In the
throbbing heart of London, close to the wide expanse of the river Thames and on
the border of one of the oldest parks in London sits a house of welcome and
hospitality.
Michael
and Margaret Sawyer, both experienced hosts, preachers and leaders of God’s
people, are offering space for tired pilgrims where hearts may be rested and
found again, spirits restored and time spent in contemplation and reflection in
thoughtful company. Our small garden and prayer room are here for you to use
and our kitchen can be a place where hearts are warmed and stomachs filled.
Michael
brings to this space over twenty years’ experience of ministry. He brings gifts
in pastoral support and mentoring which he has offered locally and through the
Connexion and District, he has been under spiritual direction for most of his
ministry and is trained to offer this support to others. Michael is well aware
of the pressures which people feel under within their own lives and within the life
of the church and feels strongly the call to focus his last few years in
circuit ministry in partnership with Margaret, to work more purposefully for
the well-being of both lay and ordained people.
Margaret
worked for the Connexion for ten years and brings knowledge of the British
Methodist Church in all its diversity to this work. She has heard of hearts
longing to reconnect to the things that matter to people of faith. As a mother
and as part of a ministerial household Margaret knows for herself the value of
welcome and caring hospitality. She delights in engaging with people, hosting
conversation around the dinner table and caring for those worn down by daily
and church life. She is skilled in listening and receiving whatever is offered
and facilitation in groups and individual work.
Many years
ago both Margaret and Michael spent some time with the Revd Bill Denning on his
farm near Bristol. Bill was gifted with the gracious ability to host as well as
create beautiful spaces for people to come and “be” in. We will never be Bill
but we learnt from the experiences he offered and now as we approach retirement
and starting the next stage of our lives we have come to realise the importance
of hospitality.
A Methodist Context
The recent report which went to the 2013 Conference entitled Supporting ministers with Ill Health,
led to the adoption of new guidelines; ‘’that provide pastoral approaches to
supporting ministers as well as tools for encouraging healthy and sustainable
patterns of ministry”. The purpose of Heartsease is to care for those before
they reach the need to seek ill-health support, to encourage care for one
another before conversations deteriorate into disharmony and to create
supportive space for individuals and small groups to nurture the God given
within them. (Ref: Para 4.1 Supporting ministers with Ill Health and Section 4 – Protecting and enhancing
our wellbeing). Para 4:1 Report to the
Conference, Supporting Ministers with Ill Health, states: In seeking to address the
issues that the Conference asked the Working Party to focus on, it recognised
that it was important to look at what could be done to improve the wellbeing of
ministers. The conclusion to the chapter
on signs of stress in British Methodism: What Circuit Ministers Really Think
states: “The main conclusion to emerge
from the data discussed in this chapter concerns the unacceptably high
proportion of Methodist circuit Ministers who feel emotionally drained by their
ministry and who display other signs of work-related stress, professional
burnout or poor work-related psychological health. The warning signs are particularly visible
among the younger Ministers. These
findings place a particular burden of responsibility upon those who have
concerns for the wellbeing of Methodist Ministers and upon those who exercise
pastoral care and oversight of Methodist ministry.
Making a
beginning
Whilst our long term aim is to offer a place of hospitality we recognise
that we will have to build up to offering accommodation gradually. In September
Michael will cease to be a superintendent thus releasing him to take up the pastoral
oversight of two churches and begin Heartsease.
We
intend the first quarter of the next Connexional year to be one of settling
into the new rhythms of church life. Michael will continue to offer 1:1
spiritual direction and has been invited to support the District probationers
group in their academic studies and where necessary with mentoring. He will
also set up two district co-consultancy supervision groups each with four
participants which will meet for the first time in late September and from
then on every 2 months.
We intend to make December and January evaluation and planning months
with a view to hosting our first retreat during Lent. This could be followed by
another retreat in May or June. We hope eventually to host 3 retreats in the
Connexional year. Whilst we are keen to offer hospitality simply
and easily we cannot do this without making some request for donations towards
our costs.
A Quiet
Space and Hospitality
We know
that in the busy mêlée of everyday life in church and community, time with God
can be hard to find, time with self can be even harder to safeguard. So we
offer a place to come for a day or bed and breakfast away from the everyday
routine.
If you choose to just come and rest without any input from us that is
very welcome or we can plan the day with you before you come.
Michael and Margaret
