News from Milton Keynes

Roots deepened, branches grew, and leaves unfurled in Oakhill’s Chapel of Hope as the United Reformed Church Chaplain, the Revd Phil Wall (left), invited the Moderator Elect of General Assembly, the Revd Neil Thorogood, to paint a new ‘Tree of Life’ mural in the multifaith space.

The secure training centre in Milton Keynes houses up to 84 boys and girls aged twelve to eighteen who are in custody. Each of the children at Oakhill was represented by a leaf on the tree, depicted in different seasons and states of growth. Some of them are bright buds – new, young, ready to rustle in the breeze,’ Phil explained. ‘Some are already grown and are shining in the sun. Others have fallen, symbolising former Oakhill residents who are sadly no longer with us. ‘All speak of the wider story of Oakhill and the chaplaincy team’s prayer that everyone will find blessing, nourishment, and light while in the centre.’

While he was at Oakhill, as well as painting the mural, Neil led an art session for a group of residents there who relished the opportunity to express their own personal hopes through art. ‘To see these complex and vulnerable young people lose and find themselves in creativity was an absolute blessing,’ said Neil.  It is, as Phil noted, a great glimpse of the artistic adventures to come during Neil’s term as Moderator term, starting at Assembly in July.

May Newsletter …….

The May edition of the Newsletter will be sent on Saturday 3 May. Please ensure any items reach me at the latest by Monday 27 April.

It’s good to have lots of pastoral updates and news, so please keeping sending these to me as well any other articles and details of forthcoming events etc.  Please send items directly to me either by email to [email protected] or by phone.  My phone number is in the church directory. Any personal news can only be included with the permission of the person who it concerns so please make sure you ask them if they are happy for their details to be published before you send it to me.

In the meantime, Happy Easter/Pasg Hapus!  Enjoy the lighter evenings and hopefully we can all look forward to some milder temperatures this month!

Best Wishes

Alison

Thoughts for April

“Every day is a gift; unwrap it with gratitude.”

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