A time for change.....again!

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
²         a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

These bible verses have been on my mind and in heart since I first knew that I and my family would be moving to Heacham, for me to become the Rector of Heacham and Snettisham four and a half years ago. They have rung true in my personal and professional life since then, in the tough times and in the good times, in times of stability and in times of change, they continue to do so as another time of change begins.

As many of you will be aware, St Mary's Church Snettisham and St Mary's Church Heacham have been joined as a team for the last four years, with me as Team Rector, and Paul, whwn he was here as Team Vicar. We have tried hard to make it work, but the reality is that the 2 churches do not work well together, both would prefer to have their 'own' vicar. So after much discussion and prayer, both PCC's and the Diocese have decided decided that from May the 2 churches will begin to operate separately.

Which means that we will be advertising for a new priest in charge of Snettisham, on a 2/3 time basis. They will live in The Rectory in Park Lane, and their ministry will be focused in and on snettisham.

For me, my time as Team Rector of Snettisham will come to an end, and I will be appointed as Priest in Charge of Heacham from the end of May, I am sad about this, having enjoyed being part of both communities as Rector.

There will be a final and farewell team service at Snettisham on Sunday May 19th at 10.30 am, to which everyone is very welcome. Here we will formally end the team, and I will take my last service in Snettisham as rector.

This will be my prayer over the coming months as we negotiate these changes, recruit and appoint a priest in charge, and untangle the team. Please do make it your prayer too.

Gracious God, May we treasure the past with thanksgiving; May we embrace the future with hope; May we journey ahead with confidence; in Your love and power, now and always through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Veronica

Team Rector: Western Shore Team.