Minister's Letter November 2024
Revd John Henry
Tickhill Methodist Church
De-icing
If you are a car driver who makes early car trips, by the time you are reading these words, it is likely that you will have scraped the car more than once.
… and of course, I don't mean that you have done damage to the car, but rather that you have used a scraper, or perhaps some de-icer; de-icing becoming part of the morning ritual.
… and …
Isn’t it wonderful when the car gets up to temperature and the heater begins to make you warm. All part of preparation for the journey, whether it be long or short.
Often, we prepare for a particular journey in life, whether that be for a holiday, or a visit to family, perusing a hobby or a visit to hospital, preparing for a stage of life or preparing for change.
One of the enormous privileges that I have as a Christian minister is walking with people through the ups and downs of life and within both their journeys and within that preparation.
Yes, there will be times of sadness and sorrow, journeying with people through bereavement or sickness, but I also get to share in the joy; for example, very recently I have done several baptism visits connected with our Methodist Church at Thorne; all about some future event, but for which planning is needful.
I started my reflection this month by thinking about how we prepare and the tools we might need; how do you prepare or continue to get ready for the journey of life.
‘Scraping’ is all about making sure that you have clear vision to drive safely; sometimes our way may not seem clear, we cannot know what is in the future, but we can ‘prepare’.
It was a very well-known author and Christian by the name of Corrie Ten Boom, who once wrote these words, “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God!”
As a Christian minister I believe the ongoing preparation for life is best conducted by faith in Jesus Christ; the assurance that He brings, the love He offers and the teaching that He gives.
Every blessing,
Revd John.
Superintendent of Doncaster Methodist Circuit, Minister of Tickhill Methodist Church.
- Tickhill Methodist Church
- Northgate
- Tickhill
- South Yorkshire
- DN11 9HY