Good evening friends, 

We’ve made it to Thursday, and I am very much in need of a day without having to check my diary and my emails tomorrow. You know I love what I do, and I cannot imagine being anywhere else, doing this with anyone else, but this week has been very very full! Tomorrow I will be having coffee with a friend, tidying the house, catching up on some studies, and maybe having a nice meal with Will. How do you ensure you wind down, take stock, and recharge? I know I’ve said this before but I wonder whether you make space and time to be away from church at all? That’s not away from God, but away from the jobs, and the stuff, so that you can just dwell, and restore yourself?

As this week has progressed, I have begun to reflect properly on Tuesday night, when we launched Leading Your Church into Growth. I’ve had a chance to read the feedback which was immensely positive, and I’ve had several messages from people thanking me, and making reference to how they are already trying to think about church a bit differently. My overriding thought is about the energy and excitement in the room – that recognition that this wasn’t about making more work, or doing more, but about thinking carefully about what we have and where we are with God. It’s so easy to think about what we don’t have – not enough clergy, not enough money, not enough time. But we do have each other, and we do have God, and we have his love and hope for us. And that seems to me to be a good starting point! God is on the same side as us in this – He doesn’t want his church to die. He may want it to look a bit different though 🙂

What do I need to tell you? Actually, I don’t think there’s anything that is of huge importance in the coming week. Perhaps I could ask you to pray though please. There are several significant and very private pastoral needs that I am aware of, which means that there are undoubtedly considerably more – often I’m one of the last to know when things are not going well for people. Please can we pray for all those struggling privately, those who are anxious and alone, those who are trying to understand what God is asking of them. I know that many of you are faithful pray-ers and we are becoming a powerful prayer force, a sort of engine room of prayer for the Ministry Area. Thank you all.

If you need me, you know where I am, please be in touch with any of the ministry team – we will help in any way that we can.

With much love,  Sally xx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.