From the Vicarage 

 “You must really notice a difference now that you are here in Cheshire, rather than in Oxford!’ many, many people say to me each week, (even though I have now been here over a year!!!!) and whilst it is true that life here in Cheshire is different – calmer, more space, less rushed, (so people keep telling me) cleaner, windier!!!!!…. It is also true that my ministry is not really that different at all.

 Let me explain:

 I still journey with people at times of great joy and sadness, and also through the mundane and ordinariness of daily life. It is one of my greatest privileges to be able to be alongside people as they journey on their life and discover where it is that God is acting in their lives for their good.

 I still do the round of church services, discovering each year something new in the message from God that is given to us in the richness of the scripture. I still constantly discover that I am unworthy and that I can only do this job through the Grace of God and with your support and prayers.

 I still lead worship, and although this is now through four churches rather than just three (although I did look after 8 in Cornwall). It is still a real privilege to lead worship, and worship is the other main focus of my ministry that keeps me going, that sustains my own spirituality every time I celebrate the Eucharist or lead a Service of The Word and encounter the living God here in our midst. 

 So I would argue that Ministry here in Cheshire is not all that different than in Inner City Manchester, or Cornwall, or Oxford. 

 The Group have now introduced the new service times, and I pray that you will give them time, so that you can see the pattern and routine. (Please also let me know if the new pattern is not working). Change, I know, is never easy, but our Lord never said that following Him was going to be easy. We need to examine what we do in our services on a regular basis so that we can encounter God through all the Offices that the church has to offer, both Eucharistic and Non Eucharistic. Now that I have also had a full year here with you it would be really, really, really helpful if people could let me know if there are any special services throughout the year that you would like to have – but please do still remember that I cannot do 4 church services on a Sunday.

 There is though within the group a need for a larger team of people to help lead services across the whole Group and so I would therefore urge you to consider if you have a calling to this particular ministry. And if you feel that you have then please, please, do come and have a chat with me as soon as possible. We owe a huge amount of thanks to those who lead our services and lead us all so well, and I take this opportunity of thanking them here for their contribution.

 May I finally take this opportunity of also reminding you all that the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of the Parishes will be taking place very soon and it would be lovely if more people came to these meetings to hear about what has been happening in your churches during 2025. 

 Yours in Christ Robert