Minister's letter for 5 May

Dear Friends,

"I have called you friends" (John 15:b)

What does it mean for us to be called friend by Jesus?

What does it mean to be someone's friend?

I wonder how being church would be impacted if we considered church as one great friendship group rather than as a 'family'?

Lots... Read more

Minister's letter for 21 April

Dear Friends,

Just something to ponder over: in the Bible study group at Upton we talked about John 10:11-18 – "I am the Good Shepherd". God being described and referred to as shepherd is a consistent one throughout scripture. The qualities of protector, leading to the best sources of food... Read more

Minister's letter for Easter

Dear Friends

One of the pictures in the Methodist Modern Art Collection is by Richard Bavin, The Empty Tomb. It uses simple shapes and contrasting colours to define the space... Read more

Minister's letter for 17 & 24 March

Dear Friends,

Just a very short note today!

John 12:20-22

"Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, " Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip... Read more

Minister's letter for 3 March

Dear Friends,

Our journey through Lent continues and for the next few weeks the story is followed in John's gospel. With the telling of Jesus' overturning of the tables in the Temple is the focus for this Sunday, alongside the Decalogue or Ten words (Ten commandments) at the beginning of Exodus... Read more

Minister's letter for 18 February

Dear Friends,

We are entering into the season of Lent. I wonder how you will mark this time? Will you be giving up something or perhaps you will be adding something into your daily routine – more intentional time to pray, be with God, give thanks. Perhaps you will be attending a Lent study group or... Read more

Minister's letter for 4 & 11 February

Dear Friends,

In the Covenant services that I have been privileged to lead through January and into February, I have used a song from Singing the Faith called "Beyond these walls of worship" by Ian Worsfold and Paul Wood (STF 547). It is based on Romans 12:1-2, one of the texts for the Covenant... Read more

Minister's letter for 21 January

Dear Friends,

"Forty days more, and Ninevah shall be overthrown! And the people of Ninevah believed God;" (Jonah 3:4b)

One of the shortest and most effective sermons in the Bible and it came from someone who up until very recently had done their very best to get away from what God had asked... Read more

Minister's letter for 7 January

Dear Friends,

Peace and Joy in this new year!

Technically we are still in the season of Christmas, the wise men (however many of them there were and whoever they were), are still travelling along, following a star that they believe will lead them to the child who has been born king. I have lost count... Read more

Christmas message

Dear Friends,

I wonder if you have a favourite Christmas film. One of my favourites is 'Arthur Christmas' – the story of Father Christmas' clumsy, youngest son's attempt to deliver a lost present to a child. One of Arthur's most endearing qualities is his absolute certainty of the... Read more

Minister's letter for 3 & 10 December

Dear Friends,

It is the first Sunday in Advent this week. The word Advent derives from the Latin 'adventus' meaning arrival or coming. It is a time for preparing, but more than what the shops and other adverts would have us do. Yes, we want and need to get ready to celebrate with presents, visits,... Read more

Minister's letter for 19 November

Dear Friends,

The gospel reading in this week's lectionary is one of my favourite parables: The parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The reason is because for years, I never understood it – I found it one of the most unfair stories in the New Testament. The person given the one talent kept... Read more

Minister's letter for 22 & 29 October

Dear Friends,

I remember at the beginning of last year coming across a poem by Ann Weems called 'I no longer pray for peace'. The opening and closing lines were, "I no longer pray for peace. I pray for miracles."

The escalation of violence between Hamas, who have a base in Gaza, and... Read more

Minister's letter & prayer requests for 8 October

Dear Friends,

Over recent days one event has caused huge outrage over the social media channels – the senseless felling of the tree in the Sycamore Gap. There have been heartfelt tributes and memories shared of this feature amidst the expression of shock and loss. There have also been a number of mentions... Read more

Minister's letter for 17 & 24 September

Dear Friends,

It is always good to give thanks as well as intercede for others in our prayer. So we give thanks and celebrate that 'The Welcome Inn' Café (Bournemouth MC at Victoria Park) has been announced as café of the year in a competition run by a local newspaper. Congratulations... Read more

Minister's letter for 3 & 10 September

Dear Friends,

September is a strange month. It feels odd to experience 'new beginnings' at the same time as we see endings in nature. When the still sunny (ish) and warm days are marked by chillier mornings and evenings. As children and young people return to their classrooms, so those who are... Read more