Kenton Methodist Church Woodgrange Avenue, Kenton, HA3 0XF.
July / August 2023
Dear Friends
This is my last letter to you as your Minister, I cannot believe that I have been here for six years and in so many ways I wish now that I was staying.
Kenton has changed in many ways over the last six years, one of the things that I am most proud of is the way in which the lettings who use our premises have become friends. Kenton is so lucky to have lovely people using the premises.
I have to say that of course Nisha has been a great blessing to work with and although she is giving up the position of Church Administrator, she I am sure will continue to help out wherever necessary.
I believe that our new Administrator, Afsar, will fit in well with the Church and I am so pleased that Dulcie, Keith and Grace have agreed to be his management team.
When I arrived at Kenton, there were some in the Circuit who had a low opinion of some at Kenton, and yet from the moment I arrived at Kenton I have felt at home here, there are some truly lovely Christian people who make up the family, there has been the weekly Bible study that has challenged us and although some have not enjoyed the use of You tube on Sundays there are plenty who have enjoyed a change in worship.
Church is no longer a club where people met their future spouses, it really is a place where people gather as a family to worship God and it has been a Blessing to share in Worship at Kenton.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for welcoming me into your family and showing me such love and support and I want to thank so many who have worked hard to sustain the life of the Church at Kenton it is after all a team effort.
Officially now I am meant to stay away for 12 months, but I hope that we will keep in touch and I will be there in this transitional period to offer whatever support that I can.
The most important thing for all of us as we move on, is to Worship our living Lord and Saviour and to share His gospel message.
May God Bless you All who I see as family and friends
Steve
June 2023
Dear Friends,
On the 6th May 2023 we celebrated and marked the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, I had the joy of staying out in the Mall all night and standing in the pouring rain all day Saturday but it was worth it. Coronations do not come around very often (at least that has been my experience and is a good thing as my back wouldn’t cope). For the vast majority of people watching the Service from Westminster Abbey on TV I am sure that their highlight was the actual crowning of King Charles with the St Edward Crown. I can testify to how impressive this crown is up close, having seen it in the Jewel house at the Tower or London. But for me (and I hope our new King) that was not the highlight but rather the culmination of the coronation process. I hope the anointing will be the highlight. For during the anointing King Charles was set-apart for a distinctive calling – his vocation to be our King and supreme governor of the Church of England.
In former coronations this part of the service takes place under a canopy to stop onlookers seeing this most intimate and sacred moment: the moment when Charles accepts his sovereignty under God’s; when he acknowledges the heavy burden placed upon him to represent and speak for the people of this country and commonwealth, and to lead us; when the outward sign of anointing portrays the inner working of God’s grace to strengthen and equip him for the task and ministry that lies ahead. I have to say that the Beautiful screen that was used was wonderful.
The anointing of kings goes back millennia. As we read in the Old Testament of Samuel anointing Saul as Israel’s first king and then David as his successor, or of Zadok the priest, (my absolute favourite piece of music) and Nathan the prophet anointing Solomon, oil was seen as a way of sealing-in God’s Spirit into his chosen servants. It was a lavish extravagance by which the recipient would ‘glow’ which was reserved for monarchs and the special role they were called to perform.
Over time, but particularly during the Christian era, anointing came to be a symbol of God’s working in and for all his people. In some denominations they continue anointing at services such as baptism, confirmation, and ordination, when the candidates – to varying degrees – offer themselves to God’s service. It is used during prayers for those who are sick or dying as a symbol of the healing, consolation, and renewed hope we have in Christ; that in him we may find peace and comfort and share in the fullness of his risen life. No longer is it the sole preserve of the monarch.
We, through our baptism and confirmation, have like King Charles been set apart for particular tasks and ministries within the Church and our wider society. Some of these will be complicated and demand a lot from us – perhaps even a lifetime, others are more simple and general – but equally as important. It is heartening that The King asked the Nation to get involved in volunteering on the Coronation Bank Holiday. He is encouraging all of us to respond to the needs we see in our community and concerning our environment. He is asking us to show love for one another. He is asking us to care for planet. He is asking us to respond to the call God places on our lives and to serve.
Many of us already serve this community in many and wonderful ways, but the question still remains what more can I do? What else could I do? What gifts can I use better in serving others? How can I respond to being set apart as one of God’s chosen ones? These are questions we all need to answer. For some it may be to spend more time in prayer. For others it might be writing to our politicians and lobbying them on behalf of others. Perhaps it might be appropriate to volunteer for a charity, club, or society that helps the young or vulnerable, or even to take on more responsibility within the life of the Church. What are you discerning?
As we have and continue to celebrate his coronation, may the Lord bless his servant Charles with long life that he may be a faithful servant to God and his people. For God save the King!
Every Blessing,
Steve
April / May 2023
Dear Friends,
I thought this Easter it would be good to consider the words of one of our greatest hymns. We sing these amazing words in Church every Easter Day. It is a really powerful hymn, but have a look at the words, perhaps read it as a poem today.
Yes the language is a bit old fashioned, but it was written at the turn of the 19th Century and has stood the test of time. We don’t use the word ‘glory’ or ‘glorious’ very often these days. In fact it tends to be during Holy Communion that we most often use these words….. Glory to God in the highest we say most often at Christmas.
What does ‘glory’ conjure up to you? For me it is beyond magnificent, I picture radiance, light, beauty etc. ‘Thine be the Glory’ we sing at Easter – why? Read the words of the hymn below…. By rising from the tomb on that first Easter Day (a truly amazing event in itself) and not as a ghost, but as a living, eating, speaking human being, Jesus has opened up the pathway forever, for us to have eternal life.
To enter heaven through our belief in Him. He has conquered the fact that death WAS the end, and as we say in the funeral service, can now be faced without fear, bitterness or guilt. Isn’t that amazing? Doesn’t that make Easter glorious?
Its more eggciting than chocolate or simnel cake, but the glory of Easter is certainly worth celebrating, because, as the words of the hymn remind us – ‘life is naught without thee’.
Do come and sing the hymn (and others) as we celebrate the rising of Jesus on Easter Day and the fact that through believing in Him and therefore accepting Him as our Saviour, He will ‘lovingly greet us’ when the time comes.
Wishing you a Happy and Glorious Easter.
Enjoy the hymn.
God Bless
Steve
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.
Thine be the glory,
risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.
Thine be the glory . . .
No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is nought without Thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through Thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.
Thine be the glory . . .
(Edmond Budry (1854–1932) tr. R Birch Hoyle (1875–1939)
March 2023
Dear Friends,
I often think if we are not careful our spiritual lives can get stuck, if there is little opportunity to worship together in church and limited social interaction with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we can very easily become dislocated from our faith
and from each other.
As we enter Lent, we are reminded that traditionally it has been a time of self examination, self-discipline and fasting although interestingly it didn’t include Sundays as these were feast days and celebrations. It took its form from the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness following his baptism. It also marked the traditional beginning of Spring and the word Lent is based on the old English word for ‘Spring season’. As part of that preparation and self-denial, we have traditions of giving things up for a season and abstinence. In more recent times we have been encouraged to take something up that is of spiritual benefit to ourselves or general benefit to others instead. One of the things we have perhaps lost sight of is it was also a season of spiritual generosity and almsgiving.
