Circuit Pilgrimage stage 2

It has been a very contrasting day from Saturday when the weather was warm sunny and the world looked wonderful. Today I journeyed from Tinsley to Darnall and onto Handsworth. The final leg was walked in the pouring rain no wonder I walked alone.

Tinsley Church is set in a community that was split in half by the building of the M1 and not surprisingly that barrier can make it feel its on the edge. Having crossed the M1 via the various underpasses which I would not want to do in the dark, a photo of the roundabout hides the reality of the speeding traffic on the road above.

The current infant school where my wife once worked was in fact the site of the original junior school before the motorway. It too will be going as a new school bringing the two current infant and juniors schools physically together is being built on the open green space in the heart of Tinsley. Currently it has the childrens centre but the new school can be seen appearing behind it.

I guess in time the communty will get used to the change and loss of some of the green space. I presume that in time if the school grows more space will be taken up.

Local advice centre before you get to the church.

Still a relatively modern looking building with car parking, a luxury for most of our city churches.

Having arrived I was ready for my first coffee of the day and a warm welcome from the local 's Faith and Jack.

This was a time  to reconnect , to hear the history and current hopes of our community. We concluded our conversation with prayer. Then it was off again to walk to Darnall once more under the M1 and along the very long road. 

I was amused that as I took a photo of the police station a police officer gave me the once over.

So I moved on 

Having left Tinsley a bit late I managed to catch up with some quick walking and made the church at Darnall on time.

This is one of our Local Ecumenical Partnership churches formed  by three Christian traditions, United Reformed , Church of England and Methodist . The place was busy when I arrived with a lunch group in full swing.

 I made it inside before the heavy rain began and the offer again of coffee to keep me going as I chatted to some of the members. Some important community work takes place and it remains a busy church community. It serves in a diverse community whch has changed like so many over the years. The folks seemed in good spirits and willing to work hard. So having listened to their life We prayed and I pulled up my hood and went out into the rain. The suggestion to "catch the bus as its uphill to Handsworth" was not in the spirit of what I am seeking to do. So regardless of the rain I continued on my way with a slighlty faster pace which meant I did the last leg in 25 minutes. No photos on route too wet to stop and take pictures.

Into the shelter of our lovely Handsworth building with its multi purpose worship space and into the cafe meeting room area. Tme again for coffee and conversation including the minister Debora. It was great to hear so many good stories of what is happening there. How friendship being offered is opening up new opportunities to serve people. New housing presents the challenge to engage with new people. The growth of their lunch club that follows on with their work with parents and little ones. It all shows that with a community open to serving good things can be achieved,  and more things beckon to be built on. Not least involvement in local schools and work with the Girls brigade and Boys Brigade which thrive. Our conversation had given me much to share with people in our circuit, and ideas to develop which would mean sharing our circuit resources justly to make a real difference. So a prayer to end with the kind offer of a lift home in the dry. But one final thing. The way they are appreciated in their loving and caring was reflected in a note someone left with a knitted gift just saying how it was all valued.