Rev Matt iBlog

Decisions - so many choices to do during the holidays…Visit the zooThe beach (not an overcrowded beach at Bournemouth)TripsWalking Museums 
For many, the holidays are the best time of year. The smell of the countryside, the warm twinkle of fairy lights, and of course, the extra family time. 
But for others, the holidays can be the most stressful of times especially those trips you wish you wasn’t on. 
7 Strategies for Dealing with a Difficult Family Member During the HolidaysSet boundaries. ...Realise you're not a magician or counsellorAvoid dramaHave an exit strategyWear a shieldOpen your heart,Give thanks.
Helen and I like to go to the seaside and have fish and chips. We like to eat our fish n chips with our fingers from open paper with the smell of salt n vinegar. 
Sometimes when planning what to do on holiday we create so much unnecessary scheduled holiday programme planning. We plan and get frustrated when nothing comes of it. 
And like those disciples who went back fishing; it’s w…

It is now the summer holidays, but it feels different this year. This year seems different with more people staying at home. However, some have decided to go on holiday.  When you go on holiday, each traveller must make decisions about the sort of stuff that could go into his or her luggage.What size bag to take?Do I take the small bag, the medium bag or larger bag?Will it last me for one week or two weeks? Decisions, decisions!You need to pack and take the right items. It reminds me of a family holiday to New York. My dad picked up his suitcase at the airport and went to the hotel. Only to discover he picked somebody’s luggage up by mistake. Lucky enough he received his back. We can spend a long time deciding what suitcase to take, what to pack, but that doesn’t always prepare us for the journey ahead. Jesus said to his disciples...“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is wort…

13th July 2020 was the 35th anniversary of something unique. A year before I was born. 
Live Aid was a benefit concert held on Saturday 13th July 1985, as well as an ongoing music-based fundraising initiative. The event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. 
Held at Wembley Stadium, London with 72,000 people, and John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia with 89,400 people. 
The 1985 Live Aid concert was a follow-on to the successful charity single "Do They Know It’s Christmas?” In October 1984, images of hundreds of thousands of people starving to death in Ethiopia shown in the UK in Michael Buerk’s BBC News report on the 1984 famine. 
This led to one of the most successful concerts in history with performers such as Status Quo, Adam Ant, Paul Young, Queen, The Who, U2, David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and many more. What a fantastic lineup and that was only the UK! 
Phil Collins appeared at both concerts thanks to be…

Last weekend one of the football greats Jack Charlton died.
He played for Leeds United with 629 appearances and his brother Bobby played for Manchester United.
Both Jack and Bobby played in the famous 1966 World Cup Final. England beating West Germany 4-2. During the lockdown, this famous final was repeated on the television. 1966 was before my time, but we all know the well-known quote from the commentator…

England took their opportunities well. 
Jack Charlton said...

What’s your story?
Andy Warhol (famous American artist behind the pop art movement) once said...

Paul takes about taking opportunities when in Ephesians 5 writes…

If everyone is going to be famous for 15 minutes we need to take the opportunity - to wake up and Christ will shine on us as Paul reminds us to make the ‘most of every opportunity because the days are evil.’ 
To take every opportunity means sometimes we can’t just sit back. Especially when things are not right in the world. We need to speak up and challenge unjust syst…

On Saturday 27th June I was received into Full Connexion but not Ordained until next year.

The Methodist Conference receives into Full Connexion with itself those who are called to exercise an Ordained ministry specifically through the Methodist Church. When they are received into Full Connexion ministers (both presbyters and deacons) enter a covenant relationship with the Conference.

At the heart of this mutual relationship, made possible through God's grace, both the ministers and the Conference have appropriate privileges and responsibilities.

After Reception into Full Connexion, ordinands usually go to their venues to be Ordained. I was going to be received into Full Connexion in Telford and Ordained in Wellington.

At first, I was sad not to be Received into Full Connexion and Ordained physically. I was sad not to be standing with my good friends. Instead, we were received into Full Connexion on Zoom. But let's be honest so many people have lost a loved one or had to canc…

Things get cancelled all the time especially in the UK for different reasons. You cancel an order online because you’ve changed your mind and don’t want the item anymore. The meeting you was looking forward to attending ends up getting cancelled because people double booked. 
Cancelled or cancellation isn’t a new thing. However, this year seems to feel like a movie and yet somehow, it’s real with the Covid-19. We all seem to be dealing with cancellations and postponements with the fear of the unknown. So many people are looking forward to something like a special birthday, wedding or a holiday. This can be said for children in year 6 wanting to be at school with their friends to have a nice send-off before starting secondary school. 

I can relate to the disappointment of cancellations. 28th June was meant to be my Reception into Full Connexion and Ordination. Ordinands have worked hard the past 5+ years including candidating, ministerial training and probation. I was looking forward to …