When I did some research as part of some studies into what helps churches to grow one of the common themes that emerged was that growing churches were generous churches. They held lightly to their money and buildings, giving of time, talents and money for the ‘Common Good’ through acts of service and generosity. They saw money as a resource to be used for the Kingdom rather than hoarded for a rainy day that never came. This Lent is a prime opportunity to set time aside to realign our spiritual lives. John writing his Gospel gives us a wonderful picture in chapter 15 of the vine and its branches. In that Jesus says to his disciples:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15 5-8
If we are going to be effective disciples, we need our lives to be rooted in Jesus. We have to learn not just to listen to Jesus’ words but live them out. I think one of the reasons many of us found the pandemic restrictions so hard is that the Christian faith is primarily lived out in the community and is not a solitary or individual activity. If we are going to make the most of Lent then we need, as a church, to rediscover a communal faith which looks outwards. To put our faith not in an institution called ‘church’ but instead in the person of Jesus who longs to change us into the people God created us to be.
However, you use these coming weeks why not discipline yourself to spend a few minutes each day to reflect on your spiritual journey and your relationship with God, to offer yourself to Him that we might become more like Him.
God Bless
Steve
February 2023
Dear Friends,
I am writing this in mid-January on a rather miserable day. Christmas can feel a long time ago, but hopefully there is still a glow inside each of us as we recall our times spent with family and friends. We are now looking ahead to Spring and some warmer weather! Before that we come to the beginning of Lent which this year starts on 22nd February, Ash Wednesday. Perhaps February can be a month to take stock? Some years Lent begins so very early after 2nd February that there is hardly time to take a breath and we are plunged into Lent and the preparations for Easter. But this year we have a few weeks’ grace. I always think that January and February should be a time when we reflect on what some of our priorities for ourselves at Kenton should be and to be more sure of our values and our vision for the next few years as God’s people, disciples of Jesus in our community.
So perhaps as you read this we can each think of what we value and what is important to us as Christians - and how this will shape our keeping of Lent this year. What will you do to support your faith, focus your faith and deepen your faith? The idea of giving something up for Lent is a way to identify with the fasting Jesus experienced in the wilderness for 40 days as his time of prayerful preparation before his public ministry. Giving things up in our culture of plenty is a valuable thing to do; it reminds us of what is truly necessary in our lives and it reminds us of how blessed we are in our lives of so much choice. But we can also take up something extra to do for Lent - it might be reading a spiritual book, attending a Lent course, taking time to read one of the Gospels - yes, we are familiar with them but reading them ourselves from chapter one all the way through can shed light in a new way, or some extra five minutes of prayer and intercession for our Church, world and community. Or you might decide to offer yourself for one of the many roles we have outstanding in our church life. Surely this is at the heart of Lent - to change our hearts and lives to be less self-centred and more God-centred. Do you remember the words of the prophet Micah (chapter 6:8)?:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
May this month of February be a useful time for you to take stock and think about your relationship with God.
God Bless
Steve
December 2022 / January 2023
Dear Friends,
Another year has gone by, and I find myself struggling to keep up with the rush of the year. I wonder if anyone has asked you if you are ready for Christmas yet? Let’s face it, its nearly here. If no one has asked you yet, they probably will soon. It’s one of those questions that people ask at this time of year. We perhaps ask the question ourselves. It’s the sort of question that’s often asked when someone isn’t quite sure what to say. It’s a kind of conversation gap filler. But what does the question really mean? Probably even the people who are asking the question don’t really know what they mean. It could be a question about shopping for gifts, it could be a question about buying in food for Christmas Day, Boxing Day or some other family get together, it could be a question about decorating the house for Christmas – inside or outside, it could be a question about getting cards written and posted. It’s probably generally meant to be a question that’s a little about all these things.
But as we think about Advent and preparing for Christmas, what would we understand the question ‘Are you ready for Christmas?’ to mean? What should we understand the question to mean? Well, I think that in Advent we are supposed to be thinking about being ‘ready’ for two different things.
Firstly, we should be preparing ourselves for Christmas. I think that this means thinking about our relationship with God, thinking about our need for a Saviour, thinking about God’s love for us and his gift to us, thinking about who Jesus is and what he means to us. Maybe being ready for Christmas is about our recognition of our separation from God without Jesus and a willingness to accept him once again, to welcome him into our lives once again and to worship him once again.
Secondly, we should be thinking about, and preparing ourselves for, Christ’s Second Coming. Our word Advent is derived from the Latin word Adventus, which is a translation of the Greek word Parousia which refers to the Second Coming. So how can we prepare ourselves for Christ’s second coming? Well, part of this would probably be in the same way that we might prepare for Christmas – thinking about our relationship with God, thinking about our need for a Saviour, thinking about God’s love for us and his gift to us, thinking about who Jesus is and what he means to us; but also, I think it means trying to live lives that are worthy of disciples, followers of Christ. We will never really achieve this, but we should be thinking about what this means, and we should be trying.
I hope that you are not overwhelmed by Christmas preparations. I hope that you have a good Advent. I hope that the next time someone says to you ‘Are you ready for Christmas?’ you think a bit about being ready to welcome Jesus, both in terms of this season and in terms of our relationship with him on into eternity.
God bless
Steve
November 2022
Dear Friends,
Who inspires you to greater things?
Whose life offers an example that you would like to follow?
Is there anyone you look up to?
A philanthropist, maybe. Someone who lives with a disability but perseveres against all the odds to help others, perhaps. A sports star. A celebrity. A teacher. A friend or neighbour who is always there for you
Christians aspire to lead a Christ-like life. Jesus is, of course, our primary role model. That’s what a Christian is – someone who gives their life to following Jesus Christ. But, through the ages, there has also been a tradition of looking to the lives of others for inspiration. There have been Christians from earliest times who appear to have led lives so dedicated to God that they have become an example for everyone. These are the saints.
Different Churches have differing definitions about what exactly makes someone a saint. For instance, the Roman Catholic Church requires of those whom they formally canonise as saints that they have performed at least two miracles: one before the first stage of beatification and one that has occurred afterwards. But it recognises too that there are many other definitions of sainthood, and that at heart a saint is an example of holiness which we can all follow.
Holiness as a concept has dropped out of favour over the years. I think partly because it has been associated with a sense that those who aspire to holiness think they are better than others. This is not what it is about. Real saints are not those with a “holier than thou” attitude but humble, Christian people seeking to serve God and other people through the way in which they live.
In the Bible the word saint had a very wide meaning – it included all Christian people.
November begins with All Saints Day’, when the Church remembers saints of past times, united with us now because they are alive with God in heaven as we are here on earth. It is an inspiring time, which can draw us back to God as we reflect on the lives of past Christians who have made a difference to the world, because they lived out their faith.
Perhaps this month we might like to think about where our inspiration comes from, and how the example of those people can spur us on to lead a better and perhaps more holy life.
Steve.
October 2022
Dear Friends,
I recently came across a story of a senior priest who was often invited to parishes to preach on special occasions. One year, he went to a church, and gave the sermon at a Harvest Festival service. Afterwards the Vicar approached him and thanked him for his contribution. “Oh, that’s all right,” replied the visitor, “that was the sermon I preached at my first Harvest Festival 40 years ago, and often use again. Some things never change.”
We live in a fast-changing world. I suspect that that visiting clergyman would find life in our 21st century very taxing. Things seem to change exceptionally fast these days. But there are some things that do indeed never seem to change.
First, there is the hard work and labour of those who produce the food we eat: our farmers, fishers, gardeners and growers. Since earliest times, Harvest has been a time of thanksgiving and thankfulness for the abundance God has given us, and an acknowledgement of those who have planted seeds and gathered crops in to feed the rest of us. We are often more detached from them now than in past years, but we still have good reason to be thankful to God and for those who feed us with their produce.
Second, there is the stark truth that there has never been a time in our world when everyone has had easy access to enough to eat. In spite of technology and plenteous resources across the world, people still go to bed hungry and struggle to feed themselves and their families. Some have more than they could ever eat in a lifetime, while others starve. It is a scandal that in this modern day, people are still dying of hunger – an estimate is that one person, often a child, dies on average every 10 seconds because of hunger. Even in this country there are now more than 2000 food banks, providing for those who struggle to stay on top of things.
