Dear church friends,
After 41 years of service in the Church, as vicar of various churches in England, a Canon of Bristol Cathedral, and in these last five years as chaplain here in The Hague, Michael Roden is set to retire at the end of June and we hope to send him and Janet off with the warmest of wishes and prayers for happiness and health in the next chapter.
Retirement is a major step in anyone’s life, and perhaps especially for ordained ministers whose role extends beyond the 9-to-5 and who have lived most of their adult lives in church accommodations.
To celebrate Michael’s many years of service, and to help ease the way into the next phase, please may we invite you to give a generous gift of money towards our good-bye present to Michael.
We know he is in need of a good bicycle and, at this stage of life, is entirely deserving of an electric model for the years ahead. There will be other small gifts to remember us by, and practical things for the retired lifestyle. Any additional funds raised will be offered to Michael and Janet to help with necessary adjustments.
Please do your best to be with us in person on Sunday, 21 June at 11:00am for Michael’s final service of Holy Communion here, and the retirement party to follow, in the form of a big church BBQ and lunch.
And, finally, may we encourage you to pray for Michael and Janet over the coming weeks, asking God’s blessing on all their preparations.