A FARRAGO

· I hope you all spotted the photo of our triathlon stars Helen & Thia Grice in the Lancashire Evening Post in early March.

· No doubt many of you will recall the Methodist Modern Art Collection coming to Preston some years ago, Preston Guild Year. Well, it’s going to be in Llandudno until 3rd September this year so if you’re out that way, and would like to see it, remember to call in at St John’s Methodist Church. (St John’s is on the main street - Mostyn Street LL30 2NN – sandwiched between the two parts of the Marks & Spencer store.)

· If you’re not already going with the Churches Together group to the Lake District and Cartmel Priory on Saturday, 10th September, then perhaps you’d like to consider this:- the Lancashire Wesley Historical Society is planning an outing to Liverpool, specifically to visit the Slavery Exhibition and then the Roman Catholic Cathedral (‘Paddy’s Wigwam’ as the locals know it!). Anyone wishing to join them on this outing, whether or not they are a member, would be most welcome. They don’t have to go to the exhibition or to the Cathedral.

Coach times: depart Ingol Methodist Church at 9 am; depart the Cathedral at 5:15 pm. Cost: £15 per head, which should be sent to Revd. Brian Bullick at 12, Durham Avenue, LYTHAM ST ANNES, FY8 2BD (cheques payable to Lancashire WHS). His home ‘phone number is 01253 726074, his mobile number is 07857 869155 and his e-mail address is bandabullick@gmail.com

· The Methodist Recorder of 13th May carried an article regarding one of our previous Ministers. Revd. John Beardsley - now of Tewkesbury - was due to set off on another of his ‘short sponsored walks’ (this time for Christian Aid): all 225 miles of the Severn Way, from the river’s source on Plynlimon to the world’s oldest Methodist chapel, the New Room in Bristol.

· Members of Central Methodist Church, Preston, are already busy with plans for the bicentenary of the church, which is coming up in 2017.

· Volunteers are urgently required for the Help Desk at the Royal Preston Hospital.

· On Maundy Thursday at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, Margaret Mason of Freckleton Methodist Church was one of the recipients of Maundy Money from Her Majesty The Queen. (You may know Margaret better by her florist’s shop on Friargate.)

· Cliff College has an Acting Principal: Rev. Dr. Stephen Skuce has been seconded to the post while a new Principal is found.

· Revd. Eric Bossward, the Vicar of neighbouring St Cuthbert’s Church, has taken up a new post as Vicar of St Mary’s, Headington, Oxford. We wish him well with his work in the city’s student land.

· A new exhibition at the Museum of London, marking the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, was set to open on 23rd July. Remember, that event led on to Sir Christopher Wren designing a mass of new church buildings, many of which are still to be seen today.

· Other folks’ church magazines, newsletters and weekly sheets have arrived from:- Bamber Bridge & Trinity (Gregson Lane) Methodist Churches; Central Methodist Church, Preston; Christ Church, Fulwood; Christ Church, Southport; The Drive Methodist Church, St Annes; Fulwood URC; Kingston (Surrey) Methodist Church; Lytham St Cuthbert’s; Oakworth Methodist Church; the Parish of Ambleside & Brathay; Penwortham St Leonard’s; Penwortham St Mary’s; St Annes Parish Church; Sherborne Abbey, Dorset; Surbiton Hill Methodist Church (Surrey); St John’s Methodist Church, Conwy; St John’s Methodist Church, Llandudno; Warton St Paul’s.