Dear all
You will be aware that this has been a challenging few months preparing for the next Methodist year with the likelihood of being two presbyters down on our ministerial staff. Up until the Methodist Conference that met last week, we weren’t able to talk openly about contingency plans because there was always the possibility that we could be sent somebody at the twelfth hour. Conference has now ended so we know that is not going to happen and we can put into place the alternative arrangements for which we have been planning.
We are pleased to say that God has been good and we do have cover for this coming year. Rev Steve Oliver, a recently retired supernumerary living in a neighbouring circuit, will be working with us half-time and we will have the full-time services of Rev Paulson Devasahayam. Paulson is an ordained minister in the Church of South India and will be known to many in the circuit as he has preached on our plan for some time now. He and his family live in Ipswich and worship at Alan Road. The intention is for Steve and Paulson to work together across all of those churches but with Steve having primary responsibility for Alan Road/Landseer Road and Museum Street and Paulson having primary responsibility for Bramford Road, Chantry and Felixstowe. Steve and Paulson will also provide continuity of preaching and communion for those churches.
Our active supernumeraries have also, graciously, offered their services wherever they may be needed and, with the additional input of Rev Saul and Rev Steve Mann, this should give us a strong team to face the challenges and opportunities that the coming year will present – not forgetting, of course, the wonderful contribution made by all of our lay people. Rev Steve Mann will be acting as Superintendent minister.
Please mark in your diaries the welcome service for Paulson, Steve Oliver and Steve Mann (as acting Superintendent). This will be at Bramford Road on Monday 2nd September at 7pm. It will also serve as an early opportunity to meet our new District Chair, Rev Helen Hollands.
The Circuit Leadership Team have been encouraged and even excited over the past few months as things have slowly but surely slotted into place and this has been, in no small part, as a result of the prayer that has gone up from the circuit. Please continue to pray and watch out for regular circuit prayer meetings on Zoom as we are aiming to reinstate these in the near future.
We should be grateful if you could please publicise these arrangements within your church community.
Derek Grimshaw Steve Mann
on behalf of the Circuit Leadership Team