Article index	October 2007
	Seeds of promise

I’ve been keeping up with the Magazine over the past few months, and enjoyed reading Mary and Mike’s articles looking ahead to our arrival. Well now we’ve arrived, and the promised welcome was very warm and much enjoyed - thank you!

 The service on 1st September did not just mark a new beginning for us. Mike Fox was also formally designated ‘Associate Minister’ - very fittingly after his ministry during the interregnum. And at the same time the Ministry Team was formally mandated - Phil Harper, Jackie Morgans and Robert Lintern joining Mike and myself for this, working with Annie and David our churchwardens. They have all  worked very hard to keep the worship and life of our churches vibrant during the past months - and thanks also go to Revd Penny Millichamp and Revd Mary Gilbert for all that they have given so generously during this time.

 So now we are in a time of new beginnings. Maybe that doesn’t sound like an Autumn sort of theme - but perhaps it could be…

 This month at St. Nicholas we celebrate Harvest, with special services on October 7th at 9.30am and 11.15am, and a Harvest Songs of Praise at 6.30pm. (St. Peter’s Harvest has already been.) This week we watched  the barley in the field behind the Vicarage being harvested - and soon, I expect, the field will be ploughed and sown again. And in churches too, we can only harvest what has already been sown, and grown. Each new ministry is grafted onto what is already growing - and our harvests often owe much to those who have gone before. Here in Codsall, it has been good to see how much is already growing in the life of our churches -and all those already contributing to this in different ways.

 I expect you’ve also begun to notice the first Autumn seeds - conkers not yet fully ready for the fray, sycamore helicopters and so on. In each of these seeds there is a great potential - just think of the size of a horse chestnut tree, and remember what Jesus said about mustard seeds and growth. I see lots and lots of potential for future growth and development in our churches, and in what we offer to this community. It will take time to grow and develop, like the seeds, but if we nurture these growing things carefully, with God’s help, and allow the life-giving Spirit to work, we will also see a rich harvest.

 So I look forward to all that is to come. And Sarah and I look forward also to meeting you and getting to know you. We are having an ‘Open House’ on Sat 6th October, from 10am - 12.30pm in The Vicarage. Do pop in for a cup of coffee & a piece of cake; we’d love to see you.

 Blessings,

SIMON WITCOMBE