I recently read the Epistle of James, where his readers were urged to follow up their words with action. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2.14-17)
Praising God for our good fortune is important, but it has most meaning when we reflect God’s generosity in our own actions and share what we have with those who are far less fortunate than us.There is no shame in needing help from others; it might be us in that position one day. But those of us who live with plenty while giving no thought to the needs of others will have to answer not just to them but also to God in the final reckoning.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, which Jesus told, makes clear God’s thought on the matter: “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.”
They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?”
He will reply: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25.42-45)
God Bless
Steve
September 2022
Dear Friends,
I love autumn which seems to have started a little earlier this year. I don’t know what you think about autumn, but for me it’s a season of beauty and change. The colours of autumn, reds, oranges, browns – wonderful. The Oak tree in my garden is already beginning to change colour, although when the leaves drop they are a pain in the neck, they never seem to break down into the soil!!!.
Then there’s the change in temperature, I hope! – the hint at something colder to come, the cool breeze – the sense of time moving on – delightful.
Autumn is the season where we encounter the leaves falling from the trees, various birds heading off to warmer climates. We see the plants and flowers appear to be coming to an untimely end. Autumn is the season when the great work of creation carries on in quieter, unseen ways, the nutrients from leaves returning to the ground. The whole earth seems to settle into a quieter rhythm.
I know that for many, the shorter days and longer nights can feel oppressive and bleak and that some need to make sure to prioritise self-care in this season.
In the Church we reach this time when we celebrate Harvest and give thanks to God for all that God has created. And yet this year with extraordinary temperatures and a drought again we have seen crops affected and fires that have destroyed acres of land. I went to the Chelsea flower show this year and there were a number of stalls about creating new soil as we face like other parts of the world soil erosion.
We as Christians as stewards of God’s creation are called to take what ever action we can to change the state we are in. We have had a rough year again as a country and as a world, many are questioning what the future holds for us, and yet creation reminds us of the ability to recover.
God did not give up on us and we must not give up, but as Christ's people on earth we must lead the way in encouraging the world and those around us to take seriously the need for recycling, reducing our carbon footprint, our heating requirements etc
At my garden in Kent I am setting up a soil creator/composter and a personal reservoir to be able to water my crops next year. We all have to do our bit.
Perhaps this autumn, we all might find it beneficial to practice a little more self-care as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop.
God Bless
Steve
July / August 2022
Dear Friends,
What a busy month June was and time has flown by, I had the joy of standing in the Mall to watch Trooping the Colour go by, of going to the Tower of London for the Moat in bloom although it wasn’t quite in bloom on the 2nd June!
Then I was at the concert in front of Buckingham Palace on Saturday the 4th June and finally a whole day in the Mall again for the Jubilee Pageant, all of the events were a great reminder of how lucky we have been to have our Queen on the throne for seventy years, but all were also a great reminder how people can come together in great Joy and peace, my friends and I met some truly lovely people from all over the world gathered to celebrate the Queen’s life and dedication to the Nation the Commonwealth and the world, as two Americans said to me “she is our Queen as well”
On the Sunday as I arrived back home shattered but happy my neighbours were all out enjoying a street party and so it was great to mix with them too, oh if only the world could be like this every day as I know that is what God wants for HIS world.
On the 11th June we celebrated again at Kenton with our Jubilee party, some would say it was thrown together at the last minute (and that’s not the way these things should be done), but hey it turned out to be a great success, we had lovely weather we had lots of kids who all ended up with beautifully painted faces.
We had lots and lots of wonderful food and great fellowship, the Bethany Church were our partners and I was so grateful for all of the work they put into the day.
So many people have since asked if we can do something again soon and I think we should as the Fellowship was great, one family I spoke to live locally and received one of the leaflets and came along and had a fantastic time, they said that they felt that they belonged and everyone had been so friendly to them. I didn’t expect anything different.
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the 11th a great success. God really blessed us.
God Bless
Steve
June 2022
Dear Friends,
I always think that June is a lovely month with the fresh green leaves and the flowers and hopefully some warmth in the air.
June this year is all the more special with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, celebrating her Majesty’s seventy years on the throne, the Queen was only a young woman when she came to the throne on the death of her father King George VI on the 6th February 1952 Accession Day and so she has already passed that milestone.
The Queen has been a constant in our lives and the lives of many other countries too, for many of us we have never known another monarch, she has been an example of Christian Service and has willingly shared her faith with the Commonwealth and the world.
The Jubilee weekends which are always in June reminding us of the Coronation in June 1953 will be lots of fun I am sure and I have been fortunate enough to get tickets for the concert on the Saturday evening.
At Kenton we shall be celebrating again on the 11th June, everyone, family and friends are welcome.
The Church has another reason to Celebrate on the weekend of the Jubilee and that is of course Pentecost the Birthday of the Church, when we are reminded of the moving of the Spirit that freed those first Disciples from their fear and sent them out to proclaim the Gospel, may we receive again the power of the Spirit this year.
May God Bless us all with Joy and Hope this June.
Steve
April / May 2022
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our April Magazine, we are fast approaching Easter. Easter is about new starts, new life, new birth. This is often symbolised with images of eggs and chicks. We give and receive Easter eggs and maybe cards with pictures of spring sunshine or new-born chicks.
But Easter isn’t really about eggs or chicks. It’s about Jesus! The real reason that we think about new life at Easter is because Jesus, who was crucified on that first Good Friday, rose to new life on the first Easter Sunday. This is not just a wonderful story, it’s an historical fact. Jesus’ body was never found, and his resurrection never disproved. This was despite the best efforts of the mighty Roman Empire and the committed and powerful Jewish leaders to destroy the early church and discredit their belief.
The early disciples were changed from a frightened and disillusioned group to men who stood up against the authorities and eventually gave their lives for what they believed – for what they knew to be true – that Jesus came back to life on Easter Sunday. New life for Jesus leading to new life in his disciples.
The impacts of what happened that first Easter are still relevant today. When Jesus died and rose, he did it for us. He offers us new life, eternal life, with him; life that starts now, but continues beyond this life. Now that is worth celebrating!
This year feels like a new beginning for all of us, with Covid restrictions gone with society returning to some sort of new normality. We can start planning again and we can celebrate a new start, a resurrection for the church.
I hope you have a wonderful Easter. I hope you get to eat some Easter eggs – but not too many! I hope you enjoy a break from work and some quality time with family and friends. But more than all of this, I hope you spend some time thinking about the real meaning of Easter, Jesus’ resurrection. I hope you spend some time thinking about the possibilities of a new life for yourself, starting now and continuing into eternity. I hope you spend time in our Easter Services.
Happy Easter.
Steve
February / March 2022
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to you ALL.
Sadly, Christmas Eve services were cancelled again, but there was a lovely Christmas Day service, I gather, although we only had seventeen people.
So, here we are in 2022, there are many people who find February a hard month, and I am certainly one of them. The excitement and wonder of Christmas has been and gone and those New Year resolutions, which we made with such earnestness and hope, seem like a distant memory. It is still cold and wet and the nights continue to be long and lights are switched on far earlier than we would like. The heralding of spring in snowdrops and daffodils and blossom, may be just around the corner, but in February, after all those dark evenings, Spring can still seem very far away. But we all know that Spring will come. The flowers will grow again and flower, the birds that have wintered in warmer climes will fly back to our gardens and our fields, and before we know it the warmth of Summer will be here.
