Quarterly Magazine for the Whitby Section of the North Yorkshire Coast Circuit of the Methodist Church
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Quarterly Magazine for the Whitby Section Of The North Yorkshire Coast Circuit of the Methodist Church Autumn 2015 Welcome to The Wayfarer, serving the six churches of the Whitby Section of the North Yorkshire Coast Circuit of The Methodist Church. Page Article 1 Through The Manse Window – Rev John Pugh 2 Super Thoughts – Rev Graham Morgan 3 Thoughts From Across The Street - Joyce Harland 4 From the Deacon’s Desk – Deacon Helen Webster 5-6 Methodist Women in Britain – Kathleen Rushworth 7-8 The Good Book – Pete White 9 Poets Corner 10 Quarterly Review 11 What, Where, When 12 Messy Church and Off the Net (a letter from the past) 13 Let us Pray 14 Grandpa’s Wisdom – Rev John Pugh In our journey of faith we look forward in this new Methodist year. Among other things in this issue Graham Morgan writes a pen portrait of himself as our new superintendent, John Pugh explains the role of a Methodist Superintendent and Pete White gives an overview of The Bible. Ministers Superintendent: Rev Graham Morgan Presbyter: Rev John Pugh Deacon: Helen Webster Thank You A big ‘thank you’ to the contributors and distributers of this issue, all you do is much appreciated. Not forgetting everyone who helps print and fold our magazine. Deadline for the next issue is October 16th 2015 You know the address: [email protected] The Wayfarer Autumn 2015 Love in Christ, Ellinor Dear friends In the North Yorkshire Coast Circuit we are undergoing change – a new superintendent has arrived, raising the question – What is a Superintendent? Methodists often hear about and speak of this person as the ‘Super’, who is the Senior Presbyter chosen by the Methodist Conference to be responsible for the leadership of the Circuit, aided and supported by the Circuit Stewards. Our new Super is Reverend Graham Morgan replacing Rev Mark Haynes. As well as having Pastoral responsibility in his own right for some of the Circuit Churches his duties include pastoral care of the Circuit Staff and responsibilities of leadership over Circuit meetings, Preachers and Worship Leaders meetings, Staff meetings, plus certain responsibilities to the District. Long standing practises allow him to delegate some of his leadership role to other Presbyters; this is usually seen in the leadership of Church Councils. He is encouraged to preach in as many of the Circuit Churches as possible each year; however in Super Circuits like ours this becomes a rather difficult process so some churches may not see Graham too often. As Super, Graham is also responsible for maintaining discipline within the Circuit and in each Church. The role is a demanding one so let us pray for Graham who joins us with his wife Emma – who is also a presbyter. Our next article is a pen portrait of the man himself. ‘Welcome Graham and Emma’ John 1 The Wayfarer Autumn 2015 Dear friends, In July Emma and I were surrounded by packing boxes in Shildon, County Durham. We were undergoing a seemingly endless round of final meetings, services and saying goodbye to some lovely people. We would soon be surrounded by the same packing boxes in Scarborough and preparing for an endless round of first meetings, services and saying hello to more lovely people! We were very much looking forward to our move and, like it or not, we have a lot of changes ahead of us and challenges before us. Emma and I have been sharing a Team Ministry in the Shildon Circuit - in the North Yorkshire Coast Circuit we shall be part of a much bigger team, this we look forward to. We have two children: Sam(uel) who, in September, will be working for ‘Rock UK’ a Christian Charity based in Carlisle and (Re)bekah who hopes to be living and working in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It will be strange adjusting to the ‘empty nest’ syndrome. We were both born in the North East of England and reasonably familiar with the North Yorkshire Coast and looking forward to becoming more familiar. As superintendent I will be travelling around the circuit, visiting all the churches and getting to know as many of you as possible in the coming weeks and months. Please be patient with me, presume I know nothing and forgive me if I take a while to put the right names to the right people. Love is at the heart of my ministry; a love for God and I hope to love you all with the love of the Lord, all I ask is that in return, you love me too. Together, let us grow together in Love and seek to share that Love with others as we seek to grow God’s Kingdom in our hearts and churches. Laughter is also an important part of my ministry and my motto, if I had one, would be ‘Laugh often and laugh loud!’ I look forward to meeting you, to working together with you and to sharing much laughter. Hopefully you are looking forward to meeting me and to working together with me. With love in Jesus, Laugh often and laugh loud! The Wayfarer Autumn 2015 Graham (Rev Graham Morgan) 2 The Wayfarer Autumn 2015 “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” Is 40: 4 On the left hand side of the road, going towards Sandsend, the earth on the bank side is being levelled from the top and the rough areas smoothed creating a balanced and even cliff face. On the other side of the road large mechanical earth movers appear to be making a way down to the sea-wall so further support work can be carried out. As a work in progress it is fascinating to watch. As a teenager, whilst walking my dog along the same piece of road I watched in horror as huge amounts of earth fell down on to the road from the nearby bank side and blocked much of it off. Over the intervening years I must admit to taking quite an interest in seeing how this on- going problem has been tackled. Thinking of this recently these words from Isaiah came to mind, “Comfort my people,” says our God, “Comfort them. Clear the way in the desert for our God, fill every valley, level every mountain, the hills will become a plain and the rough country will be made smooth.” (Isaiah 40: 1-5 – GNB ) So much in nature is echoed in life events! There are times for all of us when life becomes overwhelming and seems to come crashing down around us. Domestic problems, health issues, relationship difficulties, bereavement can all create the landslide which blocks our way and at worse threatens to cut us off from our Lord and even our faith. In daily living we address problems created by the forces of nature by turning to the experts in this field, those trained in the management of such events, so surely when crises occur in our lives it is essential that we to turn to the One who will not only support us but guide us through our difficulties, smooth our way and by His grace restore us to the straight highway which leads to Him – Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. We are His work in progress, which He Himself will complete and which He will never abandon. All He asks is our faith and trust in Him! This is the comfort He brings, the comfort which sustains and makes the rough places plain. Amen. Joyce Harland 3 The Wayfarer Autumn 2015 Last year I was taught how to make loom band bracelets, which knowledge I was able to pass on at Messy Church. We were making loom band friendship bracelets as an activity to think about David as a friend to Jonathan Everyone enjoyed making the bracelets. Passing on things we have learnt is important. When we were gardening with the Children’s Centre in Pannett Park this year it was lovely to see one of the older children, who was almost 5, helping one of the younger children and sharing some of the things he had remembered from gardening before. We all have knowledge and skills which we can pass on to others. Sometimes though we are led to believe that our skills aren’t as important as those of others so we hide our talents away and don’t use the gifts we’ve been given. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the church being like a body and emphasises that all parts of the body have value. Even the parts which we think are insignificant have important roles to play. God has gifted us all in different ways and wants us to use and share those gifts – building relationships as we do so. One person can only do so much – much more can be done when we work together. Working together to share, not just practical skills but also the love of Jesus as we get to know people along the way. So what gifts do you have that could be shared and passed on? As you know, my work involves getting alongside people in the communities around us and working with them in many different ways. Messy Church, in Fylingdales, Sleights and from September in Whitby, is not just about crafts, but preparing and serving food and for some people just sitting, chatting and welcoming our guests Street Angels is not just about going on the streets late at night but many other people helping by praying, helping with admin or promotion At the Eastside Community Centre I help with a women’s group and a homework club, do you have skills you could share with either or both of these groups.