Autumn2008

Inside this issue:Meet the Rev Diane ClutterbuckChurch Council NewsChurch Calendar Mountpottinger Methodist ChurchShowing God’s grace and sharing His love in the heart of East Belfast

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Minister’s Letter

It must be strange to have a new minister who will only bewith you for a short time. I have discussed my role inMountpottinger with Emily who has suggested that I spendmy time with you trying to discern how we can share inGod’s mission in East Belfast.Our Missions statement is “Showing God’s grace andsharing God’s love in the heart of East Belfast” but how dowe make this mission statement live? It has to becomemore than a strap line, it needs to find embodiment in thelife and witness of the whole church.It is a mistake to think that God’s mission depends on us –God is at work in his world sometimes in spite of what thechurches are doing. However, God is pleased when we arewilling to use the gifts and resources he has given us inorder to share in his mission in our community.I plan to spend September listening to what you have to sayabout what God has done and is doing in this church andcommunity. I hope to meet with each Church Councilmember to listen to their stories and receive their insights. Iwill also meet with ministers from other churches in the areato find out what they are doing.I am happy to listen to anyone else who wants to come andshare their story and ideas with me. I really want to hear from you about where you think we should put our energyfor mission in this community.When leading worship at Mountpottinger I will be in theVestry every Sunday morning from 10.00 a.m. so pleasefeel free to come and talk to me. You can also ring meor e-mail me.By early October I hope to be able to share my findingswith the congregation so that together we can explorewhat God is calling us to be and do. In the meantime Iwould like everyone to pray for discernment to know howGod is calling us as a church to serve him in this timeand place.In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus talks about the kingdomof heaven being like the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds that grows into a large shrub, so large that birdsnest in the branches.When we share in God’s mission we are sowing our tinyseeds into the lives of the people we encounter andmost of the time we never know what these seeds growinto. We simply have to trust that they take root and findnurture and grow.I am looking forward to knowing you better as we travelthe next phase of the journey together.With every blessing,Diane

Tell us about your family

;Richard and I met while training for the ministry at the Queen’sCollege in Birmingham. We are both from the Nottinghamshire inthe English Midlands, I grew up in Nottingham and Richard inNewark.We began our married life in the South Pacific with Richardsministry in Tonga. I taught in one of the church’s high schools inTonga. Our eldest daughter, Liz, was born here and is still veryproud of her Tongan roots.

And what about your ministry?

My ministry began in 1976 as Methodist Chaplain to theUniversity of Kent at Canterbury.I served as a Hospital Chaplain at Northwick Park hospital innorth London. During my time here our younger daughter,Miriam was born.In 1987 we were appointed to a shared ministry in the HighgateCircuit in London where we had pastoral charge of Muswell HillMethodist Church.I served for one year as Training Co-ordinator of the MethodistDiaconal Order, setting up initial training for deacons withcolleges and courses throughout Britain.I spent six years as the Overseas Service Secretary of theBritish Methodist Church with responsibility for overseeing theselection, training and placing of mission partners from Britainand Ireland with partners churches around the world.For four years I was Continuing Ministerial Education advisor for the Diocese of Oxford where I was responsible for theprofessional development of 500 ordained ministers and almostas many lay ministers.In 2002 the Methodist Church in Britain gave me permission toexercise my ministry as a trainer and coach largely in thechurches and the voluntary sector. I have been working withpeople, to help them to discern where it is God is calling them toserve in the churches and the wider community.In 2008 I enter the 32nd year of ordained ministry in theMethodist Church.Latterly I have been serving as a minister outside the circuitstructures.I am working mainly with clients in Ireland and developing a newbusiness here alongside my ministry at Mountpottinger.I have been extremely fortunate in where God has called me toserve over the years. I have had a very varied and very richexperience of ministry.

And where are your children now?

Our daughters are now grown up and live in England.Liz works in Mission Education with the British Methodist Churchand lives in London. Miriam is a Drama teacher in a comprehensive school in the Cotswolds.She is married and lives in Tewkesbury.

Who is the ReverendDiane Clutterbuck?