The seasons often feature in the Bible. When the Bible was written the vast majority of people would have worked on the land, and even if they were city-dwellers their lives would still have been regulated by agricultural seasons: the time to sow the grain and the time to harvest. Until relatively recently, life in Britain would have been dominated by farming life too, from the way people worked and the jobs that needed doing, to the types of fruits and vegetables that were available in the shops. In our modern consumerist world, we don't really have 'seasonal' fruit and vegetable any more, most things are available all year round.
The changing of the seasons also had an important spiritual message for many people too. The progression from one season to another marked the passage of time and created a sense of order. A passage in the book of Ecclesiastes says, 'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.... a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted' (Eccl. 3:1-2). And in the Psalms it says that God has made 'the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting' (Ps. 104:19). There is a rhythm to the year and, also, a rhythm in our daily lives. However much some of us may dislike the cold, long nights of winter, and however much the coming of Spring seems to drag in February, each of the seasons gives us that sense of time and rhythm that we really need.
For many Christian writers the way the earth could at one time so cold and seemingly dead in winter, and suddenly be full of life in the Spring, was like the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed that all was lost; but on Easter Day, Jesus was resurrected and appeared to his friends: new life had come. The coming of spring was seen as a metaphor for the hope and promise of new life. This sense of hope for the future, can also be used of our lives. There will always be times when we feel like winter, because life is not always easy and life is not always joyful like the spring; but Christians draw hope in the new life that will come with the Spring.
This magazine of course is for both February and March, we will enter Lent at the beginning of March and then we can think about our hopes for the future and the new life and joys that may come to our individual lives and to the life of our Church as we prepare to celebrate Easter and New Life for ALL.
God Bless you All
Steve
December 2021 / January 2022
Dear Friends,
As you read this it is December and at this time of year there is always a great sense of anticipation and of hope. As we make our plans for Christmas, we also look forward to the services which help us to celebrate the birth of Jesus: Services, that are an opportunity to invite family and friends to.
One of my favourite stories about a school nativity service is of the little boy who wanted to play the part of Joseph. He was very disappointed to be given instead the part of the innkeeper, but he appeared to accept his teacher’s decision and got on with his part in the play. However, on the day of the performance, in front of a school hall packed with parents, the boy took his revenge. When Joseph and Mary asked him if there was any room in his inn, he abandoned the script, stood back so that the door to the inn was wide open and said, ‘yes there’s plenty of room; come on in!’
That might not be the way the familiar story goes but I think the little boy’s actions have some things to say to us at Christmas. We all are invited to ‘come in’ to greet the holy child, born into such very humble surroundings. All are welcomed to the variety of different services which our churches offer at Christmas as we join together in celebrating the birth of Jesus, the One who comes to save us and bring us joy. There literally is ‘room for all’ because God welcomes each and every one of us. He does not want anyone to be turned away, because He loves each of us so much. God has shown the depth of that love in His unique gift to us; the gift of His Son, born as one of us, part of a loving human family; the One who was willing ultimately to give his life for us, so that we might share in his life, for ever.
We anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth, not only because it is a great excuse for a bit of a party, but also because his birth gives us hope. Hope for the future. Hope in the midst of much that seems to be changing all around us. Our Christmas celebrations lead into celebrations of the new year, with a heightened sense of anticipation for all that 2022 might bring.
Many will be praying that next year will be better than this and that we might see some sort of end to the Pandemic. However as we approach 2022, we should remember the wonderful promise which Jesus made to us: ‘remember that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time’ (Matthew 28, verse 20). Jesus promises to be there with us in whatever it is that life brings; in the happy times and in the sadness, in the pain and also in the joy.
At Christmas, God welcomes us all to celebrate the birth of His Son, the One who brings hope to the world. God invites us to come in because He has made sure that there is room for us all.
I wish everyone a very HAPPY & HOLY CHRISTMAS and a peaceful New Year.
God Bless
Steve
November 2021
Dear Friends,
I cannot believe that I am writing this for the November Magazine, where has the year gone again!
November is a strange month as we spend a lot of time remembering those who have passed away, our own loved ones on All Saints Day and those who have died serving their country on Remembrance Sunday.
This November there will also be the COP26 meeting in Glasgow where leaders will be trying to seek urgent solutions to climate change
Hundreds of years ago the Psalmist looked to the stars and pondered the apparent insignificance and transient nature of human life. He asked: ‘When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?’ (Psalm 8.3-4). The Psalmist answered his own question: "You have made him little lower than the angels." He knew from his own experience that the creator of the night sky is also a God who is intimately engaged with every moment of human life. He had experienced God’s love and knew that we are cared for, that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139.14); eternally precious in God‘s sight.
The night sky with its shooting stars, comets and moving planets and sheer immensity has always fascinated people. I remember hearing how we were staring back into the past, hundreds and thousands of years, and that some of the stars we were looking at may no longer exist.
I think that it’s the Disney film ‘An American Tale’, where there is the song ‘Somewhere out there’ in that song there is a line ‘And even though I know how very far apart we are it helps to think we might be wishin' on the same bright star. And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby it helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky,’
As we approach Remembrance Day my thoughts have been turning to the ways in which the stars can bring a feeling of connectedness with the past. Somehow the night sky can seem to hold all the memories of lives lived before us, of loved ones we once star gazed with. The stars hold the memories of the wars fought and the fallen we now commemorate. The stars we will watch tonight are the same stars that shone over the soldiers sleeping in dugouts or quietly working digging more trenches, putting up barbed wire, or keeping watch on night patrol. They are the stars which have shone out over the tears shed for the sons, brothers and husbands killed in action. The stars we watch tonight are the stars which shone over the cheers and laughter, singing and dancing, and church bells ringing as the world celebrated an end to war.
Tonight, when we look out at the stars, perhaps we may spare a thought and a prayer for people who are hungry or homeless or caught up in wars today.
Finally, I wonder, will people look up at the stars in one hundred years from now and thank us for the sacrifices we have made today for the precious people of tomorrow?
God Bless
Steve
September / October 2021
Dear Friends,
Despite the weather this summer being rather ordinary we have been treated (if you like sports) to some rather extraordinary sporting competitions. But what a summer of sport: The Euros, Wimbledon, Cricket in all forms of the game including the new Hundred, and who can forget the Olympics?! Crowds and fans were once again permitted to attend depending on where and when these events took place. I am not a great one for sport but always enjoy the Olympics it is fantastic to see the talent and quality of sport on offer and to hear how our sportsmen and women overcame all the challenges and difficulties of the last 18 months. Their stories are both inspirational and incredible.
Triumph over adversity, in some ways, is the story of this summer and during the pandemic. We have all had to work within limitations, but some have still found ways to push themselves to excel. Some have gone above and beyond their duty to help the sick, the isolated or vulnerable. Some have found new ways to connect with people – teaching themselves new technologies and habits. And of course, some are still digging-deep to help those who bear the scars of Covid.
To triumph over adversity requires determination and focus. One must be committed to one’s vision or purpose. Throughout history there are myriads of men and women who have done just this to inspire us – not just in sport but in all aspects of life including the Church. Within the Christian faith many of these have been formally recognised as saints – people who have lived faithfully to their calling as disciples of Christ no matter what was going on around them. Their stories are remarkable and it is a joy to remember them.
St Paul in many of his letters often makes the comparison of being a disciple of Jesus to that of an athlete. Although physically we may not be able to compete in the same way, we can certainly imitate athletes in their focus and determination – but with the prize being Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus is to decide, daily, that he is the one who can give us life in all its fullness and instruct us in the values of the Kingdom. This requires determination and dedication. It requires focus and belief. As we emerge into life post-lockdown it is time to reconnect to this vision. Although our faith may have sustained us during the pandemic we have not been able to witness in our usual and familiar ways. Now is the time for us to return to it. To recommit to coming to church for teaching, fellowship, and receiving of the Sacraments; to commit to serving in the church as new volunteers, being fully involved in the life of the church, to bearing the light of Christ in our communities and inviting friends and acquaintances to the joy we share in our new life in Christ.
