Superintendent's letter. June 2010

Dear Friends

As I write this, I am conscious that time is marching on as in another sixteen months or so Ruth and I will be leaving the circuit.  It has not been easy to make that decision as we have grown close to many people over the years.  We have met some quiet saints who have shown love, loyalty, commitment and dedication under difficult circumstances because they have been given grace to be part of something that will make a difference to the hearts and minds of people.  It has been a great honour and privilege to serve with them.  This letter therefore is the last one that I shall write as Superintendent of the Halifax circuit.  In September the Halifax circuit will cease to be as a new circuit will emerge – the Calderdale circuit.  It will be an opportunity for us to regroup in new and exciting ways for mission.  We will be doing things differently by inviting people to use their gifts in imaginative and creative ways.

Being creative and imaginative is something most people are good at. On April 27th the circuit staff spent the day on a canal barge with Roy Sykes at the controls.  We were meandering along at about three miles an hour on the Rochdale canal between Hebden Bridge and Luddenden foot.  I have never been on a canal barge before but I would recommend it to anyone.  The idea was to slow down and forget about the world and think instead about our journey with each other and with God.
We had no difficulties doing that.  We were very ably led by Joyce Jones, an Anglican Minister from Shelley and Shepley near Huddersfield, who gently and quietly spoke to us about seeing our journey through life like a river.  As soon as we are born our lives are touched by many influences.  These influences shape and form us to be the people that we are to a large extent, but if we are receptive to God we can turn even negative influences into positive opportunities.
   
There is little to do on a barge except steer it and watch the scenery go by.  But there is much to see as we go if we look in all the right places.  We saw two herons nesting in a tree.  We saw geese nesting by the canal.  We also saw goats and newly born lambs.  Some people saw some deer running in the distance, but I must have been looking in the wrong place at the time.  It is amazing just how much we can experience in a relatively short time.

As we made our journey along the canal the chug chugging of the engine was punctuated by the occasional bustle of the lock; but for most of the time the business of the circuit was pushed to the background so that we could concentrate on what God was asking of us.

The noise of the engine also reminded me of Humphrey Bogart and Kathryn Hepburn on the African Queen.  All we needed was a boiler at the back of our boat. It’s interesting that a noise can trigger so much memory of something seen years ago.

But it is not just noise that can trigger memories or take our thoughts into deep philosophical things.
As I looked at the huge stones cut to shape to fit one another along the length of the canal, I began to think about the people who built the canals.  The canal was built at a time when few men and no women had any say who their leader might be.  We take so much for granted without realising the pain and suffering that others had to endure in order for us to have privileged positions in life.

Many people take God for granted too.  They do not seek to show their gratitude and love inspite of the fact that God emptied himself of all but love for us.  Surely if that is the case we ought to respond in wonder, love and praise of our creator every day of our lives.
 
Best wishes

Albert Gayle  

Thank You

This will be the last Magazine of the Halifax circuit.  The next Magazine will be a Calderdale Magazine and will have a different editorial team. 

I want to say that I owe a debt of gratitude to the people on the editorial team:  Enid Bamforth, Liz Bradley, Lydia Gayle, Ruth Gayle, Bill Place, Cathy Roper and Vivienne Turner who helped me to put the magazine together over many years.  The magazine has grown in quality and content due to the commitment, loyalty and dedication of the team.  I want to pick out in particular Vivienne and Enid who despite difficult challenges produced a Magazine of quality.

I want also to thank the people who worked behind the scenes to put the circuit plan and directory together: Ruth Gayle, Brenda and Julie Hudson, Mary Howell, Glenda Henderson, Bill Place, Vivienne Turner and Enid Bamforth.

A new team will be put in place so our prayers must be that the people with the necessary gifts and skills will be found to further God’s work.

Albert Gayle