From left: Chalice assistant Suzanne Hopper, Revd. Eileen Tarren, Team Rector Revd. Geoff Short, Team Vicar Revd  Elizabeth Bland

A cool wind may have been blowing outside but the Revd. Eileen Tarren was given a warm welcome inside St Mary’s Magdalene’s Church, Trimdon Village, on Sunday when she was formally commissioned as an ordained member of the ministry team in the parish of the Upper Skerne. 

Eileen moved to Sedgefield on her recent ‘retirement’ as a full-time minister and has now received the Bishop’s permission to officiate in the diocese and will serve on a part-time voluntary basis in the parish of the Upper Skerne which includes the Trimdons, Fishburn, Sedgefield and Bishop Middleham.

The Revd. Geoff Short, Team Rector (third left), who formally welcomed Eileen (second left) to the parish, was assisted at Sunday’s service by the Team Vicar, the Revd  Elizabeth Bland (right) and chalice assistant Suzanne Hopper (left)

“Eileen brings with her a wealth of experience and strong pastoral gifts. She will be a most useful addition to our team,” said the Rector.

Music for the service was provided by MUSE with organist-guitarist Janet Deane. Readings were by Lesley Tate and John Burton and Intercessions were led by Alex Wainwright.

The offertory was donated to the Save the Children fund to assist with the emergency work in three southern African countries recently devastated by Cyclone Idai.

 

Article courtesy of Ron Eyley

 

Page added 26th March 2019