September and October in Particular – are months of new beginnings as the academic year begins and clubs and societies return from the summer break – they are both full of potential. How will we reach our potential in Christ?
As ever, my prayers and blessings to you all.
Steve
August 2021
Dear Friends,
I recently decided that I needed to have a good clear out in the Study at home. As I was sorting through papers on my desk when I found an invitation to my Sisters Birthday party for April 2020 in a beautiful hotel up in Shropshire.
Suddenly I was transported back to how family and friends were looking forward to this event to celebrate a significant Birthday. Of course that party did not take place and my sister was devastated after all of the planning that she had put into it.
By the date in April when we should have been in a beautiful hotel all enjoying ourselves we were well into the first lockdown.
This story I am sure is one familiar to many in the Church family.
That invitation is a potent symbol of a time not so long ago when we were able to gather freely, when "stay safe" would have been a curious way to sign off an email, when few of us had ever heard the phrase "PPE", when face coverings and perspex screens were an oddity...
A very different world is evoked by that invitation. Ordinary things have the power to transport us to remarkable times and places. This is at the heart of our familiar sacrament of Holy Communion. A piece of bread that would normally pass us by as entirely mundane and uninteresting, is transformed into something that speaks of the eternal love of God, that opens up the spiritual channel between us and God, that brings to mind the whole Gospel account of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
Another world opens up for us in a small piece of bread and the merest sip of wine. The incredible thing is that God can work the same way through each one of us. When we are attuned to the presence of God in our lives, we mere mortals become vessels in which the Holy Spirit finds a home and through which the light of Christ shines, to bring hope to the people we encounter. Each one of us has the potential to bring to life a world of love and hope as we go about our daily lives. So let your light shine... that all might see the Glory of the Lord even in the most ordinary things of life.
God Bless you All
Steve
June / July 2021
Dear Friends
I have always loved the month of June, it is the start of summer with clear skies and the warmth of the sun. Nathaniel Parker Willis cites, “It is the month of June, the month of leaves and roses, when pleasant sights salute the eyes and pleasant scents the noses”.
The second Saturday would normally be spent in the Mall for Trooping the Colour yet again though this year that has been cancelled as we are all struggling to make sense of the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic across our nation and the world. Perhaps the 21st June will be the beginning of the road to some normality.
The question for today is whether any good has come out of the Coronavirus so far? I believe that through social distancing rules, self-isolation, the unfortunate loss of loved ones, unemployment, staff furlough, the work of our Key Workers, NHS Staff and Emergency services, some of us may have shifted our focus from the individual “I” to the collective “We”.
Let me explain. We have appreciated that it’s unfair for our senior citizens to be lonely, we have been more aware of how desperate families suffer from the lack of emergency or normal food access.
We have been made aware of when parents tire from looking after their children who have been unable to be at school. We have worried when partners, husbands, wives, children, our senior citizens and friends self-isolate due to coronavirus. It has worried us when the NHS services were and are unable to support the desperately ill because of the transfer of resources for coronavirus. It is no longer about the “I” or taking care of “me” which matters. No. We all matter. We are in this pandemic together and every person, family and senior citizen matter.
Winston Churchill once said, “One ought never to turn one’s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If we do that, we double the danger. But if we meet it promptly and without flinching, we will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!” And one way we can respond to this pandemic for, say, positive mental health, is to live with gratitude and thanksgiving because, if we do, we need not seek happiness, it will seek us.
There’s a bible reading in the fourth chapter of Philippians which states: ”if there be any praise, think on these things”. The first step on the path of thanksgiving is to think on God’s goodness, to fill our mind with the facts concerning His love, and to hold them in the thoughts until they, in turn, have their effect on our emotions.
A hymn I love which we don’t sing very often, says “Count your blessings” but can we? Well, yes, we can!
We have never been desperately hungry while millions starve. Usually, there is enough food on our tables. We have the blessings of love and friendship even during this self-isolation time with the help of Facebook forums, WhatsApp, emails, a phone call, Zoom or Microsoft Teams’ video conferencing. If we suffered bereavement of family or friends from Covid-19 (and some of us have), we have someone to share our suffering. And then we have our birthdays, anniversaries and hopefully good health so far. So, do we have any blessings? I believe we have – I have opened your list with a few examples.
So, let’s begin this month of June with a new list in our journal of opportunities entitled “Blessings”. Let’s give thanks for all of Gods gifts and think on the fact that “faith was actually putting all our eggs in God’s basket, and we counted our blessings before they hatched”. Our faith worked!
Enjoy the beauty of June.
God Bless
Steve
April / May 2021
Dear Friends
A few years ago, a friend sent me a link to a short clip on YouTube called ‘meChurch’. It was presented in the usual way of an advert with a soft spoken voice, encouraging the listener to join a church which is all about satisfying ‘me’ and my needs.
It’s a church where those attending expect to get exactly what they want, including their cars waxed during the service! A church which makes ‘me’ feel good.
Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth that: Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles [1 Cor. 1: 23] He knew from personal experience that following Jesus is not about comfort and getting what we want, to fit in with our preferences but it means following someone who chose the way of the cross.
Hebrews 12: 2 says : Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him chose the cross.
When you love someone, over time you get to know and understand their thoughts, their passions and maybe even start to look like them! (or is that just with dogs?) When we love someone, we take the time and trouble to listen, to try to understand, to share in their joys and sorrows and at times it means we may lay aside our own preferences, likes and dislikes, to even sacrifice our dreams to enable them to achieve theirs. Our love for our loved ones, however strong, will always be a pale reflection of the much greater love Jesus has for us.
At Easter, we can take time to reflect and remember that love costs, love makes demands. If we are to follow Jesus who loves us completely, we choose to follow a king who came to serve, who chose the cross.
The words of the wonderful hymn written by Isaac Watts in 1717 come to mind as a heartfelt response. Use the words of this hymn as a way to prepare for Easter, read it verse by verse and reflect on what living it may mean for us as individuals and as a church as we discover love so amazing. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
We have all gone through a year unlike any other, at least this Easter we will be back in Church, as I have reflected and realised that our dependency upon Jesus who loves us so completely has been brought into even sharper focus as we continue in social distance or isolation. He is our strength, our hope, our courage, our calm in the storm. He understands loneliness, suffering and isolation. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned and chained to the wall, they were restricted, isolated, at the mercy of forces beyond their control and what did they do? They sang praises to God and worshipped Jesus who knows what it is to be alone. I’ve already suggested one hymn to use to reflect upon, but if you were asked, which would be your favourite hymn or song of praise? Why not go to YouTube and listen to it, even sing along? The words of favourite hymns and songs have the amazing ability to lift our spirits, to remind us of great truths of God’s love, his faithfulness and his presence with us through these difficult times. Hymns like Great is Thy faithfulness, Praise my soul the King of heaven, In Christ Alone, Majesty, I am a New creation, we hope and pray that soon we will be able to sing out our praise with gusto, I leave you with the words from Psalm 46: God is our strength and refuge, an ever present help in trouble.
After the wilderness, after the suffering, after the death we can rejoice in the knowledge of the Resurrection, the Joy that Easter brings.
Wishing you all a Blessed Easter
Steve
February / March 2021
Dear Friends,
I am writing this in mid-January and feel that some how I missed Christmas and the New Year especially as the New Year has not started any differently to the ending of 2020. Although it is good to hear that so many of our church family are now receiving their first vaccines.
