Easter is always a new day, but especially for the
disciples on the "first day of the week". Not
just a new day, but a whole new present and whole new future, a newness which grew out of desperate anguish of losing their beloved Lord, We forget, because we know the end of the story, but they did not.
When the two disciples ran to the grave to see the sacrilege for themselves, Peter was mystified whilst the other disciple "saw and believed"; he suddenly understood what Jesus had been speaking about for the past few months.
We come to the Easter feast with so many and varied motives and feelings. Some look for certainty, some look for faith and hope, some come because Sunday is Sunday! Our journeys through Lent have been very varied. We want to look into the heart of the darkened tomb, we want to experience the Risen Lord in our lives. Every Eucharist we relive the gift of the Risen Christ, given for us, alive for us. God loves us for being here. The Resurrection is about the love of God freely given to all people.
Have a very Happy Easter
All good wishes from
Jocelyn, Ken and our Family, to you all.
As I take my leave of you as Vicar I shall surely say too much or not enough, thank too many or too few, forget something or someone and be made to retrace my steps; perhaps I should journey towards the steps; perhaps I should journey towards the sunset and say nothing. No I can't do that!
I decided in my youth that I should give my life to God and the Church and even in my darker moments I have never regretted my youthful decision. So really I have been doing what I thought was my vocation for 40 years and enjoying every minute of it. Along the way I have been very much blessed by wonderful people that I could rely on totally (here and at Brierfield). I have tried not to be a "one man band" nor to create a personality cult, I hope I have been able to allow lay leaders to lead and not to be constantly interfering in their work.
I have used the personal pronoun "I" rather freely when, in fact, I really mean "We" because we are a family - Jocelyn and I (and the children) and without her support, love and forebearance emanating from a happy home, none of the past 23 1/2 years would have been possible.
So we thank you all for your love and friendship over many years and hope that you will do the same for our successors.
1. I resign the "living" of St George's as from the 30th April.
2. The Church Wardens will be in charge of the Parish along with the Area Dean. Any queries should be addressed to them.
3. Requests for Baptisms, Marriages or Funerals should be directed to the Wardens in the first instance.
4. I shall NOT be available to conduct services at St George's in the future unless requested to do so by the next incumbent or Church Wardens.
5. I shall not be doing clerical duties for the three months after retirement - except in dire emergency.
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