In light of the escalating conflict in Gaza over the last 24 hours, the Methodist Church is calling for international pressure on both Israel and Hamas to bring an end to the violence.
Steve Hucklesby, Public Issues Policy Advisor, said; "The devastating death toll resulting from Israeli air strikes has shocked many. Rather than improving security, this action by Israel could compound conflict in the region. It is also likely to make it more difficult to bring regional powers together in a search for solutions. Both Hamas and Israel must respond to the UN Security Council call for an immediate end to all military operations.
"We call on the EU, United States and the UN to bring increased pressure on Israel and on Hamas to refrain from violence. At this time of year when the focus of Christians around the world is on the Holy Land we pray for courageous leadership in the cause of peace.
“Before the recent outbreaks of violence, Gaza was already suffering a dire humanitarian situation has not been helped by Israel’s blockade and restrictions on relief supplies. Now food, fuel and medical supplies are needed urgently.”
Source: Methodist News Service 28/12/2008
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Christmas Message from the Methodist President
In his Christmas Message, the Revd Stephen Poxon, President of the Methodist Conference, calls for Christmas to be a time of hospitality towards strangers. Stephen highlights the work of local churches amongst asylum seekers and refugees and asks us to consider how welcome we make others feel.
Stephen says; ‘This must be at the heart of who we are as church communities. We must become people who continually offer that hospitable space, within ourselves as well as our buildings, for God’s love and grace that others may come among us and encounter Immanuel.’
The full text follows:
A night of hospitality
Christmas is the season of parties, family meals and special occasions with friends but it can be exhausting if you are the host all the time. As we listen to the Christmas story once again this year we hear that it was a night of hospitality – but who is the host?
The supernumeraries and their spouses and widows of the North Lancashire District are invited for a Christmas lunch each year. They are so grateful and often say things like ‘ it’s so good of you to host us’ but in honesty all we do is provide the space, the food and drink and then it just happens! That may be how the innkeeper rationalised offering the stable area with a manger to the holy family. As the host we’ll never know if it was out of warm generosity or just a business transaction that resulted in them being pushed out of the way.
In Britain 100,000’s of people come among us year by year from around the world. Many are migrant workers from eastern Europe, bringing their culture, faith and skills whilst others are people fleeing from persecution, war, seeking a better life for their children as asylum seekers and refugees. Time and again we hear that people want to come among us because of our hospitality; of our tolerance; our openness. How welcome do we make others feel?
Many churches are doing remarkable work among asylum seekers and refugees, with the homeless and others who feel on the edge of society. Yet there can often be a fear within us about those who are different and perhaps we might be tempted to want to push them out of the way, into the stable. As we see the landscape of our communities changing with the rich variety of people from across the world we must continue to discover ways to embrace and make everyone welcome, for each is a child of God, created in his own image. For when we meet any one we are meeting the Christ.
There was another hospitality that holy night. In a young frightened girl there is the hospitality of Mary whose willingness to receive the gift of God brings to birth the salvation of the world. We cannot begin to understand the fear, the shame, the bewilderment tinged with anticipation and even hope. Yet out of her ‘yes’ God became human and lived among us in Jesus…….and since then there have been countless people who have said ‘yes’ to God…to welcome Christ into their lives…so he may find a resting place, a birthing place to continue God’s living presence within the world.
This must be at the heart of who we are as church communities. We must become people who continually offer that hospitable space, within ourselves as well as our buildings, for God’s love and grace that others may come among us and encounter Immanuel. We need to welcome all but especially discover ways to welcome the young, many who like Mary are frightened and trying to make sense out of what is happening to them and the world they inhabit.
Yet there is a further host on that holy night. Here is God hosting his own party, the birth of His son, His own coming among us. God, Immanuel, becoming human and living among us in Jesus.
In some of the carol services this year we will find everyone singing the soprano line with no descant and little harmony. We live in a world where there is little harmony with people at war, where people in Britain struggle with the beginnings of recession, where in the wider world there is an increasing poverty gap, people suffering from cholera, AIDS, hunger and countless injustices. As we hear again the song of the angels we catch a glimpse of creation in harmony with the Creator…as a child is born….God come among us.
God the eternal host is giving us a glimpse of eternity, of His Kingdom, where all are one and at peace and in harmony seen in the poverty of shepherds and the riches of magi; in the powerlessness of the secular authority of Herod and in the glory of the vulnerability of the weak and frightened. And in this moment, this holy, eternal moment we hear the eternal host welcome us….
