I suppose there will be some amongst you who are still reeling from the news that Simon and I will be moving on to pastures new in the early summer. For those who haven’t yet heard: Simon is to be licensed as Interim Vicar of St James’ Church in Silsden, whilst I will be licensed at around the same time as Vicar of St Jude’s Wolverhampton.
If you missed my testimony on the day my new post was announced, I’ll briefly summarise it here: Helen and I were of the opinion that we wouldn’t consider moving until Cody finishes high school in three years’ time. We love it here and we are very settled. But God had other plans!
Although I was not looking through the clergy jobs pages, a parish profile was placed in my path which, having read it, seemed to be calling out to me. The bullet points under the heading: “What we’re looking for in our new vicar” felt very targeted – listing the gifts, skills, and passions that I think I have as a parish priest. Having prayed about it, Helen and I decided that I should apply, just in case it was God’s Will.
Before going for a two-day interview at the beginning of March, I had a man-to-man chat with Cody over a very spicy curry. I was sure that he would protest about having to move from the school and friends he loves. Instead, he told me that he knew what I was going to say before I asked him, and that we must be obedient to God. It was a powerful sign that God was perhaps preparing us all for a change.
On the morning of the interview, Helen and my mum sent me the same Bible passage; the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son. It seemed to me that God was asking me to be obedient, but – as with Abraham – He wouldn’t ask me to go through with it. That’s what I hoped at least. As I sat at home later, waiting for the call; I was both expecting and hoping that I hadn’t got the job. Of course, I had. It’s going to feel like a bereavement to us leaving these parishes, and I know that many of you kind people feel similarly about Simon and I moving on, but if there’s one message that’s central to the Easter story it’s this – life follows death.
When predicting his death, Jesus spoke these words to his disciples: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds” (John 12.26). Jesus was making the point that his death (and subsequent resurrection) was necessary for the fruitfulness of the gospel. Without it we would continue to be slaves to sin and destined for the grave. With it we find forgiveness and life in all its fulness. Within fifty days of the resurrection the number of “Christians” had grown from a couple of hundred to over three thousand!
God has always worked out his purposes through sacrifice, though never as supremely as through the cross and empty grave. Just as a seed must die before sprouting and producing a new fruit-bearing plant; so we must experience ‘deaths’ to become more fruitful. As we come to faith in Jesus we must die to self and be born again in Christ. Then later there are sacrifices and bereavements that are difficult but ultimately lead to us becoming more fruitful for the kingdom.
I am certain God has called me to this new post; and equally certain that He is calling a specific person to become the new vicar of Bradley. God’s ways are greater than our ways and I am sure that if we remain fast to his Word, then there is greater fruitfulness ahead for St Thomas’ Bradley, and for St Jude’s Wolverhampton, and for St James’ Silsden. I’m still experiencing a deep sense of bereavement – but with God, life always follows death. Ian