After thinking for a while about my topic for the February magazine, I decided to write about Lent (which I have done before, but not for a couple of years). Ash Wednesday is less than a month away. Lent is a time of preparation as we look forward to Easter and is often a time when people ‘give things up’, often chocolate or cakes or sweets but sometimes something different like watching television.
The idea of giving something up for Lent comes from the Christian tradition of Lent being a time of fasting as we remember Jesus fasting in the wilderness for 40 days as well as part of our preparation for Easter. We generally think of Lent as 40 days, but the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Sunday, sometimes known as Easter Eve) is actually 46 days. This is because there are 6 Sundays during that period and in the early Church it was felt to be completely inappropriate to fast on a Sunday as Sunday is the day when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. This means that if you are giving up something for Lent, you get a break each Sunday as the Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday are not really part of Lent! Enjoy!
But I don’t really want to think about giving things up for Lent, although if you decide to do this you have my admiration and best wishes. This year I wanted to encourage you to think about doing something positive in Lent. How about we all as a church spend Lent reading the Gospel of Mark. Alternatively, you may have a book on your shelf that you have been intending to read for some time: this might be a really good time to commit to read that book. Have a think about it. Or, you could decide to read the Bible on a daily basis through Lent. Or you might decide to make a point of ringing someone who you wouldn’t normally see, or you haven’t spoken to for a while. Taking this on in a thoughtful way could make a huge difference to folks who are lonely in this time of Lockdown.
Whatever you decide to do or not do during Lent, I hope it is a useful time for you as you think about your relationship with God and prepare for Easter.
I hope and pray that we will at least be back in Church to celebrate Easter this year.
Let us all continue to keep safe and look forward to being back together again soon.
God Bless,
Steve
December 2020 / January 2021
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Christmas Messenger.
As you know, I am a great Royalist and Christmas Day is made complete for me and my family when we sit to watch the Queen speak. I was struck recently when I saw a list of monarchs and the length of their reigns by how short many of them were.
Henry IV may have two Shakespeare plays written about him, but our present monarch has ruled for almost five times as long as he did. I have wondered how the current Queen’s record breaking length of reign has changed our perspective of monarchy.
We live in an extraordinary time where no one under the age of retirement has seen the throne change hands. You are likely to have to be around seventy years old or older to recall any coronation that has happened in this country.
The average length of reign in England is less than twenty years. In most other times of history someone of my age would have seen a couple of kings or queens crowned. Undoubtably this time of stability and continuous reign has brought advantages, but we must have lost some of the wonder and mystery of seeing someone new crowned king or queen.
At this time of year Christians look to the coming of the Eternal King, Jesus Christ. We remember his birth in Bethlehem, but we are also reminded that the baby born at Christmas is the King above all other Kings of which our own Queen reminds us so much with her own strong Faith. This baby, born in poverty, is the true monarch of the whole world.
As someone who missed the start of the current monarch’s reign by twelve years, I probably fail to grasp the wonder of a new ruler ascending to the throne. I’m not sure that I fully understand the sense of excitement and adventure that must be coupled with the mourning of a fading past and insecurity of the future. We see all these themes within the Christmas story. The palpable excitement that causes shepherds to abandon their duties and rush to a baby’s crib. The majesty that attracts magi to travel across continents. The fear of the local rulers knowing their authority is being undermined. The escape of the Holy family, abandoning all they know, to take refuge in another country.
Although I am sure the transition of rule is far more harmonious in today’s society, the coming of the King in the baby Jesus is met with all the emotions and actions I imagine a new monarch must bring. In the nativity, as told in the Bible, excitement and majesty are coupled with fear and uncertainty. However, the story is not yet finished. The rule of Christ may have started over 2,000 years ago but it did not end there, nor is it complete.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, the season of Advent, the church reminds itself that the rule of Christ may not be fully known now, but one day it will be.
This is why we declare that The King is Coming in the lead up to Christmas. The Christian hope is that the rule of Christ will bring peace, healing and restoration. This next era of the story will not be a temporary time, but eternal. We think of that wonderful hymn, “Sing we the King who is coming to reign, Glory to Jesus, the lamb that was slain, Life and Salvation his empire shall bring, Joy to the nations when Jesus is King. Even though things are difficult we still rejoice and celebrate this Christmas the one who promises to wipe away all tears and make all things new.
I would like to wish you ALL the Joy, Peace and blessings of Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.
God Bless
Steve
October / November 2020
Dear Friends,
This year the apple tree in my garden has produced more apples than in all the time I have lived in the house. As I filled my container with the apples, I found myself thinking how grateful I was for unexpected joys that we come across – the instances where in something really simple turns out to be something really good. Bacon sandwiches for breakfast, hearing children killing themselves with laughter, smelling bonfire smoke or the last cut of the lawn, someone making you a cuppa, clean bedsheets, a good pint after work, sharing a joke with a friend, intricate frost patterns, easy parking spaces…there are loads of little pleasures in life – I am sure you can add your own to the list!
Our world can seem a pretty miserable place at the moment, with the pandemic and changing rules and regulations, politics, wars, natural disasters, environmental changes looming over us. It is all too easy to find we are caught up in the fear, confusion and despair that surround us, and it can feel overwhelming. Whilst it is vital we acknowledge all the things that upset us, and do what we can where we can to make a difference, it is also important to pay attention to the good that we find day to day in our life. To pay attention to kindness or to beauty. To really notice and enjoy our friends and families, to find pleasure in the good things in life and to be thankful for all of them.
When Jesus tells us to trust God, he talks about not worrying too much about the days ahead, but to pay attention to the day in which we find ourselves. He describes the beauty of the simple things around him in the world to draw attention not only to how lovely they are, but how much God cares for them and for us. He says: –
Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you?
The good things in our world are not always strictly necessary – we don’t need beauty like we need water – but that’s what makes them blessings. There can only be a positive effect on our lives and the lives of those around us when we take time to notice the blessings and look for more ways to be grateful, more ways to be kind, more ways to be thankful and more ways to spread happiness.
In these times I think we can appreciate the smallest blessings even more, one of the greatest Blessings has been returning to worship at Kenton, yes its different but what a blessing to be back with our Church family, I would love it if we could see everyone back at church, the measures in place have proved to be quite safe, so I look forward to seeing you all back soon.
Finally, we have given thanks for the blessings of the earth at Harvest and in November we will give thanks and remember all of those who have given their lives for our freedom.
We give thanks to God for all his blessings.
God Bless
Steve
September 2020
Dear Friends
We are called to be life-long learners, Faith is not a goal to be reached, not a destination at which we ever arrive, but a journey we take that lasts us our whole life.
Whilst there may be times when we have a break or make detours on the journey, for the most part we are called to continue travelling the path, trusting that Christ walks with us along the way.
As I write this I am aware that the time of Lockdown may for some have been a time of increased learning and trusting in Christ but for others it may have been a time to feel distant from Christ even disappointed in Christ.
This journey of Faith involves our whole self, as it says “Love God with all of your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength” It involves worship, prayer and service and for some these would have been difficult to do during the last few months.
We are called to seek an understanding of our faith as much as we can and that involves study.
Whether we are 20 or 80 we are called to be learners, to put our brains to use for a better understanding of God’s word and God’s will for us.
The New Methodist Year starts on the 1st September and you and I face new directions on our journey of Faith. We may have to face resuming our journey of learning again as we have not been in the right place to do that over the last few months.
We may have to look a fresh at our priorities in life and how we serve Christ. We might have to reflect on why we can go to the supermarket, the hairdressers, the pub but we can’t go back to Church!
Many of our Churches and not just Methodist Churches are experiencing a high number of people who are not ready to return to Church and yet being in Fellowship as Christians is so vital for us as we seek to continue our journey.
