Ministers’ Page

Dear Friends,

So much has happened over the last few weeks as both the Church and the Circuit continues to grow, wrestle with life and be transformed through different
people’s involvement in various aspects of Church life. You may well have read Rev Anna’s lovely letter of farewell to her role at SMC, though not the Church itself. We have prayed for and blessed her exploring this next phase of life and ministry; and as a Church, we will more formally thank her for her work amongst us on Easter Sunday.

Also, by the time you read this we will have formally marked the end of Linda’s time in the role of our Outreach Worker with Children and Young Families, and we pray a healthy and joyous retirement for her.

So what comes next? As I sit and write this letter my mind replays the pictures I have mentally taken of some of our grass verges and parks as I have driven or walked past them. In some places there are tall, upright, vibrantly yellow and white variations on the humble daffodil. A bulb whose trumpet points to the sun and whose form withstands much except being heavily trampled upon. In other places the blooms are still some way off flowering and shorter than their cousins.

Why? Because of their position. The more sheltered, the less nourished by sun and rain, the more caught in the shade and shadows they are, the later they will bloom and perhaps for less time. Working our way through lent is perhaps a little like checking out where we are planted, of noting the prevailing conditions, assessing our needs, and then more intentionally letting the miraculous work of God’s love set about us, transforming us into people even more beautiful than we are today.

The act of stepping out of ministry roles and/or into ministry roles happens all the time and is a lot like understanding where we are planted for this season of our life. Such movements into or out of roles are acts of commitment involving discernment of calling, skill sets, head space, capacity and so on. And I have news to share.

At Circuit and Church level we have been successful at solving the question of how to resource the role of pastoral lead at SMC. On the day I wrote this letter, 19th February, I am delighted to say that the Circuit Leadership Team have joyfully appointed Rev Dr Philip and Rev Rosemary Richter to share this role as works best for them. They begin immediately and we pray for their settling into the work at hand.

Within the life of SMC, we have also successfully completed a recruitment process for our next Outreach Worker with Children and Families. Mrs Fiona  Waddingham will begin working with us early on in March. We will recognise this transition in worship, likely on March 3rd, when I will affirm that in Fiona we have matched the skills sought by the job description as given to us by the Trustees. We pray for Fi’s settling into the role and for the work that will follow.

I pray that God’s beautiful gifts of this season assure you that you are loved, that new life begins in each moment, fills your lives with the power of God’s Spirit, and blesses you as you in turn are a blessing to those around you.

Every Blessing.

Rev Mark