Services in Holy Week

Whilst I have one more Plan to make (for the start of my successor's ministry, the Revd John Hellyer, whom I commend to you!), this will probably be my last pastoral letter. Needless to say, my time as Superintendent of the Circuit has flown! Yet I recall that my first letter referred to RS Thomas' poem 'The Bright Field', about letting God's presence catch us in the moment...

Most of us will be familiar with some lines from Sebastian Temple's adaption of the Prayer of St Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving unto all that we receive, and in dying that we're born to eternal life" (STF 707). Even if we also remember that forgiveness often starts with God ("We love because he first loved us": 1 John 4.19), these lines...

Despite hail, snow, gale force winds, thunder and lightning, Gloucestershire's new Methodist Local Preacher, Julie Biggs, received a warm welcome from a packed congregation at a special Service of Recognition at Churchdown Methodist Church.Mrs Biggs, who is Lay Worker at Lonsdale Road Methodist Church in the City's Elmbridge/Longlevens area, thanked everyone for supporting her through...