Dear Friends

Stephen has invited me to write something for this edition of the Parish Magazine as I approach my ordination on 1^st July.

What an amazing three years these have been. As I look forward July 1^st, I have also been looking back over the past few years, and reflecting upon the journey.

When I started out on the path of investigating my being drawn to ordained ministry, I could not have imagined the richness of the process, nor the difficulties I would encounter along the way. God’s call to each one of us is always a blessing, but is at the same time always costly. We are all called to follow our Lord, and that will inevitably mean we must change during the journey to reflect His love and compassion. We have been promised the Holy Spirit as encourager, and more and more I appreciate the value and power of prayer – time spent with our loving Father is never wasted.

STUDY

The academic side of the course has not been easy. Being a clinical scientist I had a certain approach to thinking about things, and the skill of essay writing was something I had long forgotten. Having to consider topics that had no “answer” in the scientific sense, and didn’t necessarily follow a (to me) logical pathway demanded significant changes in my thinking. The task of essay writing was made easier with a computer-based word-processor – I dread to think how many sheets of paper I would have used had everything been done by done hand. By the end of my 3 years training I will have completed 20 major pieces of course-work of 2-3,000 words. At the start of the course I was appointed a tutor (Revd Robert Wiggs), and have learned an immense amount from him, not only about academic theology, but about spirituality, myself, and about many issues that connect with ministerial formation and real life. It has been a really rich relationship, and I owe him much. Robert is leading the special service to remember asylum seekers and refugees at 6.30 pm on Sunday 6^th May. I hope many of you will take the opportunity to meet him that evening.

Throughout the formal academic training process, there has been a significant emphasis on the practical outworking of our ministry and faith in whatever setting we are placed. I have spent time in another parish locally seeing how things are done, and also working as a volunteer at the Emergency Night Shelter. We are encouraged and expected to engage with the church community and local society, and to discover Jesus Christ in the midst of His people. These placements have encouraged me in my work at St Leonard’s, both in preaching and involvement in worship, and also in my less glamorous activities at the Emergency Night Shelter, where I continue to be involved as a volunteer, and hope to develop my role there further.

I have been wonderfully supported by Wendy, who has given encouragement whenever I have needed it. She has been a wise source of counsel when I have been unsure, and very adept at bringing me back to earth on many occasions. David and Ben have also been great supporters; in fact the whole family has been involved in my training in one way or another, for which I am truly grateful.

WHERE TO NEXT?

When I started my training, I imagined that I would be returned to St Leonard’s on completion, and was happy with this idea. During my second year I developed considerable doubts about my suitability and started to feel that St Leonard’s wasn’t where I would be placed. This feeling was strengthened when I found out that the diocesan guidelines are that the newly ordained should not be placed in their home parishes for their title post. At the start of my third year, undoubtedly as the result of much prayer on my part and by many others, I developed a definite feeling of being called to St Leonard’s, especially at this time when so much is developing in the church and parish. I shared this with Stephen, and with Bishop Christopher and Revd. Richard More (Diocesan Director of Ordinands). I was delighted when it was agreed that I would serve my title post here.

The Church of England takes the training of new deacons and priests very seriously, and there is a long list of items Stephen and I have to work through over the next 3-4 years as I develop my ministry. Over the past three years Stephen has been very generous, supporting, and encouraging in many ways, especially in allowing me to develop my preaching and liturgical skills. I am really looking forward to working with him and the others in the ministry team over the next few years.

AN INVITATION

The Ordination service is to take place at Chelmsford Cathedral at 3.00 pm on Sunday 1^st July. Details about ordination service are at present limited, but I gather there will be a small number of “official” tickets for named guests. However, I am assured there will be plenty of unreserved seating available in the cathedral, so all will be welcome. On the evening of Sunday 1^st July there will be the usual Parish Eucharist where I will officially be a deacon for the first time. Afterwards Wendy and I have arranged a Hog-Roast as both a celebration and as a “Thank-You” to all of you at St Leonard’s who have supported, encouraged, and prayed for me over the past 3 years. It will be held in the Church Hall, and there will be a poster at the back of the church nearer the time for people to sign up so that we have a reasonable idea of numbers.

PLEASE PRAY

So, looking forward to 1^st July, I ask you to continue to pray for me as I move towards completing this phase of my training, and prepare to start my new life as the assistant curate. Please also support Stephen in your prayers as he takes on the task of supervising me in ministry, and finally, remember all others who are training for ministry and preparing for ordination at this time.

Yours very sincerely,

Richard