Stephen Tucker writes ….
On October 11th Jan Rushton will be celebrating and preaching at the 10.30am Eucharist. On that day we will be giving thanks for God’s grace in twenty years of ministry since she was ordained priest in 1995 as curate of St Mary’s Harrow. She moved from there to St Mary’s Putney, and then to Wolvercote and Summertown in Oxford, whence she came to us in her retirement, though given what she generously does for us, ‘retired’ might not be quite the right word. We are deeply grateful for her contribution to the life of this parish and celebrate with her as she passes this milestone and heads for the next.
Of this milestone Jan writes….
On the 1st of October it will be twenty years since I was ordained priest, a wonderful privilege to be called to walk alongside everyone, sharing in spiritual journeys, shaping a community where we may come to know and experience the love of God, and grow in the likeness of Christ. And I want to thank you so much for your warm welcome into the Christian community here in Hampstead, and our vicar, Father Stephen, for inviting me to share in his ministry here among you – and for his own stretching of my thinking! Stephen has very kindly invited me to celebrate my anniversary with you on Sunday 11th October, which Andrew Penny is graciously sharing with me, as we also celebrate his 60th birthday!
As you read this article I am walking the last 100 kilometres of the Camino to Santiago de Compostela with my sister and her husband, also a retired priest, and a small group. As I write I am somewhat anxious about my feet and my footwear, but I’m sure it will be a great experience – as our curate Diana tells me! Diana has beaten me to it walking the beginning of the Camino at the beginning of September! Once again, it’s lovely for me to be part of such a talented, committed and hardworking congregation here in Hampstead! Thank you.
I look forward to seeing you on the 11th!
A Celebration
Jan Rushton