‘To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.’
The message will also be available online as an audio file. Visit http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.webradio.
Stephen says; ‘This must be at the heart of who we are as church communities. We must become people who continually offer that hospitable space, within ourselves as well as our buildings, for God’s love and grace that others may come among us and encounter Immanuel.’
The full text follows:
A night of hospitality
Christmas is the season of parties, family meals and special occasions with friends but it can be exhausting if you are the host all the time. As we listen to the Christmas story once again this year we hear that it was a night of hospitality – but who is the host?
The supernumeraries and their spouses and widows of the North Lancashire District are invited for a Christmas lunch each year. They are so grateful and often say things like ‘ it’s so good of you to host us’ but in honesty all we do is provide the space, the food and drink and then it just happens! That may be how the innkeeper rationalised offering the stable area with a manger to the holy family. As the host we’ll never know if it was out of warm generosity or just a business transaction that resulted in them being pushed out of the way.
In Britain 100,000’s of people come among us year by year from around the world. Many are migrant workers from eastern Europe, bringing their culture, faith and skills whilst others are people fleeing from persecution, war, seeking a better life for their children as asylum seekers and refugees. Time and again we hear that people want to come among us because of our hospitality; of our tolerance; our openness. How welcome do we make others feel?
Many churches are doing remarkable work among asylum seekers and refugees, with the homeless and others who feel on the edge of society. Yet there can often be a fear within us about those who are different and perhaps we might be tempted to want to push them out of the way, into the stable. As we see the landscape of our communities changing with the rich variety of people from across the world we must continue to discover ways to embrace and make everyone welcome, for each is a child of God, created in his own image. For when we meet any one we are meeting the Christ.
There was another hospitality that holy night. In a young frightened girl there is the hospitality of Mary whose willingness to receive the gift of God brings to birth the salvation of the world. We cannot begin to understand the fear, the shame, the bewilderment tinged with anticipation and even hope. Yet out of her ‘yes’ God became human and lived among us in Jesus…….and since then there have been countless people who have said ‘yes’ to God…to welcome Christ into their lives…so he may find a resting place, a birthing place to continue God’s living presence within the world.
This must be at the heart of who we are as church communities. We must become people who continually offer that hospitable space, within ourselves as well as our buildings, for God’s love and grace that others may come among us and encounter Immanuel. We need to welcome all but especially discover ways to welcome the young, many who like Mary are frightened and trying to make sense out of what is happening to them and the world they inhabit.
Yet there is a further host on that holy night. Here is God hosting his own party, the birth of His son, His own coming among us. God, Immanuel, becoming human and living among us in Jesus.
In some of the carol services this year we will find everyone singing the soprano line with no descant and little harmony. We live in a world where there is little harmony with people at war, where people in Britain struggle with the beginnings of recession, where in the wider world there is an increasing poverty gap, people suffering from cholera, AIDS, hunger and countless injustices. As we hear again the song of the angels we catch a glimpse of creation in harmony with the Creator…as a child is born….God come among us.
God the eternal host is giving us a glimpse of eternity, of His Kingdom, where all are one and at peace and in harmony seen in the poverty of shepherds and the riches of magi; in the powerlessness of the secular authority of Herod and in the glory of the vulnerability of the weak and frightened. And in this moment, this holy, eternal moment we hear the eternal host welcome us….
‘To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.’
The message will also be available online as an audio file. Visit http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.webradio.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Christmas Greetings
As I am about to go away for Christmas, I want to take the opportunity to send my Christmas letter to my many blogging friends who will not have had it by post. God has been good to me this year and I hope that 2009 will be an equally good adventure with Him, both for me and for you.
"Christmas greetings from Caversham. I hope that you and your family are well and looking forward to Christmas and the New Year 2009. I think you’ll agree that 2008 has been a very mixed year, both with the weather and the economy, but I hope that overall it has been a good year for you and that you will manage to escape the worst terrors of the credit crunch in 2009. It looks like being a difficult year ahead for most people but there are many more across the world whose situation is far worse than ours and we remember them as we approach Christmas once more.
