Minister's Letter - June 2025

Dear friends,

It’s not long since we celebrated our Church anniversary, marking 57 years of worship in the current building. It’s an easy year to remember because I was born just a few months after you started here! Little did I know that 57 years later I would be your Minister! This year is another milestone for us. It will also be a milestone for Christvin, Suba and the boys as they relocate, and Christvin takes up his new appointment in the Isle of Man, having served as your Minister for the last six years.

And in the Church calendar we mark other milestones.

Last week marked what we in the Church call Ascension day - the day Jesus ascended into heaven having risen from the dead 40 days earlier.

Ascension day always reminds me of a story told to me by a Baptist colleague in my first appointment. He was speaking to a fellowship meeting and asked those present if they were aware it was Ascension day. One lady who was rather hard of hearing responded by saying ‘it’s not my pension day!’

I’m always conscious of how much focus there is on Christmas – celebrating the moment when Jesus began His life on Earth … but when it came to His last day on Earth, the only thing we know is that that there were a handful of disciples who witnessed the moment when He was taken up into heaven. But it’s no less significant.

Jesus had reached another milestone of His own. He had now completed the work He came to do in His birth, life, death and resurrection. He gave instructions to the disciples to continue His work, and thankfully He hasn’t left us alone to get on with it, but has given us the help of His Holy Spirit, which we will be celebrating on Pentecost Sunday, 8th June.

I pray that God will continue to guide us and give us courage, confidence and humility, as we press on to whatever is the next milestone. I pray too that you will know the presence of God in your own life.

Please be assured of my ongoing prayers.

With all good wishes,

Adrian