Sunday 11th July marked Mick's 60th birthday and retiring celebration service after 24years as Rector. Mick's love of singing (and also that of his wife Denise) meant that under the Covid restrictions at that time the only option to enable singing was to have an outdoor service and this is what took place.

God blessed us with good dry weather over the weekend so setting up early on Sunday morning went like clockwork. The church fellowship, invited village guests and family friends assembled for an 11am service. 

It was a joy to praise God through song as a congregation and see the delight on many faces who were doing this. Mick preached on his favourite passage, Matthew 13:1-9, The parable of the sower, encouraging us to continue to be a church sowing and leaving the people's response to it to God.

The end of the service was marked with a few words from Churchwardens Christine Dixon and Jill Matthews sharing the gratitude of the church for Mick's time as rector and the presentation of gifts to both Mick and Denise from monies given by the church fellowship. Mick's main gift was a new acoustic guitar and in accepting this gift he shared that one of the things he was looking forward to in retirement will be the opportunity to songwrite. Mick was then encouraged to 'break-in' his new instrument and he duly obliged us with the song, 'O Lord, have mercy on me.'

After the cutting of their 'farewell' cake, groups of 6 enjoyed the opportunity to eat the provided picnic, chat and then say a personal farewell to Mick and Denise.