In Shape

Summer 2014 : Issue 13News and Stories For Your Church

ContactsIn Shape is edited by:Liz Hudson Keith CousinsMike Harrison Barry Hill Andy Rhoades

e-mail: inshape@leccofe.org The Diocese of Leicester administration and Leicester Cathedral Tel 0116 261 5200The Office of the Bishop of Leicester Tel 0116 270 8985 melaine.freeman@leccofe.org

Diary Dates should be sent todiomail@leccofe.org or entered at www.leicester.anglican.org/events by Monday 5th October. Inclusion is dependent on space available.

Signup to Diomail at http://ow.ly/k6OhN

Commercial advertisers are invited to call for current rates. The inclusion of an advertisement in this publication does not constitute any endorsement of a product or service by either the editors or the Diocese of Leicester

lives and communities transformedworship in a way that renews and inspiresself-giving service to the communitybeing rooted in prayerconfident and sensitive evangelismlifelong Christian nurturethe welcome of newcomersbecoming child friendlycelebration of people and places

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In This Issue3. Bishop’s Letter4. Curates Abroad5. Soul[food] & Seasons of Invitation6. Godly Play & Presence7. Marking World War One8. Art in Prayer9. Statistics for Mission10. Nurture? Well of Course!11. Harborough Team Focus12. The Curious Incident of the Shepherd Boy and the Philistine & The Role of the Deanery14. leicester.anglican.org/announcements15. leicester.anglican.org/events16. The Interview: The Ordinands

This is the magazine of the Diocese of Leicester (The Church of England in Leicester and Leicestershire) and is published three times a year.

The themes of In Shape are centred around the nine marks of mission identified in the diocesan vision “Shaped by God” (see list to the right)

Cover Image: Curate Revd Natalie Andrews in Trichy

The vision of Shaped by God is of flourishing mission in the four hundred established and new Anglican churches of the City and County, with each church growing in the number of followers of Jesus, in the depth of that discipleship, and in the effect that our faith has on the world around us.

Garden Zone in Cathedral Gardens - Speakers including the Bishop of Leicester, magician Steve Price, live music - including Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, bands and gospel choir, dance, mobile climbing wall, food stalls, drumming, nail painting, face painting and other festive activities. Culminating in a service of open air baptisms and confirmations at 5pm followed by free hot dogs

Spirituality Zone in Cathedral – ways of praying, 24/7 prayer, stillness.

Learning Zone in St Martins House – seminars on growth, Richard III & Leicester, baptism and all age worship, multi-faith communities and more.

Also in St Martins House - comedians Paul Kerensa & Andy Kind , ‘Lego Club’ for 4+, puppet workshops, soft play area, Messy Church session & resourcing.

Saturday 5th Julyfrom midday

Leicester, LE1 5PZ. Free! No booking required. For more on the day and on Cathedral Gardens visit www.leicester.anglican.org/garden-of-life

A festival for the people of Leicestershire to which all are welcome, including the Diocesan Assembly and the opening of the brand new Cathedral Gardens

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Bishop’s LetterSurprisingly, around Easter this year, the airwaves were full of debates about our Christian identity as a nation. The Prime Minister claimed that we were a Christian country, provoking strong reactions from many secularists. The Deputy Prime Minister pitched in by suggesting it was time that the Church of England became disestablished. And the background noise to all that was the European elections and the increasing influence of UKIP arguing for separation from Europe. Meanwhile, uncertainty continues about the United Kingdom and about the place of Scotland within it.

What does our Christian faith have to say about our national identity and about the relation between nations?

The combination between faith and national identity can be a dangerous cocktail. We have seen the consequences of it in Northern Ireland and in parts of Africa, the Middle East and in the Balkans. The illusion that God is more interested in some nations than others is something which the New Testament confronts head on: “There is neither Jew nor Greek” writes St Paul. This is why a Christian country with an established Church, ought to have something important to say about our national identity and about the way in which the whole human family is interconnected across national boundaries.

To be a follower of Jesus Christ is to see the face of Christ in others, especially in those who are different from us. In Leicester we live in a highly international, religiously and ethnically diverse city. Through this experience the Holy Spirit leads us to understand our humanity and our dependence on God.

That is why I believe the Church of England should be arguing strongly for the continuance of the United Kingdom and of the union with Scotland. For this enriches us all. And, whatever may be achieved in the reform of the European Union, it is surely of vital importance to us all that we also remain part of that union – that profound connection between nations which has built so much peace and prosperity in our lifetimes.

A Christian view of a universal God, who has entered all human life, cannot be confined to one nation state. Nor can that incarnation be seen as especially the preserve of one ethnic group. To be Christian is to be internationalist and, for the sake of all the people of England, the Church of England needs to find it’s clear voice on these issues in the months ahead.

Bishop Tim writes... Mandy Ford has been appointed Canon Chancellor and Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Southwark. This is a very significant post and we are proud that one of our own curates and parish clergy has been chosen for it. Mandy was ordained in 2000 and served as a Curate in the Parish of the Resurrection before moving to be Incumbent in Beaumont Leys. She has been Area Dean of the City of Leicester, Chair of the House of Clergy, a member of the General Synod and Chair of the Fabric Advisory Committee at the Cathedral. She has fulfilled many other roles in our Diocese and in national discussions about urban ministry. She has also completed a Doctorate as well as making a very considerable contribution to my Senior Staff Team in the last year.

We shall all miss Mandy very much. She has been a delight to work with and a distinguished, warm, prayerful member of our diocesan family. She goes with our prayers, our love and our pride in all that she has achieved.

Mandy’s last Sunday in her parishes will be on 20 July. Mandy’s licensing will take place at 3pm on Sunday 14th September in Southwark Cathedral.

The Revd Canon Mandy Ford

worship in a way that renews and inspires

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In January and February of this year two separate groups of curates visited our link dioceses of Trichy in India and Mount Kilimanjaro/Kiteto in Tanzania. Reflecting on their experience in terms of the impact, challenge and learning, here are some of the reflections from just a handful of those who went on the trip;

“The experience has broadened my horizons and given me different perspectives on church and ministry in a very different context to my own. I have been challenged by the ‘overtness’ of Christian faith in India – e.g. Christian symbols or words on vehicles and in homes – and by the prayerfulness, commitment and enthusiasm of Christians (both adults and children) we met in the churches. I think I have also gained a greater appreciation of and sense of connection with the church in India, and a greater sense of what it means to be part of the worldwide body of Christ. I hope these experiences will continue to shape and enrich my life and ministry.” Stuart Cocksedge - Trichy Diocese.

