For anyone starting out in curacy this summer, here is an A-Z of what I've learned in the past year... #curacy #ordination
A is for Admin
I would love to start with something deep and theological like 'Alpha' or 'Apostle'. But Admin, I'm afraid to say, is a dominant theme. I came to ministry from teaching, but the church is even worse for paperwork.And all of the training...was it always like this?!
I would love to start with something deep and theological like 'Alpha' or 'Apostle'. But Admin, I'm afraid to say, is a dominant theme. I came to ministry from teaching, but the church is even worse for paperwork.And all of the training...was it always like this?!
B is for Books.
You'll love collecting books. And they'll look great on your bookshelf. I recently discovered a brilliant Japanese word - tsundoku. This is 'acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them.'
Get used to it!
You'll love collecting books. And they'll look great on your bookshelf. I recently discovered a brilliant Japanese word - tsundoku. This is 'acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them.'
Get used to it!
C is for collar.
The dog collar will change the way people look at you and talk to you. For some it will open doors, for others it will create a barrier. For some, it will invite a warm smile, for others, you will be looked at as if you have three heads.
The dog collar will change the way people look at you and talk to you. For some it will open doors, for others it will create a barrier. For some, it will invite a warm smile, for others, you will be looked at as if you have three heads.
D is for death
After the year we have had, death and grieving will linger. People haven't said goodbye in the way they'd wish. Others have died in pain and alone. Others may have lost a loved one years ago, but it has hit them harder than ever. This will take years to unravel.
After the year we have had, death and grieving will linger. People haven't said goodbye in the way they'd wish. Others have died in pain and alone. Others may have lost a loved one years ago, but it has hit them harder than ever. This will take years to unravel.
E is for education
It's kind of expected that you are committing to lifelong study, but if you are doing an academic course in curacy (like me), it is very different to theological college. Parish ministry is the main bit. The study is the add on. It's hard to strike a balance!
It's kind of expected that you are committing to lifelong study, but if you are doing an academic course in curacy (like me), it is very different to theological college. Parish ministry is the main bit. The study is the add on. It's hard to strike a balance!
F is for family and friends
Stay in touch with the people who mean the most to you. Commit to seeing and contacting them regularly. WhatsApp group chats are great. They will keep you sane.
Stay in touch with the people who mean the most to you. Commit to seeing and contacting them regularly. WhatsApp group chats are great. They will keep you sane.
G is for gifts
Your parish may welcome you with great generosity. Be prepared for this! We have received a human sized teddy bear, a 12-foot trampoline, the use of a holiday home and lots of packs of really nice biscuits. Such a blessing!
Your parish may welcome you with great generosity. Be prepared for this! We have received a human sized teddy bear, a 12-foot trampoline, the use of a holiday home and lots of packs of really nice biscuits. Such a blessing!
H is for Holidays
Book them early. They are your fixed points to break up the year and get you out of the parish. Make the most of them.
Book them early. They are your fixed points to break up the year and get you out of the parish. Make the most of them.
I is for intercessor
One of the attributes listed in the ordinal. As soon as you are ordained, you are recognised publicly as a person of prayer. Strangers will confide in you, when they wouldn't before. It is a privilege but can be a burden too.
One of the attributes listed in the ordinal. As soon as you are ordained, you are recognised publicly as a person of prayer. Strangers will confide in you, when they wouldn't before. It is a privilege but can be a burden too.
J is for juggling
I have really struggled to find my rhythm. I constantly feel as if I am juggling the demands of ministry, study and family life, especially as we have had to move twice. My TI is great. He says 'family first' - but it doesn't stop me feeling guilty.
I have really struggled to find my rhythm. I constantly feel as if I am juggling the demands of ministry, study and family life, especially as we have had to move twice. My TI is great. He says 'family first' - but it doesn't stop me feeling guilty.
K is for kairos
I really believe the church is experiencing something of a kairos moment as a result of the pandemic. This is a great opportunity to come into ministry. Don't fall into the trap of 'getting things back to normal.'
I really believe the church is experiencing something of a kairos moment as a result of the pandemic. This is a great opportunity to come into ministry. Don't fall into the trap of 'getting things back to normal.'
L is for landscapes
For so much of this year, we haven't been able to worship in churches. In Bridlington,I take the church outdoors. I film morning prayer with the seascapes as my backdrop. Taking church out of the building enables us to appreciate the beauty of our local area.
