Council Meeting

On Friday evening, 28th July, I arrived at Nottingham after an 8 hour car journey (it is peak holiday time) to attend a meeting of Council. The meeting had been planned many months before and the main agenda item was to talk of governance and the changes we might need to make to our Constitution and working practices. In addition, Council looked at the resolution that was passed by the Assembly in June and began to make plans about how to enact the will and wish of Assembly. Full details of the discussions will be circulated with the minutes in due course, but I include this item as attending meetings is one of the duties of the President. In the case of the Congregational Federation, the President Elect, President and Immediate Past President are the 'Officers' of the Federation and we have an important role to play in the cycle of meetings. If your church wishes to bring matters to the attention of council, please speak  to the chair of council, your Area representative or one of the Presidents.

Some worked through the coffee break!

A 'selfie' that was photo bombed

Martin's letter from America

Although not part of my Presidential Duties, I am in America on an Army Exchange Programme and spending time in Tennessee and Kentucky with a Chaplain from the National Guard. My host is Director of Missions for the Warren (county) Association of Baptists. They are part of the Southern Baptist Convention, a body with some 16 million members. That's right - 16 MILLION.

My time is spent between military and civilian minstries and have been to a number of churches to preach and tobe part of bible study groups. All I can say is WOW. Big churches that do much for their community. Most with a Pastor for one church and most with full time support personnel assisting the minister.

My first engagement was preaching at Scottsville Baptist Church and the picture is taken just before the service began. My host is Chaplain Colonel John Toby. After the service, we enjoyed a wonderful fellowship meal and the good people prayed for the Congregational Federation and were deligted to have the President with them.

Hope Congregational Church, Oldham

The good people of Hope invited me to preach on Sunday 18 June and on a beautiful summers day I found myself in the church and meeting a wonderful fellowship. I was very interested in the Hymnal Plus that played all the music for our hymns as one of my churches have recently ordered one.

There was a very warm welcome and a blessed time shared. Tea followed the service and afterwards, a small number of us went out for lunch.

The picture is one of my selfies taken as we enjoyed tea and you might spot a former president, Revd Frank Wroe in the background taking a break from the washing up!

That you Hope, Oldham for letting me share the day with you.

Non Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland

Revd Colin Campbell, the new Moderator of the NSPCI with Me

13 & 14 June 2017

May-Kane and myself

Shortly after our Annual Assembly, I attended the Annual General Assembly of the NSPCI. This year it was held in Ballyclare and as well as the usual business that accompanies such gatherings, there was a time of prayer, reflection and worship. We held a communion service on the first evening and shared in fellowship all that we held in common.

The Congregational Federation has a special relationship with the NSPCI and this was reflected in the sincere welcome and warmth I felt during my time with them. The style of worship, the prayers offered and the way the Sacrament of Communion was observed were entirely in keeping with the Congregational Way. It was a blessed time indeed.
I was joined in Ballyclare by Revd May-Kane Logan and this reflected the historical ties of the CF in Scotland with the NSPCI.

May Kane and myself formed a team (with some local support) for the social quiz held after the Assembly. We came a credible second!

My sincere thanks and blessings to the good people of the NSPCI who looked after us so well.

My Year has started!

Dear friends,

It was wonderful to be formally inducted to the role of President at our Assembly in June. However, my duties had started a few days before when I, along with Sharon, went to the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.  No one had told the Queen that the Congregational Federation had changed the month the President took over the office!

It was a great day and I took our caravan to London as our accommodation. Sadly, there was no space in the gardens and so we stayed at Crystal Palace Caravan Club Site and drove into the Mall on the day.

We had a few looks from fellow caravanners as we stepped out in the morning, in proper attire for such an occasion!