A Farewell Letter

 To All our Dear Friends at St. Helen’s   

Jos and I cannot thank you enough for our time of being a part of the faith community where God planted you 111 years ago.  You always show a great deal of loving care to everyone in our community and newcomers are welcomed with open arms.  

St. Helen’s is a virtual garden of humanity with a rich and wide variety of people who share in a common goal to worship and serve our Lord.  As we say goodbye after a little more than seven years ministering to you and with you, we have a great deal to reflect upon in the joys of all the celebrations as well as the sorrows of saying goodbye to those who passed from this life.  Although, having been the priest and rector of the parish, and having to sever ties, we will still be living in the area.  This means we are likely to cross paths in the day-to-day activities of living in Surrey.   

We thank you for the wonderful send-off you gave us with so many people at the final service on September 26th, and the unexpected gift of taking a coastal cruise to Alaska.  When the time comes, we will thoroughly enjoy it.  

In addition, there were the many cards and good wishes. Please be assured of our prayers for St. Helen’s as you move into this time of reflection on where God is leading the church.  You will be well led during the interim ministry which will bring you to deeper understandings of what God wants you to be.  In all that you will be led to a new Rector for the parish.  I pray that you will support the new rector as you supported me.   

May the Holy One bless you all in every way to fulfill the mission and ministry of St. Helen’s.  

With love and affection, peace, joy, and well-being  

Steve and Jos Laskey