Thank you Adam!
If you were able to tune in for last Sunday’s online service, you will know that we are preparing to bid fair well to Adam Dixon, our Parish Assistant. It was very fitting that the announcement was made during the last online service (as we move towards live streaming our 11am services), given that Adam was instrumental in getting these off the ground at the start of lockdown and has done so much to keep them going throughout the last 15 months.
Adam started as our Parish Assistant in June 2019 as part of the Church of England’s Ministry Experience Scheme. This was supposed to be a one year posting, but as lockdown hit in March 2020, it became clear that Adam’s talents would be essential to us finding our way through lockdown as a church community. With that in mind, Adam’s position as Parish Assistant was renewed for a further year, which is now, sadly, coming to an end.
Over the last couple of years Adam has taken on board:
Assisting with organising the music group – both for the in-person and online services
Produced a lot of the music for the online services
Edited the online services together
Got us set up for live streaming services now we are moving back to in-person services once more
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless of other things he has been involved in behind the scenes over the last couple of years.
Let’s hear from Adam about his time as Parish Assistant.
How has the Ministry Experience Scheme helped your faith to grow over the last couple of years?
Adam: I think over the course of the scheme I have had such great insight into the innerworkings of church. It has been amazing to come alongside people to help them worship and know God a little more. Personally, I initially signed up to the MES to see if ordination was right for me, during my time at HT I have come to realise the importance of those who work to support the ministry of the church and how each of us have been given gifts and talents that we can use to serve both our church and the wider world around us.
My ministry may not be in presiding over communion but instead has been to produce music and videos and work as a designer.
Can you share any highlights from your time as Parish Assistant?
Adam: I really loved being involved in the worship team. I particularly loved being part of the Encounter services. It was so fun! I also enjoyed supporting the Vintage team, it was great working with such a lovely group of people and it was fantastic listening to the tales of some of the Vintage regulars each week.
Once lockdown began, I had the privilege of playing a mainly behind the scenes role in the online services and finding a real purpose in serving others using my skills and also learning so much more about things I was already interested in such as music production and video editing.
I have also been doing a lot of design work for the centenary exhibition and the Living Stones book.
It is such an honour to be part of the celebration of the past 100 years in such a visual and impactful way!
What has been most challenging?
Adam: I think we have all found lockdown hard in different ways but for me I think the hardest part has not being able to lead worship live. When I help people encounter Jesus through music, I feel really spiritually energised. Hearing a congregation singing with you, all worshipping the same God, celebrating the same amazing love is so fundamental to my churchmanship. As fun as music production is, I really have missed singing my heart out with my family!
So, what’s next?
Adam: Having had a keen interest in art from a young age, I have always wondered at the profound impact it has had on both me and society.
I believe that we are all created, and creative, and I have a heart for people who haven’t had the chance to realise their potential either due to financial or cultural circumstances.
I have a passion to forge connections between artists and local residents and create home-grown, meaningful exhibitions that are inspired by social issues and led by the local population.
Come September I will be studying an MA in Art Museum and Gallery Studies, in other words curation, at Newcastle University. I am looking forward furthering my passion for art, curation and community engagement.
I thought now was also the right time to find a new church as I enter the next stage of my life but as I move on from Holy Trinity, I will always have a place in my heart for the church and the wonderful experiences I have had with you all so thank you!
Adam’s time as Parish Assistant officially comes to an end on Sunday 27th June. I’m sure you will all join me in wishing him all the best of luck for the next step in his journey, and in saying a resounding THANK YOU for all his hard work and dedication.
By Rachael Farrimond and Adam Dixon