Ultreya Wellingborough - June 2026

Ultreya!

In June, our Ultreya gathering at St Andrew’s Church Wellingborough was a delight to enjoy.

Our typical hearty worship was supported by a live band, driving us forward with both rhythm and vocals. Tour dates will surely be announced shortly! Uplifted by the worship, group reunions injected a quiet space within which to be able to share with our pilgrim companions our recent spiritual journey highlights and lowlights.

Our witness spoke of their recent consideration of where we are called to be. If we are feeling unwelcomed, underused and frustrated in our current role and location, what guidance might we seek from the Holy Spirit? Luke 9:5 states that ‘If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet..’. This is not easy when there are some sheep within the flock who nevertheless appreciate us. But we can only minister where we are welcomed, and ourselves equally be nurtured if we are welcomed. The Holy Spirit replied with Jeremiah 29:11 ‘for I know the plans I have for you’. And so a move to a new congregation was made.

Our respondent noted that even Jesus was not welcomed in his home town. The move does not show a lack of care or love, but removal of a constraint from the work that we wish to undertake. Discipleship can be a particular challenge when it calls us to new locations, and the period of rest imposed before we can commence our new mission is an essential part of self-refreshment. The success of the move is reflected in the beam upon the face of the witness.

A final hymn, a last chance to grab refreshments and catch up with others from across the diocese, and our minds turned towards Sunday worship that followed.

Well done and thank you, St Andrew’s.