Greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

Welcome to the Plymouth and Devonport Circuit of the Plymouth and Exeter District. Our Circuit ranges from Torpoint and Millbrook in Cornwall, across the Tamar and into the City of Plymouth. To the north the Circuit extends beyond Roborough and eastward through Plympton and Ivybridge to Bittaford. To the south-east the Circuit includes Elburton and Yealmpton. Somewhere approaching 1600 people attend the twenty six churches across the Circuit.

That tells you something about our geography, but what about us as Christians. What would you find going-on typically at a Methodist Church in this Circuit. The answer is all kinds of things happen; youth work, university chaplaincy, Alpha courses, discipling courses, women's groups, Bible study, prayer groups, men's groups, uniformed groups from Scouts to Girls' Brigade. There will be activities from quilting to keep fit, brass bands to childcare. And, oh yes, we worship God, offer praises to Jesus, who is God's own Son and we worship in God's Holy Spirit.

For some who have just read these last few lines you may be thinking, 'what does that mean?' My answer to you is 'Go to church one Sunday morning and ask the minister or preacher what it is to be a Christian.' You will not be turned away or thought silly, you will receive a welcome and an answer to your question. You will probably also be challenged to dig deeper and explore the questions you have.

We live in a City that has as its strap line 'Spirit of Discovery'. That strap line can and must be applied to our faith and calling to be Christians. As Methodists, we are called as God's people to worship God together. In worship we explore and discover the wonderous love God has for his people and how in Jesus Christ we have been saved. We are also called to learn, to be disciples of Christ. Our faith needs to be enriched by studying the Bible, experiencing fellowship, growing as Christians. And so too we care and support one another and those in the community.

The Methodist Church is a serving Church and in this Circuit we try to be involved with and alongside our neighbours; supporting, caring and being a place of hospitality and welcome. Our Circuit is committed to telling the good news of Jesus Christ, placing Christ at the centre of all we do and seeking to encourage people to become followers of Jesus. This is evangelism.

The Plymouth and Devonport Circuit offers you the vibrancy of the city and the beauty of sea and moor. It's churches will offer you a warm and genuine welcome and an invitation to worship and discover God in traditional worship, in modern worship styles, in prayer and in joy.

Every blessing,

Revd Simon H Leigh
Superintendent Minister