The final episode of M*A*S*H, was entitled Goodbye, Farewell and Amen. To this day it remains the most watched episode of a TV series in the USA with 121 million viewers. It’s now Goodbye, Farewell and Amen from me as I have now finished my ministry at the Spire Church in Farnham. 

What those words mean are simply God be with you, travel well, and may it be so; and that couldn’t be a more appropriate message for the end of a ministry.

There have been many good things. The Methodist and United Reformed Churches joining together was a great opportunity which has shown that together we are greater than the sum of the parts. 

We did this not for our own edification, but for the benefit of the whole community. Since 2005 we have been on a journey transforming ourselves from an old-fashioned kind of church into a seven days a week community hub, for the benefit of the whole community. 

Farnham is very much an artistic town and a musical town, and there is much more that we can do in those areas for the benefit of the whole community.

We do this for no other reason than that God is love, and we want everyone to know that they are loved and valued by God. Sometimes we get something wrong, and I apologise if that’s happened to you. Something I’ve come to learn is that we all have our frailties and brokenness. The point is not that God loves us despite our frailties and brokenness, but that God loves us because of who we are, and not through any effort on our part.

It has been a pleasure to minister among you since 2005. I thank you all, and wish you well in the future.