FAREWELL PHIL!

(Taken from our July/August 2008 Newsletter)

Well, sadly, the time is almost here when we will have to say goodbye our minister, Phil, as he prepares to move on to his new appointment as superintendent minister in West Bromwich. I have gathered together personal comments from some of our members that express what Phil has meant to us individually and as a church. Each separate paragraph is the thoughts of a different person.

“We have been so happy as a family to have Phil share with us in a wedding and 2 baptisms and grateful that he could take my dad’s funeral. He has celebrated with us as a minister and a friend and will always be with us in our family photo albums. I have enjoyed his honest style of preaching and relaxed approach on a Sunday and at meetings. He is a minister for the our world today (apart from his choice of hymns, of course), having a rapport with those inside and outside the church, appreciated by both old and young alike.. His message that God loves us and is always there with us in our journey through life has always shone through. I will miss his great sense of humour, he is a one-off and I will miss him for just being ‘Phil’.”

“He's great; he put life into the church and has never been afraid to add humour and personal anecdotes into his preaching style. He never gave a boring sermon. He's a one-off whom I shall be sad to see go, but he's going to be great for his next ministry. I envy them. Just knowing he is there if I needed him has sometimes been enough throughout the last few years during which I had a lot of traumas. My friends have always been amazed when I recount the story of being with my daughter at lock-in with the vicar and an undertaker in a Camberley hostelry!”

“My abiding memory of Phil will be some words he spoke in one of his first services at Sandhurst: "While I'm at this church, you'll hear me tell you many times that God loves you". He brought an honesty to worship that both challenges and makes sense - a turning-point for me.”

“Phil, when he breezed in 11 years ago, was like a breath of fresh air. He has
always been there for me and my family both in the good times and also the bad. He makes me smile, he makes me laugh and he can also make me cry”.

"You gave us a lot of laughs, both on and off the stage, but the serious side was always just below the surface waiting to be called upon."

“Phil is an invaluable minister who is always ready to come to the aid of his congregation. He has provided constant support to those who need him and will be much missed.”

“What a great Minister, living in the real world, 21st century ministry, shame his Hymn selection is not in the same!
- As a Minister he has always been there for me in times of need and sorrow as a friend he has just always been there.
- I have had some of the funniest times of my life with Phil, (none of which can go in print) - I owe Phil a lot, he has taught me so much, where to get a beer and curry for £5. How to fill my wardrobe for less than £20.00 and DVD’s for £10.0
- Phil nearly got me killed at a Football match at West Brom by putting me next to the away team supporters. Fond memories!!
- Sandhurst has gained a lot from Phil’s Ministry……..Chairs (in two stages), a Clock with no Second Hand, 2 Tables one large one small. But the biggest gift is his message from the Pulpit a solid Bible based Message that fits with the lives we all lead or should lead.
- In 11 years I think Phil has touched all our lives, the children in junior church think he is great! The older members especially one who is no longer with us seemed to warm to him and his unique style.
- Phil is one of my closest friends, I shall miss him not being around to “ go out to play with” but true friends never lose contact, I look forward to going to see him in his new environment and maintaining our contact by phone as we do now.
- We have been very lucky over the past 11 years we have had in my opinion one of the best, however we have to give this up to an area whose need is probably greater than ours. We all have to move on in faith and accept change as hard as it is.”

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“I will never forget Phil coming round to see my family when he first arrived. Elisabeth had left home so it was just Matthew and Daniel and, not being churchgoers, they were, shall we say, not too keen to spend an hour chatting to the new vicar! His introduction went like this: "I am passionate about three things in life, heavy metal (music), West Bromwich Albion and God, not necessarily in that order". I don't know about the music but his passion for the other two has shone throughout the eleven years of his ministry. Matthew and Daniel warmed to him immediately and have always respected him and enjoyed his company since - and even been persuaded to come to church occasionally if he is preaching!”