For so much of this year, we haven't been able to worship in churches. In Bridlington,I take the church outdoors. I film morning prayer with the seascapes as my backdrop. Taking church out of the building enables us to appreciate the beauty of our local area.
M is for morning prayer
Gathered Sunday worship may have taken a hit, but morning prayer has never been so popular. Be it on Zoom or Facebook or YouTube,there's been a renaissance in the daily office as thousands of Christians join together each morning.There is power in prayer!
Gathered Sunday worship may have taken a hit, but morning prayer has never been so popular. Be it on Zoom or Facebook or YouTube,there's been a renaissance in the daily office as thousands of Christians join together each morning.There is power in prayer!
N is for names
Since you will be on screen a lot, people will know you, but you won't have a clue who some of them are. You will quickly learn how to have a conversation without letting on that you don't have the foggiest who you are talking too.
Since you will be on screen a lot, people will know you, but you won't have a clue who some of them are. You will quickly learn how to have a conversation without letting on that you don't have the foggiest who you are talking too.
O is for online worship
You are in a unique position, entering ministry at this time. Priests have always struggled to find fellowship and worship opportunities themselves. Now, most churches run an online service each Sunday. I enjoy a Sunday afternoon worship tour!
You are in a unique position, entering ministry at this time. Priests have always struggled to find fellowship and worship opportunities themselves. Now, most churches run an online service each Sunday. I enjoy a Sunday afternoon worship tour!
P is for pioneer
I've never quite understood the need for specific pioneers in ministry as we are all called to be pioneers - especially in times such as this. Look for new opportunities. Hopefully your TI will give you the chance to try things out.
I've never quite understood the need for specific pioneers in ministry as we are all called to be pioneers - especially in times such as this. Look for new opportunities. Hopefully your TI will give you the chance to try things out.
Q is for quiet
Find space to listen - to others, to God and to yourself. Remember you have more to learn than to teach.
Find space to listen - to others, to God and to yourself. Remember you have more to learn than to teach.
R is for reflection
It's a buzz word. You will be told that you need to do more reflection. I haven't done enough. My 'excuse' was that my time had been taken up with moving. "You could do a reflection on moving," they said. I pointed out that I'd been too focused on unpacking.
It's a buzz word. You will be told that you need to do more reflection. I haven't done enough. My 'excuse' was that my time had been taken up with moving. "You could do a reflection on moving," they said. I pointed out that I'd been too focused on unpacking.
S is for spiritual direction
This is the best thing I have in place for my own spiritual development. I meet a 90-year old lady every few weeks and we go through Ignatian spirituality together. In winter lockdown, we met in a bus shelter. She wears crocks. I think she's great.
This is the best thing I have in place for my own spiritual development. I meet a 90-year old lady every few weeks and we go through Ignatian spirituality together. In winter lockdown, we met in a bus shelter. She wears crocks. I think she's great.
T is for Tweets
You will have heard this, of course, but think before you tweet. Curacies have fallen through because of careless words. Also, remember that your views may be very different to those in your parish, and that at times you will need to represent them.
You will have heard this, of course, but think before you tweet. Curacies have fallen through because of careless words. Also, remember that your views may be very different to those in your parish, and that at times you will need to represent them.
U is for unexpected
Curacy is going to be very different to what you'd expected. Your ordination will be too. I've found this more of a positive than a negative.
Curacy is going to be very different to what you'd expected. Your ordination will be too. I've found this more of a positive than a negative.
V is for vicar
The best Training Incumbents are critical friends - not too much of a friend and not too much of a critic. Be honest. Be loyal. Show respect. My TI says that when I do something well, I can take the praise, but when I make a mistake he will take responsibility.
The best Training Incumbents are critical friends - not too much of a friend and not too much of a critic. Be honest. Be loyal. Show respect. My TI says that when I do something well, I can take the praise, but when I make a mistake he will take responsibility.
W is for word
Preach the word. Be prepared in season and out of season. That is the fundamental part of our calling. How often we fall into the trap of neglecting this and get ourselves worked up about things of little consequence!
Preach the word. Be prepared in season and out of season. That is the fundamental part of our calling. How often we fall into the trap of neglecting this and get ourselves worked up about things of little consequence!
There's a 25 tweet limit on a thread so I may have to leave it for X (phew!), Y and Z...but Z, of course, would have to be Zoom.
Thanks for taking the time to read these. Hopefully some of it might have been helpful.
God Bless as you look to ordination!🙏😃
Thanks for taking the time to read these. Hopefully some of it might have been helpful.
God Bless as you look to ordination!🙏😃
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