Over the last couple of weeks I have begun saying goodbye to various groups and people here in the West Norfolk Circuit. I mentioned in an earlier post that the requests for me to speak have been numerous, and it has been good to be able to fulfill many of those requests. Each time I preach in a Chapel this quarter I remember that it is for the last time, certainly for the foreseeable future, and that is a strange feeling for me, but I guess that having opted for itinerant ministry that it is one that I will have to get used to every five years. Interestingly our six year post as Lay Workers almost mirrors that, and I can see why the Methodist system of five years per post (unless it is extended) works well.
I have also been marking a transition as I have been privileged to attend the ordinations of many of my Anglican friends and also the ordination and Induction of Andrew, the only other Free Church member of our cohort, folk I trained with through ERMC. As I reflect on these occasions, two in Cathedrals, and two in local churches (one Anglican and one URC), I am beginning to reflect upon my own Induction Service this September and the promises that I will be asked to make.
Yesterday I received my CRB form, an enhanced disclosure, it identifies me as a Methodist Minister, every now and then I receive a letter addressed to the Rev. S. Coleman, and that seems strange and right at the same time.
I will miss many people and groups, but am also looking forward to a new role and new challenges and possibilities. It will be a time of change for our entire family, as Tim will head off to Cliff College to begin a full-time MA in Evangelism Studies, and Jo, Jon and Chris will all enter their final years at University.
I have been asked to write a report of my time here, working in and amongst the Chapels in the Downham Market section of the Circuit, and have to admit that there are times when I wonder whether I have done anything at all, but then conversations reveal that this is not the case. I will miss the families who have become friends as I have worked with and for them, and probably anything I will miss the school where I have been privileged week by week to go and tell stories. This small Norfolk school has taught me the value of telling the gospel, not reading it to them, but making sure that I know the stories well enough to simply go an tell them. In doing this I step back into the shoes of those who have kept an oral tradition alive through the years. Story telling has demanded a creativity from me, it has demanded that I listen to the stories again for myself, and that I have understood the nuances and subtleties within them well enough to communicate well to the young people of Clackclose. Sometimes this has gone well, and at others ( thankfully not many) it has been difficult.
As I finished the assembly yesterday one class presented me with a card in the shape of a cross. I then waited as I always do for the children to file out of the hall and was surprised when many of them came and gave me a hug, one little girl said "Sally you are the best storyteller!". High praise indeed from a six year old. To have been able to communicate the gospel in such simplicity, without gimmicks is very important to me, and I am grateful that this is a skill I take with me.
And so, back to moving on, I am due to meet another friend for lunch today, he is a Curate in Plymouth, and as I am moving north I don't suppose we will see much of one another ( yes there is face-book, but it is not the same). On the way I will post the removals firm their contract....
For now back to the boxes, and the sorting....