“What really struck a chord with me was their total trust and reliance and belief in prayer. That might seem a strange thing to say, shouldn’t all Christians and certainly those who are ordained live a life of prayer? But it was the way in which it was as natural as breathing, everything they did or said was rooted and grounded in prayer, and praise and thanks were offered as prayers were answered. This was done wherever people

were, at home, in the street, at work or at play. It made me reflect on my prayer life and what we teach about prayer and how we pray and where we pray. This is something I shall be exploring and looking at in my own context.” Linda Cox - Mt Kilimanjaro/Kiteto dioceses

“I was made more aware of the passion of the Christians in Tanzania and also how the Anglican Church in DMK at least seems far less broad than here in Leicester. The things we learned about church planting were really encouraging and challenging for how we would do that in this country. Can we do that in the UK? What can we learn for the UK? The importance placed on a need for buildings was interesting and it helped me reflect on how we see and use our church buildings in the UK and the importance given to places of Christian worship in a community.” Eleanor Jeans, visiting Mt Kilimanjaro/Kiteto dioceses

“What struck me most was the way the Africans were helping themselves. Having served in Africa in the late 80’s I could see a vast change. Yes there was extreme poverty and a desperate lack of education but there were many aspects of this being met by the church and centres such as Compassion. There is still a huge lack of hospital care and unemployment and a need for others to help. However the Bishop said something that I wouldn’t have heard all those

years ago, he said he appreciated help but he also wanted his people to do things themselves rather than waiting for others to send aid.”Kim Ford, - Mt Kilimanjaro/Kiteto dioceses

“I know that a key point that has come out of Trichy for me, that I’m going to be wrestling with in my context, is a sense of the equality of the partnership between Leicester diocese and Trichy diocese. Discussions before I left revealed to me that the main concept we have of India and our partnership, could be summed up as, ‘How can we help the poor people in India?’ A significant amount of my feedback is going to focus around discussions of, ‘What is poverty?’ and looking at the ways in which churches we met in Trichy have immense riches to share with us. I also know, though, that it will be hard work convincing people that our learning from India is not over when they have seen the photos! I am wrestling with how to continue learning from my experiences in the months and years ahead. I know that I would value any support the diocese can provide in this, perhaps in the form of occasional meetings for those who have been to India (both curates and congregation members) to continue to discuss what we have experienced and how it can impact – if we allow it to – on our daily lives. I would like discussions to cover all sorts of possibilities, such as worship, social action campaigning, shopping and so on.” Louise Petheram - Trichy Diocese

Curates Abroad

soul[food] Making more of occasional services

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the welcome of newcomers

A Season of Invitation began as ‘Back to Church Sunday’ in 2004, which was an annual opportunity for churches across the UK and overseas to invite people to come with them to church. The emphasis has changed from coming BACK to coming TO church, for a special reason, one which is familiar already. It’s rather like inviting a neighbour for coffee regularly, until that moment when they respond “Ok, now?”. Sometimes you need to ask over and again.

So, ten years on, we’re entering a new season, moving from one ‘invitational’ service to five:

◊ Back to Church Sunday (September)◊ Harvest (October)◊ Remembrance (November)◊ Christmas Starts (early December)◊ Christmas (December)

The reason for this change is that research shows people are much more likely to come to church and keep coming if they’re invited several times. So we want to build A Season of Invitation, with five invitational moments coming one after the other. To facilitate churches in holding these five services, we have produced attractive, high-quality invitation cards for each one, as well as a children’s invitation card that can be used for any of the services. These can be purchased through the Season of Invitation partner Traidcraft. In addition, we are providing a series of resources and local training events to help churches make the most of their Season of Invitation.

How do I take part?Register! We’d love to know which churches are taking part in a Season of Invitation, and after you’ve registered we’ll keep you updated with all the latest released resources, testimonies and information you need. Registration opened on 1st May on the website, so visit the website now.

Is it free to participate?There is no registration fee for churches participating in Season of Invitation, however we encourage churches to get their hands on an invitation pack, available to purchase from Traidcraft, via the website. Packs cost £35 each +p&p and include 50 invitation cards for each event, 50 calendar cards, posters for each service and for the whole Season of Invitation and a training booklet.

How can I buy invitation packs?Once you have registered your church to take part, you will be sent a link to order your invitation packs directly through our sponsors Traidcraft. Please note you will need credit or debit card details to place an order. Once you have placed your order you will be sent a confirmation email/receipt by Traidcraft, and your packs will be delivered directly to you within 14 days. Delivery is £4.99 per pack)

If you don’t know who your local champion is for Season of Invitation, drop us an email at team@seasonofinvitation.co.uk or beth.marvin@leccofe.org and we’ll put you in touch with the appropriate person.

Throughout the year parish churches make thousands of brief connections with people (at weddings , funerals, baptisms, mothering Sunday, Remembrance, Christmas, Easter, harvest to name just a few). Whilst the nature of some of these services mean that many may be visitors to the church and we may not see them at another service for a while, if at all, we do have an opportunity to support them in starting to explore faith. soul[food] is a simple initiative to try and do just that. It’s been developed and successfully piloted in Birmingham and St Albans Dioceses and we now have spaces for 25 churches in Leicester Diocese to try the next pilot before it goes live nationally.

Churches using soul[food] leave, or give out, beautifully designed, credit card sized cards, or reproduce the key details from them on PowerPoints and service sheets, for example at a wedding or harvest service. Guests are invited to text or e-mail soul[food] to receive seven days (one a day) of text length ‘thoughts for the day’, bite sized if you like!, on the theme of whichever service they were at. At the end of the seven days, they receive an invitation to sign up for a further 21 days of messages called [lifesteps] which develop further the links between faith and life. At the end of the 21 days they are signposted to websites which help them explore the Christian faith and ways to connect again with a local church.

It’s all very gentle, written specifically for people without a background in the Christian faith or as part of a church, with the aim of helping people explore the next steps. It doesn’t replace a nurture or evangelism course, but might feed into one. It also makes the most of one of the least utilised form of church communication – text messages! Subscribers tend to open about 30% of their Twitter messages, about 12% of Facebook posts to them, 22% of bulk email messages but 98% of all text messages (with an average text opening time of just 5 seconds!). Text messages are a simple way of delivering mini-bite sized thoughts to people for whom they could help fan into flame the sparks of an interest in faith.

For the 25 churches who sign up, they commit to attending a training evening on Thursday 25th September, to use soul[food] over the following year, and then to help us learn lessons from the pilot afterwards. In return they will receive free training and heavily subsidised materials (roughly £40 to take part, with additional bursaries for those for whom £40 is prohibitive).

It’s first come, first served, so sign up with beth.marvin@covlec.org (or leave a message on 0116 261 5348) as soon as possible. For more information visit http://www.soulfood.me/ or contact louise.warner@leccofe.org (0116 261 5313) or barry.hill@leccofe.org (0116 261 5335)

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becoming child friendly

I wonder what comes into your head when I hear the phrase Godly Play? Do you immediately think play means what you might find in a playground or hear Godly and think the two words could not go together? Godly Play is a specific form of storytelling that can have a remarkable impact on those that participate, including adults, developed by Jerome Berryman from the belief that the Montesorri approach to education could have value for spiritual formation. Here are two examples of how it is being used in the diocese.

