|
Dear Friends,
- The
big news this month, of course, is Peter Muir's ordination to serve as a Curate in Thursley
and Elstead. Peter will be ordained as a Deacon in Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 5th
July - after which he will be "Rev. Peter Muir". I am very much looking
forward to this, and Peter is probably very much looking forward to the end of three years
of hard academic work ! (see p 9 Ed)
His first year - as a Deacon - will still be very much a `learning curve` for him, as
he has to familiarise himself with many different aspects of ordained life in a parish.
To do this, Peter will be shadowing me in various roles (and in both parishes). Once the
year is complete, and he is ordained as a Priest, he will be able to strike out more on his
own. Believe it or not, I have to go on a three day course in October to learn how to
help him... I am sure that you will support us both with your prayers.
We also support Colin and Anita Smith - both financially and with our prayers - as our Link
Mission Partners working with the Church Mission Society and the local Church in Nairobi, Kenya.
They will be speaking to us at the 10 am service on Sunday 30th August - a joint
service in Elstead - and there will be refreshments and a chance to talk to them informally
afterwards. Please put this date in your diaries.
As for me, you may recall that I thought last month I would be back working in June and driving
in July... Would that life was quite so predictable. Estimates of when I would be
fit to work have varied from six weeks to three months, and it has been a roller-coaster so
far. The day it happened I didn't think too much of it; then I felt really rough for
a while (not getting any proper sleep didn't help); then I thought "I've got this
taped, won't be too long"; and then slowly the long-term reality set in: I shall be
doing physiotherapy/thrice-daily exercises for months. Getting the pain-killers right
has been part of the roller-coaster too.
As I `write` it is five weeks since my fall, and I'm still not able to actually
write - this is laboriously typed with two fingers - but sadly I can manage to sign cheques...
but the plan now is to start doing `light duties` in the last week in June. I
have no idea when I shall be driving again. Several people have kindly helped me with
lifts to hospital, etc., and I shall certainly need further help for a while - `Thank You`
to those who have stepped in so far.
Apart from normal services there are quite a few weddings in the next six weeks, in both parishes,
but August will be a light month - and we are going to be away for a part of it anyway - so
I am really hopeful that it will be `business as usual` from the beginning of September.
William Lang.
P.S. Many people have taken an interest over the years in our cat. Bella has been
very much a part of our family, and of the parish - those who have visited, or even just walked
past and seen her in the garden or sitting on the doorstep) - but sadly she passed away the
day before the Pets' Service at Westbrook Barn. I was so glad I wasn't taking
that service !
|
|
