Dear Friends,
Greetings to you.
This letter accompanies the final preaching plan for the Angus, Dundee and Perthshire Circuit. I am grateful to Marian and Phil for their work in producing the preaching plans over recent years. From September the plan will include the services from Inverness to Dunbar, Peterhead to Girvan and all in between, including the treasure of Perth, Blairgowrie, Dundee, Arbroath and Montrose. By then the Montrose church will have joined with the Arbroath church to form Angus Methodist Church, with the congregations continuing to worship in Montrose and Arbroath.
I have found both joy and pain in serving as the superintendent minister during this year in the circuit. I am so thankful to have come to know some special people who are following the Way of Jesus in these challenging times. I have encountered grace and generosity and been humbled by the offering that so many are making.
The focus on those who are for the present not coming to our church buildings for Sunday worship is inspirational and reflects the character of Jesus. The ministry at the Women’s hub in Dundee, the opening of the café at Arbroath and the growing opportunities offered through RENEW at Perth come to mind. We are thankful that God has provided.
We rejoice in having purchased a new manse for David and Fiona when they arrive later in the summer. They both bring gifts and experience in ministry, and their physical presence in the circuit will be an encouragement to you all. I continue to give thanks for the Methodist Church – with all its shortcomings as an institution – that at its heart is a desire that all people are welcome in the embrace of God’s love.
I commend to you those who will lead worship in the circuit this quarter, assured that you will be praying for them in their preparation and encouraging them in their ministry.
Thanks again for the fellowship we have shared over this this year, which I will carry into my “sitting down” this summer.
Peace and love.
Andrew
Dear Friends in the Angus, Dundee and Perthshire Circuit,
Greetings to you. Every Lord’s Day, every first day of the week, every Sunday Methodist people gathering to offer worship in response to the God who loves extravagantly. There will not be vast numbers in the congregations around our circuit, but we are part of a much larger company from around the world, stretching back over centuries. This worship – sometimes noisy (as we beat out the tune to a great Wesley hymn), sometimes silent – expresses the joy and pain of the journey of the Christian life.
On this preaching plan we tell the story of God’s love proved to us in the living, dying and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a story which come to life in us as we experience the depths and the heights of human experience here on earth. We shall hear that story told again – and something will come to us afresh which will prompt transformation in our lives.
This God – so identifying with human experience that there was a death on Calvary’s cross – is real in the rubble which is Gaza as people try to rebuild lives. This God on the Ukraine-Russia border. This God in the depravity of what is happening in Sudan. This God in Scotland. This God in the joy and pain of our families’ stories. This God, who knows us, draws close to us in a special way as we worship and offers hope.
As we make the Lenten journey through to Easter in our worship, study and relationships, we open ourselves to the power of love. Those of us who prepare worship for these weeks ahead will take care to proclaim the reality of that love in the messiness of human life today. All of us who will gather to worship will take care to receive the signs of God’s love made known to us. Those unable to gather will take care to find ways to connect with this God – through whom there is hope for the world – and for each of us.
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!
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
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.
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.
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
Dear Friends Pointillismdrove me dotty!I am always learning and recently was privileged to seeoriginal works by Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet. Iknew Monet was a famous painterbutdidn’t really appreciate why.Hewas part of a movement of painters that sought to paintusing small blobs of thickly applied paintto build up an‘impression’of what the artistwas looking at. The pointilliststook this a stage furtherusing brightly coloured dots to build up a picture.I was looking at a painting by Paul Signacand when yougot up close all you couldseewassome brightly coloured dots!They look like random blobs of paint.Onlyon standingbackcanyousee the picturewith theeye making the connections. As we travel into the new Methodist year, it may feel at times we arelooking at blobs andgoing a bit dotty! A lot of change is underway and sometimes we can only see small parts of itandcan seem to bea bit random. At such times it is good torememberthe bigger picture of whoweare (followers of Jesus Christ) seeking to live out our lives as disciples (with a Methodist perspective). At times the painting can get messy–especiallywhen it isincomplete,but God is at work, painting the church anewand we are part of that. The impressionists were not received well by the conventional art community in France(perhapsa bit likethe early Methodists were not received wellwith theestablished religious communities). Changecan be difficult, but the impressionists left a lasting legacywhich is stunning.Then, asI moved on, I encountered the post impressionists such as Toulouse–Lautrec.Hestuck together random bits of cardboardon whichhe painted.I was amazed, and again reminded of howcreative beauty is brought forth froma randommess of life.Change comes and we go on together trusting in our faithful Godand rememberingwe encounter Christ in theunlikely, the random & the neglected.
Dear Friends
During the Easter season we rightly celebrate with joy.
The sense of new life bursting out and thehope and excitement thatgave tothe friends of Jesus. Theywerejust beginning to learn that the whole world, indeed the wholeof creation is now to be seen in a new light.Theirlives 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 Spiritbursting through the lives of people and the beginnings of the communities ofthose who wanted to follow in the way of Jesus (Church). Ina 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 allimportant sequel!).
Ofcourse they didn’t all live happilyeverafteras the NewTestamentEpistles testify.Indeed theyfound themselves invery challenging situationsand 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.
Inthe ADP circuit, as in theotherScottishcircuits, we are facing significant challengeandchangeandsomethings coming to an end. It may well feel as though our lives are being turned upside downand so much that was familiar is changing. At such times weremembertoopen ourheartsto theSpirit and learn afresh/again todepend on the abundant grace of God. The early followers of Jesus may not have lived“happilyever after”but they did livein a new light, with a passion for the good newsandtoday we arethewitnesses to all these things. Together let us take time to pray depending on the grace of God in all things.
“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.
