The Rt. Rev. Bill A. Musk

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The Right Reverend Bill A. Musk

billamusk@googlemail.com

News from Bishop Bill and Hilary Musk:

So much seems to have happened in a short period of time since arrival, that our minds are still spinning. In the middle of October we left our home in Tulse Hill, settled furniture and most belongings into our flat in Newhaven and then said goodbye to our family at Heathrow less than two weeks later.

We enjoyed briefly getting to know some of the folk at Christ the King Tripoli (Libya) whilst attending the very stimulating General Conference of the World Islamic Call Society in that capital city.

You can imagine our shock the following week when we learned of the sudden death, in Tripoli, of Michael Starr, the fairly newly arrived chaplain. Please do pray for his widow, Margaret, and family, plus all those bereaved in Tripoli.

Egypt was intense, with my preaching in Cairo and giving the Bible studies at the diocesan clergy retreat in a monastery in the desert.

Late on the evening of 7th November Hilary and I arrived in Tunis to a wonderful welcome at the airport from folk here.

Tunisia

On our second day in the country we were picked up by a car from the British Embassy and driven to Enfidha in order for me to lead the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the British & Commonwealth Wargraves Cemetery there. Those are humbling and moving occasions, with plenty of people present deliberately to “remember”.

There was a lot of preparation for the events surrounding my ordination and installation here on 22nd November. People at St George’s worked incredibly hard, both in preparations for the actual service, but also in terms of receiving, caring for, transporting many guests – the Provincial standing committee met at the same time, so that bishops from the province could be here for the weekend’s services.

We were so delighted to have twenty-one folk here from Tulse Hill, plus Dave Healy, General Manager of ICS, plus three of our daughters, one son-in-law, one grandson and my mother! It was a huge surprise at the airport where we went expecting to meet two family members, and having to hire a fleet of taxis to get all our family to their hotel.

The service of ordination and installation took place in the local Roman Catholic cathedral for reasons of space. It was a lovely service and grandson Sam was able to read a lesson for me in it. The words of both ordination and installation are heart-searching and humbling. Please pray for me to fulfil my vows faithfully.

In a whirlwind the next few days came and went, with all kinds of celebrations and meetings with different people.

Harsh reality seemed to settle in quickly with all the farewells – we have both been unwell, me especially with some viral stuff that I can’t seem to shake off. The house (on the church site) in which we are living needs quite a few repairs in order for it to become sensibly functional, plus we need to furnish it.

In the meantime the needs of church life at one of the busiest times of year impose a steep learning curve on me – plus some grace and patience is required in a very non-Anglican setup!

I think we are in a bit of shock: culture shock, bereavement shock, body shock (both physically unwell), emotional shock missing family and friends especially, church shock, etc. The folk at St. George's are lovely and I am sure we will be able to look back on our difficult initial days with much laughter when our apartment is sorted and liveable in.  Just at the moment it feels somewhat overwhelming.  We would value your prayers!

Prayers please for:-

: Holy Trinity & St Matthias, Tulse Hill in their developing ministry without us, looking to the future and praying for a new incumbent.

: folk in Tripoli, Libya, especially Margaret and familiy in their grieving the loss of chaplain Michael.

: the establishment of a functioning base for us in church house, repaired and furnished and homely.

: the meeting of so many new people all the time. Help remembering names and who does what – both within the church fellowship and beyond it!

: the needs of our immediate family, and especially Nicola as she comes to the end of her first term without our Tulse Hill base to come home to.

: renewed good health for us both; discerning of a fulfilling ministry and role for Hilary.

May we wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a happy New Year in case we don’t manage to contact all of you! Many blessings to you all and lots of love.

+Bill & Hilary