Celebrating Simon’s achievement

This Christmas, Simon Cragg, our Associate Pastor at PBC, did the short messages at both the Christmas Eve 11:30 service and the 10am family service. These are two completely different gatherings, each with a very different feel and purpose. Simon was exemplary in both. His message and delivery at the quiet and reflective Christmas Eve service was spot on. It encouraged and built up those who had gathered in the quiet and peaceful space that PBC was during such a precious hour, when Christmas Eve becomes Christmas Day and we celebrate the ‘dawn of saving grace.’ It was also very poignant for me receiving communion from my friend and colleague, Philip Davis, who was probably taking part in his last Christmas Eve service with us before he moves to lead his own church during 2010.

On Christmas Day, Simon picked up the space seamlessly after our funny Dragon’s Den drama, building from the message of that drama into a short talk that would have spoke to the whole spectrum of people that had gathered; from those who have been to church for 90 years every week, to those who only go on Christmas Day. It’s a real challenge to layer and craft a message on a normal Sunday, so that the whole variety of people who gather are ‘fed’. It’s even more of a challenge on a Carols By Candlelight or Christmas Day service, yet arguably even more important because of how well attended these events are. Simon rose to the challenge and exceeded it.

We are very blessed to have him here as one of our Pastors for his wisdom, leadership, Godly heart and pastoral concern. These gifts are all expressed in his leadership responsibilities so well, whether its in his teaching, his input to the Eldership, his leadership over Youth and Children’s or his worship leading. He manages to juggle more roles than one person should be able to. It’s so exciting to think of how God will use Simon in his ministry over his lifetime.