Farewell from Revd Robert

Dear friends

It is hard to believe, at least to me it is, that I have been here for eight years and 40 days! And as I always tell the children in school when the term 40 days is used in the bible it actually means a very, very long time. So where has all that time gone, after all it only seems like yesterday that Margaret, Rebecca and I moved into Shiplake Rectory and were immediately made welcome by you all with gifts of food and flowers. Thank you.

However, it is now time to move forward again, to leave you behind and to start ministry again in a new area, nearer our roots and our families who need more support as our parents get older.

It is always, always difficult to know when is the best time to move from a Parish, and this time has been even harder as there is so much more that needs to happen here to help people discover God’s Kingdom and to grow the Church. There are so many projects that are just starting, but if these projects are what God intends then they will happen, but they will need your support and hard work to ensure that they succeed.

Many of you know some of the reasons why we are moving, but it is now really clear that this is indeed the right time. You are a very, very strong group of people, who are aware of your own opinions, your witness to God, and how you want your local churches to grow and flourish. The simple truth is that in order for local churches to grown then the laity – you – need to be fully involved in all that takes place here in these buildings in God’s name as well as in the local community, that is what Pam and I have been trying to encourage over these eight years and I thank God for those of you who have stepped up over those eight years to take on leadership in our beautiful church communities. But I especially thank God for those of you who have recently been recognised as Lay Leaders in Worship, Sunday School, Anna Chaplaincy and Pastoral Visiting. This is a really, really exciting time for the Benefice as these roles will ensure that the church here continues to grow, and grow in a healthy way, a way in which all members of the community are valued, and all contributions to the Work of God are recognised and accredited.

We have come a long way in these eight years, we were devastated by Covid - losing many of our congregation members to this horrible virus, and I continue to pray for all those whose lives were lost and affected by Covid. Sarah and I learned so much during that time about how to do church in a different way. Neither of us had ever thought about Livestreaming services, or pre-recording sections of the service, but even though the process was absolutely exhausting, we learned so much, and grew in our own faith despite, or even perhaps because of the difficulties.

Thanks need to be expressed publicly to the lovely staff team that have supported everything in this Benefice since my arrival. Pam has been my constant companion on this adventure, and I thank her for all her love and support over the years.

We have also had the two Michaels, Michael Forrer and Michael Seymour-Jones who enabled services to continue in all three of our churches Sunday by Sunday.

Then, of course, we were richly blessed with Sarah and her curacy here. Sarah brought much joy and laughter and it was hard to say goodbye to her earlier this year.

Latterly we have also been blessed with Heather arriving and her focus on the work of the Anna Chaplaincy has already changed how we look at and deal with older people.

I have also been blessed with an amazing PA, Leigh, who has enabled both myself and the staff team to concentrate less on administration and more on the people – thank you Leigh, and thank you to the amazing people who have kindly funded Leigh’s work over the years – may God continue to bless you. Supporting Leigh over the years has also seen Anita as being part of the team. Without Anita again much of what Leigh has done for the benefice would not have happened. Thank you Anita.

Thank you to the whole team all for your support and love over the years – without your support much of what we have achieved simply would not have happened.

Much of my time here has been about rebuilding relationships with Shiplake College, and it was really heartening to be invited to their Harvest Festival a week last Friday where they publicly thanked me for all that I had done to support the life of the College. It has been my privilege to have worked alongside their Chaplains, Stephen, Chris, Nick and Becky and I thank them also for their support and friendship.

Thanks also have to go to my family, to Margaret, Rebecca and Matthew for their continued support, for their love and understanding when I have had to go out at night for meetings, or visiting, and when we have had to change plans to accommodate parish life – thank you.

However, my final thanks has to go to all of you here – you have put up with me for over eight years! And I am sure that at times I have driven you crazy with ideas, hopes and dreams for the future. I hope, and pray though, that you think that I have left this Benefice in a better position than when I arrived. At least all three buildings look in a better shape.

I pray that the interregnum will be a time for growth here in the Benefice. I know that some of you will think that that will not happen, but it can and should, you are an amazing group of people, and many of you have already volunteered to help out by leading various sections of ministry, and this is a time for you all to step up and join in the joyous work of God here in this amazing Benefice.

May God Bless you all in the future and I will keep you all in my prayers, as I hope that you will keep Margaret, Rebecca and me in yours.

I want to end with some words taken from today’s New Testament reading. --- ‘But as for you, continue in what you have learned, knowing from whom you learned it, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent, and encourage, with the utmost patience. As for you, carry out your ministry fully.’

What better words to leave you with, what better charge than asking you all to carry out your ministry fully.

May God Bless you all. Amen

At the end of the service I was given many, many cards from congregation members, thank you for taking the time to write some really lovely, touching words – the thoughts were really appreciated.

Thank you also for the VERY generous amount of money that you have given to Margaret and me, we will have to think long and hard as to what we put this money to. But, thank you for your generosity.

With all God’s Blessings

Robert and Margaret

XX

PS – Rebecca put some ducks around Shiplake Church on Sunday, so if you found one, and it made you smile, then Rebecca will be thrilled.

From the newsletter 31/10/2024

For an update on the interregnum from Revd Pam and Revd Heather, please see here.