This is it then - today I will become a Vicar. I will finally formally have the title I have used so often during my curacy so I didn't have to explain to people the difference between one kind of priest and another. I can't wait to get my church keys and start having a really good root around, finding out where things are and what things do.
From what I've read elsewhere in recent blogs from others in similar situations (thinking particularly of Vernacular Vicar's) the biggest struggle might be pacing myself. The working day/week is as long as a piece of string. It's a great and lively parish which already has a lot going on and loads of pro-active members of the congregation. What will God's vision be for us here? I take on board concern shared by a colleague this week who said "It's reached that point when I need to know it's our vision, a shared vision - not just mine."
Watch this space!
The pilgrim road goes on
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
Weird Gaps in Time
Not a reference to an exciting new episode of Dr Who I hasten to add. I haven't posted here for some time as I have been in the middle of a move. Moving from my curacy to my first parish as vicar. (note if you follow the link - that fella in the collar on the homepage isn't me ;-)
I am to be vicar (as of the day after tomorrow) - though of course not 'incumbent' - as we are all now licensed under Common Tenure. As we are all now supposedly on the same terms and conditions I am unsure why some posts are still advertised as 'priest-in-charge' and others as 'vicar' - this used to be seen as differentiating between a 'vicar' who was an incumbent with freehold, and someone for whom the bishop was not extending that privilege.
Anyway - we have moved house, said a fond farewell to a parish and colleagues who have given me a brilliant curacy, and have been dealing with new nurseries, a new school, a big fight with BT over broadband service and vicarage phone number and all the other joys of change. It has been a limbo-like few weeks - suspended between one place and another.
I'm excited about the challenges the new parish will bring, giddy to think about what God might have in store for this place and these people. I feel both well prepared (nearly 10 years now since all this vocation stuff started - and that was without a hitch or a hiccup), and also completely clueless. I'm trying to embrace this too in a "Hey, God, look at my blank canvas - come and make art!" kind of a way.
I think the blog may get a bit busier the next few weeks.
I am to be vicar (as of the day after tomorrow) - though of course not 'incumbent' - as we are all now licensed under Common Tenure. As we are all now supposedly on the same terms and conditions I am unsure why some posts are still advertised as 'priest-in-charge' and others as 'vicar' - this used to be seen as differentiating between a 'vicar' who was an incumbent with freehold, and someone for whom the bishop was not extending that privilege.
Anyway - we have moved house, said a fond farewell to a parish and colleagues who have given me a brilliant curacy, and have been dealing with new nurseries, a new school, a big fight with BT over broadband service and vicarage phone number and all the other joys of change. It has been a limbo-like few weeks - suspended between one place and another.
I'm excited about the challenges the new parish will bring, giddy to think about what God might have in store for this place and these people. I feel both well prepared (nearly 10 years now since all this vocation stuff started - and that was without a hitch or a hiccup), and also completely clueless. I'm trying to embrace this too in a "Hey, God, look at my blank canvas - come and make art!" kind of a way.
I think the blog may get a bit busier the next few weeks.
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