Saturday 28 February was a happy day, on which the Revd Louise Sanders was inducted as our new minister.

Louise is no stranger to St Columba’s, as she did a placement here as part of her ministerial training.  She has been ministering to our neighbouring church, St Andrew’s, Monkseaton, for the last three years, and has taken part in various joint events.  Her ministry will encompass both churches.

The church was full with members of St Columba’s and St Andrew’s, and friends and family from further afield.  The service was led by the Moderator of the Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church, the Revd Kim Money, and the charge was preached by Louise’s husband, the Revd Julian Sanders.  Bible readings were given from I Kings 17: 8-24 and Luke 8: 40-56.  We were encouraged to work together in following God’s calling, building each other up in the faith, reaching out in serving our community, and spreading the good news.  Julian concluded by saying, “I pray today that transformation and new life are brought to the lives of those in need in this community, and that through your faithfulness to each other and to God you may find healing, and I pray that as you share together in mission in this church that you may find the resources you need each day to sustain each other so that together you may carry on going to the places God calls you to go, doing the work God calls you to do, and being the people God calls you to be.”

After welcomes and gifts, the celebrations continued in the hall, where the tables were laden with food.

Responding the next day, Louise thanked everyone for making it such a special occasion.  She wrote, “I feel very blessed to have been called to be your minister, and am excited to journey with, as together we seek God’s leading, and step faithfully into the future He is preparing for us.”