Category: Pastoral

Pastoral letter from Andrew Baker

Dear Friends,                                                                                  Advent 2024

Greetings.

Advent’s message of hope and anticipation comes to us fresh each year – as we catch something of the wonder of the God who is so committed to the world that he became one of us, one with us, one for us. How astonishing and breath-taking is that! Save us from any dullness which feels like a grind through these days of a light shining in the darkness. The Advent hope of the light crashing into the darkness is a powerful one in these times, where so many of us are prone to despair. It is the hope that God has not given up on us and will not give up on us – that the Christ who came to Palestine over 2000 years ago comes to this generation with hope and will (one day) return in glory so that love wins. Extraordinary hope indeed, but one which we declare with confidence as we have caught something of its truth in our experience. God has drawn close to us – even in the most chilling and threatening of times.

So, our advent theme is prompted by the encouragement from the Methodist Church to “hush the noise . . . and hear the angels sing”. We shall be using the materials for this theme during Advent in the services and we are encouraged to take part in the Advent studies which will be on zoom.

We live with a sense of hope in these challenging times. You remain in my prayers and thoughts in the coming weeks – and I look forward to sharing in worship with you during this time.

Peace be the journey – through Advent to Christmas and beyond to Epiphany and Candlemas!

Andrew

                                                                               

Pastoral letter from Andrew Baker – belated posting

Dear Friends, August 2024
Greetings to you. I know it is a bit of a strange arrangement: I am living in our
manse in Glasgow and being the Superintendent of two circuits, Strathclyde
and Angus, Dundee and Perthshire. It seemed like the right thing to do, so
let’s respond to God’s invitation and make something of it – by God’s grace. I
shall be spending three days every four weeks in the circuit, including worship
on a Sunday, the first one being on 8th September at Perth in the morning and
then at Arbroath at 3pm to share in celebrating a new chapter in the mission
and ministry of the circuit. We shall mark the work with the Dundee Women’s
Hub, where Marian will be leading the circuit’s ministry, and the witness at
Arbroath where Sue has a pioneering role as a local lay pastor. These are two
initiatives which have emerged in the life of the circuit.
We also have an eye on next year when the six Methodist circuits in Scotland
will become one. There is much to be done in preparation for this, but we
rejoice to claim our identity as Methodists in Scotland, being connected with
some remarkable ministry and mission which is taking place throughout this
nation. God has not given up on us! As a stimulus to this togetherness, I
urge you to make The Gathering at Stirling a priority on the weekend of
September 20-22. It begins on the Friday evening with events throughout the
weekend focused on the Golden Lion Hotel in the centre of the city. Why not
book somewhere to stay for the weekend or make arrangements to
“commute”? Our featured guests are the Methodist Presbyter/Astrophysicist
David Wilkinson and the Methodist Deacon/Church on the Margins Advocate
Eunice Attwood. Register by visiting the Eventbrite page, where there is also
a link to the programme for the weekend.
I am looking forward to connecting with as many of you as I can as we pay
attention to the grace of God at work in these challenging times. Our thoughts
this summer are still with the people trying to live in the towns of Ukraine’s
borders in the east and those in Palestine/Israel as well as the islands of the
South Caribbean as they begin to consider rebuilding after the devastating
effects of Hurricane Beryl. We are wondering what the consequences of the
general election will mean for local communities and families in the months to
come and pray for all those in leadership.
Jill and I are also aware that this time next year I shall be “sitting down” after
32 years since I left Keynsham as a student minister, but we intend to stay in
Scotland and be part of the adventure which lies ahead for the people in
Scotland called Methodists. I wonder what that will mean . .
Peace to you all, Andrew

Pastoral Letter from Nick

June 2024
Dear Friends
Nine years ago, I was preparing to move to a foreign country! At the time I didn’t really appreciate it was a ‘foreign’ country but as I began to learn “Scotland is different!” Whether it be health and social care, education, bank holidays, language(s), PVGs, or Church, I was a stranger in a strange land – and you welcomed me (a foreigner)! You were “willint tae gíe the fremmit brither up-pittin.” (Romans 12.13b) Roughly translated you were willing to put-up (with) the foreign brother.
Paul recognised that this hospitality was written into the DNA of what it meant to be followers of Jesus Christ. Welcoming with gracious love in the Spirit of Christ. This is still our calling – to be a compassionate Christ centred community willing to serve which does mean shaking off the things that would hold us back – whether that be buildings, structures or whatever.
From 1st September 2025 you will be one Scottish circuit with all the challenges and opportunities that will bring. As this circuit comes to an end, for one year, you will have a part-time Superintendent (please pray for Andrew
Baker). In addition to two refurbished buildings, you will be offering work in Dundee alongside some of the most vulnerable (pray for Marian Taylor, the team and Dundee), the beginning of something new in the oldest Methodist church building in Scotland today, (pray for the Local Lay Pastor and Arbroath), a unique ecumenical model sharing resources (pray for Montrose), a small group effecting change in the world through their work on behalf of All We Can and MHA (pray for Blairgowrie and Rattray), and the ecumenical work offering welcome and inclusion where ‘its ok not to be ok’ and the welcoming space with a café and meeting spaces (pray for Renew and Perth).
We are not (and never have been) called to save or preserve churches but rather to be faithful, gracious communities where our (foreign) differences and identities get moulded into belonging in Christ. Nine years is the longest I have lived anywhere in my entire lifetime (does that make me Scottish and therefore a foreigner again when I move?) It has been variously challenging, joyous, and sheer hard work but always a privilege to minister alongside you.

