Resolutions, reservoirs and retirement re-invented ........

The Sunday School rehearsed the play that was the centrepiece of the carol service. The final rehearsal however, on the Sunday before Christmas included writing a series of rather special cards of welcome and greeting for the new priest in charge.

Reassurances that worries were not necessary because we are all on the same 'teem' were reassuring, as was the encouragement that it would be a 'fun' job. In Sophie's opinion I am joining a wonderful team who will make me feel 'right at home'

Christmas greetings were offered with 'good luck' as a reminder that the congregation would be having a 'good look', (I am pretty sure that was and will continue to be true), a final card had me driving in like Santa in an open top sports car. 

My MG TF had obviously been spotted!

The lay reader had expressed a view that this might be a difficult conversation because the Children's Nativity play was meant to be a secret, (shh!) but the Children had no truck with that and took over the slot with their colourful, hand made, Christmas cards taking great delight in reading their greetings to the new Vicar (Priest in Charge).

So Christmas came and went at Snods Edge, there was more family drama with a grandchild involved in a car accident which involved a quick dash across to Carlisle to offer greetings and support from a concerned grandad.

But families gathered and worship happened in a decent and proper order.

Bread was broken and wine spilt, the peace of Christ was shared and at the right moment Jesus was greeted 'on this happy morning'.

Of course there is more to come and  now Advent has concluded with our visiting of Bethlehem and worshipping at the Stable, the Christ child is laid in the Manger at the Lych Gate for passers by to pause and reflect we begin to plan the year ahead and to look forward to the unfolding of the churches year in this place.

Some resolutions will be made about the nature and purpose of ministry in the church in the still early part of the 21st Century.

On Boxing Day we walked as a family toward the Reservoir beyond Shotley Fields, we were exercised, the dogs were exercised and whilst the failing light meant turning towards home earlier than planned we were able to look back towards the reservoir bathed in the light of the setting sun, with the promise that we could return as the days grew longer.

Because I have renewed my commitment to ordained ministry following retirement at 61, twelve eventful years ago, to become a full time carer, it has been interesting that when, in the early summer, we stumbled across St John's and thought that it was a community that we would wish to become a part of, not realising just what that part might ultimately be, we became members of the congregation and began a process of building friendships. So that now, even at this early stage of my new ministry, I can begin to name people as I distribute communion at the Altar Rail.

St John's is a community of people, in friendship, re-imagining what it means to be church, it offers a new way for the Church of England to look at itself and its purpose, I can  only look forward to the next few years with anticipation wondering what God's purposes for me and this place are to be.

Meanwhile as Emily and Ryan reassured me in their greeting, they are looking forward to the Donkey joining us on Palm Sunday .........

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