It is difficult to know how to present a small group of men, currently 4 in number, meeting in a local community centre as a Church Congregation especially when 3 of them are aged 60+ and living 25+ miles from the hall.

This is the reality of the Preston Congregation, but, led by Pastor David Bedford, who with Margaret boosts the attendance to 6 every 2 or 3 weeks, we want to fulfil our calling to make disciples.

David Bedford began to attend meetings of Churches Together in Kirkham & Wesham and subsequently, we joined him and began to have a relationship with this ecumenical group.

Churches attending this group include the 4 Anglican Churches in Kirkham, Wesham, Treales & Lund, the Roman Catholic Churches in Kirkham & Wesham, Kirkham Methodists, the Free Methodists, the United Reform Church and now, The Worldwide Church of God.

At Christmas we joined them in Carol singing at the local Morrisons supermarket, something I once thought that we would never do.

As you would imagine, Margaret Bedford’s presence was greatly appreciated by all (especially as we can’t hold a tune in a bucket).

We participated in an ecumenical service Prayer for Christian Unity 2006 organised by Churches Together and held at Kirkham Methodists on 21^st January 2006 

A Prayer Group attends various venues twice each month and each Church invites members of the other Churches to worship with them on pre-arranged dates.

Members of our small group have been able to support these activities since last year and have received a warm welcome whenever we did so.

On Saturday 6^th May 2006 it was the turn of the Worldwide Church of God to host the Worship Service.

Age brings wisdom so we had invited Churches Together to join us on one of the biannual joint services with the Manchester Congregation.

We prepared an “invitation  to attend flyer” and delivered approximately 150 to houses in the immediate vicinity of Wesham Community Centre.

We obtained copies of the PT magazine to place on a display table, and printed out trifold literature from the Worldwide Church of God website having “tweaked” the contact information to reflect  the UK Headquarters' address and local contacts. 

On the day we were very pleased to have our fellowship boosted to 24 in attendance and we were able to welcome 6 visitors from Churches Together --- unfortunately we didn’t have any response to our “flyer” --- perhaps next time!

David Bedford presented a sermon entitled “Our Father Rejoices in his Children Uniting”, Cyril Yarwood from Manchester Congregation played the piano and Margaret Bedford was coerced into song leading and into singing solo.

After the service Margaret had prepared home made soup with rolls,

Alice Yarwood had made some sandwiches & cookies which, with tea & coffee was received with thanks by our visitors, not to mention the “Preston Four”.

Our visitors all said that they had enjoyed the afternoon’s proceedings and we look forward to ongoing co-operation with Churches Together.

A 24/7 Prayer, focused on Youth & Youth Work, is currently in progress on the Fylde coast 6^th May - 13^th May and, we will be joining with

Christ Church Wesham on Saturday 13^th May at 10-00am.

An outdoor “Songs of Praise” service is being organised by

Churches Together for early July 2006, we will be doing our bit to help.

Your prayers are requested for, the success of these ventures and, if the Preston Congregation is to be able to continue, for members unable to attend thro’ ill health and for growth in attendance.

Visitors on Saturday afternoon at 2-00pm are especially welcome.

We thank David & Margaret Bedford for their leadership and, we thank the many speakers who have travelled many miles to support and serve us over the past few years.

John Hanlon