A passion for music

Revd. Richard spent the weekend with us as he had come to preach with a view to becoming our new minister.

In a special meeting after the service, the Church was unanimous is inviting him to be the new minister. I didn't get the chance to meet him, but everybody said he was very friendly.

Richard's passion is music.

Ruth's Penultimate Sunday

Revd Ruth began this service by getting us all to recite the 23rd Psalm by heart (The Lords my Shepherd...) Then she stopped us at various stages to get us to summarise what the words meant for us. This summarised version was written as we went on a powerpoint slide. Finally we all read out the modern powerpoint version as a prayer at the end. (Sorry I have no copy.) Not sure why it has not worked out for Ruth here. She only stayed two years and then felt led to move.

The Vestry

Here the preacher comes before the service to collect their papers and their thoughts, to drink water, and pray. It is hard not to be rushed but it good.

Next Minister

This morning after the service there was a meeting to decide whether to apply for a methodist or a URC minister when Revd Ruth leaves. It was felt unanimously, that since Ruth had been with us for only about two and a half years, we should go for another URC minister. The vacancy committee was chosen. But the vacancy cannot be formally advertised until Ruth leaves in September.

Ruth Leaving

Revd Ruth will be moving in September to Cambridgeshire where she will look after a group of churches - various denominations working together. It is a shock she will be leaving only part way through her term. But a new opening came and one thing just led to another and it felt right to her.

Partly she is leaving to be near a friend and she spoke about friendship at one point. Partly it is a new challenge she thinks God is calling her.

Before People Get There

Sunlight from the window hits just a few seats at the back.

God and Responsibility

Revd Ruth said that in the situations people had told her about last week, there were no obvious easy answers, and so we learn bit by bit to trust God in them:

• The person facing illness and perhaps little chance of getting better.
• The person who could not see any more purpose for themselves.
• Most of us who recognise we are well off and see poverty elsewhere.

Ruth said how we could trust God in these situations... By acting on the responsibility we feel.