Isla Boreham was well supported by her clan when baptised in St Andrew's Church on a beautiful summer morning. Afterwards all supporters posed outside the porch.
Kyan Walker was baptised during Café Church in the Bailey Hall. The video camera let everyone have a closeup view on the big screen, and afterwards all gathered on the Church Rooms steps for a clan photo.
Firstly, I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome you've given me. Training as an LLM (Licensed Lay Minister which is what Readers are now known as) has taken me into many Churches, and the friendly way I've been received here has been wonderful. It's always a bit scary starting at somewhere new but a warm welcome makes it so much easier.
I was trained as an LLM at Church House and Sarum College in Salisbury on a three year course. Until recently, I was being trained by Rev Deb Smith at All Saints (and Rev Betty Port at St.Edmunds) having been placed there following the retirement of Canon Richard Franklin of Holy Trinity at Easter 2016. I had been a member of Holy Trinity Church since I moved to Weymouth from Devon back in 2006. Before that, I was a member of a small Baptist Church just outside Exeter for many years, where amongst everything else I was a Deacon and Elder and also used to do some lay preaching.
I always had in mind when I came to live in Weymouth that God had moved me here for a purpose. Little did I think that it would be to train as a Church of England Minister! However, “God moves in mysterious ways....”, so despite like Jonah running away from His calling into this vocation, I was picked up by the scruff of my neck, turned around and made to see what it was that God had placed me in Weymouth for. Since that day, I can honestly say that many doors have been opened, whilst some which I thought looked good were firmly shut to me.
I enjoy photography, bird watching, driving (especially to visit family, friends and National Trust properties) and most things aviation related – amongst other jobs in the past I had my own printing business. I'm married to Fliss, have a son and a daughter and two grandchildren from my first marriage and three step-sons and a step-daughter and four step-grandchildren – all of whom conspire to keep me busy one way or another with the usual family things.
It is wonderful to realise that God’s will for me continues to be confirmed by others. In one sense I still feel slightly numb and full of ‘what ifs’. However, when I started my training, I was, and still am, very convinced that God doesn’t call people to vocations and situations that fit their skills and talents - rather that God gives people those talents and skills they need for the purpose to which they’ve been called.
He is a trustee of the Lantern, which is based by the railway station, with a charity shop at Chaplehay. They give practical support. He is also Mayor's Chaplain, which is why he will disappear from the team on Remembrance Sunday. Philip loves being Padre to the Sea Cadets, where his sense of fun is much appreciated. At his licensing they were part of his formal welcome. Our thanks and encouragement to Philip for fulfilling these important roles, and of course it's important that we give him the space to do so.
Congratulations to the happy couple who enjoyed a meaningful homely wedding celebration, with some extraordinary singing skills and guitar playing.
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