A Letter from the Assistant Curate

Dear Friends

4 Funerals and a Wedding!

It’s not quite a film title, but it caused my sons great mirth when I reached this stage in my training program just before Christmas.

The support and enthusiasm for what I have done which I have received from so many members of the congregation at St Leonard’s over the past months has been wonderful; I have felt welcome at all events, and really encouraged in the development of my ministry skills.

The Church of England sees the first four years of ordained ministry as a time of important ongoing education and training. There have been several training days, and a residential weekend at Pleshey during which time different aspects of ministry are discussed, and appropriate training and support given. The highlight for me of these events has been the bible studies over the weekend at Pleshey; the passages were given, and then in small groups we went off to discuss them without any pre-determined agenda or outcome save that of relevance to ministry. This was a new and really productive way to “do” bible study. There will be further courses and weekends away over the next three years, but thankfully no more essays to write!

As I approach my Ordination as Priest on 22^nd June, I have been reflecting on the past months since I became Assistant Curate with a combination of amazement and delight. So much has happened since 1^st July last year that the time has passed very quickly. My working agreement specified that I should lead worship and preach once a month, but inevitably this has been expanded, and I have felt very privileged to be allowed to take part in so many services and acts of worship, as well as many other church activities. A group of us who were ordained together meet occasionally to discuss how we are getting on; despite the fact that I am very part-time I have been involved in (by comparison) a huge number of activities. Stephen has been a wonderful training incumbent; his wisdom and experience in ordained ministry, and his generosity and encouragement have made my first year an unforgettable time, and I look forward to continuing to build on this over the coming years. The word “privilege” is totally appropriate when it comes to being involved in the occasional services of (1) Baptism, (1) wedding, (5) funerals, and (1) school assembly so far. In addition I have given talks at our Mothers’ Union, and for the Ladies’ group at St Matthew’s Church in north Colchester.

In conjunction with the regular ministry at St Leonard’s, I have also been given the task of developing a chaplaincy at Cheviot, the nursing home in Park Road, and also at the Colchester Emergency Night Shelter. Two very different environments in which to work, but two places of rich experience and learning for someone so new in ministry. The opportunity to spend time with the elderly and dying, and also with the seriously disadvantaged has made me aware of so much need.

The general week-by-week round of worship at St Leonard’s continues to be a delight; being actively involved in the dynamics of the worship has really been an enriching experience; I would encourage anyone who feels drawn to a greater involvement in worship to ask about becoming more involved; there are many opportunities for reading, intercession, serving and assisting, and for those with a voice and enthusiasm, singing with our choir.

The service of ordination as Priest will take place at St Michael’s Church, Myland, in the afternoon of Sunday 22^nd June. There are two of us being “priested”: Revd. John Chandler, the curate at that church, and myself. Following this we are authorised to preside at the Eucharist, and to pronounce God’s blessing and absolution. As with so much of what happens in ordained Christian ministry, the authorisation is not so much a giving of what might be understood as “power” as an engaging with responsibility. The duty of the priest is to lead the church in worship, confession, praise, thanksgiving and prayer, and to minister the sacraments. This is a tremendous responsibility as well as being a privilege. I will be presiding at my first Eucharist on Sunday 29^th June at 6.30pm, and hope that members of all three congregations at St Leonard’s (8.00am, 9.45am and 6.30pm) as well as the wider church and parish community will be able to attend and share in what we hope will be a great service of worship and praise.

So, a big thank-you to all who have been part of my journey thus far; with God’s blessing I hope to grow in wisdom and grace as I continue in my ministry amongst the congregations at St Leonard’s, and in the wider community. Thanks especially to Stephen and Stuart for the wisdom and guidance on so many occasions. I must also acknowledge publicly the love and support Wendy and our sons have given me over the past years – it’s true that behind most successful men is a supportive but rather amazed wife!

Please continue to hold me in your prayers as I prepare for this next step in ministry.

Yours very truly,

Richard