Articles - From the Curate

I have come to the end of my time of ministry at St Edmund's, the place I came to after being ordained deacon, the Church where I was priested and the community in which I have met and been supported and encouraged by so many people. It will be hard to say good-bye to a place and to people who have had great significance in my life and priestly formation.

As some of you know St Edmund's has been part of family's history. My great uncle was Vicar's Warden here and he and my great aunt in memory of his parents donated the east window in the side chapel. Other members of my mother's family worshipped, were baptised or married here. Recently I discovered in the records of the church magazines the amount raised by my cousin towards the work for disadvantaged children! I have found it surprisingly significant and reassuring to find these connections and to find myself with them as part of St Edmund's ongoing history.

Connections can be important and one of the wonderful things about our Christian faith is that we are all linked by the faith we share in Jesus Christ. Each day I am reminded at Morning Prayer about the links we have with our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world and of our need to support each other in prayer. I am actually moving only a few miles along the ring road but I trust that you will keep me in your prayers as I will keep you in mine.

There are so many people to give my thanks to at this time of departure but I trust you will understand if I particularly and publicly thank all the Church Wardens with whom I have served, their support, good humour and practical knowledge has been invaluable: the service they offer St Edmund's is incalculable.

Paul reminds us as he writes to the people of Corinth that when we turn to Christ the veil is removed and that 'all of us with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.' May we all, wherever we are, continually turn our faces towards Christ, so that we might reflect his glory and image to the world and in doing so may we help others to know his love, his mercy and his grace in their lives.

Thank you for being part of my journey, it has been a privilege and a joy to be with you. May God bless you richly now and always.

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay