Dear Friends
A Very Happy
Christmas!
Here we are with our Christmas news for
you all. As ever, a lot is going on
here. The renovation work has started.
Half the front of the building is shrouded in scaffolding where the new
lift will be. There is boarding on the
main stairs and all sorts of areas are closed off. We have now moved worship from the Great Hall
to the Library and, while missing the drama of the Great Hall, are enjoying the
intimacy of the Library and the space for the JCLive and the crèche so close to
us.
Revd Tony Miles started
his ministry with us at the beginning of September, half time with us and half
time in a new post as chaplain to the Independent Radio Stations. He contributes his first impressions of
being here.
“As I write, I realise that I have now been at Methodist Central
Hall for 3 months. It seems much
longer! Don’t get me wrong, I mean it in
a positive sense. From the very outset I
have felt warmly welcomed and lovingly embraced into the unique fellowship of
MCH. Thank you for your prayers
too.
What’s more, I’ve settled into a very gifted ministerial team that,
despite its diverse individual strengths, blends together easily with a focus
on God’s Word. This leads to an inner
conviction that I’m where the Lord wants me to be. Obviously, you’ll have to ask my colleagues
if they think the same about my joining them!
In addition to sharing the trials and challenges of ministry, we are
able to seize opportunities together with the Leadership Team, unite around a
common aim, and find much to celebrate too.
It pleases me that there’s so much laughter in our working relationship
… and even on a Sunday (whatever next!).
Having been in appointments for the last 15 years where I have been the
only presbyteral minister serving together with church members, it has been
refreshing being able to work in a ministerial team. For example, I have rarely had the
opportunity to listen to other preachers – I know I will learn much from my
colleagues.
One of the strengths of MCHW
is its harmonious cultural diversity. I have found this to be a great
encouragement and believe it’s a sign of the Kingdom, especially as we are all
empowered to exercise the gifts God’s given us to build one another up, to
enrich our worship, and become more effective in mission.
I pray that one day the Great
Hall will be full again on Sundays with people ‘Lost in wonder, love and praise’.
Never be tempted to think it’s an improbable dream, or else it
becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy!
Join me in longing that many more
will discover how helpful the preaching, prayer and music is each week. Pray that we will continue to grow, deepen,
and bear much fruit.
It’s amazing how many visitors we welcome Sunday by Sunday. ‘Hospitality’ is often mentioned in the Bible
and this is surely part of our calling at MCH.
Being a newcomer it is very difficult knowing who is a visitor and who
remembers Sangster! Bear with me. One of my responsibilities has been to
develop a website and we’ve had over 300 visits in October (the 2nd
month of its existence) – if you haven’t looked yet: www.methodist-central-hall.org.uk Feel free to send me information for
inclusion on the site: tony@tonymiles.com
And finally … although I am only
‘part-time’, I assure you that I am fully committed to the life and work of
MCH. In return, I simply ask you to pray
for my media chaplaincy work, which I hope will bless many who live and work
outside of the life of the Church.
Remember, not everyone knows the blessing of being a part of a caring
Christian fellowship.
May you continue to know our Lord’s
love, peace and joy”.
The musicians
have had a good year under their new directors of music. Alistair
Lilley writes:-
“2004 has been a challenging yet rewarding year for those of us
involved with music. My colleague Mark
and I have been delighted by the way in which the choir has developed and
accepted the musical challenges we have presented them with. It is also good
that we have welcomed several new members to the choir during the year, whose
contributions have been invaluable.
Other areas of the church’s musical life have also flourished this
year, most notably the worship group that sings at the informal services, as
well as the children of JC Live, whose contributions at All Age Worship
services have been superb. The informal services have been going from strength
to strength with the worship group growing considerably in size and, of course,
the arrival of our new minister Rev Tony Miles.
Some of the highlights of the year have included the All Age Worship
service on Palm Sunday, when the music was led by a praise band (formed of some
of our players who were joined by musicians from All Soul’s, Langham Place) with major contributions
from the choir, JC Live and Sadia McEwen. The incredible amount of new music
the choir has sung, including sections of a mass by Puccini, the Benedictus in
F by John Ireland, a mass by Haydn and Blessed be the God and Father by Wesley
have all contributed to the richness and variety of music we are thrilled to be
a part of at Central Hall. And how could I fail to mention the Church
Anniversary Concert? – hosted by our very own Rev Martin Turner, whose
rendition of ‘Only a Love sick boy’, ably accompanied on the piano by Biddy
Turner, is a memory that many of us will treasure for a long time to come!
