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Before training for ministry at Queens College, Birmingham, Robin worked for 18 years in the Banking sector, including 3 years as an area trainer. Prior to training for ministry in Birmingham he lived in Eastbourne and was an active member of the circuit there. He is a very keen football and cricket supporter, and also plays squash, table tennis and will try virtually any sport. His passion is for social ministry and has a strong concern to build community.
Robin is married to Mandy, and they have two children, Jonathan and Christopher. Mandy is a qualified accounts manager and has worked for several years in the manufacturing industry.
Robin was ordained in July 2009 at Worcester Cathedral, and quite a few members of Bracknell Methodist Church attended the service. More information and pictures of this occasion can be found here.
Let me share with you a very profound story that was recently passed to me entitled "Mary's Dream"
"I had a dream, Joseph. I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that is what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree Joseph, right in their house. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all hat trouble to celebrate someone's birthday if they don't know Him. I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus - not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration. I'm glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real."
With Christmas only a matter of a month away, I imagine that many of you reading this will have started or even finished writing cards or even buying presents. Since the beginning of November, and in some cases even earlier, adverts for toys, electrical gadgets and various assortment of seasonal gifts have graced our screens demanding our attention and money. Rarely in those adverts is there anything about spending time with family and friends - unless in relation to spending more money - or the true meaning of Christmas. Again for some Christmas has become a contest of who can have the biggest tree or the most lights on their house, a reason for film and television companies to make another film and profit millions of pounds. The list could go on, but the point is, none of those things are even closely related to the true meaning.
So has Christmas lost its true meaning? The simple answer is no, Christmas has not lost its meaning we have lost it. I think the heart of Christmas and its real meaning where God called for peace and justice has been forgotten. And so for some I think Mary's dream has come true. But the meaning is still there for those who seek it.
Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, it is a time for families to gather and time for hope and peace. It is about God's gift of good news with the angels' message of peace, goodwill and justice in today's world where there is so much conflict, poverty and disaster.
This after all is the real meaning of Christmas.
So this year when you send your invitations out please make sure Jesus is on the list!
Merry Christmas to one and all
Robin, Mandy and Family
