One Big Thank You

Some months ago, we got a lovely phone call from Carol Anne, one of the committee of Fundays, an activity we attend with our daughter Lucy once a month. Fundays was established about 12 years ago now,  to support children with complex needs, and their siblings.

It’s an incredible event with a wonderful array of activities, crafts, snacks, and the most wonderful volunteers who make it happen month by month throughout the year.

The committee wanted to nominate the magnificent Nadine McHeron for a ‘One Big Thank You’ on the One Show, which airs on BBC 1 every weekday at 7pm. They wondered if we might do a little interview about the difference this group and Nadine have made to our lives, and it was an absolute honour and pleasure for us to be involved.

We had to go to another committee member’s house to be filmed, as all of this was being organised without Nadine being aware. The film crew came to film everyone having a great afternoon at Fundays, and the presenter rehearsed all the children and parents about what to do when Nadine came into the room. She was outside doing an interview for what she thought was a programme about community activities in Northern Ireland. When she came into the room and the presenter interrupted her conversation to say this wasn’t really what was happening, that was our cue! We all jumped up and some incredible volunteers unfurled the banner and told her we wanted to give her One Big Thank You.

It was a beautiful moment sparkled with magic dust, because Nadine had no idea it was happening. As someone who has constantly identified needs and quietly organised and mobilised people to serve those needs, it took her breath away to be honoured and recognised in this special way. She had no idea that everyone appreciated this activity in the way they did, and how it had impacted literally hundreds of families over the past 12 years. What a woman!

Tonight is the Easter General Vestry in our church. It’s the annual business meeting of the church. I, as rector, will present a report about some of the activities of the past year and reflect upon it. The treasurer will give a financial report. A new Select Vestry, or body of church trustees, will be appointed to oversee important decisions about furniture, fabric and finance. This committee will be democratically elected by the people.

Other important roles will be appointed, like those who serve as church wardens and parochial nominators, who oversee the appointment of clergy in the event of a vacancy. Others will be elected to represent the church at Diocesan Synod, a big gathering which sets the vision for the church as a whole in this area.

Sometimes, it’s important in this blog to draw the curtain back and let people see a bit behind the scenes. It might sound quite mundane to talk about things like governance, elections and safeguarding. It might not sound the most inspiring to delve into finances and decisions about property and repairs, but all of these are crucially important in the mission of the church.

We need to be transparent and accountable, and I see my address as being part of the process of recognising the many in church life who, like Nadine, are ordinary people doing stuff that is heroic and vital, yet often hidden. There are those who run organisations and groups, there are those who oversee finance and correspondence, there are those who oversee and coordinate repairs. There are those who make sandwiches and traybakes to cater for people on the saddest and most difficult occasion of their lives and those who serve those things. There are those who arrange flowers and cut the grass and unclog drains. There are those who visit and phone people who are housebound or going through tough times. There are people who teach Sunday school and try to pass on the faith to our teenagers in youth group. There are those who sing and play musical instruments and use these gifts to draw people into the presence of Almighty God, and there are those who undergird all of these activities with prayer from their homes or nursing homes, dedicating their day to lifting people up in prayer. To all of them, and to those who do things not listed here which are equally important, on all our behalf we say one big thank you.

Can I ask you to hold in your prayers the family and friends of Angela Moore, whose funeral will take place next Tuesday at 1pm in church.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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