Aquitaine Chaplaincy Celebration at Pentecost
What better occasion for a chaplaincy day – Pentecost! In such a large and diverse chaplaincy like Aquitaine, it is good to come together to celebrate our life and witness in this part of France and also to say ‘Goodbye’ to Tony and Ingrid Lomas and thanking them for their ministry amongst us.
At 11am 146 of us packed into L’église Saint Martin, Monbazillac for our Communion service. It began with Archdeacon Peter swearing in our chaplaincy wardens – Tina Marshall-Cottham serving another term and Tim Heathfield, newly elected. We also gave thanks for David Albrecht for his past service.
Preaching on the passage from Acts 2: 1-21, Tony reminded us that Pentecost is the birthday of the church worldwide. He also thanked everyone for sharing together in ministry over the past eight years.
We then went to the salle polyvalente for refreshments and to claim our tables for our picnic lunches. Many of us have met across the chaplaincy on zoom meetings and, even though you feel you have got to know someone, you can still get a surprise seeing them ‘in the flesh’!! For those of us ministering across the centres, it was a good opportunity to renew fellowship with one another.
Before lunch, we presented Tony and Ingrid with various gifts including a photo album which had very skilfully been produced as a reminder for them of their ministry in Aquitaine. We then enjoyed our picnics. Some people had brought extra and plates of delicious food were shared around.
Following lunch there was an opportunity to go for a guided walk (although heavy rain intervened!), to meet new people or deepen friendships. Our thanks to the churches who had put together displays to tell us something of their life and ministry and guide our prayers for them. Dave Lee (Dondas) had an interesting stand which featured the ECHO Prayer App. Advertised as a means of being able to pray without ceasing. Dave was keen to explore its potential benefit for the prayer life of the chaplaincy.
At 3.30pm we worshipped more informally in the salle where David (Marshall), Tina and Tim led us. The music was co-ordinated by Phil Carr (Limeuil) who invited musicians from different centres to lead us in a song of worship. Following the opening liturgy we sang ‘Sing Allelulia to the Lord’ and ‘King of Kings, Majesty’. A short burst of spontaneous praise took us into Bordeaux occupying the stage to lead us in “Longing for Light” before ‘In Christ Alone’ by Doudrac.
David had chosen Acts 4:21-31, read by Tina, after which he gave a brief homily reminding us of the Holy Spirit’s availability and constant help and that we are given the Spirit that we might serve the Lord and witness to His love and Kingdom. He said he was wishing that the ‘room would be shaken’ every time we prayed! Dave Wilton’s song ‘Holy Spirit’ put the invitation to the Spirit into music.
A farewell litany for Tony was led by Tina and Tim and followed by the Bordeaux young people registering their thanks for his ministry in a song of blessing. After a final prayer, Rebecca and Dave (St Nat’s) led us in another beautiful song of blessing before Tony sent us on our way for his final time.
With Tony’s retirement, we now move into a time of vacancy. Our special focus of prayer is for Tina and Tim, our chaplaincy wardens who are ‘in charge’ during the vacancy. We ended formally at 4.30pm and then had even more time to chat together and, of course, to do all the clearing up and chair stacking! Praise the Lord for a wonderful day together! Angela Marshall
More photos can be found on the church’s website here.