The boxes are unpacked, mostly. The dog has settled down after the move, a little bit. And we’re starting to begin to remember to put the bins out on the right day, sometimes! It’s work in progress…
My family and I have been blessed by the warm welcome you have given us; the cards, the flowers, the friendly chats, and the bread! And we very much enjoyed the Licensing Service and the opportunity to begin to get to know some of you, and to experience an uplifting evening of lovely worship.
So I want to begin by saying a huge thank you. Thank you for welcoming us into the Turton Moorland Team family – into your parish. Thank you for taking the time to stop and chat. Thank you for helping us as we figure out where to find the electric meter in the Rectory, and where to find the chalice, patten, bread and wine. And all the rest of the behind the scenes stuff that just get done, no fuss. All this has been incredibly helpful as we’ve moved from Westhoughton, and not just over these last few weeks, but also the times I’ve covered services during the interregnum – there’s a culture of helpfulness, which is such a blessing, and which I don’t take for granted. I can recall many of the new starts I had made before a call to ordained ministry, which were a rather different experience. So thank you for taking the time and trouble to be so hospitable and welcoming.
I suppose I should say a little bit about us. My wife Ilona, and I are both originally from Southport. Ilona came to Manchester to study music, and I to work, but we met at a church back in Southport. We have three children. Our eldest, Lucy, is studying in London, while Jessie and Ben are at Canon Slade. We have two pets – a dog called Snoopy (well, what else to name a white dog?), and a rabbit called Smudge (who is senior to Snoopy, and is really the boss, even though Snoopy has more bounce, energy and noise! So that’s us. Or at least, a little bit about us.
We’re enjoying beginning to get to know you and your community and, of course, exploring the faith we share together, and looking forward to the coming season of Lent, a spring clean for the soul, the joy of Easter and then beyond.
