Abbots Langley Methodist Church
Magazine
May 2008

FROM THE MANSE

from Revd. Gill Hulme

I have just had the benefit of a few days away at High Leas – on retreat with colleagues with whom I trained at Guy Chester Centre. It was really good to catch up with all the news and hear the different ways in which we are called to minister. The theme of our few days together was Renewal, renewing friendship, renewing spirituality, renewing our sense of fun!

It’s all too easy to get into a rut, to feel that you are running in order to keep still, dealing with the emergencies and not giving time to the things that refresh and renew us, or time to try something new.

There are two exciting things on the horizon for Abbots, one coming out of the Fresh Expressions Vision day, and one a follow on from the CTAL Lent course.

The first is Messy Church – which is a new combined venture between St Lawrence’s and ourselves. The idea is that families will come along for creative fellowship on the second Wednesday of the month – after school, and it will include a fun time of worship followed by a simple meal. There are more details inside the newsletter – please pray for our first session on the 14 th May and all who are leading, helping and attending.

The second is daytime Bible Studies, requested at a recent Church council, for although we already have an excellent monthly Bible study that Elizabeth runs, not everyone can get to an evening meeting. At the recent AGM, plus return of the questionnaires, there seemed to be an even split between a monthly Wednesday afternoon and a Monday afternoon, so I have taken an executive decision and decided to do both!

See which one fits your diary the best, and then please come along and taste and see – so that we can deepen our understanding of Scripture together, and discuss how the truths contained in the Bible can impact on our everyday lives, (again see inside the newsletter for more details.)

Renewal is not necessarily a one-off retreat-based experience, we need it on a weekly and indeed daily basis, and have to build in times to be with God, to deepen our relationship with Him, and to receive the life giving joy that this brings.

So as we come towards the great festival of Pentecost, I’d urge you to ask the Holy Spirit for the renewal that you personally need, the confidence to be open to the prompting of the Spirit, and the openness to receive the gifts of the Spirit, peace joy and love that God longs to give to you.

The wind blows wherever it wishes;

You hear the sound it makes,

But you do not know where it comes from

Or where it is going.

It is like that with everyone who is born of the spirit.

John ch 3, v 8 (GNV)