Poem

Ode to Pastor Mark...

To our beloved Pastor Mark
This greeting comes to say
We wish you every happiness
On this your special day
But now in greetings not so naff^¹
We'd like to take a minute
To contemplate this Pastor's life
And everything that's in it

When you were in Bible School
Becoming Bible-taught
With visions of the mission field,
Young natives to exhort
In Papua New Guinea,
We bet you never thought
You'd end up back in England
In glorious Ellesmere Port

And when you had to break the news
To your young wife, Sandrine,
That she would have to leave behind
Her life of Haute Cuisine
For something more along the lines
Of sausage and baked bean
And yet, to do the Will of God
You both remained so keen

You're called to be our Pastor
To let God's order rule
When dealing with the Kids' Club
In deepest Overpool^²
Or evangelising people
Who are stubborn as a mule
Or dealing with a treasurer
Who likes to act the fool
Or fielding profound questions
From the kids at Backford School
Amazingly - it must be said
You always keep your cool

You're called to be our Pastor
To stand for truth and right
Even in this day and age
Of Satan's darkest night
You keep us looking upward
With countenance so bright
Giving grace, you walk by faith
And never judge by sight

You're called to be our Pastor
And never a complaint
After working hard each day
When many souls would faint
You come back home, then out again
Armed with a tin of paint
To maintain the building
With the patience of a saint

Now when we look around us
And this world is getting faster
Or if we've got a wound
That needs more than a plaster
Or when we end up coping
With disaster on disaster
We turn our eyes to Jesus
And we thank God for our Pastor!

When we need a just rebuke
And no-one else will dare
When we need the quiet support
Of someone else in prayer
When we need a scripture verse
Who is it that will share?
When we need to be reminded
That Jesus is still there
Despite it all - we have to say
You've even kept some hair!!

So as it is your birthday
We wish you all the best
And as you are God's servant
We know that you'll be blessed
So, finally we'll put in
One other prayer request
That God will grant today for you
At least one day of rest!

Notes:
1 'naff': Definition - adjective, UK slang - not stylish or fashionable, lacking taste
2 Overpool: For many years the Church met in a Community Hall in Overpool, a district of Ellesmere Port

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Last updated 15/08/07