Among the hard working people of our churches, are our Secretaries; who have to plough through mail, take minutes when required at PCC meetings, chase everyone up when we have meetings, and produce the weekly pew sheets when required. They wear their hats with pride, and we are extremely lucky to have them. People underestimate the amount of work required to keep a church running, but we at RETM are fortunate that the people we have, take on the jobs with a smile, and a strong determination to succeed against the odds.
The indwelling Spirit Week 3: Friday Reading Acts 2.43-47 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in…
Last Saturday was the first of our Team Women’s Ministry Events. We went on a walk together, setting off from Edenfield Parish Church, and then returned for hot drinks and croissants. All of our four team churches were represented and it was lovely for us all to get to know one another. It was a little damp initially but the sun came…
The Holy Spirit Week 3: Thursday Reading Acts 2.37-42 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will…
The ancient Spirit Week 3: Wednesday Reading Acts 2.14-24 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is…
#WatchAndPray Lent reflections – Week 3: Tuesday The disrupting Spirit Week 3: Tuesday Reading Acts 2.1-13 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them,…
#WatchAndPray Lent reflections – Week 3: Monday Week 3: Spirit This week we contemplate the work of the Spirit. The Spirit of God, or God as Spirit, is key to understanding Black Spirituality. God is spirit, and life, and movement, and shows up in every aspect of Black spiritual traditions. Prayer for the Week Great Spirit of God, you remain unquenched, and…
At this point in Lent it is easy to feel weary. If you have given up chocolate or alcohol, or have taken up a new discipline like fasting, it can feel that Lent stretches out and never ends. Yet there is something important about persevering, about putting one foot in front of the other and sticking with the introspective mood of…
The God who moves – Week 2: Weekend Reading Genesis 50.15-21 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, “Say to Joseph: I beg…
Joseph: endurance – Week 2: Friday Reading Genesis 37.12-18 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and…
Bethel: God moves closer Week 2: Thursday Reading Genesis 28.10-22 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went towards Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder…