A Time to Pause

Dear Friends

Pausing and looking back each month as I write this for the newsletter I am finding is become a wonderful routine.  I have started to realise just how many different things I am involved in and the challenges and joys that come with this incredible role.  I am discovering that I am travelling a lot more, and the twice weekly commute into the office although it is a game of playing 'sardines' at times allows space to pause and reflect.

This past month of course brought my formal induction at Worsley Road URC, my home church, and I am so grateful to them for welcome and hospitality offered to those from across the Synod and the whole United Reformed Church.  I found the whole experience incredibly humbling, and special to be inducted into the role in the place where I felt the call to Ordained Ministry.  Thank you to Worsley Road URC and all who came to share this special moment.  The service was certainly filled with joy, hope and a real sense of the Holy Spirit.

Just a few days later I was privileged to represent the Synod at a gathering in Parliament, where the Gather Movement report 'Heart of the Neighbourhood' was launched with the support of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society.  The chair of the group is Zoe Franklin MP who I know from my previous time in Surrey.  The report captured what we all know - just how much the church and faith groups do in the communities they serve.  The report came as no surprise to the church leaders there, but was a revelation to those in the civic space.  The report came about following a conversation between the Gather Movement and the then Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.  If you have not read it, can I encourage you to have a look: Report - Heart of the Neighbourhood

My big takeaway is that it encourages us to pause and reflect on what we do within our communities, without realising it we transform lives and the communities around us.  By offering toddler groups, coffee mornings, warm hubs (the list is endless) we support mental health, help those who are lonely and bring hope to our communities.  We may feel that we are just 'doing what God calls us to do', the reality is that it really is transforming lives.

This is what the report captures for me, our motivation is serving Christ, but the outcome is transformation - some may come to Christ, so may not, but we have made a difference.

So this month, please pause and reflect on the work you and your church are doing to bring hope to the lives of those around you.

Rev Mike Thomason

Synod Moderator