A highlight of our farewell night.

Some of the very eclectic crowd attending the farewell gathering.

Another part of the crowd.

The Church held an evening of farewell and celebration to mark the end of my twenty seven years of ministry there. It was a very moving night and I have seldom attended an event when so many men seemed to find it difficult to hold their emotions in as they talked or said their good byes. There is too much to report in one post but here is one of the highlights. A man who attends our Drop-in centre got up and read a poem that he had written. He has an interesting history and I have grown to love him very much over the years. He has grown so much as a person in the time I have known him.  
It was entitled "Friday Night" by Tim Aitken. 


We all line up on a Friday night, 
We know Dave's coming, when on comes the light,
We head up the stairs, as Dave says "hello",
He's a decent sort of chap, we're sad to see him go,
Then Curly serves up sausages, sauce and bread,
And during the winter, we'll have soup instead,
Next we talk, do jigsaws and play some pool,
Or table-tennis, Dave, at this does rule,
We all get along, most of the time,
Unless Tim is winning at pool, then its a crime,
For there is one unruly guy, I won't say his name,
So up went the sign - "Smile, it's just a game!"
We'll wait for an hour for dessert to be served,
Congrats on your retirement, its well, well deserved.

Apart of our Friday night drop-in centre.