I expect to be celebrating Christmas with Tony and Caroline and their family in
Derbyshire. I have enjoyed really good health this year as a result of being asked to take part in a research project to see if taking penicillin VK tablets twice a day for a year would prevent the recurrence of cellulitis. It looks as though I was taking these (and not the placebo) because I’m thankful to have had a whole year free of cellulitis.
I began the year by attending the first ever Methodist Bloggers’ Meeting on 4th and
5th January at the Community for Reconciliation Centre, Barnes Close, near Birmingham,where a small group of us discussed good blogging practice and ways to improve this method of communication. Since I was in that part of the country, I went on to Widnes to spend a couple of days with the widow of one of our former Ministers and we really enjoyed catching up on all our news.
After our annual ecumenical Good Friday March of Witness here, I went north again,
this time to steward for a new venture called the ECG Event (‘A Heart for the Nations’) which was held at Easter (25th-30th March) in Llandudno. This took the place of the former Easter People and, although run by different people – ‘NXT Ministries’, Hope ’08, ‘Youth for Christ’, and ECG – was very similar, especially in regard to the in-depth Bible Studies so popular at ‘Easter People’. A main emphasis at ECG is in catering for the 20s and 30s age group and the provision of events and activities specially geared to their needs and aspirations. For me, ECG was one of the highlights of 2008 and I am eagerly looking forward to the 2009 ECG Event which will also be in Llandudno, on 14th to 19th April 2009 – see www.ecgevent.org.uk.
Another highlight this year was a family gathering at Bethany School in Kent for my great granddaughter Louisa’s first birthday on 10th May, which was much enjoyed by all of us.
Then I went to High Wycombe for the annual Wycliffe Associates Conference on 16th to
18th May where, as always, I was amazed at the amount of work that has been, and
continues to be, undertaken in support of missionaries working overseas. Of the speakers at the Conference, I was most impressed by Heather Patrick who has been doing translation work for Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea.
I went to the Methodist Conference in Scarborough in July where I was glad to be able
to step in to run the MET (Methodist Evangelicals Together) stand in the Exhibition,
which gave me a unique opportunity to meet old friends from far and wide as well as
listening in to the debates when not busy. As well as finding people I knew who were
manning other stands, I found myself opposite a stand run by two people who had been
teachers in the school across the road from me some years ago! It’s a small world!
I spent a week with Tony and family in Derbyshire, when we visited National Trust
Houses and then early September found me travelling north again – this time to Newcastle for the wedding of my great-niece, Nicola, to Neal, a direct descendant of John Wesley! I was met at the station by my nephew, Michael, who also lives in Newcastle, and I was delighted that he first took me along the waterfront to show me the bridges and the buildings on the Gateshead side of the Tyne in which he had been involved in the planning, before he took me home for a meal.
Despite the rain, the wedding was a very exciting occasion – both the ceremony in their local church and the reception in the magnificent Longhurst Hall in Morpeth,
Northumberland. Nicola and Neal are a lovely couple and I found myself thoroughly
enjoying the company of their many friends, who were all calling me ‘Auntie Olive!’
After staying the night at the Hall, we returned to Newcastle for an ‘Open house’ at the bride and groom’s very interesting house, which has only one room on each floor!. My only regret was that I was not able to see more of Nicola’s parents, who were kept busy seeing to the rest of their guests.
From there, my nephew Michael and I did something we have been talking about for ages
and we headed out towards Stanhope and the North Pennines’ National Park, despite the
rain that was so heavy that we were obliged to travel very slowly along the flooded
roads. Then we spent three wonderful days in Upper Teesdale, visiting familiar places from our youth, exploring places we’d only heard of previously and researching our family history. We made two visits each to the two Methodist Chapels that I remembered with such affection from the days of my youth when we had a family concert party and gave concerts there. The former Bowlees Primitive Methodist Chapel is now the Bowlees Tourist Centre, popular because of its proximity to the High Force waterfall and Gibson’s Cave, and the Newbiggin-in-Teesdale Methodist Chapel is very proud to be the oldest Methodist Chapel still in regular use in the world and jealously guards the pulpit from which John Wesley preached. Seeing a sign to Ettersgill, we followed the sign to see where my school friend, Lilian, had hailed from, but no-one remembered her – not surprising since she must have left the area in the early 1940s and then spent many years in Ghana. We visited the site of the Lady Rake Lead Mine where my father had driven an ancient vehicle in his youth – there is a photograph of him in the Beamish Museum – and,
when we went to the farmhouse where my grandfather had farmed, the current farmers
there came out to talk to us about the difficulties of farming today. A memorable trip!