“We do love a man who enjoys his food! Thank you Phil for just being you, West Bromwich will be blessed”

“In 1999, after the sudden death of my husband, minister of the Baptist Church then the community church, I came to this church. At first, I found it very difficult with someone else as Pastor, and would sometimes be in tears as I sat in the back row, remembering my husband. However, Phil made me very welcome, and his kindness and understanding helped me enormously. Over the years I have come to fully accept him as my Pastor, and am greatly blessed by his ministry, and his often hilarious pre-sermon illustrations, which puts everyone at ease! Now he is going - how I will miss him!”
“As relative newcomers to the church we thank Phil for making us all feel so welcome.”

“I’m sure I’m not alone when I say ‘We will miss you Phil’ We’ve had some sad, but mostly good times, I thank you for the many times when your sermon on a Sunday Morning had a special message for me. Eleven years is a long time but may I say ‘you will always be part of the furniture’ - well worn but much loved (ouch!). God Bless you and be with you always.

“There was a time when I questioned my vocation; it was then that a certain man stood up, stood by my side supporting me, encouraging me, vouching for me with the Methodist church: he was there when I gave myself to God's service and that was good enough for him. His friendship and companionship since that time have been a source of strength to me in all of the recent times of trouble. His name is Phil Thomas he is my friend, and if we could choose relatives, Phil would be the man I would want to have as a brother.“

“Dear Phil - How I will miss your friendship, humour, energy, thoughtful sermons, pleasant singing voice and help with difficult crosswords! There will be no one for me to boast to when the All Blacks beat England (but also I won't need to hide if they don't)... If you really must go, we send you our love and best wishes and hope you will be happy”

“I remember the first time that Phil came to our Church and sat in the back row. Gerald was preaching and I was playing the piano and he asked me to play the National Anthem because we had just heard that Princess Diana had died that morning. Tim was in nappies when Phil came to Sandhurst as our Minister!!”

“I have found Phil's sermons to be thought provoking as well as uplifting and sometimes entertaining. A far cry from the traditional sermons we had to endure years ago!”

“When Phil first came to us Laura was terminally ill and she was senior steward at the time. She was in the oncology ward in Hammersmith Hospital, which anyone who has had to visit will know is not an easy place to get to. Phil went to visit her. It was the time Roy left us, a time of change similar to our present experience, when we are tested to some degree and have to re-evaluate our lives in order to move on and the support of friends is absolutely essential. God go with Phil.”

"Behind the references to " The Albion" and some awful jokes, Phil's sermons often challenge pre-conceptions and make you really think about what you are doing as a Christian. He's not scared to be direct & honest about his beliefs and I will always remember him by the words "God is Love" that he has preached so successfully. My only regret is that with his going he will miss the Shots first season back in the League,

‘Rev Phil’ - The ministerial enigma, sometimes outrageous, always a good friend, always a feeling person, always a thoughtful person, always there for everyone, will always be greatly missed.

“Phil is a man who preaches from the heart. He is a minister to whom people from outside the church can relate because he is a man of the people.”

“It was Phil's persuasiveness that brought Heather & me to Sandhurst when our previous church (Trinity URC + Methodist, Yateley) closed. I led an active drama group there; Heather was an Elder and a member of a harmony singing group. Phil convinced us Sandhurst needed this experience. In the years since then, I have seen Phil in his underwear, been kissed by him (while he was wearing women's clothes!), and enjoyed having my nose flattened by him in public. I have never met anyone who could motivate me so much.”

“Over the last 11 years Phil has played a huge part in some of the biggest events in my life, a wedding, 2 baptisms and a funeral, as well as making a ‘pastoral’ visit to Hungary! Our fantastic wedding service and the leather trouser wearing vicar who turned up with minutes to spare and heavy metal blaring from his car, is still much talked about by our friends!! His ability to reach those from outside the church is a gift and I know that all of our friends, church goers or not, have enjoyed and remembered his services. I have enjoyed his refreshing approach with fun services and an up to date message. He has been there with his love and support and has become a firm family friend and we will miss him. Rev Phil – a true one off!!”

“The Reverend Phil Thomas.
As he leaves for pastures new we wish him well
We reflect on his ministry with us at Sandhurst
He preached good sermons which gave us plenty to think about
His services contained humour which young folk found enlightening
He showed kindness and understanding he cared for the troubled and cheered up the sick and lonely
He proved a good shepherd and friend to each of his parishioners
Phil will be sadly missed in many ways but will never be forgotten as he is unique as a minister and friend”

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