The Parish Magazine May 2022

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4 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> Please mention <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> when responding to this advertisement BOOKING NOW DIRECTED BY BRIAN BLESSED 28 APR - 25 JUN 30 JUN - 20 AUG THE WATERWHEEL BAR Open Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm for Hot Bar Food, Homemade Cakes & Artisan Coffee. Come and treat yourself to a scrumptious lunch in the most beautiful setting. 8 SEP - 5 NOV FIND (0118) OUT 969 7082 MORE PLEASE FIND FULL MENU ONLINE millatsonning.com/millang

<strong>The</strong> vicar's letter DEAR FRIENDS, As a child of the 80's I grew up as a huge fan of the TV series, <strong>The</strong> A Team. On a Friday or Saturday night it was staple viewing, back when we only had thee channels and no video machine! My favourite character was Hannibal Smith, the cigar smoking leader of the group of mercenaries and his famous catch phrase was 'I love it when a plan comes together.' Bizarrely, from 40 years ago, this came into my mind the other evening when I witnessed our STAY on Friday youth group in full flow in <strong>The</strong> Ark and garden with 62 young people all having a wonderful time. Indeed, on numerous occasions over the last five years, since <strong>The</strong>resa <strong>May</strong> opened the Ark on 7 <strong>May</strong> 2017 in the middle of a general election, I have had reason to recall Hannibal’s words, whether it be at our Rendezvous lunches, Messy Church, lively post service fellowship, Sunday Club, funeral and baptism receptions and much else besides. In addition, the provision of the parish office, a meeting room and a vicar’s study has been a literal God send and we are now so much more efficient in running this busy and growing parish. A DEEPER MEANING <strong>The</strong> name '<strong>The</strong> Ark' was an obvious choice but on a personal level it has a deeper meaning for me. <strong>The</strong> biblical story of Noah being called to build an ark, miles from the sea, with all the scepticism and perhaps even ridicule that resulted, rang a bell or two as we sought to sell the idea of new facilities and gain permissions and funding. From my earliest days here I was aware that if we were to become the church that had been aspired to in the <strong>Parish</strong> Profile document produced in 2008 to recruit a new vicar, we would need a new building. It took 8 years to lay the groundwork and bring it to fruition and I don’t mind admitting that, at times, the anxiety and stress was almost too much to bear. That said, achieving anything worthwhile is going to be difficult and so that was no surprise. I think it is worth restating that every penny of the final cost of the building and landscaping was raised by the fund raising committee, not, as is sometimes mistakenly reported, through selling parish land. Through patient hard slog, grants were awarded, gifts were given and funds were raised at numerous events. At times, as the costs inevitably increased, it felt almost overwhelming, but throughout, there was one verse from the Psalms that kept me sane: 'Be still and know that I am God' (Ps 46). THE PLAN THAT CAME TOGETHER As I look back on the whole project it is striking how much God was at work. In October 2013, it seemed like the planning application was in serious trouble because of the extensive root system of two large trees that were in the middle of what is now the garden. <strong>The</strong>re was a storm, and as one tree collapsed, it took the other one with it, without damaging any graves or buildings. Despite the jokes that I was out there with a chain saw — I was in France at the time! — it really did feel like things were starting to go our way. <strong>The</strong>n, the week before the grand opening, with £150,000 still to raise, I was astonished to receive a call to tell me that a letter sent many months before to a philanthropist who I had never met and who had no idea how much money we had left to raise, was giving us £100,000. Two days later, a cheque arrived for £50,000, again from someone I didn’t know and who knew nothing of how much we needed. I remind myself of that miraculous happening when times are tough or when God might feel remote. Our church was truly blessed through this project and I believe this is because <strong>The</strong> Ark has enabled us to now properly fulfil our calling as Christians to be a blessing to the communities we are called to serve. However, there can be no resting on our laurels. <strong>The</strong>re is always more to be done and, under God, I believe we are now well equipped for the task. Warm wishes. Jamie <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 5