This year's President of the Baptist Union of Wales (English-language Wing) is Anna Chaplain the Revd Maggie Rich. Many of our network will recognise Maggie from the times she has spoken at our Anna Chaplaincy annual Gatherings in recent years.
In the BUW magazine The Messenger's winter edition she takes the opportunity to talk about her work among older people. Maggie is fascinated by the stories people tell as they grow older.
Anna Chaplaincy, she writes, 'takes me into a local care home each week, where my role is listening to people.'
'As trust builds, the stories come: it’s not unusual for someone to say, “I’ve never told anyone this before.” There are stories of decisions made, now being questioned: did I do the right thing?'
'There are stories of past hurts – and a need to seek peace in these situations. Sometimes there is a need for reassurance that God loves them, and a simple prayer can calm many fears. But it’s not all like this – there are the hilarious stories as well, which bring joy to both narrator and listener!'
You may read her full article by downloading the digital edition of the magazine. https://buw.wales/messenger/winter-2024/
Congratulations to Maggie (who is the Baptist minister of three churches in Newtown, Powys) on her leadership role this year and for reminding people through her voice in BUW of 'the critical role of all generations in the church.' As the article's introduction makes clear, she 'calls on us to include older generations in our mission' thanks to her introduction 'to the role and opportunity of Anna Chaplaincy’.
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