Grace and Peace

Grace and peace.

In the Charge to the Priests read out at Ordination, the Bishop says (APB pg 587):

"Like Moses you will gladly receive counsel and share the burden of leadership with others."

It is to this end that we elect a Parish Council and Church Wardens that provide this essential counsel.

I would like to thank the outgoing Council for the wonderful work that they have done this past year.

I wish to thank the Office and Grounds Staff for their unwavering support and perseverance.

I praise God for every "Soul" who has found a place in ministry and is exercising their gifts - and assure you that as we rub shoulders and interact that it is part of the process of learning to work together as the Body - and it is our commitment to the "ministry of all believer's" that requires that everyone is included. I am grateful to each one of you.

I pray that the Council that you elect this year, will be diligent and successful in their task and take our Parish to new heights of ministry and witness.

As a Diocese we have been bold in our approach to ministry, sending 12 ordinands to College to address the Clergy shortage and sharing clergy across multiple churches to address the immediate ministry. This does require a lot of compromise at parish level, but there is a way forward that we are called to support. We need to address the financing of this and ensure that we are growing parishes in this difficult season, spiritually, numerically and financially. May we be a people of prayer and action in this regard.

I pray that God sets our hearts on fire for service and that out outreach and youth programs gain traction this year.

God's exhortation to us to "Be of good courage" is not a suggestion - it is a commandment, because He knew/knows that we will need courage in this world.

Courage and love are the tools of the Christian to face the role that we have in the world.

A role to seek Jesus, to know Him and to make Him known so that we can - in Him and with Him and through Him - love the world back to God.

Lent 3 2006

Andrew

Rector All Soul's