“Too often before an idea is even seriously considered, it is commonly discounted. The proponents of visionary policies are routinely dismissed, in fact. The reason is clear: what the seekers seek is some kind of change. What we’re doing isn’t working, they warn us. Change is not much acceptable to the powers that be, the powers that profit from life skewed & kept soundly suppressed.
Those whose degree of control or public influence depends on old ideas cringe at the very thought of debating new ways of doing things. Those who make their livings off money made by such systems resist change with all their might. Ideas are disregarded en masse, not because anyone bothers to prove them unworkable, but because no one considers them at all. You want to raise the minimum wage? Impossible. You want to pay women & men the same amount of money for doing the same job? A ridiculous idea! You want to reduce the hold of the military-industrial complex on the soul of the nation? Maddening! You want “patriotism” to mean something more than willingness to go to war? Shameful. You want your religion to rethink the groundless theology that sustains the male priesthood? Heretical!
In biblical times, prophets were often run out of town. In today’s society, they are usually defined as “eccentric” or “unrealistic.” Or, worse, “quaint” throwbacks to another age, this era’s odd person out, a socialist, a communist, a feminist-a label. Most, at least here in the West aren’t persecuted; they aren’t jailed anymore; they aren’t executed or shunned. They are simply ignored. Marginalization is a dangerous thing because it appears to consider a panoply of new ideas but doesn’t really. It simply finds them faulty before finding them debatable, ideas not to be addressed at all. A total waste of time.So the world grinds on, no better than before, more deeply deficient than ever. Those whose hearts tilt tenderly towards things become viewed as piteously out of touch, charming perhaps but irritating, sincere but useless.” 
                                                                                                                           “The Time is Now” Sr Joan Chittister OSB
 
At our Parish Forum in February 2018, I raised with the Parish my need for administrative help, & through the Vision Group & prayer & discussions at our Parish Forum’s since then, together with an increased workload at the Abbey through my work on the Council & as a Trustee, the need has been proven. The amalgamation of our three local Churches brings an urgency, & after discussions with the Vision Group, the Chairs of Finance for each Church, Fr Edgar, & Julia Brooke (the Trust Delegate for the Parishes) we have begun the process towards appointing a Parish Administrator to a temporary post for 6 months, with the possibility of the role becoming permanent. We have advertised on the Abbey website with a closing date of 4th Nov, interviews in mid-November, & with the appointee in place by early January 2020.
If you know anyone in the locality who may be interested in applying for the position, please let me know very soon. We envisage they will work Tues/Wed/Thurs each week, possibly 15/16 hours per week with a 9.30am start and early finish to suit those who may have young children of school age. A job description, person specification & salary details are available on the website.
With Teresa Briggs continuing work on Monday & Friday mornings, we will have cover in the Parish Office each weekday & Kathryn Lynam’s work on completing our accounts from St John’s Easingwold will continue.
I appreciate that with the introduction of the new arrangements in the local Parishes being announced & implemented in the holiday period, many of you will be perhaps only partially aware of the meetings, timescale & discussions which have taken place since the 7th April 2019 when Fr Gabriel wrote to parishioners at Our Lady & the Holy Angels in Gilling to explain Fr Matthew’s failing health & the need to look at alternative pastoral provision there. A brief summary of the preliminary work we have carried out so far is available at the back of Church, detailing the membership of a Coordinating Group, consisting of 2 parishioners from each Church, who will work together with Fr Edgar & myself, to tackle immediate & short term issues in the process of amalgamation, until we are in a position to constitute a Parish Pastoral Council.                                                                                                            
​                                                                                                                                    With my love & prayers Fr Bede.