A month had passed since the last blog piece and what a busy month it has been! In amongst the normal call of a few funerals and sermons to write there has been the pressure of all things Transition (interregnum/ vacancy) and the deep relief at all the key players agreeing that the profile and the advert are fit for purpose. ((if it interests you – they will be published at … Vacancies- Rector – The Benefice of Redruth with Lanner & Treleigh (redruthchurch.org.uk) )) I think I succeeded in consulting so much that it battered people into a state where they were happy not to be consulted any more!
I have also had the great joy of doing a couple of days of chaplaincy for the Foundations in Christian Ministry Course and for the First Post Licensing training day for the new Readers. The two things have a connection in that the FICM course is a must for all potential Readers / Licensed Lay ministers and is so well put together that as Readers we should be looking around for people who might just benefit from it and then pointing them in the direction of Sally Piper to begin the discernment process. https://trurodiocese.org.uk/resources/ministry/foundations/
Four Readers (including me!) have been taking part in the latest cohort of Sens Kernewek ((Sens Kernewek Archives – Truro Diocese : Truro Diocese ))exploring aspects of Local Lay Leadership. I have found the sessions to be interesting, occasionally inspiring and always valued for fellowship. This week we were asked to write a litany working in pairs. I was working with Alice who is doing some amazing work with Night Church as well as working with the homeless at st Mary’s in Penzance so our litany reflects the recent issues there with the vandalism of the tents and few possessions of the homeless folk being helped by the church. It is published in the next box! If I were to add an illustration it might be the cartoon in the Guardian today.
A Litany for Sens Kernewek
Alice and Jim
Call: For those who are chained by addiction
Response: This is not a lifestyle choice.
Call: For those who live and tents and doorways
Response: This is not a lifestyle choice.
Call: For those who struggle with mental illness
Response: This is not their choice.
Call: For those who are stigmatised for using foodbanks and warm spaces
Response: This is not a lifestyle choice.
Call: For those who occupy the family pew and deny change & growth for others
Response: Is this a lifestyle choice?
Call: For those who hunger and thirst to know God
Response: Life is the choice!
If I were to add an illustration it might be the cartoon in the Guardian today.