Farewells in Fulham

To St Matthew's, Fulham, this morning to worship with a congregation saying farewell to a man who has served them since 1959!

Rev Gary Piper has had a remarkable ministry in Sands End, Fulham, the area in which he lived as a boy: Fifty four years ago he joined St Matthew's as a boy, and today he retired as Vicar. It isn't a unique story, but the only other person I know to have had such an unbroken association with one church - worshipping as a boy and going on to serve as Rector - is Rev John Stott of All Souls, Langham Place. The Anglican system works against his happening - you are 'sent' by your church to serve elsewhere in the church / world.

Gary's love of football, including his Chaplaincy of Fulham FC - were reflected in the music being played before the service. Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart...
But that was also the theme of Gary's final sermon - it's not about one man (i.e. Gary) leaving, but about The Man Jesus Christ who remains present with St Matthew's by his Spirit to lead them and build his kingdom through and among them.

The service was a mixture of joy and sadness - joy expressed in the regular laughter and the worship (a spontaneous round of applause during the hymn 'In Christ Alone' as we sang about the resurrection!), and sadness as the church prayed for the next phase of Gary and Norma's ministry, and of the ministry of St Matthew's.

The highlight of the service was when a man of 87yrs old stood at the front of church and renewed his baptism vows. He had first made them when he came to faith at the age of 40, but he spoke movingly about having held back some of his life from God, but now felt that he wanted to commit himself afresh to God to serve him with the rest of his life.
Just goes to show that you may retire from paid ministry, but never from serving God with your life - happy 'retirement' to Gary and Norma!