Page 9 - St Barnabas Parish Homerton Summer Magazine 2020

Our beloved Susie noticed that she was kneeling with
Susie praying. I backed off and it
wasn’t long before Esme came running
On refection, it’s been a very busy and back to me in the congregation. After
an eventful time since Rev Susie the service Susie explained how she’d
Paddock came to join the ‘Team’, On knelt to pray, as her usual procedure
arrival, Susie went straight into action before serving communion, when
with a Community Audit Project that Esme appeared in front of her and
was commissioned by Bishop Adrian asked what she was doing. Susie
Newman in 2016. Then came the explained she was going to pray and
proposal, open door meetings and asked Esme if she’d like to pray too,
eventual merging of Sunday Services which she did. I do not think Esme will
between Christchurch and All Souls at forget that!
the church premises in Overbury
Street, Clapton Park. To us at CCxAS that is Susie! always
full of energy offering intuitive support
Susie did not stop there, as a Trustee and able to have a good laugh with us.
at Hoppers Susie invited all
parishioners to this lovely retreat Although her yearly renewal was good
centre in Kent. Susie gave the youths for CCxAS that in itself was sometimes
a special treat by taking them to spend a drawback as Susie was never really
some time at Hoppers as part of their able to make long term plans. I pray
summer holidays. Susie was actively that now Susie will be able to make
involved in the restructuring of the plans much further ahead than 1 year
parish and its transition into its current and I hope any plans will include
structure. CCxAS, and although Susie is going to
be greatly missed, I feel we have not
I have lots of stand-out memories, from heard the last from our beloved Rev
her red boots worn on Pentecost Susie Paddock.
Sunday, café style services, regular
staff meetings in the café in the square Carol Maynard
or a restaurant up Chatsworth Road,
straight talking, being proactive, a
good listener, colourful PowerPoint
displays (not to mention her artistic
‘foyer’ displays), her ability to discern a
person/situation and adapt herself
accordingly.
For example, I remember one Sunday
morning last year at church, we were
just finishing offering each other the
peace and I saw my granddaughter
Esme (4yrs) disappear behind the Susie, Alison, Carol, Rose
altar, as I got closer to bring her back I