Rivertown United Reformed Church

My dear friends,

A few weeks ago, at the Elders' Meeting, I commented on how I was now in the process of doing the "last" of everything. It was my last meeting with the elders, and I felt quite sad about it. And now, as I write these words, I am deeply conscious that they may well be the last thoughts I share with you in The Spark. August is upon us and I only have four more weeks as your minister. Meanwhile, I am trying to ensure that life goes on as normally as possible - which is not easy, since August has always been a strange month in the life of every church! More than that, it is easier said than done: I realise that it is unsettling for all of us, and I enter this last month with a growing sense of sadness.

You have all become very dear to me, and I regard you as my friends, not simply the congregation I serve. Consequently, I shall miss you very much and will continue to cherish the friendships I have made. People say that it is the nature of life to change and move on, but it is never an easy decision to initiate the process ourselves. I am grateful, therefore, that you seem to appreciate and understand the reasons for my leaving you. God has a new and different future for me, as he has for you, and that is both a source of excitement and challenge. Please don't enter that future anxiously or fearfully, for whenever we make the service of God our chief delight, "our wants shall be his care."

I look back on more than seven and a half years of ministry at Rivertown with deep joy - not that I have always found it easy. I have said on numerous occasions that I find ministry far from easy, and am aware that I have not always been very good at it, particularly pastoral care and visitation. But you have supported me splendidly along the way, and I hope that we have learned and grown a little together in the process.

I have just begun the arduous process of sorting out and packing up, and came across the last letter I wrote at the end of my first ministry. These were my closing words: "My only sadness is that I didn't find a partner and soul-mate with whom to share my life and ministry, for the experience of a single minister is quite a lonely one. But who knows? Maybe I shall meet her during my next ministry, although sometimes I think I have been single for so long that I have grown too used to my own company and just a little too selfish for my own good!" I now leave Rivertown without that particular sadness - indeed my forthcoming marriage to Adrienne is the reason for my departure. The irony is that the congregation to whom I wrote those words is soon to be the local church I will attend as a member like anyone else. My hope, however, is that God has a new pastoral charge awaiting me in the not-too-distant future. Whatever happens, I will certainly keep you informed one way or another.

Anyway, I have run out of things to say, but I am looking forward to a few more weeks of sharing your company and friendship. Thank you so much for all the love, care and encouragement you have consistently shown me during our ministry together. God bless you.

With love and best wishes from your friend and minister,
Greg