Godly play, a first experienceI was first introduced to Godly Play at Cliff College as part of my Children Mission and Ministry Diploma studies. I found the storytelling captivating and couldn’t wait to try using the stories with the children I work with. The stories draw the children in and encourage them to wonder about them in their own ways. Each child experiences something different and sometimes very profound thoughts and ideas arise even from familiar Bible stories. I am now planning to be trained and am excited to explore how Godly Play will impact the spiritual development of children in my parish. Ali Goodman, St Luke’s Church Thurnby

Godly Play in the Cathedral.Over the past few years Godly play has been used on a regular basis in the cathedral, with people from various backgrounds. It is most commonly used with school groups as part of their visit to learn about the Christian faith. The location of the stories is considered with two perfect locations being the West Doors of the Cathedral with the story of Moses leading the people to safety across the red sea, and St Dunstans Chapel where there is the Icon of Abraham. These stories both involve the use of sand, a few people and minimal other equipment. Both of these stories are from the Sacred stories of Godly play and from the start there is minimum interaction with

the children. It is often said that the story is sacred for me (the storyteller) so I want to watch the story; can you do the same? There is no eye contact until after the story is finished. Children of all ages have no problem interacting with the story and are often mesmerised with the movements of the sand and the people’s journeys across the desert.Children as young as 4 have experienced Godly Play stories, with their teachers commenting on how well they interacted with the whole story. This was evident in February when we had a visit from 60 children aged 4 and 5. The class teacher was shocked that the group of 30 listening to the story of Moses leading Gods people to safety were all quiet and intent on watching every move I made. When I looked up she had called over other members of staff team to watch the children’s reactions. To facilitate the training of adults Godly play has been used with groups of teachers, student teachers and people from other faiths. Adults often find it harder to initially become part of the story. One particular memory of using Godly play with the regular Cathedral congregation was on a community weekend to Launde Abbey. During the Sunday Eucharist the Children sat at the front of the chapel to tell the Godly play story to the congregation as the Old Testament scripture. The children had managed to learn the actions for the different parts of the story creating a lasting memory

. . . opened in the summer of 2013 in an old Church building near the city centre that had been redundant for over 25 years. With the aid of the Growth Fund we were able to set up a specialty tea room in a marquee we had put in an aisle of the church. This provides community meeting space and a place of hospitality for local residents, workers and shoppers. Alongside the tea room there is art space for local artists to exhibit their work and prayer spaces and installations for people to use.

Godly Play for a member of the cathedral congregation present for the weekend.

However it is used, Godly play provides a rich and stimulating environment for people to develop their own thoughts. The questions after the story are open ended and used to allow the audience to answer freely without being afraid of answering incorrectly. After a few friends have had their turn, and not been told an answer is incorrect, children who in a classroom are afraid to answer for fear of getting it wrong will pluck up courage and give their opinion. Many teachers are interested in using it further in their classes and in my opinion seeing a child smile when you tell them that their answer is interesting is rewarding. I have also found that when older school groups interact the questions can lead to debates which they want to take back to their class, so promoting further work around the topic. Bev Farrand , Leicester Cathedral

The UK Godly Play site is godlyplay.org.uk. If you would like to find out more, or look at some resources, contact Louise Warner, Children and Families Officerlouise.warner@leccofe.org, T: 0116 2615313 Details of Godly Play training can be found at www.leicester.anglican.org/diocese-office/children-young-people and in the Mission and Ministry Events Programme.

We open mainly on weekend afternoons serving tea for those passing by and increasingly for people who return regularly either as a stop off place or to meet and talk or pray. One example was a young Latvian woman who visited us for the few weeks she was in the UK last autumn. She found out about us through a flyer through her door and came to a meditation session. She had no faith or church background and came to every meeting we had there for a month, resolved to find somewhere back home that could give her the peace she said she always found when we met.

Presence Tea Art and Soul Space...

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self giving service to the community

and support churches in their engagement with the commemoration can be downloaded from: www.leicester.anglican.org/world-war-1-commemorations Projects so far have included churches working in partnership with local community groups to reflect on stories behind the names on war memorials; churches working closely with uniformed organisations on research and the production of a WW1 exhibition; a ‘community day’ including a short service of commemoration, a reconstruction of the famous ‘truce’ football match and distribution of ‘retro’ copies of John’s Gospel with a WW1 theme; a church fete and horticultural show themed on WW1; a vigil evening at Leicester Cathedral marking the link between “lights going out all over Europe” and WW1.

And don’t worry if you think you have missed the boat with this 100th anniversary. There are key events throughout the period 2014-2018 which may fit with your particular community – see www.historylearningsite.co.uk/timeline_of_world_war_one.htm/ for an example of a list of key dates and events in WW1.

And here’s a few other ideas;

Book discussionHave an evening or two to discuss various books connected with WW1, such as Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, War Horse or Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, and the issues of Christian faith this raises

Poppy GardenMake a poppy garden inviting people to add their name, to the poppy when they place it in the ‘poppy field’ to show that they are praying for peace or to add a picture / name of a loved

The First World War began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. The hundredth anniversary of the start of the war will be marked nationally in a variety of ways, including a vigil for peace and remembrance at Westminster Abbey on 4th August. The day that the U.K. declared war on Germany.

Churches across the country are invited to have some time that day when their churches are open, to provide space for prayer and reflection. Clearly this is not an occasion for “celebration” but it does provide an opportunity to think and take stock, not least on a wide array of themes such as war and peace, sacrifice, forgiveness, faith etc. Churches are well-placed to mark this centenary, not least because of rich experience of Remembrance Sunday worship and activity and with there being a vast number of memorial tablets in the places of worship in the Diocese which remember local people.

Different organisations have offered ideas for marking the centenary in different ways. Recognising the significance and missional opportunities surrounding the 2014 events the Diocesan Growth Fund has made available 40 grants of up to £250 each for mission events associated with this commemoration. Some practical ideas and a range of resources and contacts for partner organisations to resource

Marking World War Oneone that died in WW1 or in conflict since.

