Pastoral Letter - September 2025
Where has it gone - with a blink of an eye our first year as Trafford Circuit has passed by. What a year.
New friendships made - new names to remember. For our preachers and worshippers new venues to explore and adapting to new ways.
September reveals our new ways of working for some of our lay workers.
We are blessed with the ability to release the gifts of individuals into geographical areas and areas of work:
Rachael Bate - North & West Trafford - community engagement and older citizens
Ruth Dawson - Operations Manager
Jackie Davies - South Trafford - children, families and schools
Rachel Foster - Central Trafford - EDI, Youth
Helen Norman - Property Sales
Mabel Nyazika - West, Central Trafford - Church life and Pastoral Care
Our time together has seen changes and growth in worship and for some of our church memberships. Our Circuit Leadership team has worked very hard in establishing ways of working and principles in how we govern and develop the assets we have.
We journey together, caring for one another unsure of what the year will bring and we do it together - in prayer, gracefully and in the name of Jesus.
Every blessing
Rev Jackie
Pastoral Letter - June 2025
This letter brings thanks and greetings to you as I return to work on a phased return following surgery. I am grateful , so grateful to colleagues - lay and ordained for their support and care since diagnosis at the end of February and surgery in March. Your generosity of spirit and care has been enabling and resting as we have navigated through so much.
All is well - and the phased return will see my back among a good team and a growing circuit.
It has highlighted that the merger last September has enabled a strong team to flourish and focused determination on mission to be at the core. In the last year one church has been developed (Cornerstone), a merger of two to form The Village (Sale Moor and Trinity), one NPNP emerge (Makers Nook) and another to grow (Telugu Fellowship). It has allowed us to introduce and develop policies releasing what could be liabilities into assets for development and missional growth.
Our Mission and Ministry plan allows us to place our focus on releasing finances in ensuring our core mission is developed. This plan brings together our transition, staffing and mission plans.
As summer arrives and holiday clubs beckon we give thanks for all who work with our younger people, alongside these events we are out there in the community at community festivals and pride events sharing the love of Jesus.
Thank you for being you
Every blessing
Rev Jackie
Pastoral Letter - March 2025
How is Lent going for you? In that the question may take you to thinking about the failure of abstinence of chocolate, social media or other things. Yet the question invites you to look deeper - to go deeper.
How is lent going for prayer?
How is lent going in alms giving to others?
How is lent going in fasting - not just food but from negativity and gossip?
The questions above are meant to perhaps nudge and prod us.
How is it going?
As we journey to the cross - setting our faces resolutely to Jerusalem - may our gaze be firmly upon Jesus.
With every blessing
Jackie
Pastoral Letter - December 2024
“So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven: no ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls still receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.”
Our journey through advent invites us to enter into the mystery of dwelling and incarnation. It reveals choice and humility and invites us to make room - room for a Saviour.
This season of Advent has at its core a sense of waiting and anticipation. Waiting is not passive - it demands so much from us including the manifestation of patience. A patience observed when God was silent for 400 years until the birth of Christ. A silence that sometimes brings to the core a question "where are you God?" Advent and Christmas remind us that Jesus is not found in the obvious places - the store or stadium - where is Christ for you?
The dear Christ enters in - to streets and gutters, brokenness and dirt. Have a look you may just find him.
Wishing you the blessings of Christ in this season and beyond
Rev Jackie
Pastoral Letter - September 2024
Welcoming, Inclusive and Justice Seeking Church
Dear friends,
As we step into a new church year this September, our Circuit represents a merger in which our focus is mission. Bringing together three circuits into one is a deliberate action with a focus on releasing people for mission.
I am grateful to all who have enabled a transition over the last year and for the commitment of all to work together.
I write this pastoral note on the evening of our first circuit meeting - a moment where grace was experienced, gratitude and thanks expressed and an opportunity to share good news of the work of God in our midst.
We reminded one another that through our journey of faith we are connected and there is much to celebrate. Giving thanks for our young people heading to University, who have received hampers of essential goods we reflected on our commitment to make a difference to all ages. Reflecting on mission priorities we reaffirmed our commitment to put mission first, lives as Christians, tell our story and be a church for everyone.
Our mission in the Trafford Methodist Circuit remains grounded in the practical expression of our faith in Jesus Christ. Whether through our worship, our community projects, or our everyday interactions, we continue to witness to the love and grace of God in a world that desperately needs it. We give thanks for our NPNP (New places for new people) reflecting our commitment to service all - our Telugu fellowship and makers nook - focused on working with people claiming asylum enforces our commitment to love our neighbours fostering a community of welcome, inclusivity and justice.
May the Lord bless us and keep us in God’s peace and love.
With every blessing,
Rev'd Jackie