Dear friends,

This is the last letter I shall write for the Elstead Village News.  No doubt many of you will have heard that after three and a half years as Minister of Guildford and Elstead United Reformed Churches I am moving on in October to a new pastorate in North Devon; Bideford and Bickington to be precise.   Many people have already told me what a beautiful part of the country we are moving to and some have said that it's a surfer's paradise.  Believe me, the only thing I shall be surfing, there or anywhere else, is the web!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Elstead and I shall miss you all very much.  I have made many friends in the Churches and in the community, and this part of Surrey is also most beautiful.   Elstead has much to commend it; there is a real feeling of friendliness wherever you go and a wonderful atmosphere of genuine care and mutual support.  I have always been made welcome, whichever group or club I have involved myself with, and when I go I shall be taking many happy memories of my time here.

So to you all, a very sincere and heartfelt "Thank you."

One of the 'mottos' of the early Protestant Church was the phrase "semper reformata, semper reformanda."  (My computer automatic spell-checker didn't like that!)  It means "always reformed, always reforming."  The early Protestant Reformers had many ideals, of which I mention but two.  They believed that the Bible should be available to all people in their own language.  They
believed in the "priesthood of all believers", in other words, that anyone could pray to God on
behalf of anyone else, that through Christ we each have direct access to God in heaven.

As we continue on life's way, in Elstead, Devon or wherever, there are three important things here that we all do well to remember.  Firstly, God's love is for everyone, and it is not just the job of the Church to express this message, but we each have a responsibility to show that love and support to each other.  Secondly, the language of God's love is a universal language.  Love can be understood by everyone, and it is a language we can all speak.  And finally, as we give thanks for what we are, and for what has enabled us to be what we are, let us always be open to new possibilities for growth and development, to new relationships forming, new hopes being born, and new ways of reaching out to God and to others in love.

Thank you for three and a half wonderful years.  My family join me in wishing you all every blessing for the future.

With love and best wishes to you all,