One of the major challenges has been the move from the Great Hall to
the library during the ongoing refurbishment. This change has involved hiring a
state of the art 3 manual digital organ made by Copemann Hart, as well as
getting used to the dramatic difference between performing music in the
wonderful expansive acoustic of the Great Hall as opposed to the much drier
acoustic downstairs. It took us a few weeks, but once again our choir has risen
to the challenge.
As I write, we are just about to begin the run up to Advent and
Christmas, and we have some musical treats in store. The Advent carol service
in the morning on 5th December will feature the choir, while the
following week is our All Age Worship Christingle that will include lively
music, dance, drama and readings by JC Live and YPF. Our carol service this
year in on the 19th December and will include a small orchestra to
accompany the choir. I hope you will be able to join us for one or more of
these services and be enriched by the worship and music”.
The picture
brings you greetings from JCLive.
Essa McEwen runs YPF - the
Young People’s Fellowship group. He writes:-
“The young people have enjoyed an eventful and challenging
year. We have seen our newest members
make a seamless transition from Junior Church into their new
family. During the year we have become more interactive, incorporating videos,
a guest speaker and a fun trip to a local fairground. They received rave reviews for their
participation in the all age worship services!
The success of the group is due to the meticulous work and time
given by the volunteer team in preparing every session. Their dedication
ensures our continuing progress as we form greater relationships with the youth
and Christ”.
We have several
weeknight meetings going on ranging from Disciple One and Three, Bible study,
Alpha course, Emmaus group, a prayer fellowship and a house fellowship.
Judith writes from the
Emmaus Group.
“This group is a weekly study and fellowship gathering. It is open to regular attendees as well as
welcoming visitors and those who can only come occasionally. Revd Linda
Rettinmeyer has led us through a programme as varied as are its members, some
of whom have many years experience of Christian study and others very
little. Every week the focus has
changed; Prayer, worship, the Old Testament, The Church, the sacraments, The
Beatitudes.
Each session provided us with questions to answer, readings and
topics to ponder individually and in small groups and homework. These assignments included interviewing
friends, analysing newspaper stories and a memorable occasion composing our own
funeral service.
Much of the success has been due to Linda’s enthusiasm, light touch,
her deep knowledge of the Bible and the blending of regular attendees,
intermittent attendees and visitors.
After a year, in July the group voted to continue for another year and
some new regulars have given us a boost.
There has never been a dull moment and participation in the group
has clearly deepened friendships and incidentally we have learned a lot about America too!”
We hope some of you who are near
enough can join us during advent or Christmas.
Other highlights are the Covenant Service on January 2nd and
the Parliamentary Covenant Service on 18th January at 5.30pm – if
you wish to come write in as we need to give names and addresses for security. The Vice-President of the Methodist
Conference is our preacher on January 23rd, and we have Rev Captain
Patrick Aldred, chaplain to the Forces and currently serving in Iraq as our
preacher on February 13th. At Easter we will have the Good Friday Procession of
Witness as well as the Easter Day services.
Christina Asare Owusu has been a
member at Central Hall for the last 18 years since she joined the Sunday school
at the age of 8. She has now joined the
Friends of Westminster team so you will be hearing from her in the future. She
writes
“I continued through the Sunday school and subsequently
became a member of YPF. I am currently a teacher at JC Live (Junior Church
Live) formerly known as Sunday School, a member of the Church Council and an
active member of Refresh (the New Young Adult Group).
Methodist Central Hall is culturally diverse congregation
of people from different parts of the world and there is great emphasis placed
on international participation in the ecumenical movement and the importance of
advocacy. The church needs to and believes in including young people in all
aspects of its mission. 'Ask not what your church can do for you but ask what
YOU can do for your church` (With apologies to John F. Kennedy, though I
think he would have agreed with me!). We need young people to be actively
involved in the life of the church now. I am so delighted to be a member of
this team and pray for the Lord’s richest blessings and the guidance of the
Holy Spirit on you all”.
With our
warmest greetings for Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year to you, your
family and our world,
Daphne
Horder
Christina Asare Owusu
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