Dear all,

The diary has been full over the last few weeks. Kim and I celebrated our 25^th anniversary of arriving to serve the parish: we were overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity – thankyou. Then, St Mary’s Whorlton hosted a Festival of Flowers and its annual Hymns and Pimms service. What an event this proved to be: so much hard work met with such appreciation by villagers and visitors:  a full church for the final service and a wonderful afternoon as David Harper worked his magic to sell off the flowers and add to the sum raised for church funds. In the mix we celebrated two major Feasts: Ascension Day and Pentecost, complete with a reordering of Barney church for Pentecost (to echo the gathering of the disciples and their anointing with the Spirit). The diary has also held two concerts: Barnard Castle School Choral society performed in church on 14^th June and our own orchestra seven days later. Meanwhile we have been planning for Ana (our curate’s) ordination as priest. The ordination service takes place in the Cathedral on Saturday 28^th June at 4.00pm: all are welcome. On Sunday 29^th Ana will be the celebrant at communion and we will join in a ‘Bring and share lunch’ in the Parish Hall.

Alongside all of the above our deanery study groups have been meeting to look at the Four Texts (Jesus’ Summary of the Law, The Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes and the Creed); we joined with friends from other denominations to mark the 1700^th anniversary of the Nicene Creed; there have been baptisms, and couples prepared for marriage and wedding ceremonies. Work at Whorlton has been carried out (many thanks to our contractor Mark Tully and to Robin Taylor from the congregation for overseeing the archaeology associated with the work) and the regular tasks of managing our finances and common life have proceeded quietly and efficiently. At our church school ‘Big Story’ has recommenced (following the major flood that put two classrooms out of action), SATS tests and Phonics screening has been completed and staff of the school’s Early Years provision have been awarded the Pearson National Teaching Awards’ accolade of Early Years Team of the Year.

If all the above sounds a lot, the last month has also seen an unusual (for the time of year) number of funeral services in church and at local crematoria. Both Ana and I regard the ministry offered to us as Christian ministers through these ‘occasional offices’ to be a great privilege as families invite us into their lives and look to the Christian Gospel for meaning, comfort, reassurance and hope. But we are acutely aware that this ministry is an extension of the whole ministry of the church in this place – the priesthood of all believers. Our congregations’ work in the care of our buildings and common life, support, prayers and financial giving undergird all our work. As Ana is ordained priest and as I pass a milestone in my own ministry we cannot but say ‘Thankyou’ for all the work you do in the name of Jesus.

Alec