the past and these had healed. The current fractures would take time to heal but the best they could do was to advise on pain management. He dictated a letter to our GP.
So last Monday we met with our GP who was very sympathetic (possibly because he had a bad fall recently and suffered a compression fracture!). He prescribed some pain management that is more helpful. Overall I think there is some slight improvement but we are not expecting too much this side of Christmas. Apparently Doreen has both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in her spine. For the past two weeks I have become responsible for domestic duties on top of trying to ensure that I honour my regular responsibilities as far as possible. In the last 48 hours we have moved towards sharing these but it remains a concern to try to get Doreen not to do what might prove harmful or extend her suffering. Seeing Doreen in chronic and acute pain is a new experience after 38 years of marriage. She only took paracetamol once previously!
Both of us wish to express appreciation for the many kind messages we have received.
Prison Ministry News
On Sunday 24th November I took the morning service at Gartree Prison and had an amazing time. The sense of God's presence was wonderful. I had great liberty in mininistry and there were copious expressions of appreciation.
On December 1st there was an inter-faith celebration of faith and hope mostly by music ad testimony. I heard several amazing and clear testimonies from members of the choir I help to lead. These were really powerful. Two members of the choir performed musical items on the piano. One of these composes his own music and has won prestigious awards while in prison. The choir chose to sing "In Christ alone my hope if found" and "The Holy City". You probably know that the former is a more contemporary Christian hymn. The latter is an older item based on Revelation 21. The quality of the singing of The Holy City (especially) was absolute perfection and really communicated the message. It's humbling to share in times like these with men who have been given life sentences, and to see how God is at work and to feel that perhaps I can play a small part in this.
This Sunday, 8th December we have a Christmas Carol Service led by Kettering salvation army. The choir are singing two carols, one with words partly written by me and a tune recently composed and called "Gartree". I shall also be in the prison on 24th, 30th and 31st December. The Christmas season is hard on prisoners so I value your prayers.
Yelvertoft Ministry News
Today (Saturday 7th December) we held our first "Messy" event which we called "Get Messy for Christmas". This was both a stand-alone event but also serves as a platform from which to launch a regular monthly programme in 2014. We had a team of five (two doing this kind of thing for the first time), 18 children and two mums. It has proved a hit. Many mums picking up children joined with the two that stayed and helped in expressing appreciation and promising support for future events. I am so thankful to God as I have been praying that we could get a children and family ministry established from the church.
Sundays and Thursday Bible Discussion (to which folk from the local Parish Church also attend) have continued to be blessed. There is a spirit of love and generosity in the church which makes me rejoice. The recipe books which resulted from the recent Pudding Festival are expected any day and are being sold to raise more money for the local Air Ambulance Service. We may be a small village church but what a privilege to have people with a heart to serve others in Jesus' name!
Mission for Christ/Action for Christ
My domestic situation has meant that there has been no further progress in preparing the Mission for Christ 2011 and 2012 annual reports and accounts. Working on historic matters when the trustee who was running the charity failed to provide documentation for massive expenses is a real challenge. Please pray that this will be completed before the year end and that the new trustees for Mission for Christ can be appointed and the charity put under Action for Christ for the continuance of its ministry. My fellow trustees and I hope to send out a Christmas letter to MfC prayer partners but we only have a historic list to work with and have lost contact with many good friends.
Rural Mission Solutions/Sunrise Ministries
Sadly, I have not been able to pick up on the research work over recent weeks. I mentioned ion the last post that the Charity Commission were pressing me to complete the MfC reports and accounts. This has then been followed by Doreen's accident. I find this delay very frustrating. I am doing my best to keep up to date with administration and bookings.
It was good to hold a local rural mission support meeting for church leaders in south Leicestershire, north Northamptonshire and Rutland this week. Our thanks are due to Torch Trust for the Blind that provided the venue.
