Skip to main content

Pastoral Letter - June 2021

Image
By
Dear Friends, 

The Yorkshire West District of the Methodist Church, of which Bradford North Circuit is a part, has launched an initiative for Pentecost and beyond called REAL LOVE. It is a challenge to all of us to ask how we, as individuals and Churches, can be real love to those around us, in our families, neighbourhoods, communities. In particular, to think about how we can visibly and tangibly express real love to those around us. 

The initiative began in the Aire and Calder Circuit, with lots and lots of hearts being knitted and given to people around St Valentine’s Day, as signs of the Church’s and more importantly God’s real love. 

At the District Synod last month all kinds of ideas were generated and shared of ways in which we might show real love. Some of those ideas were: 
  • Put a message of thanks on your door for the post people, or give a thank you to other key workers;
  • Organise a community event such as a litter pick; 
  • Pop-up Sunday School, to give out symbols (doves, hearts etc); 
  • Gathering prayers from local shops and businesses; 
  • Offering something with no strings attached – a free gift; 
  • Placing symbols/posters/images that are visible to the community e.g. on noticeboards;
  • Giving gifts in shops or supermarket; 
  • Celebrating those who are blood donors, stem cell and organ donors and raising the profile of this; 
  • Baking scones & painting stones & placing them around the community; 
  • Using a local tree to hang ‘Real Love’ hearts; 
  • Offering practical support e.g. gardening; 
  • Giving out and planting bulbs / packet of seeds; 
  • Giving out hearts in pairs to nursing homes and vaccine clinics when church volunteers are helping;
  • Balloons with a Real Love message put out outside of our churches for people to take; 
  • Real Love postcards; 
  • Knitted hearts, made by folk beyond church, sent on behalf of church with letter to bereaved folk post funeral; 
  • Taking something out to people who are isolated (e.g. cream teas etc); 
  • Looking wider - use what is already in the planning stage and incorporate Real Love into that; 
  • Real Love sewn & knitted hearts to all children & staff of a local school with Real Love message.
Each Circuit’s Synod Reps were asked to think about what our Circuit might do. The Bradford North reps came up with: ‘looking at existing ways of serving community (e.g .litter-picking, neighbour-shopping) enhanced by leaving gift / message with invite / contact and seeking involvement of wider than usual suspects in producing those gifts (hearts, seed bombs, cards)’.

What might you and your Church do in response to REAL LOVE? What are you already doing that you could build on? 

Blessings 
Nick 

P.S. Each circuit has also been given a REAL LOVE bear – as yet unnamed - as a symbol of the initiative. If you think you know his or her (difficult to tell which with a yellow bear) name, especially if it’s a name with a reason, do let me know! (The picture shows our bear at Allerton on election day.)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

April 2014 Prayer Column

By
Prayer for Bradford City and Surrounds What are we all doing for our contribution for the p4b Lenten prayer, on your chosen day – Monday or Tuesday 14-15 th April ? Here are some ideas Get a picture of the place, or the bit that matters most to you: ·          Look at a map: see where you are, and your neighbouring areas ·          Collect some photos: places, faces, events, memories ·          Stand at a viewpoint over the area you want to focus on ·          Take a walk through the area, or a bus, or even drive Listen to what’s going on in the area: ·          Scan the T&A or freebie local paper, Look North, Calendar, radio ·          Listen to what they’re saying  at bus stops, shop queues, etc. ·  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 2014 Prayer Column

By
Prayer and trafficking In prayer (as in all discipleship) we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the ‘powers of darkness’ led by the devil (Eph 6:11-12).  He always deceives to destroy (John 8:44), and we can use this knowledge in our praying.  Take human trafficking, for example: Deception :  ●Riches are used as a lure, offering a better way of life (we’ve been similarly hoodwinked for a long time) but you can’t serve God and money (Mt 6:24).  ●There’s often corruption of officialdom by bribery.  ●Blatant lies are told to victims, and probably to ‘customers’ – ●who’re duped to  see sex as a god of satisfaction, ●and who’re obviously cheating on their wives, to whom they have made marriage vows.  Marriage is a gift of God, to be honoured (Gen 1:24; Mt 19:15; Heb 13:4).  ●You may be able to add other points. Destruction :  ●Prostitution is doing for money what should be done for love, and the commercialisation of sex ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Soupermums! Wilsden Trinity Church

By
Do you have a young baby? Looking for something to do? If the answer is yes then Soupermums is for you. We're here from 11 until 1 every Monday, Mums (and dads) have a rest and the babies can play. Have a lovely sit down whilst you sip on a brew. Enjoy having someone else make lunch for you! Come along to Wilsden Church, meet the rest of the group. Lovely ladies cuddle the babies, whilst you eat your soup. Chat with the mums, new friends you will make. Swap tips and advice over a slice or two of cake. So what are you waiting for? come on along, For homemade treats, good company and if you're lucky a song. We're looking forward to meeting you, please come take a peek, 11-1 at Wilsden Trinity, we're here every week! Celine V  (a Soupermum!) Where can new mums go, to have lunch where it’s warm and safe and you get to eat fresh soup and homemade cakes, while someone holds your baby? Too big an ask? Not at Wilsden Trinity! Every Mond...
Post a Comment
Read more