Day 5 - Jesmond United Methodist Church

We were up the next morning early enough to attend Allison Wilkinson's (David's Wife) Church in New Castle called Jesmond United Methodist. 

On the way we say this famous sculpture, it's called the angel of the North:

The service at Jesmond was beautiful. Contemporary worship, biblical preaching, a welcoming Spirit and a genuineness that can't be copied. They had a homeless man come in off the street who had never been there before and interrupted the service a couple of times. The leaders handled it perfectly and reminded him a couple of different times that he was welcome there and that it was a safe place for him to be.

During the service they had a time called "Family Sharing" that was open for anyone to share a prayer request, praise or something they are passionate about happening in their lives.  It really made the church feel like a family who could be real and open with one another.  The love and support was so thick that it just couldn't be missed.

Allison preached from Luke 13:1  0-21.  She did a great job of sharing a personal story that tied in well to how we can get distracted by what matters most, just like the religious leaders did.  They had a high view of the Sabbath just as we all should, however, they held it above caring for someone in need.

Jesus reminds us that our value is not in what we do, can do, can't do, look like, health we have or don't have...but in our relationship with God.

She ended by reminding us: "Don't ever think an unnamed woman being healed doesn't send ripples throughout the kingdom of God."

After the service, Allison hosted us for a lunch provided by the cafe (Nineteen 01) they share a building with.

Then we sat through David, Allison and their son Adam each taking a turn to share with us the state of Christianity in England and the ways Jesmond is trying to reach people for Jesus.  They grounded their lectures in Acts 17:16-34.

Then they treated us to a traditional English dinner provided once again by Nineteen 01.

I didn't take a picture of the food, but it was roast beef, yorkshire pudding (which is like baked pancake batter), potatoes, cauliflower with cheese and dessert.  I didn't get a picture of the meal, I wish I would've, it was phenomenal.  I did get a picture of the dessert, which I enjoyed with a spot of tea!

We ended the night experiencing worship in the way the college students do at the service designed for them.    We sat in a circle being led in worship by a single guitar and the lyrics to the songs printed out for us.  We had a time of singing, a time of praying, and a time of discussing scripture with just a couple other people...t was a beautiful and powerful.

Another phenomenal day, capped off by this shot when we arrived back to Durham that evening: