June: Thoughts from Huw

Dear Friends,

People can change when they are given hope, when someone believes in them, and gives them a task to do. Above all they change when they are loved. They come out of their shells, and hidden energies are released in them. The miracle of human change is the only real miracle. All of us have capacity for goodness. We have hands that can care, eyes that can see, ears that can hear, tongues that can speak, feet that can walk, and above all hearts that can love. We need someone to awaken us to what is inside us. Someone who will help us to live and grow. For us followers of Jesus, that someone is the Holy Spirit. The power that changed the apostles is available to us too, the gentle power of the Holy Spirit. The Revd Flor McCarthy talks of a new language. He says ‘that on the day of Pentecost the apostles spoke a new language. It was the language of peace rather than of war; the language of co-operation rather than of competition; the language of forgiveness rather than of vengeance; the language of hope rather than of despair; the language of tolerance rather than of bigotry; the language of friendship rather than of hostility; the language of unity rather than of division; the language of love rather than of hate. Through the gift of the Spirit, people of different languages learned to profess one faith, to the praise and glory of God. This is the real miracle of Pentecost, and it is a miracle which, thankfully, still happens.’

For the next three months I will be on sabbatical which is a gift from the Methodist Church. I will be thinking of you and praying for you all.
If there are any pastoral issues please contact Mrs Brenda Wallace on 07730 779180 or 0191 487 1112.
In an emergency and if you need to talk to a minister please contact either ;
Revd Jane Carter on 07581181966 or Revd Deborah Wainwright on 0191 427 9953.

I will look forward to seeing you on my return.
Stay well and keep safe,

With good wishes and prayers

Huw