Dear Friends

This is the piece that I always knew I would have to write one day, from the moment I arrived in 2005. My official designation is Itinerant Presbyteral Minister. The ‘Itinerant’ bit is significant. That means it is expected that every so often we will move to another Circuit and we must be prepared to do that. Some Ministers however are less itinerant than others! I have been with you for 12 years and I sincerely hope I have not outstayed my welcome and beg your forgiveness if I have.

Dear Friends

There was an interesting programme on Radio 4 the other day. As usual, because I was driving in my car, I heard neither the beginning nor the end of the programme, only a tantalising portion somewhere in the middle. The programme was about the significance of chaos. The theory being put forward was that chaos is good, that most of the major advances of human progress have followed times of upheaval. Alongside this was the suggestion that with too much peace and prosperity human beings just become fat and lazy. Interesting! Whatever the theory, I am still worried about Trump, Putin, Brexit, Isis et al and am rather fond of the peace and prosperity we, as a nation, have enjoyed for several decades now.

Dear Friends

Last night we went to see the film, I Daniel Blake. The film is set in Newcastle and follows the struggles of 2 adults on benefits. Daniel Blake is a widower who having worked his whole life as a proud and skilful joiner, has suffered a heart attack and is unable to get back to work as soon as he would like. Consequently, he finds himself stuck in a labyrinthine, bureaucratic, soulless system feeling as though he is going round and round in ever decreasing circles and getting nowhere. Katie has been moved from London with her 2 children to the North East because her local Council can’t find her affordable accommodation in the capital.