While I was in Sarawak, (arrived in the house on 30th June) I managed to keep in touch with the world and particularly home news through the medium of the BBC World. I heard that there had been flooding in Britain, even that there had been deaths. It was not until I arrived in the house last night that I discovered that one of our own members, a local preacher Eric Dickinson had been swept away by flooding river in Worcestershire and had died. Our love and prayers surround Gill and her family at this time. Such a loss is beyond words for me at this moment, except to set it on the larger stage, which is the flooding in other parts of Britain and loss of life there and then also in Pakistan and South India. We believe that each and every human life is special and precious to God. The God, who in Jesus stands with us in our pain, and is the ever present point of hope in our despair.

Also, while I was away, we had a change, much heralded of Prime Minister, Mr Blair has moved on to find a new sphere of service. If that is to be a peace envoy in Palestine/Israel, then our prayers must go with him. As we also continue to pray for Gordon Brown, in his new work and those he has called to serve in the Cabinet (makes being a Chair sound good). The need for our prayers is made all the more sharp by the new wave of terrorist violence in our midst, which brings to our front doors violence that many in our world have to live with day by day. How will we respond. To be people who build up peace in our lives, personal peace, peace in our relationships and communities, our world, and after all that to cry out to God ‘Peace! Peace! Peace! And as we do these things to know that there are those in all our faith communities who journey with us.

On Wednesday, I leave(the advanced party) for the Methodist Conference, which meets this year in Blackpool. We have much to look at this year in our domestic life as a church, which hopefully once addressed will set us free to put more energy and resources into mission and ministry in our communities. In that vain we give special thanks to God for those who will be received formally into our ministry, both Deacons and Presbyters, and then ordained on Sunday the 8th July.

I end my thought with a personal note, to remind you that over the middle weekend of July, Friday tea time to Sunday evening 13-15th I will be holding open house in celebration of my 60th Birthday. No presents, bring some food to share and donations to NCH if you want. All are welcome.

Yours in Love,

Bill Anderson

Planting a tree to contribute to regeneration of Rain Forest.

Bill with John and Calvin from Birmingham Chinese Methodist Congregation at Convention Worldwide Chinese Methodist Family.

Dancing in Long House