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“If my people who are called by my name, humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. (2 Chron 7:14)

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

“After summoning His twelve disciples, he gave them the authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.” I am immensely grateful for standing on His Word as you hold me in your prayers. I am getting better and better every day. This has been a time to reflect, discern, pray, and rest. I am truly blessed to be part of this circuit family. 

It was on 14^th May, after the service, when one of my new friends asked me: “Do you pray for the peace in Israel?” While I didn’t give a satisfying answer, this question raised more questions in my heart. I wondered if God was asking me to focus more specifically on prayers and requests/needs. This was a simple but profound question, and together we can address it. 

As we start the Connexional year (1st September) I would like to suggest an afternoon of specific prayers once every Quarter around the three churches. The first meeting can be on the 3^rd September 2023, at Syke Methodist Church at 6pm-7pm or if you would suggest a different time, please, let me know.

If you would like to help or participate in the planning for this one hour of specific prayers, please get in touch. 

I hope that, as people called by His name, we can get together and pray together in the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Yours in His service,

Marcianne 

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

My friend Agnes is a chaplain minister, testimonies and reflections are essential parts of her ministry. She also enjoys hospital visits as well. She recently visited a church member who has been in hospital for three weeks, she kindly shared the experience of that visit with me; saying: “Today I went for an hospital visit. I didn’t wear clerical clothes, or dog collar or any kind of uniform. I just went wearing my normal clothes. I spent time with the patient, spoke about the situation, then we prayed together and prayed for all patients in that hospital. However, at the door of that ward, there was a nurse sitting and watching us praying. On my way out from the ward, when I arrived at the door, that nurse grabbed my hand and put it on his head saying: ‘The Holy Spirit of the Living God is upon you, I saw Him.’ I said a short prayer for the nurse and left the hospital.” Agnes’ experience reminded me of what happened to the believers after the day of the Pentecost, as it is in Acts 4:23-31 when they were praying for boldness. They were simply filled with the Holy Spirit, and those around them witnessed it.

The patient in the hospital Agnes went to visit is her friend. They recently met and their connection bloomed into a true friendship, with honesty and authenticity. No wonder the nurse saw the Spirit of the living God upon both Agnes and her friend! They love one another, as Jesus commanded His disciples to ”love one another. As I have loved you”. So you should love one another”. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John13:34-35). Although not everyone is familiar with the power of the love in the Holy Spirit, but as Jesus said everyone will know and see it through us, just as the nurse saw it in that moment of prayer.  

Early church believers prayed for boldness and were filled with the Holy Spirit even after Pentecost; after two thousand years, can we say boldly and confidently that we too are filled with the Holy Spirit? As we continue to seek God’s face and guidance for our churches mission through prayers, it is my hope and prayer that, with one heart and mind, we will  “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people,” (Ephesians 6:18); in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Yours in His service,

Probationer Deacon Marcianne Uwimana.

” But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’”

Mark 10:14-15

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Part of Diaconal ministry is building a bridge between the church and World. There is no way that this can happen without building genuine and honest relationships through conversations, acts of kindness and care. I recently had a genuine conversation with a Mum who attends Stay and Play about how Easter was for her and her family, she said: “my son gave me a small Bible (New Testament Psalms &Proverbs) that he got from school, and I got very interested in it, I found it somehow confusing, however very interesting and I will continue to read it.” Another new friend said to me: “I still remember my first Christian booklet I received from Sunday School thirty years ago, and I still have it.”

This conversation reminded me of how ‘taking childhood Spirituality seriously’ is of profound importance, just as Jesus reminded his disciples: “…Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Jesus didn’t give His disciples an age limit, nor a specific behaviour or a background to welcome, He simply welcomed all. After this, Jesus reversed his statement towards His disciples and to all His followers: “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” Playing with and being around little children has been a truly gift that I dearly cherish. Seeing how innocent, pure and honest they are, is deeply heart-warming!

