Farewell to David and Pixie

Sunday 6 July

The All-Parish service at Langar on Sunday was our opportunity to say ‘Thank you and farewell’ to the Reverends David and Pixie Rowe as they prepare to move on due to David’s enforced ill-health retirement.

Although their time with us has been short, they have both taught, moved and inspired us in equal measure. David’s final sermon was entitled ‘Be The Miracle’ and focused on the four men who went to such extraordinary lengths to bring their paralysed friend before Jesus (Mark 2:1-12), leaving us with message ‘Four men took their friend to Jesus – five went away rejoicing’.

Although the service was tinged with sadness, it was a joyous occasion – the choir sang a beautiful rendition of You Raise Me Up, David’s sermon was both challenging and inspiring and the taking of Holy Communion was a moving experience.

After the service, David and Pixie were thanked, first by Sue Macdonald, lay chair of the PCC, and presented with a card signed by the whole congregation, an engraved plant pot and a cheque to help them set up their new home in Linby. Reverend Fred Connell then thanked them on behalf of the retired clergy and presented them with two plants for their new garden, a Snow Pixie and David’s Rose! Jamie Walker-Jones, the head teacher of Langar C of E Primary School, then spoke to say how, not only the children, but the staff and particularly, himself, had been inspired by David’s involvement with the school. He expressed confidence that the school was now in a much better place to continue the Lord’s work in the village and beyond. Reverend Clare Le Marchant Connell then closed with a prayer before David sent us on our way with a further endorsement to ‘be the miracle’ as we move forward without them.

The whole congregation was then treated to tea and coffee and a fantastic array of cakes to ensure that no-one went away unrefreshed.

We all wish David and Pixie all the best in their new life away from the Parish of Wiverton in the Vale. They leave us with fond memories and stirring challenges. We know that the future for them is far from certain and that there will be difficult times ahead, but equally we know that Jesus is their Lord and will be with them each step of the way, as will we as we hold them in our prayers.