Welcome to Salisbury Methodist Circuit
Pastoral Letter
Dear Sisters and Brothers.
A new broom has swept into the circuit... or not! Having been here for four years, I can hardly claim to be a new broom, merely a part of the old broom, which has been well directed by Bryan Coates for the last few years creating an expectant and vibrant circuit. We are thankful to Bryan for all he has done to enable us to grow and develop as a circuit and the time and effort he has spent in working with us. It is a privilege to have been asked to be your superintendent minister and I look forward, with the other circuit staff, to supporting your work for God where you are locally and across the circuit.
It is with great pleasure that my first task as superintendent is to welcome the Rev'd Paul Rees to the circuit. Paul brings unique gifts to the circuit team and we look forward to working with him. I am sure he will receive a warm welcome from around the circuit.
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A group of our young people from around the Circuit is going to attend 3Generate again this autumn.
For those of you who remember the MAYC rallies of your youth, 3Generate is an updated version of these.
Last year, in each of their age groups, the young people raised certain issues, some which are a challenge for us all.
These were discussed at Conference and will influence the Methodist Church over the coming years.
You can find out more on the website of the Methodist Church in Great Britain and Ireland, by clicking here.
No doubt more will come from their autumn meeting this year.
As we approach a new Methodist year we have many challenges and changes to face as a circuit. We are dropping from four to three ministers, which will have consequences, in particular on the plan. Fortunately, Anna Bishop and Chris Jones have agreed to take pastoral responsibility for some churches and Cecil King will continue to care for Downton. We are grateful for their willingness to work with us. Inevitably, there will be a need for lay people to take responsibility for aspects of our work which has been taken by our ministers in the past.
We are well served by our team of local preachers and I would encourage them to be generous with their preaching dates as we will be relying on them to fill the plan.
Challenge and change are not new to the church nor to be avoided or resisted. Continually God challenges us to change our approach to how we worship and mission in response to God's call and to the society in which we seek to serve. Let us be courageous in our decisions and confident in our faith.
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Your brother in Christ,
David
Preaching Plan
News
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Circuit Service to welcome Rev. Paul Rees
and to appoint Rev. David Hookins as Circuit Superintendent
Sunday 9th October at 4.00 pm at Amesbury Methodist Church
Celebrate Amesbury Church's 200th anniversary
Preacher: Rev Canon Dr Andrew Wood, Chair of the Southampton District.
An Evening with Rev Darren Middleton on Saturday 1st October at 7 pm.
Darren, a Methodist Army Chaplain, will be at SMc on Saturday 1st October speaking about his journey from ballet dancer to Methodist Minister.
This will be your last opportunity to hear Darren speak before he is posted away from this area in January.
Those of you who came before to hear him talk about his experiences, especially with the troops in Sierra Leone, will remember what an informative and entertaining event it was.
Unfortunately, due to a shortage of chaplains at present, he will not be taking any more services on the Salisbury Circuit plan.
Tickets for the supper and further details will be available later.
The Listening Place Open Meeting
Please join us at Salisbury Methodist Church
Wednesday 5th October 2016, 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm.
Guest Speaker: Rev Joanna Naish
Everyone is warmly invited to attend our Annual Open Meeting. We are delighted to welcome Revd Joanna Naish as our speaker this year and below is a brief profile she sent us;
I am an Anglican priest working in two parishes north of Salisbury. Brought up in Salisbury, I taught languages in several local secondary schools and was often at the "sharp end" of pastoral care. Over the past ten years or so I have been involved in various projects to do with street ministry, young people and bereavement and outreach on new estates. Married to Geoff, I spend any free time walking my lively whippet, relaxing with our three grown up children or playing guitars.'
For further details please click here. All are welcome.
Iona Workshop Sunday 20th November at SMc at 3pm.
Rev Keith Thomasson, Senior Chaplain at Alabare and musical director of New Sarum Singers will lead an Iona singing workshop on Sunday 20th November at SMc.
The workshop will include music to be used at the evening service at 6pm. Tea will be provided and numbers attending will be required nearer the time. Singers of all ability will be welcome.
Got Questions about Life?
Alpha is coming to Bemerton
Begining 7.15pm Wednesday 14th September
For full details of dqates and times please click here for a poster
Alpha is coming to the City Centre
Alpha at "The Vestry" (nightclub) Milford Street.
Starting Monday 17th October.
For more information please click here
