Dear Friends
Rooted & Reaching: Church for a Changing World
Around 200 clergy from across Guildford Diocese gathered in Swanwick, Derbyshire last week for the Triennial Clergy Conference, a key moment to step back, reflect and be renewed in ministry. It was a good opportunity to receive teaching, grow in understanding, be encouraged, and to reconnect with many from across our diocese. The above photo shows most of the people who were there. Look closely and, amongst others, you’ll spot former curates Chris Bessant and David Sigsworth, and also Barbara McDonald and me. I can’t see Ruth Sheldon (Phillips) who was also there, anticipating the birth of her first child in late July.
Increasing our capacity to take forward the mission of the church
The first of three Specific Action Points to support the third priority of our current Church Development Plan is “To take a good look at everything we do with a view to prioritising the ministries most critical to our mission”. Amanda Rowland writes, “This work was substantially complete in 2025, concluding that there is little scope to create efficiencies in the way we do things at the moment if we wish to carry on all the ministries and activities we currently have. Some limited administrative efficiencies have been made. The bigger challenge is finding people willing to take on the roles needed to enable us to continue all those ministries and activities. If we cannot do that we may well need to scale back what it is we do in the future.”
Retirements from and newcomers to Sidesmen and Welcomer duties
Vicki Dixon, who does a great job organising and overseeing our Sidesmen and Welcomers, writes, “After over twenty years of faithful service, Veronica Taylor has decided to step down as one of our 10am Lead Sidesmen, though is pleased to continue as a reserve. Warm thanks of appreciation are extended to Veronica for her long service and commitment to her role. Marilyn Hughes has kindly stepped up to the vacated Lead Sidesman role. As Evensong services have not been reintroduced since 2019, I would like to thank Mary Railton for many years of faithful service as Evensong Sidesman. After moving to Dorking in 2023 and now attending St. Martin’s Church there, Catherine Jager has stepped down as Sidesman on 5th Sundays. Our thanks to Catherine for her time as Warden and Sidesman for a number of years at St. Nicolas. Now becoming a Warden, Romey Criswick has stepped down as a Lead Sidesman. Simon Philips has stepped down as a Sidesman for funerals and Zena Rose as a Welcomer. During 2025, we welcomed Bob Searle as a Sidesman and Peter Caldwell as a Welcomer on our 10am rotas.” Please do make sure to thank our Sidesmen and welcomers and, if you are able to offer yourself to help, Vicki should be pleased to hear from you.
Keeping up to date
Please take time to read our weekly notice sheet which is available both online (click here) and in church. Due to the unavailability of the AV team last Sunday (would you be willing to join?), there are no excerpts from our 10 o’clock service last Sunday. However, do take time to appreciate this short inspiring film which comes to us as one of the special Thy Kingdom Come films this week. It tells how prayer has been fundamental to the work of the Mothers’ Union these past 150 years.
And finally…
This Sunday we look forward to celebrating Pentecost, the day God poured out his Holy Spirit on all believers. It was a day like no other. Br. James Koester from the Society of St John the Evangelist captures something of the Spirit’s life-changing impact when he writes, “Death no longer has the power to shock us. We know what to do, what is expected, how to behave. What has the power to shock us is life – the unpredictable, risky, and Spirit-filled life toward which Jesus’ resurrection points us. His risen life lived in us should alarm, terrify, and amaze us. That is the life we proclaim at Easter. That is the life which will rouse us from death.”
Wishing you much grace and peace.
Alan
Alan Jenkins
Rector
