The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

After Easter my attention turned towards Pentecost and prayed that God's Holy Spirit would be with me as I continued with my Presidential duties.

My first Eastertide engagement was the Spring Council Meeting. Here I contribute to the business of the  Council as an elected Trustee and importantly, ensure that our time together is prayerful and spirit led.

A break in the formal proceedings

It was a very full agenda and details will be circulated in due course. But part of the discussions were about our Assembly in June and the way we present the findings from the recent examination of council business as mandated by last year's resolution in the Swansea Assembly. Personally, I pray that this will be well received and allow us all to move to the next stage of our journey.

On 13th May it was my delightful duty to preside at the Anniversary service in Greenacres Congregational Church, Oldham. This is one of the oldest continuing congregations in the Federation  and a very warm welcome was given to me by a packed congregation. The service was followed by a wonderful lunch served in the church hall.

Revd David Lampard, Minister at Greenacres with President Martin Spain

The pulpit, choir area and Communion Table at Greenacres

Post worship lunch

The weekend of Saturday and Sunday 19 and 20 May saw me travelling across the severn estuary to the South West Area gathering at Crediton Congregational Church. It was good to be part of the Area meeting and to participate in some of the workshops. The following day saw me in the pulpit for two services, 9.30am and 11am. No rest for the wicked ... so the saying goes. Here is a church that has adapted to meet the needs of younger people whilst not forgetting its traditional roots, hence two distinct services. The same sermon was preached (almost) and it was a new experience for me to have the sermon applauded in the 11am service. I took it as a compliment for the Spirit does move where it wishes. My grateful thanks to Pastor James Gregory and team for an uplifting experience. Good on you!

Crediton Congregational Church

This was the 'warm up' before the 11am service

East and West

On Palm Sunday, 25th March 2018, I was the preacher at Springhead Congregational Church, near Oldham. It was a pleasure to lead worship and good to see many friends, including the minister, Revd Liz Dean. There was a good congregation and it was wonderful to see some children at the service. There were traditional readings for Palm Sunday and the children's address included shouts of 'Hosanna'.
Immediately after the service Bacon rolls and tea and coffee were served and it was a treat enjoyed by most of the congregation and members of the local constabulary who popped in.

This knitted Last Supper scene caught my eye

Liz and Martin enjoying a catch up after the bacon roll!

Easter Sunday was at home in my own churches and I presided at three services. 9.30am was at Crundale, 11am at Zion's Hill, Spittal and 2.30pm was the afternoon service at Tabernacle, Tiers Cross. 

And the following Sunday, I was in the East Midlands Area as I joined the Revd Ken Hague and fellowship at Newark Congregational Church for a 11am service. The sermon was based on the story of doubting Thomas and it was good to be part of this faithful fellowship, who treated me to a sumptuous Sunday lunch at the nearby Grange Hotel. I travelled to Newark on Saturday, stopping off at our Nottingham 'HQ' to visit the training course that was running. It was great to meet some of our students and tutors and Revd Dr Walter Riggans, our Learning and Development Manager. Please remember our students in your prayers and thank God for women and men who are learning how to better serve Him in the work of the Kingdom.

Newark Congregational Church

Martin and Ken

The best table for lunch

A visit to Escumesthorpe

Scunthorpe Congregational Church

Saturday 10 March saw me at Scunthorpe Congregational Church  for the Area Assembly of the North east Area. Scunthorpe is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Escumesthorpe. It was good to meet up with old colleagues and some Welsh people in exile in the north east.

The church building is a modern purpose built facility that gets the balance right between having a sanctuary for worship and praise and the halls for other events.

The meeting of the Area was ably chaired by Keith Bradley and before the official business, we were led in worship by Christine, after which I gave a presentation on my role as President and a military chaplain.

Sunday morning at 10.30am, I took the pulpit at Scunthorpe and was privileged to preside at the table for communion. It was Mothers' Day and the church distributed flowers to the fellowship, whether they were mothers, fathers or any other category! It was then a quick dash over to Tapton Hill, Sheffield for their 2.45pm service, stopping off for lunch with Keith and Sally on the way. Although busy, it was a blessed opportunity for me to lead worship.

My grateful thanks for all who looked after me during my visit.

Revd Bill Bentham chatting
 to a church member

The lectern has some carvings depicting steel workers

Revd Bill Bentham, President 1989-90

Keith Bradley in the chair

Chatting to a fellow Welshman, David from Llangain, Carmarthenshire

A Pilgrim makes progress to Bunyan

On Sunday 25 February 2018 I was the guest preacher at Bunyan Meeting, Bedford for their anniversary service. The cause was established in 1650 and is amongst the oldest independent churches in Britain. Famous of course, because John Bunyan was the minister from 1672 until he died in 1688. And famous today for being a leading ecumenical light in that part of the country with its fellowship being members of the Baptist Union and Congregational Federation. 

We had two services, the morning service at 11am, where the Word was preached on Ephesians 5 about giving thanks to God and the evening service at 6.30pm, where the preaching was based on Acts 20 and how we are to be shepherds of the church in these modern times. 

As the preacher I was uplifted by the spirituality of Bunyan Meeting and knew that God was blessing this active congregation in their community work. 

Thank you to the minister - Revd Chris Damp for the invitation and thank you to all who supported the anniversary celebrations. Particular thanks to Jenny for hosting me to a wonderful lunch and time of fellowship.

Former President Revd Dr Janet Wootton and some of the Deacons
enjoying tea at the end of the service

Southam Congregational Church

On Sunday 11 February 2018, I visited Southam Congregational Church where I presided at their morning service. I received a very warm welcome and the theme of the sermon was how we recognise Jesus as being the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24). During the service I had the privilege of accepting into membership three people and presided at the table when we gathered together as a fellowship.

My grateful thanks to the Minister Revd Neil Chappell and the fellowship for an uplifting time. Also thanks to Debbie Chappell for putting up with me over lunch!

Council Meeting

The third weekend of November saw me at the Council Meeting, which is held at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine in London. This is an Anglican 'retreat' centre that offers conference rooms and excellent facilities for a stay in the east of the city (see http://rfsk.org.uk/). The Council have met here in November for many years.

As President I am responsible for the worship and prayer during our gathering. We always open with worship, there is a small act of worship every morning and a closing prayer at the end of the evening. Just before lunch on Sunday, we have a closing worship and made use of the chapel on site. There is an interesting history to St Katharine and during the Cromwellian era, the 'master' of the house was Richard Kentish. Kentish was congregational and is famous as being one of the few non conformists to have delivered a sermon to Parliament (in 1647). On the restoration of the monarchy, Kentish helped establish a congregational cause in Wapping and his son, Thomas, became the congregational minister at Southwark. So some 370 plus years after Kentish, the Congregationalists are still using St Katharine's and a non conformist act of worship still held in the chapel of a high Anglican church with the blessing of the current 'Master'. How ecumenical is that!

As President I also have responsibilities as trustee and along with council members, contribute for the greater good of the Federation by bringing the views of churches to the table. Full minutes of the meeting will be circulated in due course.

The Chapel

Trinity Congregational Church, Brixton

I was heading to London for the meeting of the council of the Congregational Federation and by arrangement visited Trinity Brixton on Thursday 16th November 2017. I was invited by the minister, Revd Alan Argent to come and talk about what I saw as the way forward for Congregationalists in this ever changing world. We enjoyed a meal together, some good discussion and fellowship.
It was good to visit and I pray that the substantial renovations of the main worship area in the church go to plan.

Alan giving a tour and explaining the ongoing work