It has been great at Kenton since we reopened to see increasing numbers each week, its different but it is so good to be in church together worshipping the living God, even if we can only hum the hymns behind our masks.
God is calling us back to the journey and to the continual learning more about him and ourselves.
For my brothers and sisters at Wealdstone I look forward to being part of your journey now and to us working together to learn more about the Saviour and his plans for the mission of the Church.
At the beginning of this new Methodist Year I pray that God will bless us all with new insights into the wonders and works of our Lord and Saviour.
God Bless
Steve
July / August 2020
Dear Friends,
Another month has gone by and I was hoping that this Magazine would be filled with the good news of us opening on the 1st July.
Although the Government have now given approval for Churches to open on the 4th July, the Circuit Leadership team took the decision last week that even if we can open in July our Churches will not open until the first Sunday in August, to ensure that all churches have good practices in place.
I am sure that a number of people will feel unsure about coming back but I want to stress that we will operate in the full guidance of the Government and that a lot of work has already taken place to ensure that we will be able to open.
At Kenton all plans are in place and we will issue guidance to all members as to how the church will operate on the day that we open.
This has been a very testing time for all of us and it will take some time until we feel comfortable in life again and everyone must choose to live life in whatever way they now feel safe and comfortable.
This magazine will cover the period of July and August at the end of which my tenure of being Minister for South Harrow will come to an end and I will take over Wealdstone on the 1st September.
As we intend to email this out to South Harrow again I would just like to say that I pray that South Harrow will be blessed as they welcome Julie as their Minister and they will be open to her Leadership and any new ideas that she will bring with her Ministry.
I pray that God will bless both South Harrow and Kenton Church families over these coming months. I pray that we will grow strong again and find Joy in each other’s presence as we are united together again in Christ’s Service and in the service of the communities in which we live.
For now, let us continue to enjoy the lovely weather and the support of those who have been close to us and helped us during this lockdown.
God Bless
Steve
June 2020
Dear Friends,
So much has happened since I last wrote for the magazine, it is frankly hard to digest it all. We are all busily trying to adapt to a very different way of living and there is no doubt that it is tough, but particularly for those who live alone and those who don’t have gardens. Most especially there is deep concern for loved ones and indeed ourselves as we all try to dodge these invisible viral bullets. The most significant news for our church life together was the suspension of all services and then the closure of all our buildings, something I have found particularly saddening. I feel for all who find strength and peace by spending time in our church through the week and for the many who are prevented from being with their church family on Sundays and at all our other events and activities.
We think of course of those who have lost loved ones to this pandemic. Our hearts go out to them and to all who are currently suffering with the illness. In addition, many have had to deal with redundancy and great financial uncertainty, and we all share a concern for our local businesses.
Her Majesty the Queen, has made two moving and calming addresses to the nation which have alluded to previous trials that our country and Commonwealth have faced, and yet this has and is so different but still requiring the great spirit of the wartime generation as we all seek to do our bit in this time of national emergency.
The military heroes that gave us victory over fascism are of course in this crisis replaced by the wonderful staff of the NHS and all care workers who are bravely battling this invisible killer. A worrying number have themselves succumbed. We owe them all so much. I have enjoyed taking part in the Thursday clap at 8pm seeing all of the neighbours out and enjoying the fireworks that one of my neighbours seems to nave an endless supply.
The Queen finished her first message with the words ‘We will meet again’
On the 31st May we celebrated Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, it seems strange this year as we are not together as the Church to celebrate. Pentecost reminds us that in the Power of the Spirit we are ONE and it is together as ONE that we find our strength.
This year so far has been a strange one, as we know, and I think that it will continue to be so. We have been separated yes, but we have still been ONE in God and in the Spirit.
There is a hope now that from the first of July we will be able to Worship together again, although with strict rules in place for a while.
Although there have been Zoom services, worship on the TV and radio, services on the internet, private times of prayer and reflection, it is not the same as being together, when we are confirmed into the church we are reminded that we must be in Communion with each other and so being CHURCH is being together.
Friends, we will meet again and very soon.
God Bless you All
Steve
April / May 2020
Dear Friends,
The Gospel of Luke records a time after Jesus’ resurrection when He walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). As we recall, the discussion was on recent events, with a focus on the crucifixion. Those disciples were experiencing great sadness. Yet by the end of the conversation, they were exclaiming with joy, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
I love this part of the Easter story because it portrays a very alive and present God who is doing what He wants to do for all of us, namely walk alongside in an effort to take away our sadness and replace it with joy.
Jesus Christ is the one God of heaven and earth. He is not merely the Son of God who came to die for the sins of the world; rather He is God Himself who came in human form to show us what kind of God He truly is.
Scripture teaches that God exists and that there is one God”. This is something that most people intuitively believe, and even what most Christian churches teach, despite confusions over one God somehow divided into three eternal Persons, the Trinity.
It’s interesting to note how itinerant Jesus was on earth. His whole ministry can be seen through the lens of walking around the Holy Land as He taught people truths they needed to know and healed them of their ailments. Even some of those healing miracles focused on walking, as when He said to a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” (John 5:8).
We know intuitively that walking means living, “life is a journey”.
The beauty of all this is where it brings us: We now have an active picture of walking with our Lord. As a God of pure love, He wants to bless us with awesome relationships, inner peace, and a sense deeply fulfilling sense of purpose in life.
What could all this mean for us this Easter season? I have three hopes to share about that.
First is the hope that the love of God will touch our hearts in new ways. If He is pure love, then from Him we can receive some of that love for others. Our part is to turn regularly to the Source of love with the prayer that He soften and warm our hearts toward others, so that we may Love our Neighbours as ourselves.
A second hope is that we will experience moments of enlightenment. If God is infinite wisdom, then from Him we can hear the truths about life that we really need to know. For example, Jesus said on the cross, “Forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Can we reflect on the principle of forgiveness, and be willing to do our part to move strained relationships to a better place, instead of holding onto anger, or worse, the desire for retribution?
A third hope is that we will feel again the joy that can come from living for others, not in unhealthy, depleting ways, but in inspiring “make a difference” ways. If God has incredible ability to affect our lives for good, then from Him we can do things for others that truly help.
We return to the image of the risen Lord walking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As with them, so He is walking with us in an effort to “open the Scriptures” to us, and cause our hearts to “burn within us.” Because He is a God of love, wisdom and ability, He can help us to be loving, wise, and capable human beings who respond to His calling to be a blessing to others in all that we do.
May the Risen Saviour grant to us wisdom, peace, joy and peace
God Bless
Steve
March 2020
Dear Friends,
I can’t believe it is March already. March is a time of year where we see a change in season; the days get longer, the mornings lighter, flowers appear in our parks and garden and leaves reappear on the trees. In the world around us we can see tangible changes as spring arrives signifying new life and new beginnings.
It is not just in the earthly seasons that we see changes. We are now firmly into the church season of Lent which began in February on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time of reflection, a time where Christians throughout the world remember the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness and the temptation he faced. Many people give things up at Lent, whether that be chocolate, coffee or increasingly popularly give up facebook or twitter. I admit over the years I have never given up anything although I agree that the self-discipline is a good thing and also the opportunities of re-examining our priorities in life is a positive experience.
It is also increasingly popular for people to take something up for Lent — a new hobby or raising money for charity or for our Church Anniversary on the 8th March.
