Dear Congregation ~ We arrived back in the United States from our Pastoral Exchange to England 
on our Anniversary, August 19th.  If you have never experienced a transatlantic flight, then let me 
tell you, they are quite an experience. Our thanks goes to Delta for knowing what they’re doing & 
making the skies friendly. Costly, but Friendly. As hard as it is to condense the value of a trip 
like this to one page, I would still like to share a few insights.
   
   There are so many benefits to traveling and experiencing a new culture, and I would encourage 
each of you to prioritize travel whenever possible. During our experience in England, we heard the 
English language with new pronunciations and cultural nuances that were amazing and delightful. 
Words like Lovely and Brilliant are commonly used in endearing ways and will now have, hopefully, 
become a lasting part of our vocabulary.
   
   We spent the first week on vacation in Southern England, taking in the sights of London and 
Windsor, then took a ferry over the channel into Northwest France with a visit to Paris! After a 
couple of days, we were back to England where we enjoyed some day visits to places like 
Nottingham/Sherwood Forest, Canterbury, Coventry Cathedral, Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Castle. 
Over the several weeks, I entered into a preaching/ pastoral role, with various churches on the 
circuit. To be clear, the English Methodist Church does things a little differently than the UMC 
in America. The pastors in England work on teams of four along with Lay Stewards to make up a 
circuit. The Deventry/ Rugby Circuit, to which I was assigned, is made up of twelve churches. 
During my time there, I would preach at seven of them in just four weeks of service. Each Sunday, 
the pastors of that circuit preach and lead a 10:30am service and a 6:30pm service at two different 
churches. Because our family focused more on the Lutterworth Methodist Church and had pastoral 
responsibilities in this congregation with host families there, we got to know those folks the best. 
We thank them so much for the BBQ, the receptions, day trips to historical sites, the meals, the 
many cups of Tea and the wonderful hospitality they shared during our stay. Thanks for experimenting 
with our American ways of doing church. We also thank the other churches that were so open and 
welcoming to our visit. It was interesting and a privilege to be the American representatives to 
Middle England for four weeks.
   
   Although, the worship services were handled a little differently while we were there, the people 
were so friendly and open to my style of worship and leadership. Some differences in worship that I 
observed include: 1) meeting with different organists and stewards every week to plan lay involvement 
and singing 2) no anthems or choir (except a praise band at one church) 3) candles are not normally 
used, but available if requested 4) different hymn books (many of the same hymns but with different 
tunes! 5) creeds are not used regularly 6) pastors wear a Clerical Collar to the hospital, always 
7) there is no secretary and are no weekly bulletins. Some similarities include: familiar hymns, 
2) lay readers, lay stewards who would pray for me before service and during service 3) very similar 
great thanksgivings at communion and styles of communing 4) Christian conversation and Discerning 
of the Holy Spirit’s Guidance 5) Para church ministries 6) social gatherings over tea or fellowship 
times 7) God’s Word, Christ and Methodist Theology. 
   
   Other Insights: I was able to use visual power point in two of the seven churches. We had the 
opportunity to share special music in churches. Meg played piano and sang in four churches, Meg 
and I played and sang with guitar in two churches and Lydia sang in one church her solo, “I Wanna 
Be Your Hands,” a song she learned in the Kids A Flame choir at RBUMC.  Preaching seemed to be 
well received in England. I was impressed with some of the churches desires and their plan to reach 
out to the non-churched through “messy church,” a program to reach children in the community on 
weeknights. I was also impressed with “Fresh Expressions,” a Methodist Church outreach effort 
spreading through England doing church in different ways to reach teenagers and young adults 
where they live,       including skateboard park churches, and “street pastors,” who are lay 
persons and clergy walking the streets of towns and cities at night, to share the love of Christ 
and offer assistance to youth/ young adults who are out on weekends. 
   
   One of the hardest realities for the churches that I served, was their low percentage of young 
adults, youth and  children in worship. I was surprised to find such an active and vibrant group 
of what we call Baby Boomers, and  seniors, who are striving to be the church of the 21st Century. 
Please don’t let anyone get away with saying Christianity is dead in Europe. They would be wrong. 
What we found instead, is dedicated Christians seeking to be the church in a culture that has the 
fingerprint of God all over it, but waning younger adult participation in the church. The church 
must articulate relevancy for these persons in England as well as the US and the world. 
   
   My prayer is for a blessing on the Queen (Elizabeth), a blessing on the prime minister (David 
Cameron) and Parliament, and a special blessing on the people and churches in England, that they 
may shine like stars in their culture and lift Christ (the light of the world) for all the world 
to see, witnessing  His power and His Way for Life abundantly. Thanks so much for the opportunity 
to go and serve the British Methodist Churches, and again for your wonderful hospitality and love 
for Rev. John Anderson and Mary, who have been with you for the past four weeks pastoring and 
preaching. We are thankful to be home and back in the United States of America. 

Joy and Peace ~ Rev. Thomas B. Wilkes III

Q) Biggest difference between England (Middle) and the US  (South)?  		
   A) The Weather!