It’s time to say Goodbye…

Our Love and Prayers are with her, and her husband Kevin as they move on to the next chapter in their lives. You will both be truly missed.

              

In Thanksgiving for the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Green in the Parish Church of the Epiphany from 2020 to 2025.

In the Installation service for a new incumbent found in the Book of Common Prayer these words are part of the preamble:

“In the same way, the Lord commanded, that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14 ) “But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you in the Lord and admonish you, esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace with one another.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.)

Also from that Installation service the presiding minister is instructed to read:
“It is the duty of the people to afford to their Minister at all times all needful help and encouragement in his or her work, and to give of their substance to that support; so that, being free from worldly anxieties your Minister may be devoted wholly to the preaching of God’s word and the ministration of the sacraments. Therefore I charge and exhort you, members and Churchwardens of this Parish, to pray continually for this your Minister who is set over you in the Lord, and to help in all duties of this holy calling. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”

During a service of New Ministry the members of this Parish family and the Rev. Elizabeth Green officially began a relationship making promises to one another to follow God’s leading as the ministry of the Parish continued. Over the past 5 years the Rev. Elizabeth Green has done her best to fulfil the requirements of the office of Incumbent entrusted to her and we here offer thanksgiving to God for the blessings she brought to this parish. Sometimes those blessings came and required changes in the way the congregation has done things and at other times those blessings came alongside more traditional activities. During the difficulties faced during the pandemic the worship services were conducted on a regular basis with care and the assistance of Layreaders, Organist, Choir Members under the direction of your Incumbent. Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms, alongside Home Communion services when permitted were managed faithfully under the restrictions imposed in order to provide as safe an environment as possible during those difficult years. As worship once again returned to the public spaces adaptation was again needed so that we weren’t sent into crisis again.

The next three years of the Rev. Elizabeth’s incumbency included some innovative attempts to widen the circle of those who would find a spiritual home in this congregation in downtown Sudbury. There have been some difficulties faced, some failures experienced, but some tremendous successes achieved. God is to be praised for how the ministry of your incumbent has been used to help members of this city find their way to Christ. There is much more to be said in regards to her time among us, some memories which bring rejoicing and some which bring tears, but all will be used by God for God’s glory and the benefit of God’s people.

As her term has come to a close our prayers and thanksgivings go with her. May the Lord bless her and keep her. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon her and be gracious to her. May the Lord make His face to shine upon her and give her peace.