Goodbye from Rev’d Dee Jones retiring August 2026 .

You are warmly invited to celebrate my last service as Vicar at 10.00am on August 9th 2026 .

Dear friends,

After 5 wonderful years with you here at St. Patrick’s and 28 years of ordained ministry the time has come for me to retire.

What a privilege it has been !! Thank you for letting me walk with you through the joys and challenges of parish life .

I became Vicar here at St. Patrick’s back in 2021 when many were still reeling from the aftermath of the dreaded Covid ; people were still very anxious and afraid of large gatherings and public worship and yet , as a team , together, we rose to the challenges and by the Grace of God and much hard work we have witnessed a growth church in attendance and Christian love .

St . Patrick’s is full of people who love Jesus and love each other. That’s the best foundation any vicar could ever ask for. Rev’d Nigel and I are looking forward to a new journey ahead , still serving God and His people but at a slightly different pace . Although we will not be moving home , as we live in our own property , we will essentially be going ‘ home ‘ to where we began our Christian journey together in 1984; here we will support the Area Dean the Revd Tony Rindl and the church of St. Leonard’s Marston Green and support other churches, in the diocese , when needed .

We will miss you all so much but will be praying for you always. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, prayers, and love . Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for making these 5 years such a gift. Keep trusting in the Lord God, keep looking out for each other, and as the word of the Lord tells us , keep your eyes

on Him . Hold faithfully to His word and in the words of Julian of Norwich ( female theologian , anchoress and mystic )

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well"

Psalm 34

5 Keep your eyes on the Lord!
You will shine like the sun
and never blush with shame.

6 I was a nobody, but I prayed,
and the Lord saved me
from all my troubles.

7 If you honour the Lord,
his angel will protect you.

8 Discover for yourself
that the Lord is kind.
Come to him for protection,
and you will be glad.

9 Honour the Lord!
You are his special people.
No one who honours the Lord
will ever be in need.

Goodbye my dear brothers and sister in Christ.

With love, prayers , blessings and much gratitude from us both ❤️🙏

Revd Dee Jones

Vicar St. Patrick’s 2021-2026 and husband Rev’d Nigel 🙏God bless you all xxx