In my April Vicar’s letter I had been reflecting on vocation – God’s calling. Two months later I’m still thinking about vocation, which really is no surprise given that at the end of June, my wife Clare will be ordained in Lichfield Cathedral. She will be serving the parishes of St. Giles’, Newcastle and St. Thomas, Butterton as their new curate.
Clare has been a placement student at All Saints’ and St. Margaret’s for the last three years alongside which she has been studying at the reasonably new Emmanuel Theological College on Thursday evenings and with away weekends and weeks. It’s been wonderful working with Clare at church, but it’s also been interesting having conversations about the theological reading and lectures she has been undertaking.
At the end of my Vicar’s letter in April I encouraged us all to think about what God might be calling us into. And two months later I still feel convicted that this is a large part of our vocation as disciples of Jesus, and as church communities – to discern what God would have us do with our lives and in our churches.
At the end April I was away from the parishes for three nights in Derbyshire, at the Diocesan Clergy Conference. Clergy Conference was a great time away. With lots of great teaching and times for worship and prayer. But also, time with colleagues. Chatting over breakfast, or a cuppa, or a pint in the evenings. One of the joys of these conversations was witnessing how God has led God’s people, and how God is leading them still. One of the vicars was a member of my first youth group more than twenty years ago….
Whether in full-time ‘secular’ work, or full-time ministry, or at school, or retired, or as a carer, how amazing that God calls us all to follow him more closely each and every day.
Please do be praying for Clare as she is ordained on the evening of the 29th of June.
Blessings
Tim
