Wye Valley Group of Churches

Glasbury - Llowes  -  Clyro  -  Bettws

A thank you from Heather 

I would like to say a big thank you to those who took on the organising and the serving of the refreshments after my last service as your vicar.  As ever, there was such a wonderfully generous selection of savouries and sweets contributed by all the parishes. 

 I must also take this opportunity to say how much I appreciated the cards and letters I received, both for my retirement and my birthday.  There were so many little gestures of love and care during my last week or so and they will all stay in my memory.  Most significant among those memories will be the last assembly at Ffynnon Gynydd school when the children and teachers presented me with a book made up of sheets which were beautifully decorated and drawn by the children and contained some lovely words of farewell and good wishes. 

 This was followed by the assembly at Glasbury school.  Having ascertained during the questions of the previous week that my favourite Old Testament story was Jonah and my favourite hymn, ‘I, the Lord of sea and sky’, they put together the story embellished with observations about God and his love that they had heard from me during other assemblies.  They had also, in just that one week, learnt the hymn and Bethan had learnt to play it on the flute.  It was deeply moving.  The infants gave me a huge card and the juniors individually made cards and from the whole school came a very special rose.   All of these things will be greatly treasured.

 Most special of all was the blessing given to me by the St. Peter’s Singers at the end of the service on 28^th.  I had given the usual blessing and was struggling with the words.  Then, on behalf of the whole congregation the Singers blessed me as they sang Rutters’ Blessing.  I know that many were in tears, but the effect on me was beyond words.  As they sang each blessing I felt waves of something flowing around and over me.  I can’t find the word.  It was so gentle and yet so strong.  It was powerful and yet so gently moving that I was never disturbed or struggling.  I felt completely balanced – not too strong or too weak, too sad or too happy.  In fact not ‘too’ anything.  I felt complete.  It was an indescribable experience and it was the best of all the gifts I had.

 Having said that, though, the whole of the service was so very special that I shall treasure it as the best time of all my retirement memories.  I had thought over the preceding weeks that it would be a difficult time as I said the words for the last time as your vicar.  In fact, I felt so securely held by the love and support that filled the church that I had nothing to fear.  I cannot express all that I owe to the Singers.  I have said on a number of occasions that I deeply appreciated the quality that they brought to the services with their humble offerings of their gift of music and song.  Their contribution to my last service surpassed all.  I know that many were deeply moved by it all and I want everyone who was there and those who wanted to be, but who were unable, to know how powerfully I felt your affection because without that the Singers would not have been able to do what they did.

 So thank you to everyone who had any part in making my last days as your vicar so very special and utterly memorable.  It has been a privilege to serve you and through you, God. 

 May he bless you in these weeks ahead and for all you have given in the past 6 ½ years.

 With my love,

Frontpage-Templates.org