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. 

Church anniversary

What a great morning I have had.

We had a brunch service to celebrate our church anniversary at Firth Park. 

So with song , prayer , fresh fruit , crossiants , and activities to get people thinking about their lives as Christians. 

What kind of people do we want to be ? What kind of fruit to produce and what gifts have we to do our work with children and young people differently? 

Just a great atmosphere , lots of laughter and interaction. 

We offered all our lives, prayers and gifts on the green material flowing from the cross which has become a symbol of life , a tree that produces a harvest.

Then it had been over to Nethergreen to present a church review to our Beacon Church which has three sites on the city . 

So all in all a good day.

Circuit Pilgrimage stage one

My intention is to visit all 60 plus of our church premises across Sheffield. The hope is to walk from church to church in clusters so gving me and those who might join me a different perspective on our amazing city. When we walk we see things which when in a car are missed or give no time to reflect upon. It is to be a time to give people an opportunity to ask about the life of our shared circuit so clarifying concerns. It means for me an opportunity to see and hear what good things are happening and make connections for our  work together.

So stage one on Saturday took me from Hillsborough to Wisewood to Stanwood.

Hillsborough is in the midst of a major refurbishment which has already opened up what was a pew filled worship space into one that is bright, multi purpose and very useable. 

 

A number of people came along to have a coffee and chat before I set off for our Wisewood Methodist church.

The normal concerns surrounding the size of our very large circuit were raised and the need to retain a sense of belonging to each other. The hopes at Hillsborough, following on from all the yet to be completed building work, is that it can be more than just a place where 'good work ' is undertaken. The Challenge to offer a vibrant and a distinctive contribution to sharing the Christian faith remains a central task for them and the circuit. 

What a day though to start the pilgrimage warm and sunny which makes everywhere look good. Hillsborough overlooks a wonderful park but I headed away up hill with one companion and so in talking no photos. I was struck as always by the volume of housing in our city, the lives we rarely come in contact with, and if we are honest probabley dont even know we exist.

Arriving at Wisewood the church was in full swing with the annual spring clean, the knit and natter group were hard at , well mostly nattering! and an offer of a bacon butty.

Katie their  minister was there to greet us.

There was an excellent spirit and the place had a real buzz. Concerns raised included what will happen when our current outreach worker post ends this summer? Is this an opportunity for the  circuit togive some  assistance so the new pieces of work are not lost, while the local church determines how it can keep it going.

The lovely phrase is succession planning.

 It is vital that when we undertake new work, projects and employ people, we are at the same time giving thought to how we maintain that work when funding ends. Of course new work highlights the fact that as a circuit we may have to stop doing old things so we can do new work. This is never easy as the familiar brings a kind of security even if it leads to decline.

Refreshed from my time with the Wiswood folks I moved on alone. I think the thought of the walk uphill may have put some off.

Back tracking slightly I then cut through down to where the roads go off along the Rivilin  or stannington.

Passing St Mark's ' the church on the hill' I never knew it was there !

You would think you were in the heart of the countryside from this photo but no traffc and housing all around. What beauty is to be found if only we stop and look.

My middle daughter told me not to walk at my usual pace if people joined me. So I  surprised the steward at Stanwood arriving early inspite of the walk uphill.

A chance for important conversation and for me to hear hopes and dreams. The walk ended with prayer and I look forward to stage two going from Tinsley to Darnall to Handsworth. It's going to be different again .

Strike and our country retreat

We have an amazing NHS and so I tooted my car horn to show solidarity with the Junior doctors on strike. Of course it's a risky thing to go out on strike when you are dealing with people's health. Yet sometimes you get pushed into a course of action and it is the only thing you can do. Having experienced the need for care at a weekend it does beg the question ' have we not already a seven day week NHS? I can't but help perceive a politically motivated attitude is ignoring the reality on the ground . Bit like the drive towards academies . If as we are told most schools are good or outstanding and that's happened under LEA control why waste money on academies ? 

Clearly time to get away so a night away to our country retreat . That's our middle daughter home. Greated by Meg who appeared to recognise me! Or was it just she wanted her food bowl filling ? Is this not the man who came to look after us ? Perhaps he will give me food if I look welcoming ?

Epworth and the home of the Wesleys

After many years it was time for Jill to visit this famous Methodist hot spot!

It was clear on our arrival that not many people were expected at Epworth vicarage. When we asked for light refreshments on arrival we were told there was the possibility of a cup of tea but no biscuits or we could  go to the bakers and have a pasty warmed up. This was a cue to turn round and find sustenance elsewhere before what we assumed would be a relatively short time looking  round  the old vicarage. 

Coffee and cake duly consumned we returned fortified for our visit. On payment yes we would gift aid! And then I asked the fatal question have you got a guide. I meant a booklet. 'Oh yes I will get you one when I Take you over to the house' was the reply. 

On entering the hallowed hall we discovered no written guide as the lady went into a room and brought out Peter our guide. Introducing himself, and we did the same, it transpired he had been a member at one of my current churches. He announced the tour would take one hour and five minutes. Our hearts sank. 

So began a very personal interpretation of the home of the Wesleys and the inhabitants. Trying to remain focussed and polite we were in fact trying to look at the various objects in the rooms and read information. This did not apparantly fit with how the tour should go. Fearing to answer questions asked of us in case we got them wrong or a test at the end, we had to at times feign ignorance about John Charles and co which was not easy for me. 

At one point we were asked what we knew about John's love life. My response was 'he was a very naughty boy' 'well it depends what you mean by that' was his retort. Even Mr Wesley himself looked bored. 

Gazing at the famous picture of John 'a brand plucked from the fire' I just wished I could be plucked away. 

Is it a comode? No its what every minister needs to carry his bible on his horse. 

The famous Suzanna Wesley who had much to put up with as her vicar husband was not the most popular clergymen the people of the parish had ever had. Nothing new there then. 

So true to his word a good hour and five minutes the tour concluded. And not an American tourist in sight.

Looking out

The comment has so often been it looks closed. Well the new doors lets the light flood in and says we are open for business .

But it's not just about being open. It's about the world we look out on which God in Christ calls us to serve .

The glass of the new doors means we can see our community on the roundabout. 

We may have a USP ( unique selling point) Good news in Jesus Christ. But it's the world out there we are called to listen to. The world out there that we are called to serve. So we are no longer physically closed up as a building. Now we need to show by how we serve we are not closed up as people to the needs of this great part of Sheffield. 

Post Easter rest

Well after a busy Easter week and multiple Easter day services its always good to have a few days rest!  Well that is if you haven't offered to paint your future grand childs nursery and daughter and son in law bedroom which had been freshly re plastered.

So a trip to London saw three days of full on decorating.

And finally I had the pleasure of putting the cot bed and changing unit together .

So just new carpets and curtains and all will be ready......

So on coming home I did feel just a wee bit tired and wondering when I would get some holiday. No I lie it was great fun though exhausting, but not as exhausting as my daughter and son in law will discover when the baby is born.