A new beginning- St Hughs

 

Just about enough dog collars!!!!

So after 20 months of our vacancy we had the Collation, Induction and Installation of our new vicar Rev Thomas Singh. So with Bishop Gavin, the archdeacon and many of the retired clergy who have led worship through these past months, we began a new phase in the Parish life.

It reminds me of all those times we moved as a family and began a new ministry in a new place. 

It's a massive upheaval first and foremost for your family. While the minister can very much be the focus at such events, it's often the family who have to let go of the most. 

A house which became home reverts back to being a house and you loose your neighbours. 

You may travel many miles away, on one occasion for us over 200 miles, so no quick trip back for the kids to see friends. Then the whole thing about changing schools, only made more challenging now as the need to get signed up to a school happens so early. And it may not be just one school, three children and its three. 

Then your partner very often has to give up their job which is an upheaval and of course a loss of income. 

Ah buts its different for the ministers family somehow!!! We have experienced how our family are seen as not the same as everyone else. Somehow immune from what moving is like for others.

At least the minister automatically has a role and for methodists usually a full diary of meetings as its very rare to only have one church. So a little bemusement on my part that we get a whole vicar to ourselves, a relatively small church, and a wondering what will they do with their time?

Then of course it's a real change for the local congregation which experiences a mix of feelings. the sense of loss when the minister goes. Relief that finally we have someone. Then apprehension what will they be like? Of course for both congregation and new minister there is the danger of comparing to the previous minister which can all depend on how the previous incumbent was viewed. 

What is certain things will change because a new personality joining any group changes it. So we await, and I will inevitably observe how things unfold for us all. So we find ourselves praying at the very human level, putting theology aside, that this new family, a husband and wife and daughter will feel welcome, acceptance and the chance to be themselves in a strange place.