All Change

Having just said farewell to Lee and Mary Barnes, as they left for the Diocese of Liverpool in July, and now preparing to welcome (Revds) John and Alice Monaghan as they join us in June 2013, it’s sadly now time for the Abbey to bid farewell to Paul Tilley as he leaves us for the University of Bristol at the October half-term.

Paul is about to take a new direction in life as he studies full-time for an M.A. in Educational Psychology and then undertakes a paid Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. This is really great news for Paul and it will be sad to see him go after he’s become such an important part of us over the last three years; but after a pretty rough 2011/12 I’m pleased for Paul that his life and learning is being refreshed and that he faces new challenges and opportunities in Bristol.

Pipeline, Trax, and the Friday Night Thing will be losing a good teacher and friend at half term and we will say goodbye to Paul at our 4pm service on October 21^st.

What next for our Youth department at the Abbey? Well, myself and the PCC have decided not to rush to answer that question but to listen to the needs and insights of the leadership teams for both Abbey youth and children's departments. We’ll also want to look at our 2013/2014 budgets and plan wisely and sustainably before we make staff appointments, if any.

Our first task is volunteer personnel. Sarah McGrory continues with us on placement during her final year studying for a B.A. in youth and community work. Sarah will continue to oversee Trax (11-14) and SiB (at Malmesbury School) and serve on the leadership of Malmesbury Abbey Skate 2013 with myself. We are immediately looking to recruit, from our congregations, volunteers with a passion for God and young people to serve as leaders and assistants for Pipeline and the Friday Night Thing, who will be supported and trained by myself and the youth leadership. Initially we’re asking people to commit from early-November through to next summer and particularly asking mature Christians with teaching experience to step forward. But we also are looking for people, who want to grow in a new area of ministry, who love young people and who are considerably cooler than the vicar, to commit to serving once or twice a month. Our Youth department is a great place to grow in your own faith, to help shape the lives of young people, and to go insane.

Please e-mail neill@malmesburyabbey.com to explore this, and pray for Paul, Eloise, Isaac & Reuben as an exciting new chapter begins in Bristol.