The fact is there are children within and all around us and the way we accept and see them matters. These children can be of our friends, relatives, extended family or neighbours or ourselves. Patiently and genuinely welcoming them as they are, as well as planting those small seeds will truly bear good fruits. Ultimately, it’s all about helping others to discover Jesus’ love for all, according to how and when the Holy Spirit uses the Godly’ resources we share with them. This might never happen the way we anticipate, not even on our timescales but according to God’s way and his divine timing. Perhaps the calling of each one of us is to faithfully plant as many of those small seeds as possible, at every possible opportunity, and to patiently tune in to how the Holy Spirit is doing in and through us and others.

May God bless, sustain, empower and encourage all parents, grand-parents, child minders, Good News for everyone representatives, messy church and projects leaders, aunts, uncles, carers, guardians, teachers, volunteers and anyone is contact with our little children, as they plant the small seeds of God’s love for all, in the name of God, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Friends,

Greeting in the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Lent is a season when I profoundly reflect on what Jesus said and did for humanity before he was crucified. It’s a season of reflection on the sacrificial servant ministry, and what it takes to follow His example. Sometimes, I reflect on this topic through conversations with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

A recent conversation was with an incredible long serving Church Steward, who has been sacrificially serving God’s people from ‘the back of the church’. During our conversation, I asked if she would be interested in taking a centre stage and sharing her experience of her servant ministry in the church, where she got married 69 years ago. Her answer was simple but very powerful: “I don’t think that is my calling, I believe that actions speak louder than words; quietly serving others in humility following Jesus’ example, and behind the closed doors, is what I know to be my calling.” This conversation reminded me of an act of spiritual service and humility by Jesus. ’The washing of His disciples’ feet’ was a simple but significant example of the soul-cleansing that takes place when we follow Jesus Christ. By reaching down to His disciples’ feet, Jesus showed us that there is no task too low or too undignified for a leader who is ready to help and lead others for God’s glory.

Easter is not a story of popularity. Easter is a true story of the sacrificial servant ministry of Jesus Christ, who wholeheartedly and humbly served others to the point of death on the cross for the redemption of all. It is a true story of His victory and presence in and through each one of us, as His followers, whether from behind closed doors or from the front, the servant ministry starts from the heart in the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Happy Easter to you all.

Probationer Minister, Deacon Marcianne Uwimana

Dear friends,

Greetings in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In February I joined a craft group at Syke Methodist Church; after learning how to decorate a bottle with light in it, I was ready to come home as I had another meeting in the afternoon. Before I left, one of our regular friends entered the church building and we started talking about our Sunday ‘meet, share and eat’ Fellowship. I asked him if he would be joining us in the morning worship. His answer was simple but so powerful. He said: “I am not interested in Church’s hierarchies and stuff; my spiritual life is about my personal relationship with Jesus.” He continued and said: “Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness; however, Jesus helped me through it, and I am still here, standing and healthy. When I wake up every morning, I say, ‘good morning, Jesus,’ thanking God for another day to live.”

His words reminded me of one of my favourite songs that I sing every morning: “I am alive today; it is by your Grace” by Big Brain (you tube) based on Psalm 92:2 “…proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night….” Hearing these words from someone who doesn’t currently go to church was a powerful encounter with God at work in the hearts of his people. It was simply uplifting seeing and hearing people being aware of his presence in their lives, we can greet him with grateful hearts, as our closest friend and say: ‘good morning, Jesus’. The truth of this encounter is that someone else, somewhere along the way, shared the good news of the Gospel with my new friend, and that is how he came to know Jesus and developed a personal relationship with him.  

As we start this Lent season, may the Holy Spirit help us to share our faith stories with those we meet daily. Although we might not know how the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts, we can confidently trust His power. It might take a long time to see the fruits of the seeds we planted daily; we are called to continue planting them faithfully. Even if those we share with choose a different path and don’t join the worship in our physical church buildings, with patience we are to continue: ‘one step at a time.’ The most important thing worth mentioning here is that when we look for an action which might transform our lives and the lives of others, we are also helping them to discover how close God often comes to us. I encourage you to know that he is within us, around us, underneath us, above us, actively and creatively making us new every day. So, we can intimately sing: “Good morning, Jesus. Good morning, Lord, Good morning Holy Spirit, we are alive today”! 

Deacon Marcianne

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.