VisitsVisit the Stanley Spencer ‘Heaven in a Hell of a War’ at Somerset House London WC2 from 7 November – 26 January 2014 www.somersethouse.org.uk

FilmsHave a film night or series of film nights with discussion to follow looking at the issues the Great War raises like salvation, forgiveness etc

Bibles, talks and assembliesDuring WW1, millions of special ‘active service’ editions of John’s Gospel were handed out in the trenches. They contained a testimony from a war hero, the text of the Gospel and a simple card which people could complete indicating they wanted to follow Christ. There is both sadness and deep hope that so many bodies were identified by the name on this response card. SGM Lifewords have reproduced this Gospel and are making them available for free (donations welcome for bulk but not necessary). Some churches are considering handing one out to every school child in their area at special assemblies exploring the theme. Or giving them out at Senior Tea or U3As (University of the Third Age) to accompany a talk on faith during the war. Get them here: www.greaterlove.org.uk/greater-love-resources.html

Whilst we’re just a few months into the project we’re finding that we’re able to offer a place of hospitality and prayer for mainly unchurched people which they value and have been able to make useful community links such as DMU’s Square Mile project and to work with local schools. We’ve had successful art and photography exhibitions and are seeing increased interest and involvement of students and staff from DMU a result. We’ve seen small but steady growth of people using our building and attending worship events on Sundays.

Relationships are growing in depth; students and graduates are helping us with art, craft and spirituality workshops and are starting new social gatherings such as a monthly gaming meeting at the tea room. Regular urban retreats are increasing the quality of discipleship for our own church people and those across the city/county. At this early stage we are hopeful and confident of continued growth of the project in an area of the city overlooked by the Church for a long time and are looking forward to more fruit in the coming months.

Presence was part funded by The Growth Fund

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being rooted in prayer

“Unless the eye catches fire, God will not be seen” – so said William Blake, that most visual of mystics. We can be wary of the visual and art in our Christian practice, concerned about setting up “graven images” or pictures that distract rather than focus us on the person and way of Jesus.

Jesus himself suggests we use creation and ‘pictures’ of creation around us to connect with God, Jesus asks that we “see the lilies of the field” (Mt 6.28) and he speaks about ensuring that our way of looking be hospitable to light not darkness (Mt 6.22-23), avoids judging (Mt 7.3-4), cultivating lust (Mt 5.27) and Jesus sees all sorts of humdrum items (mustard seeds, leaven, salt etc) as pregnant with revelatory possibility! Small wonder then that there is a long and rich

history in the Christian tradition connecting the visual and art with spirituality, a subject addressed recently in Leicester by Sr Gemma Simmonds, a Roman Catholic nun and lecturer on spirituality at Heythrop College, London. Sr Gemma spoke particularly of the work of the German artist and priest Sieger Koder, noting how the details of his pictures are designed to slow us down, cultivate our attentiveness and sensitize us to God’s activity, both in scripture and our lives now.

One piece, “our family tree” (left) depicts many of Jesus’ morally questionable and often flawed ancestors, in a tree shape beneath Mary holding

the baby Jesus at the top of this tree. The picture illustrated that “God is the sum of our failures” said Sr Gemma, the Christian God being a God who can make of our brokenness and wrong turns that which can save us, a truth most vividly seen in the cross. With these and many other examples Sr Gemma demonstrated the ways in which art can enable and enrich our spiritual journies and illuminate our faith.

As food for thought, given that Jesus says the first commandment is loving God

with all that we are (Mt 22.37), presumably including our eyes, we might ask how we are worshipping God by the way in which we look, what we gaze upon and how this cultivates a love for God and of what God loves.

How are you looking?

Eyes of Faith

Conversing With GodMy name is Nathan Obokoh and I am a part of Holy Trinity Leicester. I use art as a way of conversing with God as well as sharing and stimulating His revelation in others. I find real joy in using my creativity to honour God but you don’t need to be really good at art - we are all made in the image of The Creator!

For anyone interested in exploring prophecy and art I will be opening a group to do this at Holy Trinity Church feel free to contact me on nathan.ob1@gmail.com. But for anyone who wants to try this for themselves here are some general guidelines for stepping out in prophecy:1. Focus on Jesus and rest in Him - don’t strive.2. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with love for the people you are ministering to.3. Lay down your agendas.4. Be hungry for words or images that comfort, encourage and strengthen.5. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father’s heart for the people you are ministering to.6. As words, images etc. come to mind ask God questions about them and thank Him.7. Draw what you have seen in faith even if it seems unusual!You can then begin to weigh the prophecy against scripture and the witness of the Holy Spirit in you.

#Mini-Reviews

“Unbelievable” by Malcolm Duncan and published by Monarch, an accessible book for “the person in the pew”, about the power of honest faith in a sceptical world using the Apostles Creed to

highlight scriptural truths. 10% off this book when you mention In Shape.From Christian Resources Leicester (0116 261 5222, enquiries@christianresourcesleicester.com). Mini-reviews by Christian Resources.

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Are you a Christian and an artist?If so, Veritasse is a collective of Christian artists who sell their work as part of their ministry. Buy others works and explore the suitability of your own here: www.veritasse.co.uk

…that’s probably the best summary of the annual Statistics for Mission returns, which hundreds of Churchwardens and clergy completed during January and which gave one window into what God has been doing in the Anglican churches of Leicestershire during 2013. The patterns of previous years continued with around 2,000 people joining worshipping communities during 2013 (over 1,000 having not been part of a church before).  Just under 150 people left church altogether and a further 500 worshippers died during the year.  Of far greater importance than the larger overall numbers is that every ‘1’ represents a life, a person called by God by name to be His child, an individual hopefully coming to know more of the fullness of life Jesus offers to all. That said, the overall numbers confirm the trend of the past five years that God is sending many people to His church.  The challenge of how we help each person grow is addressed, in part, by the article elsewhere in this edition on nurture courses.  John Stott once famously wrote that he thought most people in England weren’t Christians not because they had made a conscious decision that the things of God were untrue, but that they thought it was trivial.  How as a church do we show to our communities and to those who come closer to God that following Jesus is as far from trivial as it is possible to be?!

A fuller summary is available to download here: www.leicester.anglican.org/shaped-by-God/statistics-for-mission or by calling 0116 261 5335 but it is also worth highlighting work amongst children and young people.  At a time where some council services for children and young people have ended, it is encouraging that almost 2,000 volunteers feel called to work with the younger generations in churches, together offering around 2,000 hours per a week (plus a further 500 paid hours).  However this comes with a challenge: given that European Values Study found that, ‘among Anglicans who say religion is very important in their lives, only 36% listed religious faith as an especially important quality that children can be encouraged to learn at home, compared to good manners (94%) or tolerance and resect (83%)’ only a very small proportion of both paid and volunteer church hours are spent ‘support and developing families’.  How we might do more together to help parents nurture and pass on faith to children (and learn from that

lives and communities transformed

Plenty of Growth and a few challengesfaith for themselves)?Three other headlines of note:

◊ Churches in Leicestershire continue to take around 40 baptisms, 50 funerals and 20 weddings every week.  Together they equate to over 300,000 visitors at these services alone each year – a significant opportunity to show faith is not trivial!◊ Around 100,000 people attended special Advent and Christmas services – Christmas remains head and shoulders above any other single time of the year as an opportunity to show how the events of a manger 2,000 miles away, 2,000 years ago still make a difference today;◊ Churches reported 117 fresh expressions (new forms) of Church (well on the way to the 2030 diocesan vision of 320 maturing Fresh Expressions).  Other research found almost 15% of all worshippers are part of a fresh expression of Church, with around 40 Messy Churches alone!  For every one person that has started a new Church in recent years, over three people are now part (with many new people not coming from a church background).

