Letter from our Vicar – Revd Aaron Kennedy
Greetings OPC!
I thought I would share something of my personal story in this, the first of my letters for In Touch. However, I first want to thank everyone who contributed to making last weekend’s services happen so smoothly – from all who were involved in the big church clean and tidy, to Kevin, Barry and all on the technical side, to the musicians, singers and bellringers, to those who baked and cooked and generously laid on the wonderful food that kept us going all the way until Sunday lunch! There has been such a warm and generous welcome, and it is unsurprising that as a family we are already feeling so relaxed and welcome here. So, thank you, one and all!
Please consider this a conversation starter.
I am going to be doing my best in the coming months and years to listen you all, to learn your names (please be patient!), to hear your individual stories, and learn the collective story of OPC, and throughout it all I’ll be looking for the fingerprints of our good God and asking for his guidance for us as we seek to move forward in his strength. But here’s something of my, and our, story, to get the conversation(s) started.
I am 40 years old this year, but it all began in 1982 in London/derry, Northern Ireland. I was raised as a Presbyterian Christian in the north coast of County Antrim by my wonderful parents, Arthur and Eva, along with my brother and sister, Niall and Emma. One of my great hobbies (apart from rugby) has been playing the drums, so after my secondary school education I had some music training in Scotland before returning home to Northern Ireland briefly. I discovered I didn’t have the temperament (or natural talent, if truth be told) for the life of a musician, and it was at this time that many questions began to emerge about my Christian faith; it was a difficult time, and quite lonely, with the needful answers not presenting themselves. I had to resolve these questions, so I decided to go to university to study theology. This led me to a season of great doubt and even unbelief in God, as I took the opportunity to read the perspective of the so-called masters of suspicion (Marx, Nietzsche, Freud), and many of the post-modern theorists. It was a time of growing older (if not up) for me, and of learning to set aside much of my previous identity which was painful for my parents I think, and many of my older friends too. I was far from God, but he wasn’t far from me, and when my very own Project Self ran aground and I felt I had run out of steam entirely, I began to cry out to God once more. And he was, of course, so gracious and forgiving, and I have always known since then that I am held by God, that I am living the story that he wants to tell with my life.
Perhaps some of that has reminded you of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. It does for me too, and that story has indeed been a guiding force in my life. And, cutting a long story short, the next chapter of my life has been one of an abundance of blessing being poured out – as it were, the fatted calf being killed, and many unlooked-for good things having been given to me. As I returned to God, Grace entered my life, and I began a journey of discernment about ordination. Both have borne wonderful fruit in our fabulous children, Gabe and Clem, and the privilege of a hugely fulfilling priestly ministry.
We all very much look forward to seeing what God wants to do in and through us, in this next chapter, as members of Otley Parish Church.
