Dear Friends,
This is to say goodbye and thank you to all those kind people who made my stay among you a joy and a pleasure. Your new acting rector will be Deryck Howell, a fine minister and wise leader. Happily for him, I think his coming will be around the time when services and other activities will begin to assume their normal pattern.
From my observations I believe St Peter’s and St Andrew’s are very well placed to move forward under a new senior minister and with the prospect of major property upgrades to better equip you for outreach in the years ahead.
Of course if there is to be forward movement, this will involve looking at new ways of doing things as well as consolidating proven ways as well. Change is a prospect to be embraced as you look to the Lord for help and guidance. Given what I have seen and learnt, I think the congregations that make up the CACs will take up these challenges with great enthusiasm.
Heather and I will be following your progress in our prayers.
My last word to you is to remember the word of the Lord as we heard from the Book of the Revelation. Two aspects of this come to mind: The words of encouragement from Jesus to the seven churches in chapters two and three. They are always applicable not matter what age we live in.
Secondly, there is the glorious future that awaits us in the heavenly community of the New Jerusalem. We have already begun to experience the first-fruits of this in our fellowship as members of Christ’s body here on earth. But always remember, the best is yet to come. Always keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and what pleases him, do that and he will keep you close to himself as he changes you from one degree of glory to another.
God Bless you.
Your friend,
Bruce Ballantine-Jones
Acting Rector