My dear Friends.

Last month I quoted some words from the Bible in Ecciesiastes 3 where the writer says:
'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die etc. etc. '
and with tongue in cheek I suggested that there is a time to write and a time not to write the Rector's letter!

This month let me continue with this theme and suggest that there is a time to stay and a time to leave! As some of you will know my colleague Peter Wilson became my ex-colleague on 30th April as he left us to go to another parish.

When Peter came here it was expected that he would be with us for 3-4 years, but after less than 2 years a wonderful opportunity arose which hopefully is just right for him in the development of his own ministry. The position he has accepted is at my previous parish of St George's, New Thundersley in Benfleet where I was Vicar for 19 years. I am sure Peter, Judy and their children will enjoy being at St George's. Peter will be working alongside a rgroup of very gifted people and I look forward to hearing good things about their time in Benfleet.

From our perspective, I want to record my thanks for the good things they have done in their time with us and wish them God's blessing as they leave us. So 'a time to stay' has changed with a 'time to go' and yet it is not quite as clear-cut as that as they will continue to live in Shoebury until suitable accommodation is found for them in Benfleet.

So Peter, Judy, Susie and Barney are leaving and very soon Stephen and Alison Newton and children will also be leaving us. Again, they will leave a big gap in the fellowship and work in our Church, but our loss is another's gain and we wish them God's blessing in their move and new church.

A time to say and a time to leave'.., so what of us who are not leaving (hopefully!!). Well we might well feel the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. and before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Like them we have good news to tell, but we feel very inadequate to carry it out. Yet we are not in their situation because the Holy Spirit has been given. He is within each and every Christian and He wants to work in and through us to the benefit and blessing of others.

So while we may be few in numbers, we are strong in the power God gives to each one of us and in His strength, guidance and help we must continue the work here and this is especially true for St Peters where those leaving will be most keenly missed Hopefully each member will stay and be prepared to contribute as fully as possible to the ongoing and expanding life at St Peters.

So to those leaving we say - thank you and God bless you. To those staying I say thank you for all you have done so far and God bless you in your continuing work for Him in South Shoebury.

God bless you all.

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