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HOLY TRINITY CHURCH SOUTHCHURCH

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A FAREWELL FROM LYNN

August 2008

A priest was talking to one of her parishioners. She said "When you get to my age you spend a lot more time thinking about the hereafter." "What do you say to that", enquires the parishioner. The priest replies, "Well, I often find myself going into a room and thinking what did I come in hear after."

...... Well it's a bit of fun and I thought my 'joke and story' fan club would enjoy one last one!

But seriously though, here I am trying to write this letter and I'm thinking about the 'hereafter'. My heart is here, but my head is already thinking about the move after my last week here and the future beyond that. It was only 3 years ago that you were reading my letter of introduction ..... "and now I write to bid you farewell.

"The older I get the faster time seems to go .... " and the more my menagerie seems to grow! It was just 3 years ago that I found myself transporting the contents of my house to Southchurch, along with two big dogs and my two cats from Edmonton, North London. But now I'm on the move again with one less cat (you may remember my little tabby was killed by a train just two months after my arrival here), same dogs, two rats, a large tropical fish tank and pond full of fish .... waaaaaaah!

But the fun is just about to start as I find myself facing possibly the most exciting and challenging event of my life. On 29th September I will become Vicar of St Mary-at-Latton, Harlow. This will be for me, one of the most significant milestones on my journey of faith, and an event that I tried for years to prevent from happening. But I guess if we are willing to be obedient to what God wants to do with us then anything is possible and I should have known he'd get me to where he wants me! Life's journey takes us down many paths, some we eagerly encounter and others we approach often with reluctance, and a total lack of faith that God actually knows what he's doing.

My journey towards ordination was very much the latter, embarked upon out of obedience and often accompanied with an unwilling and questioning heart, along with a real lack of courage and confidence. And yet, over the years God has taken my ungracious attitude and has turned it around, showering grace upon grace and blessing upon blessing on me as each step along the path was completed.

And on my journey I have been so very privileged to share these last three years working with you at Holy Trinity. I have had a truly blessed curacy. And I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Michael Ballard, and all of you, for the wonderful support and encouragement you have given me during this time. I shall be ever indebted to Michael for the training opportunities he has given me and the way he has trusted me with so many things. As I look back and reflect, I can recognise the many ways that God has been at work in a very special way in both my life and in the lives of all of you, as well as in our church and community.

I write this at the beginning of July, but you will no doubt be reading it near the beginning of August, just a couple of weeks away from Sunday 17^th August, and my last day here. I realise that smack in the middle of the holiday season is not the best time to go, as many of you will be sunning yourselves in warmer climates, or perhaps at Michael's favourite holiday resort, Grimview flats! I hope though, as many as are able will join me on the 17th August in church, where I shall preside and preach at 9.30am, and then join me afterwards in the hall for a farewell drink and some tasty nibbles. I have much more to say, and if you want to know what, then join me on 17th !

Revd Lynn