Au Revoir! I had the task (a pleasant one! And a privilege) many years ago, of giving a ‘farewell sermon’ for one of my colleagues at St Chad’s. Several of us ‘learned our trade’ there – our high aspirations and theological training hadn’t really equipped us for ‘servant’ ministry! Reality did kick in very soon!! We became movers-in- chief of heavy objects as we carried paschal candles round the church, filled fonts with buckets of water...emptied bins…..fancy ideas about what it meant to be ordained went out of the window. And rightly so, because ordained ministry is about enabling...humble, sacrificial service. Now I know that not everyone agrees with me but I think this is ‘Jesus’ ministry. He washed people’s feet………. ...and he developed collaborative ministry! In my view this is the only way church grows. It is an ‘every member’ ministry because everything helps and everyone has a gift or talent to offer. But this is a farewell day….the end of my 25 years with a Common Tenure Licence. I hope that this is not the last time I will see you all- in short, I have good reason- very many good reasons to hold you all in great affection. I will no doubt miss these churches, their busyness and activity... (although one acknowledges that at my age 60 hours a week is a bit much!) but I will miss you greatly. But, the church is a pilgrim community and pilgrims must travel on for time to time. May God bless all of you in your journey of faith and thank you for allowing me to travel with you for the last 12 years. Yours, Elizabeth
I am very much looking forward to taking up the post of Priest in Charge (vicar designate) of Alrewas with Fradley and Wychnor. From first meeting people at the interview day to subsequent meetings preparing for the new post, I have been made to feel very welcome.I very much believe Church is a place for all- whether young or old, whatever our background or life experience. The love of God is for all people, and when we encounter God, we can’t helped but be changed and transformed through that experience. I am therefore excited to be joining the church and wider communities in the local area.My wife and I will be moving from our current location of Sutton Coldfield, where I have been vicar of St Chads Church since 2015. As well as enjoying hill walking, cycling and gardening; we also keep chickens so alongside Sian and I moving into the vicarage, our chickens will be taking up residence in the vicarage garden.Over the coming weeks you may spot us coming and going as we do bits and pieces of decorating in preparation for the move. We don’t have a moving in date yet, but it is likely to be towards the end of April, in preparation for the licencing service in May.I am very much looking forward to getting to know people within the local areaJonathan
Great news!!<a></a>As most of you know, we have been without a stipendiary priest for 15 months now. We have advertised and interviewed, and we are delighted to confirm that the Revd Jonathan Nicholas has formally accepted Bishop Tim’s offer of the position of Priest in Charge (Vicar Designate) of Alrewas with Fradley and of Wychnor.Jonathan is currently vicar of St Chad’s, Hollyfield Road, Sutton Coldfield and this announcement has been made in All Saints Alrewas, in St Stephen’s Fradley and in Jonathan’s home church in Sutton Coldfield.Jonathan’s licensing date is in the process of being confirmed with Bishop Michael and more information about Jonathan and his wife Sian will be forthcoming, but we feel that he is an answer to our prayers.Please continue to pray for him and for us as we prepare to welcome him and his family here in due course in 2026.A prayer…for Jonathan and Sian and for ourselves………. Loving God, we give you thanks that your Holy Spirit has guided this process and this appointment. We pray for Jonathan and Sian as they prepare to leave a parish where they are much loved and begin preparations for the transition to move here and minister among us.We pray for ourselves as we prepare also for change and continue to serve God in our churches and the wider community.
As we move into November we enter the season of Remembrance with All Saints and All Souls, followed by Remembrance weekend. As the days shorten, we move on in the year to something of a more reflective time.This seems to have been a year to remember anniversaries; we commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8th – the end of the 2nd World War in Europe. Then on August 15th we made sure that we acknowledged VJ Day 80- the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Japan. Who could forget the really moving flypast from the Memorial Arboretum at 1pm on the anniversary? Many felt that they were forgotten at VJ Day; celebrations had begun in Europe for the end of WW2..After fighting stopped on 15 August, it would take several months for POWs, servicemen and women to return home to Britain, where their harrowing wartime experiences would continue to take a toll. On VJ Day 80, we paid tribute to our veterans, the Second World War generation and remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace. We must never forget the sacrifices made….in the hope of peace…and for our freedom. Why do we remember?Well, we think about the people who died in these wars.We think about them with thankfulness, because they sacrificed everything they had to make sure that we could be free in this country today. All that we take for granted, they didn’t have a chance of experiencing or having. In addition we think about those whom we have known and loved, but see no longer; those who have shaped our lives for good. Remembrance, though isn’t just about the past. We also remember the past by the telling of a story. So that particular story becomes real and alive now and encourages us for the future.We remember the story of what God has done in our lives as we tell the story once again of the Last Supper, where Jesus broke bread and blessed the wine.And his sacrifice is recalled in the very words of Jesus- ‘Do this in remembrance of me’.So remembrance is part of the very core of what we stand for as Christians, because part of remembering is a celebration ………..of all the things we now enjoy and treasure – gifts of freedom, justice, peace and truth.So the past that we now remember allows us to value ever more deeply all that we have in the present time in which we live. We pray for peace. And lest we forget the promise of peace we continue to share our history as we pray for peace in our world. So………………….Some notable words…….. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F Kennedy “Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”- Mary Roach It is good to remember – it means we can – hopefully – learn from the past, but also that we can give thanks for what others have done for us.So a prayer for this Remembrance season– O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever. Revd Elizabeth Wall Associate Minister
