THE RECTOR WRITES
Exciting times are ahead, as, this month, we welcome Sally Rowland as our new curate… and, for the first time in a long time, our clergy team is complete! Time for a holiday, I think!
Sally will be ordained deacon on the morning of 4th July (there are all kinds of comments I could make about that date… but I’m far too polite!) in the Cathedral, and then we will have the opportunity to welcome her to the parish at a special united service that evening at Thorpe Arnold Church at 6.00, followed by refreshments. Do come along and support her as we welcome her as part and parcel of our ministry and mission for the next few years.
I think it is perhaps a good idea just to recap what the role of a curate in a parish is. Sally is here to train, and a curacy in Leicester Diocese is between three and four years. As a trainee we will seek to encourage her to gain the widest possible experience of Church and parish life, though, as she gains in experience, she will take on certain aspects of ministry which she feels gifted at, or which are new to her. On the 4th she will be ordained Deacon and, as a Deacon, for her first year, she will be unable to celebrate the Holy Communion, give the Absolution (the prayer for forgiveness of sins) or the Blessing. However, at the end of her first year (apart from any unforeseen circumstances!) she will be ordained Priest and will then be authorised to do all that Sharon and myself do. Although I am officially her trainer, all of us play our part… and she also has experience which she will bring which will train us, and perhaps encourage us to view aspects of our churches’ ministry new ways. Exciting times ahead! Then, at the end of her curacy Sally will move on to become minister of another church and, even though this can be an emotional time, it is a really important time when all of the training will be put to good use. Please pray for Sally as she prepares to take this next step in the ministry to which God has called her.
But it’s not only curates who need to learn and grow… we all do. Later this year we will be hosting a Confirmation Service at St. Mary’s, an opportunity to confirm for ourselves promises which were probably made on our behalf by parents and godparents if we were baptised as babies. If you are aged 16+ and considering Confirmation there will be an initial interest meeting in St. Mary’s, Melton, after the morning service on July 11th (around 11.30), or just let Sharon or myself know as soon as possible… we can then work out the best time for the Confirmation preparation group to meet.
Kevin Ashby
HOW DO YOU FANCY A CRUISE ON THE AEGEAN?
That’s what the Rector is planning for next year, 17th – 26th June, calling at such places as Athens, Cenchrea, Corinth, Piraeus, Philippi, Thessalonika, Istanbul, Pergamum, Sardis, Ephesus, Miletus & Patmos… many with a link with St. Paul or St. John. Contact the Rector for more details as soon as possible… as places will be limited.
