Serving God in the heart of our community since 1881

St Andrew's Church, Taunton

St. Andrew's says farewell to Julian and Margery

10 December 2006

At an upbeat yet moving service today, the congregation of St. Andrew's said "farewell" to Julian and Margery Smith on their last Sunday before moving to Wells.

The St. Andrew's bell ringers were successful in ringing a quarter peal prior to the service, and the choir sang one of Julian's favourite pieces.

In his final sermon at St. Andrew's Julian reflected that this Advent will be the start of a new year full of new challenges for him and Margery, and for the people of St. Andrew's.  For St. Andrew's it will be a special and momentous year with lots of things to cope with - but cope we will because God will be with us, and we have a great team in the Church Wardens, Readers and Parish Administrator.

Preaching on today's Gospel about John the Baptist Julian said that there are three main messages for us today:

1) God is always at work, although not always where we think he is: he is not always with the rich and powerful, but with John in the wilderness, and today, with ordinary people and in everyday things, especially those on the margins.

2) As John the Baptist is a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, so the church today is called to be the bridge across which God comes to the world in love.

3) The church is called to keep hope alive - the same living hope that filled and inspired John the Baptist.

Julian thanked the people of St. Andrew's for the laughter, love, fun, forgiveness and fellowship that they had shared over the past ten years.

After the service everyone enjoyed a wonderful social event with refreshments: Churchwarden Stephen had organised some good wine, Darren from the choir had baked a wonderful cake, and members of the PCC had brought refreshments.

On behalf of the congregation Stephen presented Margery with a garden planter filled with lovely plants, and Churchwarden June presented Julian with a new chair for his study, especially designed for Vicars with dodgy backs!  A cheque was also given to Julian and Margery.

	The church banner group had designed and produced a banner incorporating the message "life is a journey and faith is a pilgrimage".
	The photo shows Pat Attrill presenting the banner to Julian.
	As the icing on the cake Jean Boobier presented Julian and Margery with one of the famous St. Andrew's tea-towels - Julian claiming to have worn out the one he was originally given as a welcome gift! Church Warden Stephen Grimshaw looks on.
	Julian and Margery gave the church a copy of the new Times and Seasons, a book of resources for worship, as a memento of their 10 years at the church and a token of appreciation of the love and fellowship they had experienced at St. Andrew's.

During the intercessions, Reader Katharine prayed for Julian and Margery as they begin their new lives in Wells:

"In this season of promise, hope and new beginnings

we pray for Julian and Margery. 

We thank you for Julian’s faithful ministry as priest among us. 

We thank you for the care and compassion he has shown

and for the way he has encouraged and enabled others

to grow in faith and love for you. 

We pray that you will continue to bless him

with the wisdom and guidance of your Holy Spirit.

We thank you for Margery’s ministry,

for her warmth and friendship,

her hospitality and humour. 

We pray that you will continue to bless her

during this time of change both at home and at work.

We pray that both Julian and Margery

will be assured of our love and prayers

as they make a new start in Wells."

All of us at St. Andrew's wish Julian and Margery many blessings and much health, happiness and fulfilment as they take up their new roles in  Wells.

Photos by Martin Ingrams.

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