Rev Richard Miles

When I was teaching, September felt more like the ‘New Year’ than January 1st. I am sure that anyone who is or was a teacher will understand what I mean. As I worked in Primary Schools, I would have a completely new class. I must admit, there was a certain amount of nervousness. What would they be like? Would they be well behaved? Would it be an easy, or challenging year to come? But I loved the sense of a new beginning, an opportunity to start afresh. I have that ‘starting afresh’ feeling...

This is the time of year when many people go on holiday. Children are off school, and this year the weather has been hot and dry for quite a while now! A holiday is an opportunity to take a break from what usually happens, the daily routine, if you like. And it is a good thing. We were made to work, but we were also made to rest. We have seen this biblical principle as we have been looking at Nehemiah on Sundays. Sabbath principles have been mentioned more than once. God’s people were told...

Recently, the deacons and I went for an “Away Morning.” Now, this was not a jolly, or simply an excuse for a trip away. In fact we went to the Melville Centre in Abergavenny. Our purpose was to think particularly about the vision for the church. As you may recall, we had a Vision Day for the whole church last year, and some excellent suggestions came from that. We have implemented some of them. This time, we went to consider the broader vision - where will the church be in 5, 10, 15 years...