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Do not stand at my grave and weep....

Following a dignified and ceremonial funeral for Lady Thatcher, the press are very quick to pick up on the emotion shown by one man, namely the Chancellor of the Exchequer - George Osborne MP. Immediately, judgement was made on the reason for his emotions. Yet we will never know why and for whom he shed those tears. Sometimes, just the enormity of the occasion can evoke such a response, as Tweeted by Mr Osborne: "A moving, almost overwhelming day." Beautiful music in itself touches us at the deepest level, sometimes a move of God's Spirit causes us to weep for no other reason than the depth of love God has for us.

At many funerals, we weep for the loss of a loved one and not always the person on the catafalque. Sometimes memories of our own previous losses are reawakened and the fresh tinge of pain appears. It may, at the end of the day, fill headlines and column inches, but it is none of our business why or for whom he shed those tears, it is between George and God.

The conclusion of the aforementioned poem by Mary Frye is as misjudged as the opening line. Why not stand at a grave and cry? She IS there, she DID die.

So, for all who mourn, whether for an international stateswoman, or for a loved one from times long past; do as Jesus did in his bereavement, in what is the shortest, yet one of the most profound verses of scripture. John 11:35 has - "Jesus wept" and through those tears and by His grace, our Lord will bring His healing and wholeness.

Rev'd Graham Cutler

A visit from the President of Conference

The Rev'd Dr Mark Wakelin, leader of the Methodist Church in Britain, paid a visit to Chorley & Leyland last Friday (20^th January).

Rev'd Wakelin, who is this year's President of the Methodist Conference, was spending time in Lancashire visiting churches, community projects and leading a weekend conference.

His visit to Chorley and Leyland started at Leyland Methodist Junior school where he met senior staff and children.

No snow in Sierra Leone

The Mission Team heading for Sierra Leone left last Friday night 25th January and yes they were severely hampered by the weather conditions here. They made it to the airport with two minutes to spare!!

The District Year of Prayer Walk comes to a glorious close

Chris Hulse and Alan Walmsley were at the final walk and service in Silverdale.

Chris writes

'The walk was a really good experience; time to meet new people and to spend time with people we had met before. Time to share stories and thoughts as we all puffed our way up from Warton over into Silverdale. One of the highlights was to listen to the stories of small churches and howthey are reaching out into their communities. Small churches are an inspiration. We were told at Warton that on the Friday night they had about 100 young people and children on their premises and that is a regular occurrance. The building had been adapted to technology and there was evidence all around of a bright comfortable place for the young and old to come to.

At Silverdale they spoke of how from having no children in the church they now had a new family and were hoping this would attract others. Then there was the food and the Worship! a really inspirational day'

Midge Hall's Opening of Phase 2

In 1861 an enthusiastic and devout group of Methodists began holding cottage meetings in the Midge Hall area. Their numbers so grew that it became necessary to convert a thatched cottage into a dedicated meeting place to accommodate some 120 folk.

Among these people, a Mr Howard formed a group who campaigned for a chapel to be built to serve the mainly farming community. A subscription book was started to raise the money and such was their commitment, that by 11th November 1867, when the chapel first opened for worship, the project was free of debt!

That building served the local community until 1996, when a much needed building extension added a new chapel, kitchen and toilets onto the old chapel, which then became the church hall.

Some five years ago it was decided that...........

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