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As we come to the close of some 22 years serving at St. John’s our overwhelming feeling is thankfulness. Words seem inadequate. Michele and I are deeply thankful to God for giving us this privilege – to serve Jesus amongst you and with you.

It is impossible to recount or even to remember all the moments of joy and yes, tenderness, care and love that we have experienced. And this has been for us a demonstration of God’s grace that abides amongst you.

One of our greatest joys has been to see so many children of St. John’s grow up and mature in the faith. We have been witnesses of God’s work in and amongst you, as you have heard the gospel and seen it at work in your parents, as you have attended Kid’s Church, City Youth and then joined our congregations, eager to serve now as youth and children’s leaders, in music and AV ministries, welcoming ministries among others, and some to Parish Council. We rejoice that those whom God has chosen for ministries of the word have served as Ministry Training Apprentices and are now in Moore College or serving as ministers of the Gospel in other churches.

City Youth are just back from a weekend away with half a dozen youth joining for the weekend as guests, financed by the generosity of our congregations. What joy this brings to our hearts.

We have been witnesses to the power of God’s word, bringing many from darkness to light, from every human religion and none, to recognise the sovereign grace of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ of God. Praise God.

For me, Bruce, I have had the privilege of serving with so many student ministers, with our MTS trainees, and above all with the ministry team, past and present, both pastoral and administrative. How I will miss our Monday morning Bible Study, sharing and prayers together. I draft this with tears.

Soon you will have a new rector and senior minister appointed. He will bring a fresh vision and energy to St. John’s. It is God’s timing and God’s appointment. Please give him time to find his feet. This precious fellowship that we call St. John’s, is deeply complex. He will need time to develop relationships with so many people, to understand the different cultures and language groups, and the history that has shaped our ministries. This is not something that can be done in a month or even a year. You will need to grow together.

In the meantime, thank you for loving and assisting the staff team as they do their best to serve Jesus amongst you in this very exciting transition. I can testify to their hard work, sometimes to the point of being overwhelmed, and their earnest desire to see the church grow in number and in maturity. Likewise your wardens work particularly hard in their difficult and time consuming work of oversight.

Please also pray for the Persian Congregation, as you will be aware that Michael Safari is about to retire after a very long and fruitful ministry. I particularly honour him, along with Ken Tang, as my senior ministry partners over more than two decades. Indeed, they were at St. John’s before I arrived. Likewise, I honour my wife Michele who has laboured at my side all this time, including through some of the most difficult early years.

I commend you to God’s grace, confident of this, that the God who has begun a good work amongst you will bring it to completion on that day.

In the name of our Saviour,
Bruce Morrison
Senior Minister