Good news, bad news

Let’s begin with the good news, shall we?

We are grandparents!  Elizabeth Amelia Ann Clare was born on Good Friday, weighing around 7½ lbs.  Gillian had a shortish labour (just 5 hours) and all is well, bar the usual tiredness.

[Elizabeth, about 2 hours old]

Definitely one to celebrate.  We’re much looking forward to meeting Elizabeth when we're back in the UK in a few weeks’ time for our annual trip.

The bad news is not so bad, really.  But it still came as a huge shock.  After my sister curate Nyasha left in February to take up her own parish, Michael announced that he, too, is leaving the parish, in July, to become a full-time naval chaplain….

I’m glad he didn’t tell me until I’d done my first solo weekend (whilst he was at a baptism in Christchurch), which had included 2 services, a baptism, and leading our Lent study.  I loved it!  Then Michael broke the news.

He’s been a really good training incumbent, supportive, affirming, confidence-giving.  He’s generous with no sense of ego, and has allowed me to participate fully in all our services and things since I became a priest,  sharing out fairly and equally ministry opportunities every week, giving me the chance to say yes or no (I usually say yes!), which is great.  And always makes time to talk me through things when I ask for some advice.  

We’ve had a lot of fun in the office, too.  There’s good teamwork, and a great atmosphere, and we complement each other, I think.  We’ve got used to each other.  So, I’m going to really miss him.  And Rebecca and the girls.

Not quite sure what it’s going to mean for me.  It is just possible that the Bishop might ask me to become Priest-in-charge during the transition period (though I am of course still under training); it’s also possible he’ll bring in someone else to cover those few months.  I’m just waiting to see what will happen, and trusting God that He has all this in hand; and that if I’m to step up He’ll equip me, and if I’m to support someone else it’ll be a chance to learn more from another experienced priest…

So, watch this space.  ‘Let go, let God’, as someone once so wisely said to me.