At Ruth’s suggestion, I am writing a bit about myself, so you all feel you know who I am, and why I am at Fleet URC.
I am training to be a URC Assembly-accredited lay preacher on the Training for Learning and Service programme. I have completed my Foundation course, and have now just one year of the Gateways into Worship course to do. As part of this I have to undertake an extended placement at a church that is not my own to lead worship and preach. This will run alongside my ongoing study. You have kindly agreed to being my placement church, so I am here until June next year.
I am married to Alex, with four children (23, 21, 16 and 10). We live in Mytchett, and have done so since 1992. I am a serving Elder at High Cross Church in Camberley, and I was Church Secretary some years ago.
I was born and brought up in Norwich, but Alex and I met at Bristol University, where I studied French and he Maths with Computing. Our first home was in Oldham in Lancashire, but we moved when Alex got a job with Oracle in Bracknell just after our second child was born. Alex is a practising Catholic, and our children have been brought up with influences from both denominations. They have all attended Catholic schools, but have all been Pilots and attended the High Cross Youth Clubs. They all enjoy being in the pantomimes at High Cross too.
I enjoy singing and going to classical music concerts and the theatre in any spare time I might have. This summer I have been adjusting to having my eldest daughter living back at home and starting her first job, then getting engaged and having her fiancé (who is Italian) living with us. Now it is Autumn and my second child is about to go back to York University for his final year of a Chemistry degree; number three has just started 6th form; and my youngest is in her last year of Primary school.
I am looking forward to getting to know you all a bit better in the coming weeks as together we explore God’s love for us, and His purpose for us and for our world here in Fleet. You can get in touch with me by emailing me at helen@alexeverard.co.uk.