I had two day trips to London (at the end of September and in early October) for a
Christian Bloggers’ Day and for the launch of the 2009 Pentecost Festival.
In September we began the 34-week Disciple 4 course, with participants from 3 Circuits. We are working hard, with quite a lot of homework, but there is such a lot of laughter in the group. The course is called ‘Under the Tree of Life’ and includes the study of the Writings, John and Revelation. I believe we are the only group in the country who have progressed through the other Disciple courses to the Disciple 4 course.
I am a representative on the Churches Together project to carry out Street Evangelism in Caversham, with a Welcome Café in the New Testament Church of God opposite the shopping precinct, but it is proving hard to recruit volunteers at present.
I have continued to proofread translations of Scripture in strange languages for Wycliffe Associates and now I have 1 John and Jude in Achi de Cubulco (a Guatemalan Language) awaiting me when I have finished writing this. I am still a representative to the Circuit Meeting, I prepare Prayer Guidelines each month and I am Media Publicity Director with a lot of work awaiting me in 2009 because of the very full programme of preachers and events arranged for our Centenary Year – see http://cavhmc.org.uk .
I continue to blog on www.octomusings.blogspot.com and I was recently interviewed by
email for an article on ‘post retirement use of the Internet’, which appeared on the front page of the US Methodist Reporter – more because of my age than its content, I guess!
Wishing you a Happy Christmas and every blessing in the New Year."
P.S. Have you read my post entitled 'Letter to a Friend'? Please don't miss it!
.
"Christmas greetings from Caversham. I hope that you and your family are well and looking forward to Christmas and the New Year 2009. I think you’ll agree that 2008 has been a very mixed year, both with the weather and the economy, but I hope that overall it has been a good year for you and that you will manage to escape the worst terrors of the credit crunch in 2009. It looks like being a difficult year ahead for most people but there are many more across the world whose situation is far worse than ours and we remember them as we approach Christmas once more.
I expect to be celebrating Christmas with Tony and Caroline and their family in
Derbyshire. I have enjoyed really good health this year as a result of being asked to take part in a research project to see if taking penicillin VK tablets twice a day for a year would prevent the recurrence of cellulitis. It looks as though I was taking these (and not the placebo) because I’m thankful to have had a whole year free of cellulitis.
I began the year by attending the first ever Methodist Bloggers’ Meeting on 4th and
5th January at the Community for Reconciliation Centre, Barnes Close, near Birmingham,where a small group of us discussed good blogging practice and ways to improve this method of communication. Since I was in that part of the country, I went on to Widnes to spend a couple of days with the widow of one of our former Ministers and we really enjoyed catching up on all our news.
After our annual ecumenical Good Friday March of Witness here, I went north again,
this time to steward for a new venture called the ECG Event (‘A Heart for the Nations’) which was held at Easter (25th-30th March) in Llandudno. This took the place of the former Easter People and, although run by different people – ‘NXT Ministries’, Hope ’08, ‘Youth for Christ’, and ECG – was very similar, especially in regard to the in-depth Bible Studies so popular at ‘Easter People’. A main emphasis at ECG is in catering for the 20s and 30s age group and the provision of events and activities specially geared to their needs and aspirations. For me, ECG was one of the highlights of 2008 and I am eagerly looking forward to the 2009 ECG Event which will also be in Llandudno, on 14th to 19th April 2009 – see www.ecgevent.org.uk.
Another highlight this year was a family gathering at Bethany School in Kent for my great granddaughter Louisa’s first birthday on 10th May, which was much enjoyed by all of us.
Then I went to High Wycombe for the annual Wycliffe Associates Conference on 16th to
18th May where, as always, I was amazed at the amount of work that has been, and
continues to be, undertaken in support of missionaries working overseas. Of the speakers at the Conference, I was most impressed by Heather Patrick who has been doing translation work for Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea.
I went to the Methodist Conference in Scarborough in July where I was glad to be able
to step in to run the MET (Methodist Evangelicals Together) stand in the Exhibition,
which gave me a unique opportunity to meet old friends from far and wide as well as
listening in to the debates when not busy. As well as finding people I knew who were
manning other stands, I found myself opposite a stand run by two people who had been
teachers in the school across the road from me some years ago! It’s a small world!
