Dear Friends,
Moving on from a familiar and well loved situation is often difficult, but it is something that Methodist ministers have to get used to- we do it quite frequently! However I have never previously experienced moving from full time ministry to the life of a retired minister. I will have to let you know later what it is like. I will of course still be a Methodist minister, and I hope to continue to be able to offer my time and experience to the work of the church. However I will not have so many responsibilities and far fewer emails - that will be a great relief.
Margaret (who will be working part time from September) and I, hope to spend more time with the family and the grandchildren, as well as to sing in a choir, dig our allotment, take the dog for longer walks, and take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the life of the cathedral, the Methodist church and the town of Salisbury. Like all Christians, on retirement our ministry will not cease, just alter.
For the moment it is the poignant time for saying goodbye. There will be various opportunities for this, particularly at the Circuit service on the evening of 13th. July at Bushey and Oxhey, as well as at the last services in each of the four churches I serve. I hope to speak to as many people as possible on those occasions, but if I miss anybody I will say something now.
Firstly thank you for all the support I have received in the churches. Some of it has been practical, food provided when we moved in, repairs on the manse when needed, some of it has been encouragement over particular issues, some of it has been appreciation over things that I have been able to do.
Secondly I know I have not got it all right, I have made mistakes, said the wrong thing, not done as much as I would wish in certain areas, neglected certain aspects of the work, and for that I am sorry.
Thirdly thank you for the opportunity and privilege to be your minister for the last six years. It has been an exciting time. There have been new building works either completed or in prospect at B&O and CPSO, new chairs instead of pews and a new kitchen at St. Andrews, new patterns of worship and activity in all three churches. Far more important for me has been the privilege of ministering to people at the major events of their lives, in Baptisms Marriages, and in accompanying Christians through the end of their lives from their last illness right through to their being committed to God's care in the Crematorium or at the graveside. In addition there has been the immense privilege of leading worship and presiding at Holy Communion. For every such opportunity I am extremely grateful to God and God's people in the churches I have served.
I now hand over these privileges and responsibilities to David Goodwin, with my prayers and best wishes to him and to you all for the future,
May God's love and peace continue to be yours,
Christopher G T Jones
