Rev Matt iBlog

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 chal...

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...

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. 28 th  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 prob...

Twelve years ago I had the privilege of going to Ghana. I was invited because the church Helen and I attended in Hull had Ghanaian members. I attended Calvary Methodist Church. The Methodist Church is located in the centre of the capital, Accra. Calvary Methodist is a vibrant church with two services on a Sunday. I remember having to give a greeting to the minister in front of 200 people. Eating banku and making a mess Children greeting me Twelve years later, Helen and I find ourselves in the New River Methodist Circuit.  17th May was meant to be my District Testimony service before attending the Methodist Conference to be ordained. I was going to share the honour to be part of a circuit that is 90% Caribbean and West African. I want to thank the circuit for teaching me so much since joining them in 2018. Thank you for helping me to realise that my way of worship isn't the only way. We learn together and we show solidarity.  Edward Colston was...

I suffer from something called selective hearing. Helen once asked me if we had any frozen corn in the freezer and my response was "it would be good to have some fish." This reminds me of... A man decided his wife was getting hard of hearing. So, he arranged an appointment to have her hearing checked. The doctor said he had a full schedule and could see her in two weeks. However, the doctor suggested the husband tried a simple, informal test that he could do to give the doctor some idea of the dimensions of a problem. "Here's what you do," he said. "Stand about 40 feet away from her, and speak in a normal conversational tone and see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That evening his wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he's in the living room, and he says to himself. "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." "Darling, what's for di...

I have just finished reading ‘where is God in a coronavirus world?’ by John C. Lennox. This is a short yet profound book, Lennox examines the coronavirus in light of various belief systems and shows how the Christian worldview not only helps us to make sense of it but also offers a sure and certain hope to cling to. The book explores the following  - Feeling Vulnerable  - Cathedrals and Worldviews - Can Atheism Help? - How can there be Coronavirus if there is a loving God? - Evidence of love - The difference God makes I recommend this book.  We are living through a unique and yet challenging time and many of our old certainties have gone, whatever our views of the world and whatever our beliefs. The coronavirus pandemic and its effects are unsettling for all of us. So, where is God in all of this? It’s a good question… Every day we hear sad stories of people losing a loved one, funerals done differently and foodbanks rising. Som...

Here are some initial thoughts on what Holy Week/ Easter 2020 looked like during the coronavirus pandemic. We have already become 'a different sort of church' during  these unprecedented times.  This picture is from last years Maundy Thursday at Holly Park. We sat in a circle for foot/ hand washing and shared communion (this year we find ourselves washing our hands to Happy Birthday). Reflecting on my first year of ministry, Holy Week was one of the standout moment as a minister within the Methodist Church. I had the immense privilege to journey with the congregation through lent, the upper room, calvary, and the empty tomb. Maundy Thursday 2019 was special for me because it was the first time in my ministry that I washed feet/ hands and shared the Lord's Supper.  'The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me....