December 7th, 2010
Dear Parishioners,
Since 2003, I have had the privilege of serving as your rector. As the writer of Ecclesiastes memorably writes, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” In this context, it is the time for me to move to retirement. And so, I write to share with you that at tonight’s Vestry meeting I will be announcing my retirement as Rector of All Saints’ Church. My final Sunday at All Saints’ will be March 6th, which will allow us abundant time to say “good bye.”
This decision has involved much prayer and thought, and was not an easy decision. I love the priesthood, & have been richly blessed over 30 years as a priest. Now I am going to retire from full-time ministry. I have been in consultation with Bishop Mathes regarding these plans. He and his staff will support the wardens and Vestry in this time of transition.
All Saints’ is a remarkable parish, and has been a wonderful culmination to my ministry. I retire with gratitude to Almighty God for my ministry here of over 7 years, and with thanks for the love and kindness shown to me by you, the people of All Saints’.
I will move back to Australia in due course, but will also be staying in San Diego from time to time. It is a big change for me, but I am looking forward to rediscovering life back in Australia.
I know many of you will be sad at this news. Over the next 3 months I hope that we will celebrate my time as Rector with thankfulness and joy. Please do keep me in your prayers during this time, as I will always hold you in mine.
May God continue to bless you and the parish.
Fr Tony Noble, Rector.
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My last letter to the parish as Rector
My dear friends,
Since I announced my retirement as Rector I have experienced different emotions. After 31 years as a priest working entirely in parishes, a new lifestyle awaits. I would not be honest if I did not say I am a little apprehensive. It is going to be hard not having the responsibility of being a parish priest, and all that entails. The privilege of celebrating Mass and the other sacraments is something I will not be able to take for granted anymore.
Within the parish there are mixed emotions, too. Many people have expressed both sadness at my decision to retire, and best wishes for what lies ahead. I am sad about leaving All Saints’, but I am also looking forward to returning to Australia.
When Jesus was preparing his Apostles for his departure, St John records that he said, “I have yet many things to say to you“. That is exactly how I feel, as I come to write my final letter to the parish as Rector of All Saints’. There are, indeed, many things that I have to say to you, my parish family and friends.
So what do I want to say?
THANK YOU
Thank you for the privilege of being your Rector. All Saints’ has been a wonderful climax to my ministry. Each of the parishes I have worked in has been different – but All Saints’ will have a special place in my heart, and in my prayers. Even at a distance, the friendships I have made will endure forever.
Thank you for taking the risk of bringing a priest from Australia! This was an unusual step – and I am very grateful you did. Not many Australians get to live and work in the USA (unless they are movie stars!) and I have really enjoyed it. I have been visiting America since 1987, and had made many friends. Moving here to live was a great adventure, and living here has been wonderful. Living here enabled me to experience the warmth and kindness of the American people in ways that are beyond expressing. For that I particularly thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to be an American! I have always found Americans to be generous and friendly. This has been the basis for a special bond between Australians and Americans. I will go back to Australia as the greatest ambassador for America you could find! I will not forget American expressions and customs – even if you write the date the wrong way! And I hope that you have a new fondness and appreciation for Australians.
Thank you for being in San Diego. What a wonderful city this is, and what a wonderful place to live. “America’s Finest City” says it all. It is now my second home, and I shall keep coming back.
OUR PARISH
The second thing that l want to say is that All Saints’ is a wonderful and remarkable parish. It is the combination of anglocatholic worship and tradition with a beautiful church, together with friendly and lovely people who care about their church and each other.
There are so many aspects in the life of the parish that are attractive. Primarily it is the traditional worship and the dedicated people. I pay tribute to your faithfulness and commitment. The next Rector is a very fortunate priest.
FAITH
Thirdly, keep the faith! All Saints’ is, sadly, unique in this diocese. The anglocatholic tradition is something special in the Episcopal Church, and seems to be disappearing. Some may attempt to ridicule or demean it, especially those who think the church of the future must ignore the past in favor of a liberal protestant version of the catholic faith (a contradiction in terms!). The anglocatholic tradition is a precious jewel in the Anglican Communion, and it calls the Episcopal Church back to the fundamentals of the Faith.
So rejoice in the uniqueness of All Saints’, keep the tradition alive, and bear witness to the truth of the gospel.
REFLECTION
You will not be surprised to know that I have been reflecting on my ministry at All Saints’. It has been a fascinating 7.5 years. It seems that every year we faced issues that had to be dealt with. Some were major, like the closing of the school, others the usual things that crop up in the life of a parish. We have achieved much together, and I leave the parish in a much stronger and healthier state than I found it. And we have had fun!
I remember with fondness the many people I have dealt with pastorally: weddings, baptisms, confirmations, visiting the sick, and so many social visits. I also remember the funerals I have conducted, often for people I had ministered to & had become very fond of.
I thank you for putting up with my foibles and particular way of doing things. I am not perfect, of course – so I apologise for my negligences and mistakes. The final words a priest says in the sacrament of Confession are very appropriate: “Pray for me, for I am also a sinner“.