As Bishop Tim writes in his introduction to the report, “On any reading of the Gospels, it is clear that it is the task of Christians to make disciples. We are called to invite others into the fellowship of those who follow Jesus Christ. From time to time it is important to pause and consider how well we are doing that …We all know that in the end it is not in our own strength that this work is done, but in the power of the Holy Spirit … year by year the information which we receive about the fruit of our mission becomes increasingly important in helping us understand what God is calling us to do and giving us the tools to do it.” During August, the annual Mission and Ministry events brochure will be published for 2014/15.  It contains dozens of events, open to all, and specifically crafted to help us respond to what God is doing through and amongst us.  Copies will be automatically sent to many of those who hold an license, authorisation or specific office, but if you don’t get one and would like a copy contact Claire Stapleton on 0116 261 5317. 

Art and PrayerPainting, whether it is doing it ourselves or looking at another’s work, can be a means whereby God opens us to Himself.Giving ourselves time…..to look, carefully. Have I really seen all that is there or only what I thought was there,. so often there is more.

What are the thoughts and feelings that come to us….the questions? Give the painting time to come to us so to speak and allow ourselves time to respond, to be moved by it and have the time to reflect on that response. The same painting may evoke different reactions a week or even a day later.

All this can lead us into sharing with God and listening to His response. We may feel that we would like to paint . What is your mood at the moment? How would you put this onto paper?What sort of lines match how you are feeling, what colours do you want to use? The aim is not to produce a work of art but a work that speaks to God from where you are and in the creating leads you on..

There are common threads here with prayer and painting. Give both ourselves and God time….to look, reflect….feel, discern, relaxing into the experience and being both trusting and patient.

As in prayer, you may find yourself wanting to learn more about an artist, why he chose to paint, what he discovered, his challenges and you may want to hone your skills and discover a little more of how to do it.

It’s intriguing to reflect on how painting and prayer have common threads.

Valerie Joyce

10

being immersed in prayer, developing a culture where everyone in the church invites friends, leaders who draw out and honour what God is already doing in a person’s life whilst also not being afraid to challenge and stretch, helpers who can speak readily about what God is doing in their life and how following Jesus makes a difference. These values can sometimes seem a lot to aim for, but all are possible to develop further if there is a willingness to do so. Where to start?In three places:

1. Prayer.2. Developing a culture of noticing God’s activity and inviting others to experience and explore.3. Training leaders. Even if you have been running nurture courses for years it is critical to keep returning to these three areas (not least because if they are making a difference there should be new people coming to faith and going deeper and further with God).

Of all the nurture courses, arguably The Alpha Course has the best resources for training leaders and helpers (not just in the practicalities but in the values and roles of helping people explore faith). Most of The Alpha Course Leaders Training isn’t specific just to Alpha so if you are looking to start almost any course, using their leaders training could be a great place to start. Maybe joining with other churches in your Mission Partnership or Deanery might help share both the load and the learning. Three myths it’s worth debunking: nurture courses don’t need to led by the clergy, or in the church building, or for a large group. Sometimes two people in a home can be even more helpful for them. The Mission and Ministry Team have also produced a resource called The File – a file containing many of the one off sessions we are asked to run by churches. They are written in such a way that it doesn’t need an expert to lead them, they appeal to a range of learning styles and provide all that is needed to run them. They have recently all been put online at www.leicester.anglican.org/shaped-by-God/the-file There are two sessions especially relevant to nurture courses: The Faith Journey (which explores how people are coming to faith today and how the church may respond) and Sharing our faith (space to think about the stories of what God has done in our lives and

confident and sensitive evangelism

Over the past decade, many churches have found nurture courses, such as Alpha, Pilgrim, Table Talk and Christianity Explored, have been significant in helping people dip their toe in the waters of what it means to follow Christ. Every year God sends new people who weren’t previously part of a church, to the vast majority of churches in Leicestershire. How do we help each person grow into what God calls them to be. To come to know Him and grow as a disciple of Jesus. Nurture courses can be key… Why run a nurture course?Over the last two years thousands of churches, including many from Leicestershire, took part in the largest ever piece of research on church growth in the UK (see more here: http://www.leicester.anglican.org/statistics-for-mission) The evidence suggests that running nurture courses helps churches grow more effectively than many other activities, but also gives a new lease of life to congregations who are feeling weighed down by the day to day burdens of church life! Which one?There is a potentially bewildering number of courses out there to suit different learning styles, approaches and cultures - some emphasise more of the rational reasons for belief, some are more experiential, others focused more on the relational. One new course which is worth especially noting is the Pilgrim Course, which one clergyperson who has used it has written a little review here for. The Mission and Ministry team produce Stepping Stones, a free guide to nurture courses which is available on the diocesan website (http://www.leicester.anglican.org/the-file/) or from 0116 261 5335, but it is worth bearing two things in mind which considering a course. Firstly, they don’t all have the same aim or starting point – some courses focus on helping people express a mild interest in spirituality, others in taking that interest and helping them overtly explore who Jesus is (and everything in between). It isn’t that one approach is better than another, just that they are different. The main questions to consider should be who are the people God is connecting you with, where are they in faith and what would help them take the next steps. Secondly, how the course is led and engaged with is of considerably greater importance than which course is chosen – values like the course

how we share these stories with others). Other sessions include Intentional Evangelism and Welcoming those who are new to church. And finally, it is easier to spend more time on the practicalities of organising a course than on praying for those who God is calling and personally inviting them. It can be more daunting to invite, for example, a neighbour who was recently married in the church, than to offer to make a lasagne for an evening. Both are important and both get better and easier with practice! God promises to be faithful and with us in all that He calls us to, so pray, invite and maybe you’ll be surprised! One church in the diocese recently took the bold step not to publicise its forthcoming Alpha Course outside the church at all! Instead they spent time and focus helping church members invite their friends, who then came with them for the course - it went amazingly well! Five Top tips

1. Start with the end in mind – pray specifically for what you want to see and then expect God to do it!2. Spend more time on inviting people and encouraging others to invite people than on the practicalities of the course3. Look into which course us most suited to those you want to invite4. Train leaders and helpers well ahead of time – try and invite helpers who are newer to faith themselves if possibl5. Get into a habit of running them (the first and sometimes second time most courses run it is attended mostly by church members looking to grow themselves or see whether suitable to invite a friend to, this is good, but don’t give up there, the most effective courses are run habitually with the best people to invite others those who are just finishing the last course)

And finally, you are not alone! There is plenty of help available – contact anyone in the Mission and Ministry team (0116 261 5317) to chat more or to borrow some of the popular courses. There is likely to be a church nearby running a course you could observe or help at and the Growth Fund is available to apply for start-up grants for www.leicester.anglican.org/shaped-by-God/growth-fund Barry Hill, Diocesan Mission Enabler,barry.hill@leccofe.org

Nurture? Well of Course!