Other matters for prayer
I would like to repeat the request for prayers for Heather who used to be employed by Action for Christ. AfC can can only engage her services on an ad hoc basis and she really needs employment. She was recently interviewed for a job that would be very suitable. Heather is a faithful servant. Please pray that the Lord will direct her into employment.
John, one of our trustees and who has worked for Churches Together in England is now redundant and is praying that the Lord will open up new ministry for him. John has MS and in the summer underwent surgery for bowel cancer. Travel is now very difficult for him. John is a good friend and a faithful minister.
At the General Synod of the Church of England a resolution was passed calling the Church to prioritise intentional evangelism. I am seeking, through my role in the Rural Evangelism Network to ensure that rural evangelism is a key part of these exciting developments. Please pray for these discussions.
In the last two weeks two major Christian denominations have indicated that financial constraints have limited their commitment to rural evangelism. With something like ten million people living in our villages and scattered communities this sounds bad. If it were a city of ten million I cannot imagine they would withdraw from serving it. Adding to my disquiet is the news that one Anglican diocese is making some key mission staff redundant and closing down two key departments. One of those suffering through this decision is a good friend and colleague but it would be inappropriate to mention his name or the diocese here.
Closing Thoughts
I am grateful for the warm words of encouragement I have received regarding some of the topics I have written about in these postings. This time I thought I would keep it simple. So all I want to add is to ask how you are going to follow in the steps of the Bethlehem shepherds and spread the good news of God's gift for our salvation?
Sunday 8th - 10.45am Yelvertoft. 3.15pm Gartree Prison
Monday 9th - 1.00pm Lubenham School
Tuesday 10th - 11.00 Yelvertoft School Assembly Planning Meeting. 1.30 Gartree Prison
Sunday 15th - Yelvertoft.
Thank you for your prayers and the encouragement of letters and emails. Please keep in touch.
Barry
Personal News
In my last post I shared with you that Doreen, my wife, had suffered from a bad fall and that we were expecting an MRI appointment. On Monday 25th, following a school ministry I drove Doreen to the fracture clinic at Kettering General hospital. She had been in acute pain since the previous Friday and some medicine for pain relief had to be stopped as it was causing a complication for another health condition she has. The consultant with whom we met felt that an MRI was not necessary. He stated that x-rays showed that Doreen had suffered a number of compression or wedge fractures to vertebrae in the past and these had healed. The current fractures would take time to heal but the best they could do was to advise on pain management. He dictated a letter to our GP.
So last Monday we met with our GP who was very sympathetic (possibly because he had a bad fall recently and suffered a compression fracture!). He prescribed some pain management that is more helpful. Overall I think there is some slight improvement but we are not expecting too much this side of Christmas. Apparently Doreen has both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in her spine. For the past two weeks I have become responsible for domestic duties on top of trying to ensure that I honour my regular responsibilities as far as possible. In the last 48 hours we have moved towards sharing these but it remains a concern to try to get Doreen not to do what might prove harmful or extend her suffering. Seeing Doreen in chronic and acute pain is a new experience after 38 years of marriage. She only took paracetamol once previously!
Both of us wish to express appreciation for the many kind messages we have received.
Prison Ministry News
On Sunday 24th November I took the morning service at Gartree Prison and had an amazing time. The sense of God's presence was wonderful. I had great liberty in mininistry and there were copious expressions of appreciation.
On December 1st there was an inter-faith celebration of faith and hope mostly by music ad testimony. I heard several amazing and clear testimonies from members of the choir I help to lead. These were really powerful. Two members of the choir performed musical items on the piano. One of these composes his own music and has won prestigious awards while in prison. The choir chose to sing "In Christ alone my hope if found" and "The Holy City". You probably know that the former is a more contemporary Christian hymn. The latter is an older item based on Revelation 21. The quality of the singing of The Holy City (especially) was absolute perfection and really communicated the message. It's humbling to share in times like these with men who have been given life sentences, and to see how God is at work and to feel that perhaps I can play a small part in this.