REVIEW
In reviewing my time here as your Rector, I wondered if I had achieved everything I set out to do – more importantly, what God wanted me to do. Others will be the judge of that. Recently I looked again at my very first sermon preached as your Rector. I think I have finished as I started, and it really says it all. So I have decided to reprint it in the January parish magazine.
I have, indeed, much to be thankful for – and it is very important to me that these last weeks leading up to my retirement be full of thanks and joy. My final weekend is going to be a wonderful celebration. My final Services will be on Sunday March 6th.
As I look forward to this great change in my life, and to a wonderful farewell, so now I write to all our parishioners for the last time officially, as your priest and your friend.
FR TONY
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FINAL RECTOR’S REPORT, Jan 30, 2011
This is my 8th annual report as the Rector of All Saints’, and, as everyone is aware, it will be my last report as your Rector. Usually I have given a review of the past year, referred to significant events and thanked various people. This report will be a little different.
2010
In reporting on 2010 I will mention 3 things – firstly, the office staff. We have fairly new people in the office, Kim Niemietz & Lea Gray. Both are proving a wonderful asset to the parish. They will be a great team for the next Rector, as well as all those responsible for the parish administration in the transition that lies ahead.
I would like to express my appreciation to Kathryn Dreyer, who came in February at a moment’s notice, to be the administrative assistant. She had a difficult job, as there were no files left on the computer, nor previous bulletins to refer to. Kathryn did it well, and paved the way for Melissa Lamar, who joined us in March.
The second thing from last year is that the Vestry decided to pay its diocesan pledge in full for the first time. This is an indication of the financial strength of our parish, which has been steadily growing over the past 7 years. Part of that is the financial commitment of the people of our parish. In the current economic climate this is no small achievement.
Finally I would like to report that during 2010 we had the first full audit of the parish accounts since I have been Rector. This was a long time coming. You can see the results in our annual reports, which, for the first time lists all our assets.
THE PARISH
I now wish to offer some reflections on my 7.5 years as Rector. It is no secret that in 2003 I was not quite sure if God was calling me to All Saints. What most of you don’t know is that what convinced me were the people I met when I came to be interviewed. I fell in love with the people, and felt that I wanted to be their priest!
You may think this is a rather unusual thing to say. But you are wonderful people, and together we have done some marvelous things. We have been blessed by God, priest and people together.
It is very important for me to say this. You, the people of this parish have made my heart glad by your response to my leadership. This parish has grown in every way. Attendance and membership are obvious indicators. I think we are the only parish where the 8.00 am Mass has continually grown! Also you have grown spiritually, and in your faith. One leads to another – and the foundation is worship and fellowship.
WORSHIP
All Saints’ has always had at its heart traditional Anglocatholic worship. Our Sunday Masses are inspiring. So many people contribute to this – altar guild, acolytes, flower guild, readers, organist, choir, sidesmen, greeters, coffee hour. If I tried to thank you all I would certainly omit someone. There are 2 important people who have been both a privilege & joy to work with: Our altar guild president, Norma Dreyer, & our organist, Robert MacLeod. One of things that delighted me as Rector was how the music kept improving each year. Some Sundays I thought I was in Heaven – & that was just at the gospel procession!
However excellent our worship is, let me remind you of something I have said from time to time. Being Anglocatholic is more than traditional liturgy & good music. It is about what we believe & practice. This is what makes All Saints’ different to other parishes – & so worth belonging to. It is also the reason we have continually grown, whilst much of the Episcopal Church is losing members.
FACILITIES
Over the years we have gradually improved our buildings. The removal of the carpet in the church was an important project, and the result stunning, especially with the acoustics. Perhaps the great achievement was the retro-fitting of the parish hall in 2006. That was when the finances of the parish were still difficult, and we raised the $70,000 needed in just 6 weeks! Your commitment was crucial, and we were not disappointed.
There is much to acknowledge of what you have achieved during these 7.5 years. There were also issues to deal with. The most significant was the closing of the Day School. This was a very difficult decision, involving long discussions and agony at Vestry level. In another parish it might have been too much. But we did not avoid the issues, as hard as it was to face them.
THE FUTURE
This parish now faces an unusual time. You will have to search for a priest to be your new rector and choose the man you want. The transition period will be difficult, and you may be tempted to slacken your commitment, particularly to worship. I want to say 2 things:
+ If people leave the parish because I am no longer Rector, it will not be a compliment to my ministry.
+ God has already chosen the next Rector – you just have to find him!
This is the time when the parish must be united, focused and enthusiastic. You are the unique Anglocatholic parish of All Saints’, San Diego, and are a gift to any prospective Rector. Be energized and ready to welcome him.
PERSONALLY
I finish on a personal note. In the January parish magazine I tried to express my thanks to you all. As I have said, All Saints’ has been a wonderful climax to my ministry. You have helped me celebrated some important events in my life – my 25th & 30th anniversaries of ordination, and my 60th birthday. There was also my surgery in 2005, when you supported me so wonderfully well. Now you are expressing your thanks and appreciation to me, & it is slightly overwhelming. In the end we must give thanks to God, for he brought us together. And it has been wonderful!