11

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and it now annually supports our link dioceses in Africa.Having an annual focus has strengthened us as a Team, has helped the development of our shared mission and ministry and has often given rise to good fruits we hadn’t imagined.

Richard Brand

There are also articles in the Team magazine.The results of each year’s focus vary and we are keen to stress that the year may often be the beginning of an idea not just a year to look at something and then moving on. For example in the year of focus on ‘social and world engagement’ one PCC began reflecting upon its outward giving, but it wasn’t until into the following year that it reached a point when it was ready to commit to a significant change

Within a Team of churches each church often has its own priorities for mission and ministry. Eight years ago, in the Harborough Team, we decided to introduce an annual theme across the Team to ensure that, alongside what each individual church may be doing, we made the best use of our Team resources to develop a common area of our Christian life.

Over the years we have focussed on nurture, worship, prayer, social and world engagement, pastoral care, growth, Sabbath and this year the bible.We launch the theme with a ‘Team Day’ on a Saturday in late January by going somewhere ten to twenty minutes outside of the parishes to ensure there is a sense of an ‘away day’. We usually invite an outside speaker to lead us in part of the day as we introduce the year’s theme. The time also gives us the opportunity to reflect, celebrate and give thanks for the good fruit that has come in the previous year; and it’s a chance to build friendships and meet new people from across the Team churches. We had over 70 people from across the different churches this year.On these days we also let people know how we plan to take forward the theme through the year. This year we are running a Lent Course on ‘The use of the bible in prayer and worship’; in the summer we are having a sermon series on Ephesians; in early autumn there will be a short series on the origins of the bible; finally, in November, visiting speakers will help lead a series on ‘What the bible really says about…’ looking at issues such as money, marriage and the environment.To reinforce the theme across the Team bookmarks are produced for everyone; posters for our church notice boards for the year and a strapline used on the weekly notices sheet.

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As part of their lent series, Area Dean of the City of Leicester and Chair of the House of Clergy, Mandy Ford, was asked to preach at St James the Greater, Leicester on “the joy of belonging to a deanery”. Afterwards, it was suggested that her sermon would be the basis of a helpful article for In Shape readers. Excerpts are reproduced below:

The joy of belonging to a Deanery!“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.

In a conference address to Deanery members in 2010, Bishop Nick Baines said this: “For organizations to be successful they need a clear purpose, the right leaders and a commitment to action. The church and its structures are not there as an end, but as a means of spreading the Good News, otherwise we are wasting our time.” This is a challenge to me, as the Area Dean, and to all of us as members of the Church of England – and as members of the Deanery of the City of Leicester. How does belonging to a Deanery connect us to our real purpose – which is to love God and to share his good news with our neighbours in everything we say and do?

You can be forgiven for thinking that the deanery is just another layer of bureaucracy and meetings – perhaps you even know old joke which asks the definition of a deanery synod, and answers “ a room full of people waiting to go home.” But deaneries have a noble history and an exciting future in God’s mission. The office of rural dean was first recorded in the laws of Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, the dean being appointed by the bishop “to have the inspection of clergy and people.” At a time when the population of England was only just over 3 million, and the church was divided into just 15 dioceses, (we now have 42)it was still important for someone to have oversight of the local church and to support the clergy. The deaneries took their form from the arrangement of “hundreds” – a grouping of 100 households – in an age when a household included not only the extended family but its attendant servants and bondsmen. They seem to have consisted of something between 30 and 40 parishes.

lifelong Christian nurture

It was while a young Andrew Watson was listening to a crushingly dull sermon on how the internal combustion engine could be seen as an analogy for God’s love that he began to sense God’s calling to him. Not that the preacher had succeeded with his bizarre analogy – rather the opposite. Andrew was so angered by this clueless presentation of the gospel that he began to sense a passion within himself for proclaiming the gospel. To cut a very long story short, this resulted in Andrew offering himself for ordination and two decades later he now finds himself as the Bishop of Aston. Bishop Andrew used this illustration at the annual diocesan vocations day in March 2014 where he was key note speaker, making the point that whatever it is we feel passionate about might be a clue as to what God might be calling us to do and be.

He pointed out that all of those who are baptised are called – the question is to what, and Bishop Andrew encouraged us to reflect upon this question. He did so with reference to a little used but well known scriptural text – the story of David and Goliath (1 Sam 16-17). Bishop Andrew flagged up many details in this story which can help us as we seek to know what God might be asking of us. For example, David is described in the text in Hebrew not simply as the youngest but as the “runt”, the “after thought” of the family, seven being the perfect number of sons and David being the 8th son. Nevertheless, it is David who the prophet Samuel says is chosen by God for a particular task. Surely an encouragement to us should we feel unworthy for a specific role, activity or position – and underlining the importance of people in encouraging one another, we need to be Samuel to other Davids at times. Or again, when David faces Goliath he refuses the armour he is offered as this would encumber him and weigh him down. There is always the danger with vocation and calling that we are being squeezed into someone else’s armour and this can actually prevent our giftings and strengths from coming to fruition.

Many more details emerged from Bishop Andrew’s patient analysis, too many to list here, but one of his headlines was that we live in a world which seems to implicitly realise we are so much more than we seem and that there is so much more we can become and realise.

Bishop Andrew mentioned how the Harry Potter series, the Narnia films and even Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory all in different ways contain the theme that we are so much more, our lives are potentially so much bigger than they are now …that in Christian terms we are not just “little me” but daughters and sons of the King of kings. The question is how do we live into this identity and calling.

Of course sensing God’s call may not mean going somewhere else or doing something different, but being what we already are in more self-consciously Christian ways – not necessarily doing extraordinary things with love but doing ordinary things with extraordinary love, to paraphrase Mother Teresa. On the other hand it may mean a new venture, taking a risk and stepping out, be it in service or work in the community or wider world or in a role within the life of the Church.

If you would like a conversation about calling then please feel free to contact Mike Harrison, Director of Mission and Ministry, Mike.Harrison@leccofe.org, who can put you in touch with a member of the “Called” team to explore with you what that might mean for you. It’s unlikely to involve slaying a monstrous Philistine, but it may include a surprise or two along the way.

