Ministers’ Messages

As everyone knows we are now advancing towards the 40^th anniversary of our Church at Stream Road and most of us have been delighted to have welcomed two of our former ministers, Bill Stubbs and George Cloke. They have each taken a part in one of our series of lead-up services which will take us to June next year when we’ll complete the celebrations marking our “birthday.”

So far, two of ministers have been unable to attend personally but have sent messages to be read out on their behalf. Both of them have expressed happy memories of their ministry at Kingswinford, clearly obvious in the letters they sent.

Allan Kinsey writes:

Friends,

It is with great pleasure that I write this message to you at the start of your 40^thanniversary

celebrations. I dearly wish that I could join you today but unfortunately my health is such that I am unable to travel very far from home these days.

However although I cannot be with you, you are in my thoughts and I hope very much that the events you plan over the next year will be blessed by God.

I have many happy memories of the time I spent as a minister in Kingswinford and I pray that the Church, built by bringing together the congregations from Moss Grove and Mount Pleasant all those years ago, will stand for many years to come as a symbol of Christian Fellowship.

Almost 40 years have gone by since that marvellous July day in 1966 when a packed congregation witnessed the opening of a new church, and in many ways the world is a very different place now.

However some things do not change. There is still much in the world today for Christians to do to show God’s love to His people. 40 years ago two congregations became stronger by uniting to bear witness to God’s glory. Today God still has work for you to carry out in your community. I feel sure that He will give you the strength to do His will

Yours in Him

John Bromley writes:

To all our friends and colleagues at Kingswinford Methodist Church.

We were looking forward to sharing the 40^th Church Anniversary. Last Saturday we joined our friends at St Stephens, Crewe, for their Celebrations.

We have enjoyed the summer months, being pleasurably active. Illness has struck just at the wrong time, but we look forward to receiving reports of your activities. We shall be joining you in prayer asking for God’s blessing on our Church and its worship and mission.

It will be a time when you will be looking back with thankfulness touched with sadness, such joy always brings sorrow when we remember all those who are no longer with us. We thank God for their Christian witness and their dedication to our church.

The most important issue is your determination to plan for the future. We trust you are already praying for a great out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, asking him to stir up women and men amongst you who love our Lord and are willing to respond to his call. We need people of vision who have the certainty of being Spirit led.

We are very sorry that we cannot be with you on this special occasion. We are sure that you will receive a great blessing during your celebrations.

We embrace you in the love of Christ,

John and Brenda

Reverend Judith M Lloyd writes:

Shell Knob, Missouri 65747 USA

To the friends and loved ones of the Kingswinford Methodist Church: Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus!

My dear friends, I am sorry that I cannot be with you today and help celebrate your

40th year in ministry as The Methodist Church of Kingswinford. My husband has

bladder cancer and he's been having a series of treatment for this situation, and so we are unable to attend. But, my thoughts and prayers are with you this day and every day as I journey in this life God has so graciously given me. And so instead of being with you personally, I would like to share some thoughts with you.

A while back I came across some pictures of the float preparations, those on the float, me in the cab of the truck along with Geoff Kite the driver, and dinner that was celebrated during the church's 30th Anniversary in 1996. We had such a wonderful time planning the 30th anniversary celebration. Lots of prayer, planning, organizing, and people helping to make the celebration a big success. There was so much enthusiasm! Even the young people got involved. We had a T-shirt design contest and a young person within the congregation won. It was great!

When the planning committee and I met to plan the worship services, and we talked about who they wanted as their preacher, I was quickly informed that I was to do it! Well, now, that didn't need to happen. I was told: "We want you!" and so it was.

While I was only with you for one year and an American, listening to you was important. Doing that helped me to hear what you were saying and struggling with as a church and what God wanted me to share with you. It was like a marriage. The congregations amalgamating together were so excited about building the church right where you are now. So much prayer, planning, preparation, and people helping to make this joint venture work for the Lord. And then as the "marriage" continued, the enthusiasm waned. And when the Lord sent me to you and we started planning for the 30th anniversary, the excitement within the "marriage" came back. There seemed to be a purpose for being The Methodist Church in Kingswinford. And you made the commitment to the church, to one another, and to the community to be Christ's Church ministering to all those who were coming and to all those yet to come.

I recall that my theme during my term with you in 1995-1996 was based on the hymn

"One Bread, One Body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord. "It was so amazing to preside and serve Holy Communion to Christians "across the pond." I cried. And I still do to this day. God is so wonderful to have had our paths intersected

by sending me all the way from the United States to you to be your pastor for that one year. The hymn so impressed you that you wanted to learn it. And you wanted more of our hymns and worship services, and so some of you purchased a United Methodist Hymnal from America.

During my pastorate with you, we celebrated 62 baptisms (two adult women and 60 infants and children which include two sets of twins!), 14 Celebrations of Life funerals, and 14 weddings. We were ministering to each and every person who entered the doors of the church and beyond. There are so many memories to share; instead I share these few with you.

In closing, my prayer for you, the church:

Remember Jesus:

Who, though He was rich, yet for your sakes became poor and dwelt among you. Who was content to be subject to His parents, the child of a poor couple's home. Who lived for thirty years the common life, earning His living with His own hands

and declining no humble tasks.

Whom you heard gladly, for He understood your ways.

May this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Remember Jesus:

Who was mighty in deed, healing the sick and the disordered, using for others

the powers He would not invoke for Himself.

Who refused to force people's allegiance.

Who was Master and Lord to His disciples, yet was among you as your companion

and as One who served.

Whose desire was to do the will of God who sent Him.

May this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Remember Jesus:

Who loved people, yet retired from them to pray, rose a great while before day,

watched through the night, stayed in the wilderness, went up into a mountain,

sought a garden.

Who, when He would help a tempted disciple, prayed for them.

Who prayed for the forgiveness of those who rejected Him, and for the perfecting

of those who received Him.

Who observed the traditions, but defied convention that did not serve the purposes

of God.

Who hated the sins of pride and selfishness, of cruelty and impurity.

May this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Remember Jesus:

Who believed in you and never despaired of you.

Who through all disappointments never lost heart.

Who disregarded His own comfort and convenience, and thought first of others'

needs, and, though He suffered long, was always kind.

Who, when He was reviled, uttered no harsh word in return and when He suffered,

did not threaten retaliation.

Who humbled Himself and carried obedience to the point of death, even death on

the cross, where God has highly exalted Him.

May this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

O Christ, our only Savior, come to dwell in you so that you may go forth with the light of hope in your eyes, and with faith and love in your hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen +

I celebrate with you this day God's blessings upon you as Christ's Church right where you are, and pray for your continued ministry for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom and for saving souls for Christ. Blessings upon you, your pastor, your pastors yet to come, and many years to come as The Methodist Church of Kingswinford.

Yours in Christ,

Reverend Judith M (Breiner) Lloyd Your Pastor from America 1995-1996