I spent a week with Tony and family in Derbyshire, when we visited National Trust
Houses and then early September found me travelling north again – this time to Newcastle for the wedding of my great-niece, Nicola, to Neal, a direct descendant of John Wesley! I was met at the station by my nephew, Michael, who also lives in Newcastle, and I was delighted that he first took me along the waterfront to show me the bridges and the buildings on the Gateshead side of the Tyne in which he had been involved in the planning, before he took me home for a meal.
Despite the rain, the wedding was a very exciting occasion – both the ceremony in their local church and the reception in the magnificent Longhurst Hall in Morpeth,
Northumberland. Nicola and Neal are a lovely couple and I found myself thoroughly
enjoying the company of their many friends, who were all calling me ‘Auntie Olive!’
After staying the night at the Hall, we returned to Newcastle for an ‘Open house’ at the bride and groom’s very interesting house, which has only one room on each floor!. My only regret was that I was not able to see more of Nicola’s parents, who were kept busy seeing to the rest of their guests.
From there, my nephew Michael and I did something we have been talking about for ages
and we headed out towards Stanhope and the North Pennines’ National Park, despite the
rain that was so heavy that we were obliged to travel very slowly along the flooded
roads. Then we spent three wonderful days in Upper Teesdale, visiting familiar places from our youth, exploring places we’d only heard of previously and researching our family history. We made two visits each to the two Methodist Chapels that I remembered with such affection from the days of my youth when we had a family concert party and gave concerts there. The former Bowlees Primitive Methodist Chapel is now the Bowlees Tourist Centre, popular because of its proximity to the High Force waterfall and Gibson’s Cave, and the Newbiggin-in-Teesdale Methodist Chapel is very proud to be the oldest Methodist Chapel still in regular use in the world and jealously guards the pulpit from which John Wesley preached. Seeing a sign to Ettersgill, we followed the sign to see where my school friend, Lilian, had hailed from, but no-one remembered her – not surprising since she must have left the area in the early 1940s and then spent many years in Ghana. We visited the site of the Lady Rake Lead Mine where my father had driven an ancient vehicle in his youth – there is a photograph of him in the Beamish Museum – and,
when we went to the farmhouse where my grandfather had farmed, the current farmers
there came out to talk to us about the difficulties of farming today. A memorable trip!
I had two day trips to London (at the end of September and in early October) for a
Christian Bloggers’ Day and for the launch of the 2009 Pentecost Festival.
In September we began the 34-week Disciple 4 course, with participants from 3 Circuits. We are working hard, with quite a lot of homework, but there is such a lot of laughter in the group. The course is called ‘Under the Tree of Life’ and includes the study of the Writings, John and Revelation. I believe we are the only group in the country who have progressed through the other Disciple courses to the Disciple 4 course.
I am a representative on the Churches Together project to carry out Street Evangelism in Caversham, with a Welcome Café in the New Testament Church of God opposite the shopping precinct, but it is proving hard to recruit volunteers at present.
I have continued to proofread translations of Scripture in strange languages for Wycliffe Associates and now I have 1 John and Jude in Achi de Cubulco (a Guatemalan Language) awaiting me when I have finished writing this. I am still a representative to the Circuit Meeting, I prepare Prayer Guidelines each month and I am Media Publicity Director with a lot of work awaiting me in 2009 because of the very full programme of preachers and events arranged for our Centenary Year – see http://cavhmc.org.uk .
I continue to blog on www.octomusings.blogspot.com and I was recently interviewed by
email for an article on ‘post retirement use of the Internet’, which appeared on the front page of the US Methodist Reporter – more because of my age than its content, I guess!
Wishing you a Happy Christmas and every blessing in the New Year."
P.S. Have you read my post entitled 'Letter to a Friend'? Please don't miss it!
.
Friday, 19 December 2008
MRDF appeals for support for crisis-hit countries
This Christmas, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) is calling on people to remember those affected by humanitarian crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zimbabwe. MRDF is supporting appeals through ACT (Action by Churches Together) International that will provide emergency supplies to some of the thousands of people who have been affected.
In the DRC, an estimated 250,000 people fled their homes when fighting broke out between Government forces and rebel fighters in October. At the time, reports from the country included stories of killing, rape, looting and children being forced to fight – UNICEF calls eastern Congo ‘the worst place in the world to be a child’.
