In the Methodist Church, ministers/presbyters are initially stationed for five years, perhaps to give the congregations opportunity to get rid of us if they don’t like our weird ways, or perhaps it’s the other way round! I’ve been here 12 years, serving Bishopstoke and Colden Common churches, and more recently Chandler’s Ford. I haven’t wanted to move on – it has been a real blessing to be here.

After my initial 5 years I was invited to stay by the Circuit, which enabled me to fulfil my 6 year term as Southampton District Synod Secretary. But then when the Circuit extension was due to finish I needed to consider whether to seek a further extension or whether to move on to another Circuit.

To help make the decision I went on a Methodist retreat. Now, you may think me odd – many do – but I have on occasion received a vision from God to indicate His will (Peter in Acts 10:10 received a vision). In my vision I found myself standing alongside Jesus and needing to cross a river from the Eastleigh Circuit to the other side; so I laboriously laid stepping stones to get across the river, while Jesus was walking on the water alongside me … well, he would, wouldn’t he? But half way across the river I stopped and said: “I don’t want to go to a new place”. Jesus replied in the usual amused fashion He tends to use with me: “But you don’t have to go. Who’s pushing you? I’m not. Go back and stay there if that’s what you want.” What a relief that felt.

So I returned to the Eastleigh river bank with Jesus still alongside and we started rebuilding there together, using the stepping stones as building blocks. This wonderful vision was an affirmation that moving on, even though I am an itinerant presbyter, was not the right thing for me at that time.

So when we came to decide about a year ago where to live in our retirement, it again was a hard decision; to stay here with our much loved friends, or to go back home to our bungalow in Mortimer. It took many months of heart-searching. But when we finally decided to return home, it felt right. Our sons were delighted; they will be only 10 and 6 miles away from us.

So we are going home. I hope to find something useful to do eventually, when I have made our home the way we want it and had a period of baking cakes and pies. I would like to be involved in leading retreats, and perhaps be a volunteer for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, something I used to do when the boys were at school. I will lead Services in my new Circuit some time after Christmas when I have had a rest, and hope to be invited back here to preach when enough time has passed by.

I cannot finish without giving you a bible verse. “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established” (Proverbs 19: 21).

Thank you for making my Christian journey amongst you so precious. Continue to love one another.