This is a sad occasion, as we write our last ‘News from…’ for the Reporter. Perhaps this would be an appropriate time to tell you, the parishioners, what lies ahead for us.
We are returning to Wirral, where we lived before we became ordained, and are in the process of buying a house in Wallasey, just a five-minute walk from the sea.
Norma will be continuing to ministry as a Chaplain in the Countess of Chester Hospital, and is actively seeking PTO (Permission To Officiate) from Chester Diocese.
I am required to take a compulsory six-month break from ministry, but the Diocese are happy to issue me with PTO after this time has elapsed. What this new ministry will entail is not clear, but I am sure God still has a plan for me. As he told the Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah 29: 11, ‘‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’’
In fact, before time began, God laid out his plans for each one of us. There is a niche only we can fill with our unique gifts and talents. But sometimes, our sin and self-centeredness get in the way, casting God’s plans aside. Only when we come to God and ask in prayer for his guidance in our life will we really know what plans he has designed for each one of us. Only by following those plans can we truly feel fulfilled with our life.
We leave you with several verses from the Bible, all of which emphasise God’s guiding presence in our lives. You may want to memorise one of these verses, to give you reassurance when life gets difficult.
Please come and join us for our final services on Pentecost Sunday, 24th. May.
God bless,
Revd Tim and Revd Norma