Rector's Annual Pastoral Report: 25th January 2004

I Cor 12:27: "You are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

For my first annual report as your Rector, and I could not ask for 3 better readings to reflect on than the ones at Mass this morning. The gospel (Luke 4:14-21) is the story of Jesus all fired up with the Spirit, and setting an agenda for his followers. Am agenda of preaching the good news, proclaiming and recovering. The 1st reading (Nehemiah 8:2-10) is that wonderful story of the scene in the Temple when the scriptures were proclaimed with great ceremony. And the 2nd reading (I Cor 12:12-27) - St Paul's great description of the church as the body of Christ. These readings could all have been especially written for All Saints'!

Before giving you a report, let me say a few obvious things. I have only been here 3.5 months - yet it seems much longer. This is due to the wonderful way you have all welcomed me - not only into the parish, but into your hearts. I thank you all. Even at this early stage of my ministry here I would like to say how much I am enjoying being your Rector. You can all see how happy I am! Your welcome is matched by the deep sense of God's call I have felt all along. So the first thing I want to say is THANK YOU.

The appointment of a new priest always brings with it a period of adjustment. Parishioners have to get used to a different personality (especially in this case!), a new approach & new ideas. And a new priest has a whole lot of new people to get to know, different traditions and customs and ways of doing things, and a new home (especially in this case!). Things never stay the same. Here at All Saints' that is good. Already your faith in calling me, and my faith in coming to you, is bearing fruit in a significant increase in both attendances and giving. It had to be that way - you have been praying for the right person to be your new Rector for some time and, unlikely as it seemed, God found me! Now we have a job to do, and how wonderful that he is already blessing us in it.

The most important thing about parish life is our personal witness to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We express this principally through our worship. In an Anglocatholic parish this is above all at the Eucharist, where Jesus shares his life with us sacramentally. Such a priority has defined this parish all its life. I feel priviliged to enter into this heritage. I am grateful for the long ministry of Fr Paul Satrang, who established so much that defines All Saints'. Every Sunday I am thankful for him as I look up at the figure of Christ above our altar, which brings me back to the center of my priesthood & my life. Jesus Christ is the center and the meaning of all that we do here. But we must never be content with what we have, or what we think is Anglocatholic. There is more teaching and more growing to be done.

Now let me reflect a little more on the Mass readings today.

The 1st reading could almost be a description of the gospel procession at our High Mass. It brings us straight to our great Anglocatholic tradition here at All Saints' - particularly as it is expressed in our worship. This tradition is what makes All Saints' special (I am always tempted to say better!). As your new Rector I have been well aware of your tradition. It is something I also share and which has formed my life as a person and as a priest. It is this tradition that has made me feel instantly "at home" here. We do speak a common language - despite being divided by different accents!

The 2nd reading is remarkable. St Paul doesn't just say that the church is like a body, or is symbolised by a body. No - he says we ARE the body of Christ. That is what we are - despite how ineffective and weak we may be as members of it. Even before I arrived here I could see this was true. The people of this parish care for each other. You are concerned and you pray for each other. You have certainly been concerned and cared for your new Rector. For that I am very grateful, and thank you all.

So to the gospel (Luke 4:14-21). If any priest needed a manifesto or an agenda, it surely is this. Here is Jesus, filled with the Spirit, challenging his congregation. He speaks of preaching the good news and proclaiming it to those on the edge.

I have been your Rector for a little over 3 months. These 3 themes have been in my heart - and they are already being fulfilled. I can see it - and you can see it. There is an atmosphere at church that could almost be described as exciting. New people keep coming in. We all find the worship inspiring. And there is a growing sense that we are community of love and care. All Saints' is once again talked about in positive terms, as a special parish with a great tradition.

