Dear colleagues and friends,
I write to let you know that, as of the week beginning 17th August 2025, I shall be returning to work. Thank you for your steadfast prayer and unstinting kindness over the past few months and thanks be to God for his grace. The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard famously said that while we live life ‘forwards,’ we only understand it by looking backwards; that has never been truer than in my recent experience. I see God’s generosity and love in the care I have received during some pretty trying times.
Before you all get in touch to bring me up to speed on the exciting things happening in your churches or to ask me to help sort out a pressing issue, please note that my return to work will initially be very part-time. The last four and a half months have really taken it out of me, and while the surgery was successful, I now face some life-changing complications.
As such I shall be working up to full-time ministry over about three months. Simon Cook has kindly agreed to work alongside me in the short term as a trusted colleague to lead on some of my workload. Equally, Ayanda, my PA, will be managing my diary in a pretty ruthless way. I shall also be trying to take some holiday time in as guilt-free a way as possible.
As I adapt to a new way of ministry, I am trying to learn from Jesus Christ. He was sometimes radically unavailable. He went off to lonely places to be with his Father. He was not always where the action and the clamour of busyness held sway. If Jesus could be bold enough to step away from the attractions of busyness, then I can try to be as well. So can we all.
I hope you will join me in continuing to pray for wholeness and healing, not only for individuals like me, but for the life of the Church. I trust that, like me, you shall pray for the flourishing of Christ’s Church here in Greater Manchester and Rossendale and that Jesus Christ will be known and trusted as our friend, Lord, and saviour. I look forward to seeing you all in person in due course!
Rachel