The Curious Incident of the Shepherd Boy and the Philistine

The Joy of the Gospel!Lay Congress: Sat 8th

November St Martins House

Living in times when there are many challenges to faith and much to be preoccupied with in maintaining the church, we might easily become downcast and cheerless in living out our faith. Yet those who seek to follow Jesus are encouraged by him to know and share his joy – so what does this joy look like and what are the disciplines, the practices and the habits of heart and mind that can help us to share in Jesus’ joyfulness? How is it we are to truly be his joyful disciples, come what may? The Lay Congress is devoted to this topic with keynote speaker Dr Jane Williams, broadcaster, author and lecturer in theology. Other speakers include Sister Frances Dominica, founder of the world’s first children’s hospice, Bishop Tim Stevens and Dean David Montieth. There will also be a choice of workshops led by Dr. Williams, a panel discussion and Eucharist. All lay people welcome and this event is FREE. Spaces are limited and by ticket only. To get your ticket contact: claire.stapleton@leccofe.org, T: 0116 261 5317

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But we are all members of the Church of England, so we are called to take responsibility for our relationships with each other – and to recognize that we depend on each other. A deanery chapter (the meeting of clergy) or synod, is small enough to mean that when we discuss difficult issues we are having those conversations with people we know, not with faceless strangers who we might be less concerned about. Learning to listen to each other and to the Holy Spirit together is a vital part of our life as a deanery. It helps us to see just how varied are the ways of God – and that can help us to have confidence in our own local experience and to know that we don’t have to do it all.

We can be confident that God is at work in these things and in many activities faithfully carried out day by day, week by week and year by year. However, I am sure I don’t have to tell you that we face challenges...

To read the rest of Mandy’s talk, contact her for the full text at mandyford@btinternet.com

Deanery synods – in which the clergy and elected laity would meet together were established … in 1969. They were intended to give a voice to the laity and to provide the electorate for both Diocesan and General synods. Deaneries are usually consulted on matters of significance before a vote is taken in the diocesan synod. In my adult lifetime this has occurred four times – with relation the ordination of women, to the Anglican-Methodist covenant, the Anglican Communion covenant, and now the consecration of women as bishops.

So how does this extra layer of organization between the Dioceses and the parish help the mission of the church? It is clear that in the last ten to fifteen years, right across the church of England, there has been more and more emphasis on deaneries as the place to join up local and diocesan mission planning. Almost every diocese sees the deanery as the right place for strategic decisions to be made, in the light of the challenges we face as a church. We all do things differently, but deaneries are seen as a key tool for change.

And here comes the good news…there are reasons why the deanery is the best place to incubate change. First, the deanery is local but not too local. Most of us have a sense of our city, its geography, the communities who live in each area, the challenges and opportunities around us. But being part of a deanery helps us to have a vision which goes further than our own locality.

Second, deaneries are big but not too big. Most of us have a sense of the variety of the churches in our city, the churches with musical tradition, the places where students congregate, the anglo-catholic and the evangelical, the little estate churches and the greater centres of worship. Being part of a deanery helps us to have a sense of the gifts God has given to each of these churches so that the wealth of Anglican worship and mission is represented in our deanery.Thirdly, within the deanery we are different but not too different. That rich variety means difference – which at times can stretch to disagreement.

leicester.anglican.org/announcementsthe Bishop announces...

Revd Brian RobertsonRetirement as Team Rector of the Benefice of Ashby-De-La-Zouch and Breedon-On-The-Hill.

Revd Dave ApplebyNew Appointment: Team Vicar in the Plymstock and Hooe Mission Community in the Diocese of ExeterPrevious Appointment: Rector of the Benefice of Aylestone St Andrew with St James

Revd Jennie ApplebyNew Appointment: Self Supporting Team Vicar in the Plymstock and Hooe Mission Community in the Diocese of ExeterPrevious Appointment: Team Rector of the Benefice of the Emmaus Parish Team

Revd Lynn PadmoreResigned as, Team Vicar in the Ascension Team Ministry

Revd Trevor Thurston-SmithNew Appointment: Incumbent (designate) of the new Benefice of WigstonPrevious Appointment: Priest in Charge in the Benefice of Broughton Astley, with Croft, and Stoney Stanton

Mr Ivan BennettNew Appointment: Lay Associate Minister (voluntary) in the Emmaus Parish Team with responsibility for the Ecumenical Church of the Nativity.

Canons of Leicester Cathedralthe retirement of the Revd Canon Anne Horton as Canon of Leicester Cathedral. Anne has been appointed as Canon Emeritus.and the appointment of the Revd Jeff Hopewell as Honorary Canon of Leicester Cathedral.

Revd Keith ElliottIn Addition: Warden of EvangelistsCurrent Appointment: Vicar of the Benefice of Thorpe Acre with Dishley within the Akeley East (Loughborough) Deanery

Revd Paul BromileyRetired as Master of Wyggeston’s Hospital

Revd Suresh KumarResignation as Priest in Charge of St Philip’s Church, Leicester and Chaplain at the University of Leicester. Suresh is returning to the Diocese of Trichy in India in June to take up the post of Bishop’s Secretary but hopes to continue as Trichy Link Officer.

Revd Peter CollinsNew Appointment: Rector of the United Parish of Hykeham in the Diocese of LincolnCurrent Appointment: Priest in Charge of the Benefice of the Upper Wreake

Revd David LowerNew Appointment: Priest in Charge of St Paul’s Clacton on Sea and working in time as an Associate Minister at St Bartholomew’s, Holland on Sea in the Diocese of ChelmsfordCurrent Appointment: Assistant Curate in the Benefice of the Sileby, Cossington and Seagrave

Revd Tim DayNew Appointment: Team Vicar in the Benefice of the Fosse Team in the Goscote DeaneryCurrent Appointment: Assistant Curate (NSM) in the Benefice of Holy Apostles, Leicester

Revd Eleanor JeansNew Appointment: Associate Vicar at Christ the King, Kettering in the Diocese of PeterboroughCurrent Appointment: Curate in the Benefice of the Cornerstone Team

Revd Chris WebbNew Appointment: Diocesan Spirituality Adviser and Deputy Warden of Launde AbbeyPrevious Appointment: Vicar of the United Parish of Lampeter in the Diocese of St David’s, WalesLicensing: Mon 28 July 7.30pm at Launde Abbey.

Revd Felix SmithNew Appointment: Assistant Curate in the Parishes of Billesdon cum Goadby and Rolleston, Skeffington and Hungarton and Keyham in the Coplow Benefice with effect from 1 April 2014Current Appointment: Assistant Curate at the Cathedral of St Paul, Dundee

Revd Julie Ann HeathResignation as Workplace Chaplain which will coincide with her completion of the role of Cathedral Chaplain. Julie Ann will be given Permission to Officiate.

