Dear Friends.
As this is my first letter to you all since joining the circuit stewards' team I thought I should start by introducing myself. I am a member at Cranfield Methodist Church, and have lived and worked in Bedfordshire for over 20 years. I have enjoyed meeting new faces in the last few months and hope that by the time my six years is up I will begin to know everybody!
My day job is in a lower school and at this time of year we are always very busy with Christmas concerts etc. Every year I spend time explaining to children that the true meaning of Christmas is not Father Christmas and his magical sack but the birth of Jesus. They usually manage to give the right answer after a year or two at school - whether or not they believe me! Let us hope that as a circuit we can manage to convey this to all those around us who are caught up in the hectic "business" of Christmas, thus forgetting the true message of Bethlehem.
As we approach 2002 Paul, Liz and family will be thinking about their move in August 2002 and the circuit is looking for a minister to replace Paul. Please pray for Paul and his family at this time of uncertainty, and for the circuit that the right replacement will be found.
The circuit stewards' team will also be facing significant changes. Brian Addington and Rosemary Rowe are retiring after many years as Circuit Stewards and Sylvia Phipps is retiring after several years as Circuit Secretary. I am sure that the circuit is very grateful for all their hard work over the years. As "the new girl" on the team I am only just beginning to understand how much they do, and so I ask you all to think very carefully about replacements for them. If you know of anyone who is able to fulfil either of these roles please speak to one of the circuit stewards.
As I write we are all trying to come to terms with the dreadful events in America and wonder what will have happened in the world by the time the magazine is published. We can only trust to God and say with the hymn writer "Hope of the world, Mary's child, You're coming soon to reign; King of the earth, Mary's child, walk in our streets again"
God bless you all this Christmas time and grant us peace in 2002.
Brenda Caborn
Circuit Steward.
WHO ARE THE S.C.E. ?
On the next Circuit Preaching Plan, under February 3rd 2002, these mysterious initials will appear. At the bottom of the page, by way of explanation, the S.C.E. will be revealed as the Society of Contemporary Evangelists. But who are they, and why are we welcoming them to the pulpits of Methodist Churches in our Circuit?
For some time I have been interested in the work of Through Faith Missions, an Anglican-based interdenominational group that engages in mission throughout the country. Its leader is the Revd. Daniel Cozens, one of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Six Preachers. In the course of these missions, especially 'Walks of a Thousand Men', gifted lay evangelists have emerged. T .F .M. now want to give them high quality and practical training to equip them to serve as evangelists on placement within local churches. This is the first year of this initiative, now called the Society of Contemporary Evangelists.
Once each year all the students will be invited to a training weekend; at other times they meet in their separate geographical groups, the South, the North and Ulster. For this first time, we in Bedford have been asked to host the training weekend. To be more exact, I have been asked to make arrangements and the two Churches of Wilstead and London Road are providing premises and food etc. for the team, Friday to Sunday lunchtime. This is no small commitment as there are 40 students coming!
What this means is that for Sunday February 3rd we have 40 new preachers available! Eight of our Churches have been designated to receive these evangelists in training. I must say this smacks of the early days of Wesley and his band of Preachers. If anyone else feels they can use members of the team in a Morning Service, please get in touch with me.
Brian Trudgian
Pages compiled by Peter Fletcher
CLICK HERE FOR
Previous Page ···· My Home Page ···· Next Page
