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Archdeacon's Newsletter for the Parish

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Archdeacon's Newsletter for the Parish So what happens now? Archdeacon’s Guide to the Vacancy Process 3 Archdeacon’s Newsletter WeF romcan’t givethe exact Archdeacons timings - but we of have Dorking drawn up and a rough Surrey timetable and for the Parish of hope the process will look something like the following: St Mark’s, Farnborough ChurchThere is grafta time into for everything, St Mark’s and agreed a season by for PCCsevery activity of under the heavens:January a 2021time to February 2021 bothbe born St Peter’sand a time Church to die, a andtime toSt plant Mark’s and aChurch time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to Dear Friends heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time Visionto embrace of graft and intoa time St to Mark’srefrain from shared embracing, in both a time churches. to search and a 7time February to give up, 2021 a It is now over three months since the Revd Ian Hedges retired as your vicar. Archdeacontime to keep and attends a time to St throw Marks away, to a timeexplain to tear scheme. and a time to mend, a time to be silent I’m pleased to report that, whilst conversations are never easy in a pandemic, and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. New Post of Associate Rector of St Peter’s and Vicar March 2021 I’ve been working very closely with your churchwardens and PCC in praying Ecclesiastes 3 Designate of St Mark’s is openly advertised. and reflecting upon the next chapter of ministry at St Mark’s, Farnborough. In the life of a parish there is no doubt that a time of vacancy is a major event. When I came to preside at worship on the Sunday after Fr Ian’s retirement, AssociateIt can be a Rectortime when of parishioners St Peter’s feel and a sense Vicar of bereavement Designate - andof thatApril ‘loss’ needs2021 to be many of you were expressing concern about the challenges facing St Mark’s at Sttaken Mark’s seriously, is interviewed but it can also (and be a timehopefully of ’growth’ appointed!) - for new talents and gifting to emerge, a this time. These do not just relate to the pandemic. The last few years have time when the parish can seek God’s leading and guidance for the next ‘chapter’ of its life of worship and witness, and a time for rootedness in steady prayer. A vacancy can also be a time seen a steady decline in worshippers; an increasingly elderly congregation; Appointedwhen our Diocesan person Vision moves ‘Transforming into St Church Mark’s Transforming Vicarage Lives’ and refocuses July our 2021 plans and concerns about financial sustainability and a general concern about the future. beginspurpose ministry towards growing as Associate communities at of St faith Peter’s and engagement Church in our parishes. Bishop Andrew and I have been concerned that the task for any successor of AppointedDuring a time person of vacancy works parishes at arePeter’s able to to take identify the opportunity graft to assessJuly how 2021 the call - to a life of worship and witness measures up to ‘Transforming Church Transforming Lives .’ Our hope Fr Ian will be too big without additional help. And so we’ve been in discussion teamand prayerand buildsis that parishes relationship will not only with look Stback Mark’s. and give thanks but look forwardMarch and 2022 be open to seeing how God at work by his Holy Spirit can be at work in new and creative ways that will with the PCCs of both St Mark’s and St Peter’s to suggest that there might be Plantinggive a hope team for the have future ‘sending and for growth service’ in our Diocese. at St Peter’s; Easter 2022 a partnership. The result of the discussions is that both PCCs have agreed that the new vicar of St Mark’s will be installed with a graft team from St Peter’s. InstallationThere is no doubt of new that atvicar a time at of Stchange Mark's and transition with grafting the challenge team to be church for both this generation and the next can be both exhilarating and daunting! So as this time of vacancy beckons This means that a number from the congregation in St Peter’s will move to we would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Diocese and its various departments worship in St Mark’s to help the congregation here grow and reach out to the (App. G) to af rm our commitment to serving you, the local parish, and to journeying with you significant number of people (especially young families) in this part of town. Whatas you seek if a newI have incumbent. more questions? The guide in the following pages contains a wealth of helpful information which is practical and Of course, this will bring both excitement and fear; excitement at the prospect detailed! We pray that it will contain many of the answers you are already seeking and will point Wethe anticipate way forward therefor you. willIt is indicative be many of our more commitment questions. to all parishes I need at the to point be ofhonest vacancy that of St Mark’s growing and reaching out to its community; fear at the prospect of not- weall arethe here answers for you at thiswill key have time inbeen the life worked of your worship out yet. and witnessIf, however, and look forwardyou have change. This newsletter sets out in more detail what this partnership will look furtherto helping questions, you grow in please vision and speak expectation to your as you churchwardens seek God’s direction in and the of coursefirst instance. a new like. Throughout the whole process, I will be alongside you in care and support. incumbent! They are in regular contact with Libby Etherington (Rector of St Peters); MarkYours Hayton in Christ (Area Dean of Aldershot) and myself as Archdeacon. We are all very happy to answer further questions. Paul & Paul The Archdeacon of Surrey’s Office Paul Bryer, Archdeacon of Dorking Paul Davies, Archdeacon of Surrey Paul Davies, ArchdeaconArchdeacon’s of Surrey House, Lime Grove, West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7UT ☏ 01348 790366 ! [email protected] Questions you might be asking… about this vision… What exactly is a graft? Who is formally in charge whilst we have no vicar? A graft is a partnership between two churches where a group of people from a Legally, during a vacancy in an incumbency, the Area Dean and Churchwardens larger church choose to move and become part of the family in a smaller church. are [what is legally known as] the sequestrators. In effect, that means they have It seeks to combine the wisdom and knowledge of one church with the energy responsibility for the running of the church. There will, however, be lots of and new ideas of another, to see regeneration of both worship and mission support from our friends at St Peter’s as well as others (not least myself!). Is church grafting a new idea? Will the graft team seek to change our church? The church has always sought to plant churches. St Mark’s Church was, of The graft team will celebrate the heritage of faith at St Marks and want to ensure course, a plant from St Peter’s Church in the Victorian era. The church still seeks its character is retained as part of the onward journey. When new people join a to plant in areas of new housing. It also seeks to graft when a church community church, by definition it changes. They will bring gifts and skills which will enable has become quite small and vulnerable and could do with some additional help. the church to grow in depth, number and in expressions of worship and mission. How many people will the graft team involve? Will the Sunday services change when the graft team arrives? Once the new Associate Rector of St Peter’s, and Vicar Designate of St Mark’s The graft team will respect the St Mark’s tradition - and especially the centrality has arrived and settled into St Peter’s, s/he will ask people to consider and pray of the Eucharist. In addition, a new and more informal expression of worship will whether God might be calling them to be part of the graft. Whilst it’s difficult to be introduced alongside it. Making appropriate and relevant provision for others, know the number at this stage, we hope it will be between 25 and 50 people. different from us, is a significant way to facilitate growth in our church family. How will the graft team be led? What benefits will the graft team bring? Next month, St Peter’s will advertise for an Associate Rector of St Peter’s who The graft team will bring the gift of new people, new energy, new commitments will be the Vicar Designate of St Mark’s. This person will be appointed to work at of time, talents and money; a younger demographic; a new vision to reach out St Peter’s and help to identify and get to know the graft team. After Easter 2022 into the parish of St Mark’s with the good news of the Gospel, and a new they will move down with the team and be instituted as Vicar of St Mark’s.
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