District Celebration in St Edmundsbury Cathedral

On Saturday 5th May 2018 about 400 people from all parts of the East Anglia District gathered in St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds for the District Celebration.

After tea in the Cathedral a welcome was given by the Acting Dean of the Cathedral, Bishop Graeme Knowles, and by the Revd Julian Pursehouse, Chair of District. The Revd Loraine Mellor, President of the Methodist Conference, was the special guest preacher.

 

The Worship Band from Haverhill Methodist Church led some modern worship songs, while Thomas Hawkes, organ scholar at the Cathedral, accompanied more traditional hymns.

Methodists from nearby churches led a dramatic reading of a passage from the Book of Acts and also led prayer.

The Revd Loraine Mellor challenged the congregation as she reflected on the presidential theme for the year. “"I want to encourage and enable the Church to put God back on the agenda in our communities and enthuse people to share the Good News. The Church has reached a tipping point, the time has come for us to take some risks in our mission and in our discipleship in order to help us grow."

People returned to their churches and communities inspired and encouraged through this time of sharing and celebrating together.