Lent is a good opportunity to stop and reflect on ourselves. Part of this is about considering our priorities, perhaps engaging more with the Bible and deepening our relationship with God. Lent is the time when we prepare for the events of Holy Week and the great festival of Easter which this years is on the second weekend of April it is important to remember that as we journey through Lent with Jesus in the wilderness, as we prepare to journey through his triumphant arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through to the last supper, his betrayal and his death, that we know the joy and hope of Easter will come. I think something which connects the arrival of spring and the anticipation of Easter is a simple thing – hope. Hope is defined in many ways. A feeling of expectation or desire, grounds for believing good may happen. This dictionary style definitions certainly help build up a picture of what it means to hope. But someone recently described hope to me in a different way. She simply said ‘hope is the light of our lives’. It is about seeking light in the darkness, looking for signs of hope, however small, in difficult circumstances. Hope can be found every day in the ordinary – a kind word, a selfless or courageous action, in the encouragement and support of others who are struggling. Where we see new life we see hope but indeed where we see hope we see new life. For Christians there is no greater hope than that of the resurrection celebrated at Easter.
So this Lent, I pray each of you would find time for reflection and growth, but also seek and hold on to the hope and promise of new life which we see mirrored in the seasons of our world and in our church.
‘Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him’ (Psalm 62:5)
God Bless
Steve
January / February 2020
Dear Friends,
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
The coming of the New Year every January commonly sees a raft of good resolutions made by many. Give it a few weeks, and by the end of the month, many of those resolutions have been broken or abandoned! We perhaps should not be surprised by this. Faced with a new year, we often feel an impetus for change or improvement. Sadly, our will alone is rarely strong enough to sustain that desire. That’s why the NHS has clubs to help people stop smoking, or to exercise or to help with weight loss which are frequently more successful than individuals trying to diet etc – having support, encouragement and people in front of whom you do not wish to fail gives the extra incentive required.
Our Christian life can often feel the same. God calls us to change; to put off the old life and put on the new. Yet this can be as much of a struggle as keeping New Year resolutions. I think there are two main reasons for the struggle. The first is that unlike slimmers, who are willing to be weighed in front of each other and admit their failings and celebrate their successes, in church we rarely admit our challenges, struggles and failures or successes with temptation. Perhaps we are embarrassed, or think people won’t like us if we admit we still struggle with sin? BUT church is a community of sinners who God loves and has called to be His friends!
The second reason for struggle is that too often we think the battle is ours alone – that we have to exert our will power to bring about change in our self. This is where Paul’s message to the church in Philippi can encourage us. Paul tells them to ‘work out your salvation in fear and trembling’ but then goes on to say ‘for God is at work in you’. The change God calls us to is a cooperative work between individuals and God, made easier by having others around to whom we can be accountable, and who can encourage and cheer us on. So make resolutions if you want to, but I would also encourage you to reflect with God in prayer about what change He might be calling you to…..and what change God might be calling the church too……
God bless you ALL
Steve
December 2019
Dear Friends,
So as I come to write about Christmas this year, I write in front of a very different backdrop from previous years. We have seen such turmoil in our country and around the world this year. How do we respond in times like these? What does the Christmas story have to say to us at this time? Well first of all the Christmas story brings hope: so many hopes and dreams of people have been shattered this year in many different ways. However the coming of Christ into the world brought hope that all who believed on him would not perish but have eternal life. So the Christmas story is about God coming into a sin sick world and sharing in our humanity. It is about God’s son going to die on a cross so that we could go to heaven. So the Christmas story is about hope
It is also about peace. When the angel came to Zechariah to tell him about the pending birth of his son John the Baptist he was frightened and the angel said: ‘Do not be afraid.’ When the angel appeared before Mary, again the words were, ‘Do not be afraid,’ and when he appeared before the shepherds in the fields again the words were, ‘ Do not be afraid.’ When Christ came into the world, this was not a time for fear, but a time for peace, a time for knowing that God was with us and his Messiah had come to establish his kingdom. No matter what lies ahead for each of this Christmas, no matter what we have to face, the message of Christmas is one of peace. God came to make peace with fallen humanity and when Jesus Christ is in control of our lives he will calm all anxiety. He calmed the storm by saying to the waves and the wind, ‘ Be still.’ He told his disciples not to worry about tomorrow for each day has enough worry of its own and he invited burdened people to come to him and to find rest for their souls.
So the Christmas story brings hope and peace to our troubled and anxious lives, but it also brings love. “God so loved the world”, we are told, “that he gave his one and only son.” In the fullness of time Jesus Christ came from his home in heaven to make his dwelling among us. He then went to the cross to stand in our place and he did that out of love for us. So we know that no matter what we face, when we are trusting in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour then we are not alone and we are loved even though the world in which we live is extremely selfish and self centred.
So remember that this timeless Christmas message of hope, peace and love is just as relevant today, if not even more.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support and encouragement throughout the year. I wish you all a very blessed and happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
“But the angel said to Him, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11.
God Bless
Steve
November 2019
Dear friends,
I cannot believe that I am writing this letter for the November Magazine!
At the very beginning of October we had our Staff residential at Missenden Abbey where our Speaker was Pastor Ray Evans who came to speak about how we grow our Churches. As a Circuit and as Local churches we are now committed to our Church Mission Strategies, we are about growing our Churches.
Ray informed us that most Churches today are growing through becoming “invitational churches” although he pointed out that only one third of the congregation will invite family and friends to come to any event at church! We are now approaching the Christmas period when we will be hosting our Carol Services and I want to make this challenge to you all, why not invite your family, friends and neighbours to our Christmas services? Let’s commit ourselves to doubling our congregations over the Christmas period, let’s make our services welcoming. Let’s offer good food and drinks after our special services.
I want all of us to commit to bringing in new people to church or to bringing to church those who have perhaps slipped away. We have a lot to offer and I hope that none of us are ashamed of our Faith or of OUR Church family. I believe that we are living in exciting times and I believe that God has great plans for us and they start with the celebration of HIS birth.
Just a reminder that on Christmas Eve the Service at Kenton will be at 5pm and will be a Family Nativity Service. More will follow about how we can grow our Churches and how we can ALL be involved in that process.
God Bless you All with HIS Spirit
Steve
September / October 2019
Dear Friends,
As I write this I am looking forward to a few days off in Kent, a county where orchards, fields of golden corn and market gardens seem to proliferate, reminding me of the abundant provision of food with which we are blessed in the UK. This, of course, reminds me of the forthcoming season of harvest festivals and harvest thanksgiving services which are our opportunity to thank God for the abundant provision of food we enjoy and I hope you will feel free to join us.
As you know I have very close links with Venezuela, I am reminded just how fortunate we are in the UK. Despite being situated in the Caribbean, with no shortage of sun or rain, Venezuela a once prosperous country that could easily feed itself now see thousands starving and having to flee to other countries. Perhaps our gratitude could go beyond thanksgiving and include support of the world's poorest through aid agencies like Christian Aid.
I am challenged by the words of Jesus who reminded us that we cannot live on bread alone but that we need spiritual food too - the word of God! I cannot imagine anyone would neglect to go to the shops to buy food in the UK, yet all the statistics tell us that the vast majority of people in the UK neglect their spiritual wellbeing - many church-goers admit to not even reading their Bibles or praying regularly! Spiritual wellbeing is as important as physical wellbeing if we are to live life to the full.
With this in mind I want to encourage everyone to join a Bible Study group in our Churches and also to take seriously the need for Prayer, if we want to see our Churches grow we need to pray seriously for that Growth.
I would like to start Membership/Confirmation Classes as soon as possible but these will not only be open to those wishing to become Members but also for those who would like to have a refresher.
I am also looking into a course about the basic beliefs of Christianity which will highlight the particular emphases of the Methodist Church.
Our Worship of God, Father, Son and Spirit is so very important but our so is our Knowledge of the Bible, the Gospels for our Spiritual well being.
So Happy New Methodist year and let it be one where we continue to grow in the Spirit and in Love for God and for each other.
God Bless
Steve