Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: June Magazine.

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I wonder if you’ve ever heard of the ‘teaspoon prayer’. It uses the abbreviation of ‘tsp’ to prompt our prayers, working through 'Thank you', then 'Sorry', and finally 'Please', as we can so often jump straight to our ‘please’ prayers.  As we reflect on our time at St George’s and All Saints, this phrase from the teaspoon prayer, ‘Thank You, Sorry, Please’ came to mind as we seek to sum up six years in a short editorial! 

 

Thank you: First and most important, thank you from all of us. Thank you for your friendship over six busy years. Together we have been through an awful lot. As a Church Family, we’ve come through a pandemic by pulling together, sharing in pre-recorded services, Facebook, phone calls and waves through windows. We’ve restarted services and rethought what we might offer to our parish. We’ve started new things, like Little Steps and Vicarage BBQs, and continued and strengthened pre-existing events like Christmas Fairs and Harvest Socials. We’ve hosted the outside world in classic car galas, Last Night of the Proms, and Joseph Sing-a-longs. We’ve said goodbye to a queen and said hello to a king. We’ve rung bells, picked up litter, welcomed a curate, joined together as two churches yet one parish. We’ve drawn closer to God as we’ve studied the bible from the very beginning in summer sermons, done Lent courses, bible courses, and prayer courses in small groups. We’ve smiled at baptisms and cried at funerals, and all of this we have done together. You welcomed us as a pair and then celebrated with us as Amelie arrived (including vast arrays of food, cards, and gifts). There have been many little kindnesses on the way, too many to mention, but you know who you are. And so, as we come to leave, we want to thank you, every single one of you, from the bottom of our hearts. They say that one’s first parish has a special place one’s heart and you’ll certainly occupy a special place in ours.

Sorry: Second I, Mike, must apologise if there have ever been moments when we have upset you or let you down. Any priest or leader, however careful, will make mistakes and I am very aware of my failures and I can only apologise if you have been hurt. It was never intentional but that doesn’t necessarily make it any easier. I can only say sorry and ask forgiveness. 

 

Please: Finally, please do be praying. For us, yes, for Amelie, definitely, and for our new parish, absolutely. But please do, also, be praying for St George’s. The PCC and clergy have a lot to do in the vacancy, so do be praying for them to know God’s presence and guidance in difficult moments. Be praying for the next priest, whomever that is, only God knows. Pray that they would hear His call to the parish and the parish would recognise them when they apply. This is an important moment for any parish and who you get next will make a big impact, so please do pray.

 

Six years, doesn’t it go by in a blink! Thank you, again, for all you have done and all you are to each one of us. We will miss you all and as Langho isn’t so far away, hopefully, we will see you again soon.

 

Fr Mike, Natalie, and Amelie xxx