Bermondsey boy off to Egypt

It's not every day that a member of the congregation is made an Ambassador, but yesterday it was officially announced that St Anne's member, John Casson (left), is to be Her Majesty's Ambassador to Egypt.

Last Sunday we had a special farewell and commissioning service for John and Kat at St Anne's as they prepare to move from Bermondsey to Cairo, from their terraced house round the corner from St Anne's to the British Amabassador's rather  palatial residence in Cairo.

The reading (Matthew 10.24-39) set for the day seemed to be very relevant and in my sermon I drew these three points for John and Kat and for us all as we follow Christ: (1) Be like your master; (2) Know that your Father's loving protection surrounds you wherever you go; (3) Never be ashamed to say you belong to Jesus Christ.

The Government website says about John: 'His career has had a strong focus on the Arab world, including as Deputy Ambassador in Jordan, as Head of the FCO’s Near East and North Africa Department, and accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to Egypt in 2011.

From 2002-2005 he held the high profile role leading the US political outreach of the British Embassy in Washington. He has also worked in the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels and as Senior Policy Adviser in HM Treasury.

John & Kat at St Anne's: Farewell and Godspeed

Before entering Government he worked as a Research Assistant at Cambridge University and in the House of Commons. He moves to Cairo with his wife Kathryn Casson, who has been Private Secretary to the Development Secretary from 2011 to 2014.'

At St Anne's we shall miss them greatly, but we're keep praying for them and we look forward to their eventual return.

We know for John and Kat its a new adventure in God's service and, as for us: we're proud of them.