Thanks for church aid (From Barry And District News)

Thanks for church aid

7:10am Thursday 23rd June 2011 in Letters

AS minister at Crossway Methodist Church, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the people who have helped at the church in what has been a challenging few months.

Local people may have been aware that we have suffered from attacks on the hall roof, losing quite a lot of copper-covered boards.

I want to thank members of the church who spent time clearing up rainwater that came through the damaged roof in the hall on Sunday, June 12, during heavy rainfall.

I want to thank the church property steward and treasurer for their hard work recently dealing with practicalities, which are ongoing and time consuming.

I am grateful to the assistance of the local police in Barry for their work.

As a church we are grateful to some residents on Court Road who have alerted us on occasions to damage on the roof.

I want to thank Gary Short and his colleagues from Masonwise Builders for their work in dealing with a replacement roof.

As a Christian church we are reminded of the daily challenge to pray for all people, including those who have caused such damage. This is not about fluffy love, but tough love in the footsteps of Jesus Christ!

This is hard, as the recent attacks on the roof and reckless behaviour of a few individuals have tested us all.

However as I write this, I am reading through a web resource for Action for Children (a charity partnered with the Methodist Church, formerly National Children’s Home). The charity celebrates 100 years in Wales this year, and I was reminded again of the work they do with often vulnerable and disadvantaged children, teenagers or young adults with a myriad of problems.

This reminds all of us that often we do not comprehend all the issues that are facing some people in our communities.

The Methodist Church celebrates the work of Action for Children on Sunday, July 10.

As a relatively new minister in Barry, I would like to invite local town people to pop in to our church next Tuesday, June 28, from 2.30pm to 4pm.

You may be someone who was married here, or baptised, you may be a parent waiting outside Holton Primary School, or you be someone who has a connection with Crossway?

Please, if you have finished your shopping on market day, pop in for a cuppa, and relax! And also if you wish, sit in our beautiful church worship space for a bit of space and quiet.

Feel free to ask questions or find out about what we do as a church community in the centre of Barry. For more details telephone 01446 406262, or email revpete@live.co.uk Once again thank you to those mentioned above, and thank you to the people of Barry for your welcome and help.

Rev Peter Taylor Methodist Minister Vale of Glamorgan Circuit