This Sunday, 8th December we have a Christmas Carol Service led by Kettering salvation army. The choir are singing two carols, one with words partly written by me and a tune recently composed and called "Gartree". I shall also be in the prison on 24th, 30th and 31st December. The Christmas season is hard on prisoners so I value your prayers.
Yelvertoft Ministry News
Today (Saturday 7th December) we held our first "Messy" event which we called "Get Messy for Christmas". This was both a stand-alone event but also serves as a platform from which to launch a regular monthly programme in 2014. We had a team of five (two doing this kind of thing for the first time), 18 children and two mums. It has proved a hit. Many mums picking up children joined with the two that stayed and helped in expressing appreciation and promising support for future events. I am so thankful to God as I have been praying that we could get a children and family ministry established from the church.
Sundays and Thursday Bible Discussion (to which folk from the local Parish Church also attend) have continued to be blessed. There is a spirit of love and generosity in the church which makes me rejoice. The recipe books which resulted from the recent Pudding Festival are expected any day and are being sold to raise more money for the local Air Ambulance Service. We may be a small village church but what a privilege to have people with a heart to serve others in Jesus' name!
Mission for Christ/Action for Christ
My domestic situation has meant that there has been no further progress in preparing the Mission for Christ 2011 and 2012 annual reports and accounts. Working on historic matters when the trustee who was running the charity failed to provide documentation for massive expenses is a real challenge. Please pray that this will be completed before the year end and that the new trustees for Mission for Christ can be appointed and the charity put under Action for Christ for the continuance of its ministry. My fellow trustees and I hope to send out a Christmas letter to MfC prayer partners but we only have a historic list to work with and have lost contact with many good friends.
Rural Mission Solutions/Sunrise Ministries
Sadly, I have not been able to pick up on the research work over recent weeks. I mentioned ion the last post that the Charity Commission were pressing me to complete the MfC reports and accounts. This has then been followed by Doreen's accident. I find this delay very frustrating. I am doing my best to keep up to date with administration and bookings.
It was good to hold a local rural mission support meeting for church leaders in south Leicestershire, north Northamptonshire and Rutland this week. Our thanks are due to Torch Trust for the Blind that provided the venue.
Other matters for prayer
I would like to repeat the request for prayers for Heather who used to be employed by Action for Christ. AfC can can only engage her services on an ad hoc basis and she really needs employment. She was recently interviewed for a job that would be very suitable. Heather is a faithful servant. Please pray that the Lord will direct her into employment.
John, one of our trustees and who has worked for Churches Together in England is now redundant and is praying that the Lord will open up new ministry for him. John has MS and in the summer underwent surgery for bowel cancer. Travel is now very difficult for him. John is a good friend and a faithful minister.
At the General Synod of the Church of England a resolution was passed calling the Church to prioritise intentional evangelism. I am seeking, through my role in the Rural Evangelism Network to ensure that rural evangelism is a key part of these exciting developments. Please pray for these discussions.
In the last two weeks two major Christian denominations have indicated that financial constraints have limited their commitment to rural evangelism. With something like ten million people living in our villages and scattered communities this sounds bad. If it were a city of ten million I cannot imagine they would withdraw from serving it. Adding to my disquiet is the news that one Anglican diocese is making some key mission staff redundant and closing down two key departments. One of those suffering through this decision is a good friend and colleague but it would be inappropriate to mention his name or the diocese here.
Closing Thoughts
I am grateful for the warm words of encouragement I have received regarding some of the topics I have written about in these postings. This time I thought I would keep it simple. So all I want to add is to ask how you are going to follow in the steps of the Bethlehem shepherds and spread the good news of God's gift for our salvation?
Sunday 8th - 10.45am Yelvertoft. 3.15pm Gartree Prison
Monday 9th - 1.00pm Lubenham School
Tuesday 10th - 11.00 Yelvertoft School Assembly Planning Meeting. 1.30 Gartree Prison
Sunday 15th - Yelvertoft.
Thank you for your prayers and the encouragement of letters and emails. Please keep in touch.
Barry
No comments:
Post a Comment