WHEEL MISSION

July 19 – August 15 2010

Two year ago when I first thought of getting on my bike and cycling around our four areas to attend mission events and hopefully stimulate thinking about how we relate to the communities amongst which we worship and witness, it seemed like a good idea…

Now I am simply aware of how unprepared I feel for the physical challenge. However I am very grateful to those ministers and congregations who have themselves risen to the challenge and thought of events in which I could be involved as I make my way round the Synod. Special mention should go to the Revds Alan Poolton (South), Sheila Coop (Central) Helen Higginbotham (Lancashire) and Peter Sharp in Cumbria who have taken the idea and ‘put flesh on the bones.’

I hope to be accompanied some of the way by ecumenical colleagues. For mission is something we engage in together. I was grateful to Rev Debbie Peatman Ecumenical Development Officer for the Churches Together in Lancashire for pointing out that this year Is the 100^th anniversary of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference which saw delegates from largely Protestant churches gather to consider how mission could be carried out in collaboration with one another. How far we have travelled together in the last hundred years!

So I look forward to meeting many of you over the summer as we enjoy these events and, to continue in words of yesteryear, to bring the ‘glorious Gospel of the blessed God’ to bear on the lives and concerns of our fellow citizens in the twenty first century.

The detailed itinerary will soon appear on the website. Please publicise this as is appropriate in your own neighbourhoods. A press release is available from the Synod office. So that I can share the stories of what happens along the way, a blog will be appearing on the website for those who want to learn what local United Reformed churches are doing in mission.

Yours in Christ,

Richard