Wesley News
Life at Wesley, our community and, #ThoughtsFromHuw
November: Thoughts from Huw
Dear Friends
It is very easy in the day by day life of the Church in a Circuit such as ours, to miss the wood for the trees. What I mean is that so much of our time is given (and rightly given) to administration, finance, upkeep of buildings and much else besides. Those who serve on Church Councils will know how much of our regular agenda is concerned with these and similar issues.
Harvest Festival Parade Service
It was great to see the Girl Guides and Scouts getting involved and celebrating the Harvest Festival with Wesley.
Click on the post to see our Harvest collection so far
Auction at Sheriff Hill Methodist Church
Our neighbour church is holding an Auction, Saturday 7 October, viewing opens at 9:30 am
Go along and bag bargain!
An Introduction from Huw
Dear Friends,
I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself. After all, it's not every day that you get a new minister.
So, for the record, my name is Huw John Sperring. I`m 52 years old, was born and bred in South Wales in a little sleepyvillage called Portskewett, close to the River Severn. The original Severn Bridge could be seen very clearly from the home I grew up in.
Sept: A Word from John Herdman
It comes as quite a surprise to realise that four years have elapsed since 2013, when Noreen & I transferred our membership and were so warmly welcomed into the Wesley family. Of course, September is the traditional "welcoming month" throughout Methodism in Britain, as it marks the start of our new church year. In particular, it is the time when circuit plans throughout the connexion reveal the names of newly appointed local ministers. In our own case it is 12 years since we have been directly involved in the ministerial stationing process which at the time marked the arrival of Rev Richard Bainbridge.
July: A Word from Richard
Dear Friends
This is the piece that I always knew I would have to write one day, from the moment I arrived in 2005. My official designation is Itinerant Presbyteral Minister. The ‘Itinerant’ bit is significant. That means it is expected that every so often we will move to another Circuit and we must be prepared to do that. Some Ministers however are less itinerant than others! I have been with you for 12 years and I sincerely hope I have not outstayed my welcome and beg your forgiveness if I have.
June: A Word from Richard
Dear Friends
I am writing this in the aftermath of the horrific bombing at the Manchester Arena. What happened there at 10.30pm on Monday 22nd May 2017 defies description. As I listened to politicians struggle to articulate a meaningful response it seemed that words were inadequate to express what had taken place. I have been to many concerts in large arenas and know well that after show feeling, the jostling with the crowds, excited conversation with friends as you relive the highlights of the gig, wondering how long you will be stuck in traffic on the journey home. I guess these were the kind of thoughts going through the minds of those leaving the Manchester Arena after the Ariana Grande concert on Monday.
May: A Word from Richard
Dear Friends
There was an interesting programme on Radio 4 the other day. As usual, because I was driving in my car, I heard neither the beginning nor the end of the programme, only a tantalising portion somewhere in the middle. The programme was about the significance of chaos. The theory being put forward was that chaos is good, that most of the major advances of human progress have followed times of upheaval. Alongside this was the suggestion that with too much peace and prosperity human beings just become fat and lazy. Interesting! Whatever the theory, I am still worried about Trump, Putin, Brexit, Isis et al and am rather fond of the peace and prosperity we, as a nation, have enjoyed for several decades now.
April: A Word from Richard
Dear Friends
Whilst visiting friends recently, I picked up a copy of ‘Life Together’ by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (It’s always fun to look through someone else’s bookshelves!). I was reminded once again of the significance of this young German pastor who openly resisted the Nazis and paid for that resistance with his life, being hanged in Flossenburg extermination camp just one month before Germany surrendered.
