Not my parish! 

Dear friends,

It was a summer afternoon seven years ago. We had come up to do a “reccy” of Garstang and Forton, and we climbed Nicky Nook. Looking down over Garstang and Forton,  I opened my arms, did a Julie Andrews twirl, and declared “My parish!”

We don’t really do “parishes” in the URC! But we were glad to be on Nicky Nook that afternoon, looking forward to coming to live and work here. That gladness has never left us. We have found tremendous joy in ministry here, not just in an intensely attractive part of the kingdom, but among some of the kindest and most supportive, dedicated and good natured Christian friends we have ever known anywhere.

Looking back over seven years and twenty nine years is a bit like looking back from Nicky Nook, or any hill of your choice, and seeing the way you have come. The green pastures, the steep and rugged pathways, the places where you had to retrace your steps, the places of rest and refreshment, the times of sunny walking fellowship with friends no longer with us. High places – Moses on Sinai, Elijah on Carmel, the transfiguration and the ascension of Jesus – have always been places of wider vision in the life of faith.

This of course is my last pastoral letter, though Newsletter deadlines being what they are (always a problem for this minister!) the “last rites” of my ministry still await. So let this be our song of thanksgiving: for all we have shared over these just-under-seven years and just-over-twenty-nine years.

          When  all thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys,

          transported with the view, I’m lost in wonder, love and praise.

But now remains the poignant task of letting go. One way would be to climb Nicky Nook on the first day of October, twirl anti-clockwise to face away from Garstang and Forton, and say “Not my parish!”

Meanwhile, Garstang and Forton face what is called a ministerial vacancy. Not quite true. The church is never without ministry, in these past months it has been touching to see how elders and members have quietly prepared to take up new responsibilities in the church. All this too is ministry. In the good words of Jeffery Rowthorn’s  hymn, chosen by Graham Cook for the valedictory service:

          Lord, you bless with words assuring, ‘I am with you to the end.’

          Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend,

          and, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity;

          with the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of  ministry.

                                                                             (CCL No: 213913)

But let me end with a last memory of our first service at Garstang, on Remembrance Sunday 2002. Standing outside the church to greet the congregation, first out was dear Margaret Chapman. She hugged us both and said “We’ve had a lovely service! God bless you both!” And we have been blest. Richly blest.

With every blessing to all our dear friends of Forton and Garstang

David and Pauline

Editor's Postscript: Two photos of at David'd Valedictory Service