Peace be with you.
With love
Nick

Pastoral letter December 2023

December 2023
Dear Friends
Last month it was good to gather together in worship at Perth and welcome Rob Mackay as a recognised Local Preacher in the Circuit. Week by week the preachers lead us in our worship – the local preachers are a gift and proud tradition within the Methodist Church. Last week many of the preachers joined myself and church stewards to share in a day of continuing development regarding ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’. Whilst those words might feel as though they come out of a management handbook, in reality, they reflect a deep concern amongst the people called Methodists.

We like to say “All are Welcome” but how we live that out can be a different matter. We can belittle, disregard, or otherwise ignore people (often unwittingly). On the development day, the preachers and stewards began a journey together, recognising how much we don’t know and there is always more to learn. Part of our calling as Methodists is committing ourselves to keep on learning (and the preachers and stewards generally reflect the age of the congregations so I would hope no-one thinks they are too old!)

I know another strength of Methodism is the warm welcome people often receive and we want to celebrate that. On the development day we did learn that there were people within the Methodist Church who, for a variety of reasons, have felt excluded from that welcome. I know the congregations in this circuit would not want that – we want to break down the barriers that would divide us. This breaking down of barriers is what we celebrate at Christmas – the divine breaking through into the human and created order – the birth of Jesus. God’s gift to the world. We honour that gift when we respond with gratitude and try to follow breaking down the barriers of division in ways that are safe and just.

As we make our Advent journey I do encourage us to take some time to give thanks for the ministry of the preachers and stewards amongst us, to pray for them and to support them as they lead us working out afresh how we are to be congregations of welcome. That can mean challenge and change but, in the Spirit of Christmas, let us show an abundance of love and humility.

With love,

Nick

Who Cares?

Session details (it is strongly recommended that participants attend all 4 sessions)

Session 1 (13th November): Introduction to Pastoral care

Session 2 (20th November): Discipleship and Hospitality

Session 3 (27th November): Listening and Prayer

Session 4 (4th December): Pastoral Care in Difficult Times

All sessions will take place on Zoom, from 7-9pm

Who should come to this Learning Network event?

The event is created with Methodist Churches in mind, but anyone passionate about the ministry of pastoral care is very welcome to attend!

How much does this event cost?

This event is free and offered as part of the Learning Network support across the Connexion – just register and you’ll receive joining instructions for the event.

About the Connexional Learning Network

Learning and development across the Connexion is supported by the Methodist Church’s Learning Network. This work has four aims:

  • nurturing and equipping Christ-like disciples
  • challenging and equipping mission-shaped communities
  • forming and equipping those who share in lay and ordained ministry
  • enabling and encouraging creative thinkers in an environment of scholarship, research and innovation

Registration

Pastoral Letter from Nick

Dear Friends
Pointillism drove me dotty! I am always learning and recently was privileged
to see original works by Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet. I knew
Monet was a famous painter but didn’t really appreciate why. He was part of a
movement of painters that sought to paint using small blobs of thickly applied
paint to build up an ‘impression’ of what the artist was looking at. The
pointillists took this a stage further using brightly coloured dots to build up a
picture. I was looking at a painting by Paul Signac and when you got up close
all you could see was some brightly coloured dots! They look like random
blobs of paint. Only on standing back can you see the picture with the eye
making the connections.
As we travel into the new Methodist year, it may feel at times we are looking
at blobs and going a bit dotty! A lot of change is underway and sometimes we
can only see small parts of it and can seem to be a bit random. At such times it
is good to remember the bigger picture of who we are (followers of Jesus
Christ) seeking to live out our lives as disciples (with a Methodist perspective).
At times the painting can get messy – especially when it is incomplete, but
God is at work, painting the church anew and we are part of that.
The impressionists were not received well by the conventional art community
in France (perhaps a bit like the early Methodists were not received well with
the established religious communities). Change can be difficult, but the
impressionists left a lasting legacy which is stunning. Then, as I moved on, I
encountered the post impressionists such as Toulouse–Lautrec. He stuck
together random bits of cardboard on which he painted. I was amazed, and
again reminded of how creative beauty is brought forth from a random mess of
life. Change comes and we go on together trusting in our faithful God and
remembering we encounter Christ in the unlikely, the random & the neglected.

With love,

Nick

Pastoral Letter from Rev Nick Baker

Dear Friends
During the Easter season we rightly celebrate with joy.

The sense of new life bursting out and the hope and excitement that gave to the friends of Jesus. They were just beginning to learn that the whole world, indeed the whole of creation is now to be seen in a new light. Their lives were being turned upside  down (again!) by Jesus.

