Sentimental Farewells

Hi all. The following blog, I warn you, is sentimental. I am a few days away from my new start in Chorleywood (when this blog really begins, I suppose) and I wanted to post my goodbye to Granborough Church on here. The following is the post that I submitted to the editor of the Pew News which goes around once a month. While it is directed toward members of the Granborough Church Community (A few of whom may stumble across this blog from time to time) it is also relevant to others who read this blog, such as my very good friend Steve as well as my family.

So, here goes. See you on the otherside!

Farewell (for now)

Hi everyone, as some of you will be aware I am off to Chorleywood to work as an intern at Christchurch on the Common for a year. While there I will be assisting the youth and children’s work team in running their numerous clubs and activities as well as assisting in daily church life. It is all part of the early steps on the ladder to becoming a vicar as the Diocesan Director of Ordination wanted me to get a wider experience of church life (i.e. somewhere not as rural as Granborough – with different challenges etc) before putting me forward to selection.

As I write this note I am sitting in a half packed up room as I will be moving into my new house as of the 5^th September. I have lived in Granborough all of my life (25 years this November) and I have never left home – having never attended university. This little church has been the backbone of my spiritual life since I was 7 years old and I am going to miss it. I have made so many friends in Granborough, I have watched people come and go, vicars change and the church has continued to grow. So many people within the church and the community have been an influence on my life both spiritually and personally, I have grown my business from the community and been given the confidence and encouragement to achieve my goals. I have worked my way through Sunday School and Crusaders, been a member of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts as well as leading some of those groups too.

I just wanted to drop a little message into the Pew News to say Thank You to you all for your kindness, your love and your ongoing support. Granborough truly is a church that displays the love and acceptance of the family of God to a better extent than I have ever experienced elsewhere. It really is one of the warmest church anywhere (and not just because of the amazing roaring heaters) – I will do my best to pop in when I can over the next year or so but until then you will remain in my thoughts and my prayers.

Granborough, God Bless, I will miss you.

With Love

Sam Cross