Of course there have been some changes. Whoever your new Rector was would have made sure of that! I think you can see that the changes I have made are for good reasons - and explained as they happened. The 1st obvious change was in the Daily Mass, and times. All the new Services have attracted good congregations. The change from 7.30 am to 8.00 am for Low Mass on Sunday has been a great success. Along with changes in time there have been liturgical changes, such as the introduction of the Angelus, and pruning of the rite, as well as adjusting to the way that I have been used to celebrating the liturgy. These have particularly affected the acolytes and altar guild, and I would like to pay tribute to Norma Dreyer and Ed Heck, who have been wonderful in their patience and cooperation.

Music is very important in a parish like ours. I pay tribute to Robert Macleod and the choir, who have had to cope with a Rector who has different and new ideas about liturgical music, and is always wanting to introduce new things!

One change that is still in progress is in our administration. Moving the Rector's Office was easy - changing ways we do things so they are more efficient takes a little longer! Our facilities are in good condition - but the school does need better and more effcient buildings. Most important is my desire to have the church open each day. With several paid staff on the premises it is possible, and desirable. The Vestry liked my last proposal, and I look forward to this being implemented soon. An open chuch is the best way to reach out to the local community - & is the hallmark of an Anglocatholic church.

A special feature of our parish is the School. What a marvellous opportunity this gives us to bring families into our congregation, teach children the catholic faith, and have some impact in our community. I do enjoy my ministry in the school, but am hampered by the time factor. So I am grateful for Fr George's ministry with the children. Most especially, I am grateful for Mrs Phillips' ministry as Principal. You know more than I what she has done for our school, and will be as sad as I am when she leaves us in June. However we will appoint a new principal, and I look forward to working with them as we build up this unique part of our parish.

I began my report with saying Thank You. There are many people I would like to thank as Rector. So many people do things here: teams arrive on Monday to count the collection, Altar Guild ladies appear daily to do their tasks, flowers are produced and tastefully arranged by a wonderful team of men, women & young people, cookies appear and meals are organised, the magazine is edited, put together & posted. I could go on with the Vestry, Wardens, acolytes, readers, greeters, sidesmen, Sisters Shop and the various hard-working committees. The fact is there are so many, that I can not name them all. So thank you to everyone who does something, known by name or not.

However I must thank the Calling Committee. They did a great job! Then there are 3 people I would like to give personal thanks to. You will know them as long time parishioners who have given their all for our parish. George Garrison provided me with a home and transport even before I arrived as Rector. And in doing so gave me an ear to chew! My question of "At All Saints' do you..?" was always given a detailed answer - & sometimes the response was "Well you used to"! I have learnt so much about our parish from George - but mostly I thank him for his willingness to be there for me.

Nell-Leone is almost an institution, and it would have been easy for her to be indifferent to the latest priest. But no - she has tried so hard to be of assistance in every way. And in doing so has had to adjust and understand some strange new ways. And the third person is Irene Eastham. Before I came she organised my social security no, bank account & 101 practical things that needed to be done. And so many questions I had about the way things are done she has answered immediately! My smooth settling-in was due to these 3 people, and I am most grateful.

Finally I would like to pay tribute to the priests who have gone before me. To Frs Woodridge, Krulac, Edwards, Lefevbre and others, who looked after Services in the vacancy, and to Frs Thrumston & Barta, our faithful honorary assistants. One of the first things I did was to invite these 2 priests to continue celebrating the 7am Mass on Tuesdays & Thursdays as long as their health allows, and I thank them. To their ranks has returned Fr Krulac, who says the Wednesday Mass. And, of course, Fr George. His appointment as full-time assistant is a sign of the new life and growth in our parish. I challenged you to find the money to make it possible, and we found it! And how grafetul I am for the special ministry he provides, as well as assisting me in various ways.

So now we look forward to a year of growth and grace in our beloved parish. May the prayers of Our Lady and all the saints, in whose honour we are dedicated in this place, assist us at the throne of grace.

To conclude I would like to pay tribute to those members who have passed through death to the life eternal, and I ask you to stand as we remember them in prayer.