Our Team Rector, the Rev Canon Chi Okpala received the best possible news as the New Year started with the release of his father after nearly one in captivity in Nigeria.

He writes: “It is with immense joy and gratitude to God that I share the wonderful news of my father’s release. After 28 days in captivity and payment of heavy ransom, Archbishop Godwin has literally been freed at this very early hour. Our hearts are overflowing with thanksgiving for his safe return.

We are deeply grateful for your prayers and support throughout this time. The faith and encouragement from you and others have been a source of strength for our family. Please continue to pray for my father’s healing and restoration as we begin this journey of recovery.

Thank you once again for standing with us in prayer and solidarity”.

With every blessing,

Revd Chi Okpala

Our new Vision Enabler, the Rev Phil Dunning and Team Rector the Rev Chi Okpala have set out clear objectives for the next 12 months and further ahead.

The Rev Phil Dunning

In this month’s SEP Newsletter Phil and Chi explain why they are not only focussing on work with children and young families but also aiming to increase visits to the elderly. It follows on from Phil’s sermon at the joint SEP service at Cross and Stable Church, Downs Barn, at the end of December where he outlined the work the Partnership has to do to attract younger people to faith.

There’s news of our services around the Partnership as we look to the new year with renewed optimism and hope now our two recently appointed ministers have settled into their roles.

You can download the newsletter here.

Cross and Stable Church, Downs Barn, will be the setting for a Partnership wide service on December 29.

Our six churches across the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership will join together for one service together at Cross and Stable Church, Downs Barn on Sunday December 29 at 11am. There will not be any service in the other churches on that day.

Then there will be a Milton Keynes wide Local Ecumenical Partnership service on Tuesday evening, Tuesday 21st January 2025, at St Augustine’s in Heelands, to celebrate Christian Unity Week with Churches Together.

Team Rector the Rev Canon Chi Okpala looks ahead to our Christmas activities in this month’s SEP newsletter which can be downloaded here.