A handful of wheat 5000 years old, was found

                                 In the tomb of one of the kings of ancient Egypt.

                                             Someone planted the grains

                                              and to the amazement of all,

                                                 the grains came to life.

 Our words can be like seeds. When they do so, they are full of life and energy. And they can

Remain in seed form for centuries until they are sown in a receptive, fertile heart. I used to think that the words of the scriptures were dead and dry. I now know they are full of energy and life. But it was my heart that was stony and dead, so how could anything grow there ? That is true for all of us.

Caroline and I have been living our life in Monks Risborough for nearly 13 years. You have sown many seeds in our hearts, and hopefully we might have sown a few in yours. Our paths will now diverge, but each one of us will take those seeds with us on whatever path we find ourselves. Some

Will germinate very quickly while others will lie latent for years. Others will not germinate at all – in our lifetime.And it may take 5000 years before the seeds that we have sown have any effect. We don’t have to worry about that, because that is in the hands of God. All we can do is the sowing, and let God do the rest.

So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for the last 13 years. You are a community with a real sense of belonging.Whoever comes to succeed me will be truly blessed to be working amongst such a remarkable group of people.

‘ Retirement ‘ calls us. There are many things we hope to do – to keep bees again; to revive playing the piano; and above all there will always be an involvement with people. Caroline will continue with her arty and try to bring it into the community. When I started off as a vicar, we spent seven years in Cowley, so we will be returning to within a few miles.

                                                Our new address will be

                         Pettit’s House, The Green, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7NT

                            And we hope you will keep in touch. It is not so far away.

 

                                Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,

                                Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;

                                Love lives again, that with the dead has been;

                                Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.

 

A very Happy Easter to you all

 From your friend – and for the last time – your vicar

                                                                                      Andrew