Within this next week we will mark the beginning of a New Methodist Year. The date when ministers who have moved start new ministries, the date when we ourselves will mark changes within our circuit staff and churches. So a happy New Year.

These last few months I have been involved in conversations with a number of churches about the future. To close, to join with others and forming a new church, to start a new project. I recognise how difficult it has been for many faithful people, and we do indeed give thanks for the work that has been done in the past, the present and into the future.

This week, we held a messy church session at Kibblesworth. This session was based on the story of the lost sheep. Lots of sheep themed crafts and we even had a sheep trail around the village. Families were encouraged to collect a sheet and then go and find the several hidden sheep which had been ‘lost’ around the village. Many of the local businesses had found one, some of the church members who lived in the village had managed to find a sheep and then display them in their window for the families to find.

Every few months I meet with a Spiritual Accompanist whose role is to help me to reflect upon my own spiritual journey. Three weeks ago, I was reflecting with her on Mark 6:31,

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He (Jesus) said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

I just about managed to survive a day at Chester-le-Street Riverside cricket ground yesterday on the hottest day ever recorded in the UK. It was probably the first time ever in this country that queues at the water stations were longer than those for the bar! Fortunately I wasn’t sitting in the full sun until after 4pm – I’m not sure how those who had been exposed to the sun since before 1pm managed to cope. As for the players running around out on the pitch, no wonder the drinks breaks seemed to happen every few overs; I especially felt sorry for Jonny Bairstow, who spent much of the hottest part of the day when England were fielding running from one side of the ground to the other every time the South African batsmen scored a single. And he still managed to score 60 when he came on to bat – which was a lot better than most of the England batsmen.

In May I joined a small group of women from all over the country on an MWiB Pilgrimage. Like many things it has been deferred three times due to the pandemic, sadly one early volunteer died earlier in the year and another was too ill to join us but spaces were filled and thirteen of us set off under the guidance of Jill Baker and Gillian Womersley.  For many of us St Mungo and St Ninian were merely names but we learnt a little bit about them as we travelled.  The pilgrimage began in Glasgow where, in the 6th century, St Mungo served the community.  Our journey then took us to Ayr where we picked up the trail of St Ninian walking up the coast to St Ninian’s Cove and Whithorn.

I have just returned from the Methodist Conference which was held in Telford.

Part of the Conference included the welcoming of overseas representatives, admitting the new President and Vice President, Ordination services, Thanksgiving for those who have died, and then the business of the church. Finance, Pensions, Stationning of ministers, changes to our candidating processes, discussions on changes to District boundaries (which was overturned), and so much more. All of this is held within times of prayer and worship. I think for me there was also an honesty in where we are as a church in these times of declining figures and the amount of work placed on ministers but also those who hold office in the life of our churches, circuits, and districts. But we also heard of positive projects happening and the sense that God isn’t finished with us yet! God is with Us!

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples he said their first words on entering a house were to be ; ‘Peace to this house’. They were to be ambassadors of peace and goodwill. Without peace nothing is possible.

Recently, I found myself listening to a lady who was telling me the story of her holiday. As part of this story, she went on a coach trip, but sadly the bus broke down on its way to the Lake District. This took place during the recent hot spell of weather.

My Mam was a Local Preacher and I have recently acquired some of her resources; some of the stories she used as sermon illustrations or as part of all age worship. One of them is entitled “Love will find a way!”

A man had three sons and bequeathed his seventeen camels to them. His Last Will and Testament bore the words, “Love will find a way.” Inside, it read, “To my eldest son I leave one half of my possessions. To my second son I leave one third of my possessions. To my youngest son I leave one ninth of my possessions.”