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I hope you all enjoyed Pat and Peter’s Farewell Services and Social get-together. A big thank you to all who helped in any way—it was much appreciated. We have said our official “Goodbyes” but I am sure we will see them both before they leave for Canada. At the Farewell yesterday we said how much we will miss them, and I would like to include here part of the prayer I used during Morning Worship on Pat’s last Sunday:
“Lord, we ask you to be with Pat and Peter as they begin a new and different life in Canada. We give thanks for Pat and for her Ministry here in Epsom and Ewell. We remember the times we have shared with her our worries, our sorrows and our joys. She has always been there to listen and that has been a blessing. We thank you for Peter who has always supported Pat and both our Congregations. We will miss them both.
We celebrate that with Pat’s guidance our two Congregations have grown closer together. We are glad that we are able to share, join together and support each other in Worship and social events and have fun together, for that is what being part of the Church is about, and for this we thank you.
And now we ask for your guidance, Lord, in our future. Help us to listen and think carefully. Help us to be patient and supportive of each other and appreciative of each other’s point of view in all our discussions.
Sometimes it is not easy to see the future and what change it may bring, and change is not easy. We know that you will be there for us, and we ask for faith to carry us on to the next phase of our journey with you.”
On the subject of the next phase of our journey, the non-serving Elders have been invited to the July Elders’ meeting to enable us to discuss and share the vacancy together. We will bring to you our thoughts at the next Church Meeting on 15th July (St Swithin’s Day! - Ed.)
The coming months will be quite a challenge. We have a meeting arranged for 9th July at midday in the Longhurst Room with Rev. Jenny Snashall who is familiar to many of you. Jenny is the Synod Lay Preaching Commissioner and she has offered to help and advise us in leading worship. If you are interested in any way please come along and hear what she has to say. I am sure it will be very exciting and interesting. A light sandwich lunch will be available.
The last few weeks have been very busy indeed and I must say I am looking forward, as I am sure you all are, to perhaps a little bit of summer and time to relax just for a little while!!
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