Our Minister, Rev’d Chris Pritchard, sends the following Message for the month of April 2019 ….
Dear Friends,
I think September is a strange kind of month, let me explain what I mean. For children, parents and those working in education September marks the end of the summer as another school or college year begins. For some it is a nervous time bringing many changes. Each student enters a different year and gains a new teacher or perhaps there is a whole new school or college to go to. For some this is hard to deal with but for others it is exciting with the possibility of a fresh start with new friends to make and different things to learn. For the staff there is the return to school with new children to work with and that can be difficult as well. We must pray for all these people.
Of course it is not just in education where September is seen as the start of a new year. For us in the Methodist church we sometimes talk about September as the beginning of the new church year. It certainly is that for Helen Kirk who has just become the Chair of the Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District and for Deacon Shirley Hassall who has moved into our Circuit and begins her ministry with us on September 1st. I would ask you to remember both Helen and Shirley in your prayers as well.
I also know that some people think of September as the time when things start to get going again, projects can be started after the summer break and groups begin to meet once more. In the church we seem to be more active. I know when I look in my diary there are more meetings in September than there were in July and August.Please remember in your prayers all those activities that re-start in September and those who lead them.
Other people see September in a different way. I know some people who look forward to a holiday in September. While everyone else is getting back into things after the summer September can be a good time for a holiday. For most people however September isn’t that much different to March or November, to a lot of people September is just another month in the year. I am also aware that there will be some people who because of age or infirmity are not looking forward to September; indeed they may be finding it hard to look much beyond tomorrow. We pray for God’s healing, we pray for peace and we pray for hope for these people.
God Bless
Chris Pritchard