WELLSPRING PRAYER LETTER NO. 73

2nd March 2007

Dear friends,

I am writing this letter with much anticipation of the sabbatical that I will be taking from the end of April this year. As you will know, this is something I have been considering for some time, and something that I believe the Lord has spoken to me about very clearly.

During these last months of preparation, the Lord has given me a number of promises about the future and I am eagerly looking forward to all that God has for me in the years to come. Although this is ‘time out’ for me, I believe it is also preparation time for future ministry. It is a time to be stripped of all that is unnecessary in order to run the race that God has marked out for me in the years to come.

A number of challenges have emerged recently that have served to underline what God seems to be saying to me. One is that the hectic, unrelenting busyness that has characterised much of my life to date, may not be the way God intended life to be!

Many of you will know of our good friend (and member of Wellspring’s Advisory Board) Peter Craig-Wild, who is vicar of Mirfield Parish Church in Yorkshire and on the Liturgical Commission of the Church of England. Unfortunately Peter recently had a stroke – from which he is thankfully recovering well. In a letter sent to friends as he began his recovery, he wrote:

One thing in particular has struck me deeply since the stroke and that concerns my lifestyle. I have to admit that when I had finally handed over all the things I was responsible for there was a great sense of freedom. Some even said they could see it. What is amazing is that everything has continued, moved on, grown even without me!! This is both a source of great encouragement and discouragement at the same time. I know I had been weighed down with all sorts of responsibilities and burdens that had been playing on my mind though this is nothing new to ministers of all churches, But it has made me ask profound questions about whether this driven way of working is of the gospel. I am encouraged by the response of some of my friends who on hearing of my stroke said that they too needed to review their life styles and commitments. I have also discovered a number of other people in totally different contexts who are asking the same kinds of questions. Maybe the wind of the Spirit is stirring. I have even dared to ask whether my former driven lifestyle was not only unsustainable but maybe even sinful.

Similar articles have been sent separately to me about this recently. I wonder if God is possibly speaking a new word to our driven society – and that we as followers of Jesus should possibly be asking serious questions about the way we live.

I believe that God has first and foremost called me to a fresh relationship with him, to be stripped of all that is ‘uncalled activity’ (i.e. activity which may be absolutely right for others, but maybe not for me) and finally to hear a fresh call to ministry that is specifically for me.

I am excited about this and already can feel the stirrings of the Spirit. I believe a fresh call will emerge from time spent with God as well as ‘dreaming’ again with other good friends about possibilities that God has placed in my/our hearts.

My plan is to take at least 6 months out of ministry from the end of our USA trip at Easter time and also 3 months away from all professional work from mid June to mid September. The only exceptions to ministry will be a couple of Wellspring Ensemble concerts in June, but I will not be involved at the organising of these concerts and will just have a playing role.

In the meantime, Wellspring will continue to function and be led by Wellspring’s Leadership Team (Mike & Sally Thornton and Jon & Sarah Blamire) as well as our Advisory Board and Trustees (Rob & Marion White, Peter Adams, Peter Craig-Wild, Michael Mitton and Robert Weston). If you need to contact Wellspring at any time over the next few months, please contact Sarah Blamire in the first instance. Her contact details are:
Sarah Blamire
50 Skipton Road
EARBY
Lancs
BB18 6QB
Tel: 01282 841612
Or use the contact page on this website.

The Leadership team will continue to send our Wellspring prayer letters every few months to keep you in touch with plans and developments.

Finally I want to thank all of you who are praying for me during this sabbatical and also want to thank those who have so generously given gifts to allow me and the family to have a complete rest over the summer. We are so grateful to you and to God for such wonderful provision. Bless you all.

‘Classics by Candlelight’ Christmas concerts

We had 3 wonderful concerts just before Christmas with the Wellspring Ensemble. The evenings, led superbly by Graham Cracknell, were performed to sell out audiences in Mirfield, Poynton and Clitheroe. Our concert in Mirfield was our first visit there at the invitation of Peter Craig-Wild. We have been invited back there next Christmas – which is really good news (as well as to the other 2 venues!). Many were moved to tears in each concert as they enjoyed a varied programme which featured Sally Thornton and Alan Tokeley as soloists.

The response to Wellspring's new recording, Sanctuary, has been amazing! Here is just a small selection of the many comments we’ve received about this new album:

Thank you so much for sending us a copy of your “Sanctuary” CD. The music speaks so powerfully without any vocals and your characteristic spirit-led quality is evident in every track. When I first heard “This is the air I breathe” it moved me to tears. The blend of audible colours and foretaste of heaven took me to a beautiful place in the Spirit. Your combination of top musicianship and spirituality produce glorious results!

You may also like to note that most of our CDs have been reduced in price for 2007. For further information see our recordings page.

Future plans

Here are a few events for which we’d value your prayer support:

USA trip

On April 9th - 20th we will again be returning to the USA to lead worship for ECMC 'New Wineskins' Missions conference at Ridgecrest, N. Carolina (this conference is April 11th – 15th). We then travel to Prince George Episcopal Church in S. Carolina to teach on worship and give a classical concert (April 17th - 18th) for our good friends, Andy & Kitty Morgan (Kitty has danced with Wellspring on several occasions over the last few years).

Please pray in advance:

Wellspring Ensemble concerts

On Saturday June 2nd, by popular request, we will be putting on a Wellspring Ensemble Summer concert at St George’s Church in Poynton. This will include some wonderful music including movements from Mendelssohn’s famous ‘Octet’ for strings, Bach’s Brandenburg concerto no 3, Popper Requiem (for 3 cellos), Riverdance theme tune and much more. Do come along if you are anywhere near! For further details, please contact Shirley Richards on 01625 874712.

On Friday June 15th we well be putting on a Wellspring Chamber Ensemble concert at St Paul’s Church in Colwyn Bay. Again there will a popular programme led by Shirley Richards and others from Wellspring. For more details, contact Mr Chris Alcraft on 01492 650170.

Other potential events are in the pipeline and we will let you know if and when any further dates are finalised.

Thanks again for all your prayer for us.

Every blessing,

Richard Williamson