Staff and pupils from Woolpit School came to St Mary’s for a Harvest Service on 4th October 2024. Over 80 parents and friends attended the service. Each class in the school played a part either in singing, reading their poems or showing their art work. All of it a wonderful testament to God’s generous gifts in creation

Reverend Ruth Farrell officially retired as rector of the Woolpit and Drinkstone Benefice on July 20 following many years in her role. 

Retirement parties and gifts were arranged to thank her for all she has done for her congregations since she was made rector in 2007. 

And on August 5, Revd Ruth was gifted a special and prestigious certificate of Long and Exemplary Dedicated Service.

The certificate, which came as a complete surprise to the reverend and is rarely handed out, was from the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich as an “acknowledgement of her faithful service to the diocese and benefice”.

The certificate reads: “In thanksgiving for many years of dedicated service to the life of the Church of England in Suffolk.” 

It is signed by Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. 

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” it reads.

Rev. Ruth’s Ramblings July 2024     

A friend of mine recently recommended that I down load onto my smart phone a free App called ‘Merlin Bird ID’ by The Cornell Lab.

It is a brilliantly clever piece of software that allows you to record the bird song you are hearing and then identifies the birds that are calling. I’ve never been good at bird song. I might, if I am lucky, recognise a black bird and a robin and sometimes get the great tit call right but generally it is just a melange of calls to me. Now, I easily identify which birds are singing and I realise I have far more wrens in the garden that I expected, and even have an elusive song thrush.

I really enjoy my garden birds and now I am getting more pleasure by having confidence that the song I am hearing is genuinely from the bird I am watching.

There is an element of making explicit, what was previously implicit. The sound I am hearing is from a wren, even though I might not see it from one week to the next. I know it is there.

Perhaps that is what I hope my ministry over the past 18 years has been about, at least in part. I have tried to make both the love and the action of God explicit in the lives of our community.

I believe that God is always present in our lives but too often we fail to notice how he is working in and around us. Like bird song, we are so accustomed to his touch on our lives, that it becomes just part of the background of our being. Yet, when we stop and notice, we are conscious that he has held us through the difficult moments of our lives, put the right person along side us at the challenging times and given someone the word we needed to hear when we have needed encouragement.

I hope and pray that I have helped people to notice that it is God there holding each of us in love and guiding us in our life’s journey.

As I move away, to start the next part of my life’s adventure, God remains here with you – before and behind. His love for each of you and for all that you do doesn’t change – it is just that it will be someone else, in the future, helping you to listen to his voice and to feel his touch.

I have loved my 18 years of being part of the community, of sharing in joyous times and being there for the hard ones too. I want to thank you all for helping me also to experience the presence of God through your friendship and care. I can’t thank you all enough for your warm best wishes for my future, your cards and gifts and most of all for the unconditional support and care I have received from you all in this most wonderful of communities.

I will continue to hold you in prayer, remember my time in Woolpit and Drinkstone with happiness, and be ready to welcome you when you turn up on my doorstep in Leiston wanting coffee.

May God bless you and keep you.

May he make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

May he lift up his countenance upon you

And give you peace.

Now and always.