That was a very full day, and a good one.

Much food was consumed at the barbecue (and the rain held off)

Much fun was had decorating candles for those who we were valedicting

Much formation was celebrated as we said farewell (-ish) to another cohort of MiTs

Much faith was expressed, in God, in each other, and in the churches/communities we serve

I am tired now (as I am sure are my colleagues) - good tired, and the kind of tired that knows it was well worthwhile.

This week we've been getting ready for the vicar school valedictory service, which takes place tomorrow afternoon.  'In my day' as the saying goes, it was on a Tuesday evening, because most of us were either based in Manchester or would be staying over.  The book I chose to buy (an inclusive language NIV at a time when such a thing was fairly new and exciting) is decidedly tatty 21 years on, and although it rarely gets used nowadays, sits on my desk at home.

This week, as I've been taking time to recall those with whom I trained, and who were in the years above/below me, and to wonder where they are now.  It was sobering to discover, with a bit of online searching, that, of my cohort, I am the last person still in active Baptist ministry... there were six of us valedicted that year, three have now retired, two are no longer in accredited Baptist ministry, and me.  I think that of the two no longer in ministry, one made it to 20 years , and the other to around 15, so between us it's the greater part of 120 years service, which is no small thing... certainly several thousand sermons, as well as hundred of Deacons and Church meetings.

Tomorrow we will celebrate another cohort, women and men who have responded to God's call, have tested that time and again, and who are still committed to serving among these crazy people called Baptists.  I give thanks for A, D, G, N and S with whom I was valedicted, and pray for B, C, C, J, J, K, P, P and S who we will valedict tomorrow.         

On Sunday evening, we hosted a General Election hustings on behalf of Churches Together in Railway Town.  It was good event with some level of representation for seven of the eight candidates, and a written statement from the eighth who was unable to attend or find a deputy.  It was was all pretty good natured, and we even explored some of the complex and divisive topics without major tensions.

I was proud of our little church for the hosting, proud of the wider churches for participating, grateful to the candidates/representatives for engaging, pleased that members of the local community came to listen.

Next stop election day when we are a polling station and have been given the green light to hold our weekly coffee morning provided the two are kept separate.

Much prayer needed between this and then as the whole political landscape is, in my opinion, decidedly worrying.