ACT staff were able to deliver some initial assistance to crisis-hit areas. They are now assessing the current needs and are planning to provide food to severely malnourished children, safe water and psycho-social support to people affected by the conflict. Many families had to leave their land before their crops were harvested. Under these proposals, displaced families would also be given tools and seeds to ensure that there is food in their communities next year.
In Zimbabwe, a cholera epidemic has worsened the crisis in a country already suffering from desperate food shortages, a growing HIV/AIDS problem and economic instability. MRDF would like to thank everyone who has donated so far to the appeal launched in April. Over £30,000 has been raised and has been used to provide food supplies, supplementary vitamins for those living with HIV/AIDS, counselling for AIDS orphans and small livestock for food and breeding. However, the needs are huge, and growing. Further donations to this appeal will continue to provide this vital support to some of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable households.
MRDF Director Kirsty Smith said: ‘For most of us in the UK, Christmas will be a time of sharing with friends and family. But many people living in Zimbabwe and the DRC face an uncertain future of insecurity, chronic hunger and sickness. These appeals give us the opportunity to assist thousands of people living in desperate and unstable situations.’
Donations for Zimbabwe and the DRC can be made by debit or credit card on 020 7224 4814, or by cheque, payable to “MRDF (Zimbabwe emergency)” or “MRDF (DRC emergency)”, posted to MRDF, Methodist Church House,
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR.
Taxpayers are encouraged to gift-aid their donations where possible, adding a value of 28p to every pound they give, at no extra personal cost.
Source: Methodist News Service 19 February 2008
In the DRC, an estimated 250,000 people fled their homes when fighting broke out between Government forces and rebel fighters in October. At the time, reports from the country included stories of killing, rape, looting and children being forced to fight – UNICEF calls eastern Congo ‘the worst place in the world to be a child’.
ACT staff were able to deliver some initial assistance to crisis-hit areas. They are now assessing the current needs and are planning to provide food to severely malnourished children, safe water and psycho-social support to people affected by the conflict. Many families had to leave their land before their crops were harvested. Under these proposals, displaced families would also be given tools and seeds to ensure that there is food in their communities next year.
In Zimbabwe, a cholera epidemic has worsened the crisis in a country already suffering from desperate food shortages, a growing HIV/AIDS problem and economic instability. MRDF would like to thank everyone who has donated so far to the appeal launched in April. Over £30,000 has been raised and has been used to provide food supplies, supplementary vitamins for those living with HIV/AIDS, counselling for AIDS orphans and small livestock for food and breeding. However, the needs are huge, and growing. Further donations to this appeal will continue to provide this vital support to some of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable households.
MRDF Director Kirsty Smith said: ‘For most of us in the UK, Christmas will be a time of sharing with friends and family. But many people living in Zimbabwe and the DRC face an uncertain future of insecurity, chronic hunger and sickness. These appeals give us the opportunity to assist thousands of people living in desperate and unstable situations.’
Donations for Zimbabwe and the DRC can be made by debit or credit card on 020 7224 4814, or by cheque, payable to “MRDF (Zimbabwe emergency)” or “MRDF (DRC emergency)”, posted to MRDF, Methodist Church House,
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR.
Taxpayers are encouraged to gift-aid their donations where possible, adding a value of 28p to every pound they give, at no extra personal cost.
Source: Methodist News Service 19 February 2008
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Letter to a Friend
In recent weeks in our house group we have made a change from our usual Bible study sessions and we have been following the Essence course, which uses non-verbal ways of exploring spirituality. Last night we were looking at our individual relationship with God and sharing our spiritual experiences.
In the course of the evening, we were each given a copy of 'A Letter to a Friend' and asked to write a reply to it. It made a deep impression on each and every one of us.
Letter to a Friend
Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you would want Me to walk along with you too.
So I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you. I waited - you never called - I just kept on loving you.
As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you,
I spilled moonlight onto your face - trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn't even think of Me;
I wanted so much to comfort you.
The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into glorious morning for you.
But you woke up late and rushed off to work - you didn't even notice.
My sky became cloudy and My tears were in the rain. I love you.
Oh, if only you would listen. I really love you.
I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky.
The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colours of all the flowers.
I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing to you.
