Rev. Mindy’s Meanderings

We have much to celebrate and you are invited to join us. On Sunday the 18th of May, members of Stony Stratford, Hanslope, and Deanshanger Methodist Churches are gathering together with others to celebrate. These are some of the things we will be celebrating:

• the planting of a “new” Wesley tree* on the Market Square in Stony Stratford
• the visit of the Vice-President of Methodist Conference (the elected lay leader of British Methodists for the year 2008), Mrs. Ruby Beech, to dedicate the “new” Wesley tree
• Rev. John Wesley’s leadership of our Sunday service (John Wesley, 1703-1791, was the founder of the Methodist movement and will be portrayed by actor Mark Topping.)
• Hanslope Methodist Church’s 180th Anniversary
• Stony Stratford Methodist Church’s Anniversary
• the long and faithful history of the people called Methodist in the life of our communities.

The above picture was taken on the occasion of the planting of the “new” Wesley tree. It is this tree that will be dedicated on the 18th of May. The following is the list and location of festivities on Sunday the 18th of May. We are pleased that the mayor-elect and members of the Stony Stratford town council will be joining us. You are welcome to join us for any or all of the festivities no matter if your interest is local history, Methodism, trees, Christian worship or any other reason.

10:00 am Worship Service @ Russell Street School

11:00 am Procession to the Wesley Tree, Market Square

11:15-ish Dedication of the Wesley tree & unveiling of the plaque by Mrs. Ruby Beech

11:45 am Tea, Coffee, & Cake in the Stony Stratford Methodist Church Hall, Silver Street

12:15 pm Address by Mrs. Ruby Beech in Stony Stratford Methodist Church Sanctuary, Silver Street

The parking nearest to Russell Street School is in the two public lots on Vicarage Road (which can be accessed from either Russell Street or Ostlers Lane). From those parking lots it is just a short walk to the school, the square, and the church.

* It is called the Wesley Tree because Rev. John Wesley preached from under this tree at least once on his travels through Stony Stratford. He didn’t have access to churches to preach in so he preached in ordinary places where people were gathered, to share with them the message of God’s love and forgiveness. The old tree which J. Wesley preached under died as a result of Dutch Elm Disease.

Additional Opportunity:

Saturday, May 17th at 7pm Hanslope Methodist Church will celebrate it’s 180th Chapel Anniversary with Mark Topping portraying John Wesley. John Wesley will be arriving by horse and will then tell us about his life and work. I have seen the show before; I can report it is a fascinating show and transports one back in time. The program for this evening will be entirely different than that in the following morning, so feel free to come to both events. Tickets are £5 each and available at the door. Hanslope Methodist Church is on High Street in the village of Hanslope next to the Chinese take away.