| Alastair Thom writes; Letting go. There has been quite a bit of letting go for me as I approach retirement. The past few weeks have produced a succession of doing things for the last time. Last school governors, last PCC meeting, last school assembly, last baptism, and next weekend the ending itself. There’s a book on bereavement called ‘letting go’ and after 28 years here there’s quite a lot to let go of, but it doesn’t feel like precious things being torn from my grasp, but rather a handing on to others. Paul wrote to Timothy, ‘what you have received from me, pass on to people who will teach others also’ (2 Timothy 2:2). Any ministry is temporary and passing on involves both letting go and taking up. Taking up isn’t just about a new Vicar but about the church as a whole owning the ministry. Letting go is of course a two way process, and one of the things the church could valuably do in the interregnum is to let go of some of the attachments and assumptions about church and ministry that may have been absorbed from me, and thinking afresh about what kind of ministry is appropriate for where we are now. As they say every week in politics – ‘time for change!’ This Sunday 10.30am; Café Church – led this month by young people and young adults. John 10:7-18 – ‘Someone to care’. Available on zoom. Also happening this week: Morning Prayer: Monday- Friday 8am Evening Prayer 5.30pm Monday,Tuesday at Emmanuel; Wednesday, Thurs at St. Luke’s (NB Thursday evening prayer at 5.10pm) Night Prayer : posted daily via the whatsapp group and streamed on the youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkRbv1rSZ4x-uqW3TgyoqRg Tuesday – 10am Toddler drop in – Renew Café 2-4pm Wednesday – 10am- 12.00 Craft and Chat – 10.30-12.00 Gardening Club – 1.30pm Women’s bible study – 7.30-9pm – Drinks and chat in the church garden Thursday – 11am ‘Dominos and Donuts’ – 3.30 pm ‘Messy Thursday’ – 8pm Music Group practice Friday – 7pm Youth Night Saturday – 10.30 Gardening Club – 4pm Farewell party for Alastair and Judith in the Church Garden. Afternoon tea 4-6pm, 6pm speeches, 6.30pm onwards food and drink. Verse of the Month for June – I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 For prayer this week Sunday – Our Cafe church service and young people leading Monday – All helping to prepare for the interregnum Tuesday – For safety in our community Wednesday – All coming to the groups at church today Thursday – Those who are sick and those bereaved Friday – Our Mission partner Daniel Hankore in Ethiopia Saturday – All the reunions at the party this afternoon |
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