I warm you with the clothing of My warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature's sweet scent.
My love for you is deeper than any ocean and greater than any need in your heart. If only you'd realise how I care.
My Dad sends His love. I want you to meet Him - He cares, too.
Fathers are just that way. So, please call Me soon.
No matter how long it takes. I'll wait - because I love you.
Your friend, Jesus.
If you are looking for a new course - a fresh expression, perhaps - I can heartily recommend the Essence course, which can be adapted for any age group. I need to warn you, though, that the leader will need to spend quite some time in preparation each week! It is certainly proving to be a very spiritual course for us.
In the course of the evening, we were each given a copy of 'A Letter to a Friend' and asked to write a reply to it. It made a deep impression on each and every one of us.
Letter to a Friend
Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you would want Me to walk along with you too.
So I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you. I waited - you never called - I just kept on loving you.
As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you,
I spilled moonlight onto your face - trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn't even think of Me;
I wanted so much to comfort you.
The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into glorious morning for you.
But you woke up late and rushed off to work - you didn't even notice.
My sky became cloudy and My tears were in the rain. I love you.
Oh, if only you would listen. I really love you.
I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky.
The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colours of all the flowers.
I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing to you.
I warm you with the clothing of My warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature's sweet scent.
My love for you is deeper than any ocean and greater than any need in your heart. If only you'd realise how I care.
My Dad sends His love. I want you to meet Him - He cares, too.
Fathers are just that way. So, please call Me soon.
No matter how long it takes. I'll wait - because I love you.
Your friend, Jesus.
If you are looking for a new course - a fresh expression, perhaps - I can heartily recommend the Essence course, which can be adapted for any age group. I need to warn you, though, that the leader will need to spend quite some time in preparation each week! It is certainly proving to be a very spiritual course for us.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
What is the Church's response to the economic crisis?
The Methodist Church hosts a one day conference – The Economic Climate: Towards sustainable economies and livelihoods – on Tuesday 20 January at Methodist Church House in London.
Ann Pettifor (economist, executive director of Advocacy International and former head of Jubilee 2000) and Bob Goudzwaard (Professor emeritus at the Free University in Amsterdam, former member of the Dutch Parliament), will lead debate on the Church’s response to the current Economic Crisis.
The day will consider the root causes of the current economic crisis and the response of the Churches in terms of their prophetic, pastoral and partnership roles and responsibilities.
For further information or to ask about attending, go to
www.methodistchurch.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content8cmd=2503 .
Source: Methodist Enews December 2008
Ann Pettifor (economist, executive director of Advocacy International and former head of Jubilee 2000) and Bob Goudzwaard (Professor emeritus at the Free University in Amsterdam, former member of the Dutch Parliament), will lead debate on the Church’s response to the current Economic Crisis.
The day will consider the root causes of the current economic crisis and the response of the Churches in terms of their prophetic, pastoral and partnership roles and responsibilities.
For further information or to ask about attending, go to
www.methodistchurch.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content8cmd=2503 .
Source: Methodist Enews December 2008
What should the President and Vice-President do?
A working party is examining and reporting to Methodist Conference on all aspects of the roles of President and Vice-President and how they work together and relate to the senior leadership of the Church.
People are invited to make their comments and submissions. These include:
how the roles of President and Vice-President might be developed;
how they might work more closely with the General Secretary of the Church/Secretary of the Conference to present a shared vision and to energise the Church;
the length of office of each;
the title of Vice-President.
You can also use the opportunity to respond to the idea of a small connexional leadership group which accounts to and serves the Methodist Council and Conference.
5 January 2009 is the deadline for your comments.
For more information go to
www.methodist.org.uk/downloads/conf07_20_SeniorLeadershipintheMethodistchurch
Source: Methodise Enews December 2008
People are invited to make their comments and submissions. These include:
how the roles of President and Vice-President might be developed;
how they might work more closely with the General Secretary of the Church/Secretary of the Conference to present a shared vision and to energise the Church;
the length of office of each;
the title of Vice-President.
You can also use the opportunity to respond to the idea of a small connexional leadership group which accounts to and serves the Methodist Council and Conference.
5 January 2009 is the deadline for your comments.
For more information go to
www.methodist.org.uk/downloads/conf07_20_SeniorLeadershipintheMethodistchurch
Source: Methodise Enews December 2008
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