Revd Canon Mandy Fordsee page three

Revd Rosemary FairhurstNew Appointment: Canon Residentiary (Canon Chancellor) of Leicester Cathedral.Current Appointment: Currently working to explore the potential for a new monastic community based at Bromley by Bow Church and Centre in the Diocese of LondonLicensing: Rosy will be installed at the Cathedral on Sunday 7th September at 3pm.

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Leicester’s rich diversity in both religion and culture provide the ideal backdrop for stimulating teaching and discussion sessions exploring different perspectives and shared experiences. The programme is delivered by skilled and dedicated staff enriched by guest speakers who offer a personal perspective on religion in the community together with invited academics in the field of religious dialogue. A generous bursary scheme is available for this course. For a prospectus, to find out more or make an application, go to http://www.stphilipscentre.co.uk/study/pg-courses/ email: admin@stphilipscentre.co.uk or telephone 0116 273 3459

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leicester.anglican.org/events

15

More Organ Gems on an Organ GemSaturday 28th June - St Mary’s Church, Humberstone starting at 5pm. Arias by Ireland, Finzi, Handel and Mendelssohn Organ pieces by Muschel and Tambling.

Great Bowden Music FestTuesday 3rd July - July 3-6th . For tickets and info greatbowdenmusicfest@gmail.com or 01858 465186

Coffee Morning St Margaret’s LeicesterSaturday 5th July - 10 am - 12 noon. Many stalls, including a raffle. Admission free and refreshments are available. For more contact Janet Bass 0116 2244307 Also Saturday 2nd August and Saturday 6th September at the same times

Teas in Church Sundays in JulySunday 6th July - Teas in St.Peter’s Church, Tilton on the Hill the four Sundays in July the 6th - 13th - 20th and 27th. 3 - 5 pm

Lunchtime Recital St Margaret’s LeicesterThursday 10th July - 1 pm - 1.30 pm (approx.) Dr. Simon Ainge - Organ. Admission free tea and

coffee provided. For more contact Kay Harpin 0116 2993241 Also Thursday 14th August with David Crick - Organ and Thursday 11th September with Roxy Summerfield - Organ

Craft Fair and Refreshments (Coalville)Monday 25th August - Open 10am - 4pm at Christ Church Halls, London Rd, Coalville, LE67 3JA. Craft stalls plus refreshments. Organised by and raising funds for St Peter’s Church, Bardon Hill. www.stpeterbardon.com

Our award-winning retirement housing is open and only a few apartments are still available!

Pilgrim Gardens is a warden managed, assisted living complex next to Evington Park, Leicester, with 31 one and two-bedroom apartments for rental or leasehold purchase. Prices range from £115,000 to £145,900.

Call 0300 303 8455, or email pilgrim.gardens@pilgrimsfriend.org.uk to arrange a time to visit. See the virtual tour on www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk

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The Leicester & Peterborough Branch of the Guild of Vergers.

Calling all VergersAre there any members of your congregation in your Church/es that perform the role of a Verger, whether employed full or part-time, voluntary, robed or unrobed?

If so, did you know that there is a thriving Leicester & Peterborough Branch of Vergers who meet during the year for fellowship and support, and you would be most welcome to join us at any of our meetings.

We are one of 25 Branches who belong to the Church of England Guild of Vergers. The CEGV is “a fellowship in Christ, seeking concord amongst its brethren. It exists to assist us to appreciate the Spiritual nature of our vocation and ministry as a Verger in the House of God”.

If you do not at present have a Verger but would be interested in hosting a meeting of the Branch, or for any further information please contact the Secretary:

Mrs. Kathryn Mobbs Dip.GV(Hons)30, Wanlip Avenue BirstallLeicesterLE4 4JP

Tel: 0116 2677156 Email: clivekathryn@yahoo.co.uk

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“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.” (John 15:16).

These words remind us of the calling to all Christians to be fruitful and to live our lives in the service of others. For many people that calling will be as a lay person bearing fruit through the everyday contacts that they have but for others, there may be a specific calling to a particular ministry such as ordained ministry, Reader, Pastoral Assistant etc. In this article we hear three stories of people about to be ordained who, over a period of time, have felt God calling them to a new ministry and who have been prepared to take the risk of exploring that. For each of them, there have been sacrifices but each of them also has a deep sense of fulfilment in that they know now that this is what God is calling them to.

The Church needs people like Anne, Ed and Liz who are prepared to take risks and ask God what His call is to them. I wonder what God might be calling you to and have you dared to ask? If you have, why not have a chat with one of your clergy and begin that exciting journey!

Sue Field (Director of Ordinands) sue.field134@gmail.com

Anne Crosby (above) , writes, My vocation took a long time to discern,

beginning, but not acknowledged, as a child, at Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar.

While worshipping in the Parish of the Resurrection, Leicester, I began to explore my vocation, attending the Diocesan Exploring Christian Life and Faith Course. As I acknowledged the call to ordained ministry, I felt like a worm wriggling on a hook at the end of a fishing line, struggling to get away.

Instead I trained and was licensed as a Reader, but it felt like only a part of what God wanted me to do. I continued to feel that God was calling me to be a sacramental priest, representing Christ more fully by enabling others to realise their true identity as God sees them. God continued to prod me. While exploring this very strange idea, I was filled with trepidation, which God balanced with joy and hope.

Ed Bampton (above), writes, “As a research scientist, I felt I already had a vocation. So when I first heard a gentle call, seeing God’s love at work in people’s lives in my involvement in Cursillo, I refused to listen. God tried calling louder and I remember being asked at a Cursillo meeting by three people I had never met when I was starting training for ordination! Failing to take even that hint, a few years later another stranger asked if I was

training for ministry. I replied ‘no’, at which point he said simply, ‘well, why not?’ Why not indeed, but for me being called was more than just these moments. I needed to be transformed into a willing hearer. Through the blessings of marriage and the birth of my son God helped to change me as a person. Finally I was able to fully hear, realise and act on God’s gracious call.”

Liz Wilson (above), writes“Six years ago my world as I knew it had fallen apart. The night the crisis came to a climax, was the night that I cried out to God. I had not been a churchgoer for over 15 years, yet God had not lost his faith in me. My life changed direction that night. If I had not reached this catastrophe, I would not have turned to God and not started the journey to ordination.

A year later I had tentatively started going to Church, and it was my boss, who suggested I contact the Workplace Chaplain, based in the Cathedral. It was with her, that I heard my call to ordination. We were reading John’s gospel together, and suddenly she stopped me and said; ‘I need to tell you something’; and I knew instantly that she was going to tell me that I should become a vicar, and she did!”

You can watch a video of the ordinands talking about how they felt God’s call atwww.leicester.anglican.org/vocations

The Interview

Anne, Ed and Liz The Ordinands

#Mini-Reviews

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Mini-reviews by Christian Resources.