In the church year, the celebration of Pentecost follows 50 days after the celebration of Easter. In Pentecost, we celebrate the Spirit bursting through the lives of people and the beginnings of the communities of those who wanted to follow in the way of Jesus (Church). In a movie it would be a good place to end with the words “and they all lived happily ever after” scrolling across (and sets it up for that all important
sequel!).

Of course they didn’t all live happily ever after as the New Testament Epistles testify. Indeed they found themselves in very challenging situations and when new people came along (Paul) there were very strong disagreements (eg with Peter) about the way forward. But in all things they kept finding themselves driven back to the grace of God revealed in the resurrected Christ.

In the ADP circuit, as in the other Scottish circuits, we are facing significant challenge and change and some things coming to an end. It may well feel as though our lives are being turned upside down and so much that was familiar is changing. At such times we remember to open our hearts to the Spirit and learn afresh/again to depend on the abundant grace of God. The early followers of Jesus may not have lived “happily ever after” but they did live in a new light, with a passion for the good news and today we are the witnesses to all these things. Together let us take time to pray depending on the grace of God in all things.

With love,

Nick

Pastoral letter Lent 2023

Dear Friends

“Overdose at Christmas and give it up at Lent” sang Robbie Williams in his hit “Millennium” released in 1998.  In my memory it still seems a relatively recent song, but it is 25 years old – time flies!  For children and young people, it is ancient history.

The lyric captures a sense of feasting in the Christmas period and giving up something in the period of Lent, but to view Lent simply through this lens (of giving something up) is to miss the richness of the season.  The idea of giving something up comes from the notion of self-denial.  The purpose of self-denial is to help us recall our relationship with the Creator through Jesus Christ.  Lent is an opportunity to deliberately spend time in the presence of God.  When we are busy consumers, Lent challenges us to make the time to think again.

During this period of Lent, let us take time to remember who we are in the presence of God.  Some questions we might reflect upon:

  • How did we end up in church?
  • Why do we want to be part of a church?
  • What does Jesus mean to me?
  • Do we see ourselves as disciples of Jesus?
  • What does that even mean!?
  • How do we talk to each other about these things?

Change happens quickly in our communities and such questions can help us navigate the way and may even bring some revelation.  Actually, May will bring Revelation in the form of Bible Month and by way of preparation we are invited to share in the District online Lent groups.

With love

Nick

Safeguarding Training – what is your status?

It is important that everyone’s Safeguarding status has not expired and is as up-dated as possible. Why?

  • most importantly, taking the well-being of others, especially vulnerable persons, with the utmost seriousness
  • with that, recognition of our own tendencies to pre-judge and make assumptions
  • the overall position of the Methodist Church – connexionally and locally – if (when) issues do arise
  • our qualification to hold office, exercise responsibility, & undertake tasks within the Church.

For most of us, this means undertaking updated Foundation Training; for some, advanced modules also.

If you are not clear about your current ‘status’ (level of training last undertaken & when), please check with Sue M-J.

There are still plenty places available on the Foundation training taking place online on Saturday 20th August from 10 am-1 pm.  Anyone required to complete or refresh with the Foundation Module should  sign up here https://foundation-module-aug2022.eventbrite.co.uk.

If online training is not possible or useful for you, please contact Sue M-J so other methods can be arranged.

Pastoral letter from Nick

September 2021

 

Dear Friends

 

At the beginning of a new connexional year we remain in uncertain times.  Thinking back to this time last year, in terms of the pandemic there is more optimism but there is still cause for concern and fear and anxiety.  How do we address such things?  How can we be both anxious and optimistic?  I encourage your prayers for the church at Dundee who have taken the decision to close their building but at the same time have decided to continue worshipping once a fortnight and meet once a month for fellowship and exploring Methodist identity.  Here there is both sadness and hope about what the future might hold.  Through Jesus Christ we are invited to belong to a community in which Christ is fully present and yet still to come.  Life and faith contain contrasting and contradictory notions which somehow all hold together.  How can we share our doubts at the same time as the joy and peace we find in our faith?

Perhaps we can find time and opportunity to share honestly something of our faith and questions with one another – after all that is part of what it is to be part of a community.  Or if somebody asks you, why do you go to church or watch a service online, what is our response?  In a recent conversation the District Chair has encouraged us to think in terms of church not being a place where we ‘go’ but rather as somewhere we are sent ‘from’.

How does church relate to the here and now and issues such as Climate Change?  By the time the plan for the next quarter comes COP26 will have happened in Glasgow.  Please do pray and, if you are able, check what the Strathclyde circuit are doing to support Scottish Methodists engaging with COP26.

I would also invite your prayers for our neighbours in the North of Scotland Mission circuit following the death of their Superintendent, Revd Colin Plenderleith.  In the midst of deep grief and uncertainty we also hold on to the hope of resurrection. Christ in the midst of death and life, a constant companion through the power of the Holy Spirit.

May the risen Christ be our comforter and guide in the days to come.

With love

Nick