The interview went well: I got the job!
From January, I will become the Vicar for the Vale Benefice, continuing to live and work here, but taking on the senior vicar role, with a new responsibility for leadership and oversight. This will be a gradual transition, as one of the first things that I will need to do is work toward appointing a new Associate Vicar so that we can go back up to having two vicars.
Next year will be a time for us as a group of four churches to reflect on how God is calling us to serve our local congregations and community. We feel that we are here to live lives of loving God and loving our neighbours, and we will take time to work out what this might look like over the coming weeks, months and years.
With every new year comes another 12 months of challenges and opportunities, setbacks and stand-out moments, beginnings and endings. For me, it feels like I am about to switch tracks and begin a new route through a familiar landscape. I am looking forward to this new adventure!
Whatever 2025 has in store for us, my prayer is that we can all find ways to support and care for those around us, learn how to live together even when we disagree, practice giving and receiving forgiveness, and find ways to help more than we harm.
God bless,
Alec
