tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5366621735995057721.post8260811557581242599..comments2024-03-17T09:17:01.454+00:00Comments on Vic the Vicar!: Short periods of boredom insterspersed with . . .Vic Van Den Berghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581156515370131898noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5366621735995057721.post-17790777023929631812016-12-03T06:36:16.936+00:002016-12-03T06:36:16.936+00:00I'm not sure that you could describe this as a...I'm not sure that you could describe this as a typical day in the life of a Country Parson?<br /><br />But it sounds like the life of a Working Priest in a wide community, striving to build the Kingdom with the people in that place (or places) dependent upon the number of churches involved.<br /><br />Even here in a single church parish, the Vicar and Curate and Ministry Team are kept busy, day in and day out. We are blessed with people who've come forward to train as Pastoral workers, to share the load, but not enough to take over completely, and there will always be the case, that people expect to meet someone in a Collar, rather than a lay worker.<br /><br />Things that bring hope are the preparation of people to share their stories, and to meet them where they are. We don't have a Kid's Club setup, but do have Sunday Club, and four youth organisations, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides and Rainbows associated with the church, who attend as groups and tell us about their activities. Last Friday evening, the new Brownies in one Group (about 20) came into church and made their promises in public, which I found moving - and the activities that they engaged in in searching out parts of the church and answering questions were good, as was their singing of several songs about Jesus.<br /><br />We thank God for our Church Hall, which is a focal points for these groups, for our outreach activities and provides space for many local groups to use to meet and their activities. We have ambitions to do more, and pray that people come forward to work with them.<br /><br />One little step at a time, building the Kingdom of God.<br /><br />This morning of to a Deanery organised Quiet Day for Advent in an Anglo-Catholic Church, which does things differently from our middle of the road parish, but is very active locally. Daily services, two church halls and a Church School - the Vicar is leaving for a new role after 12 years in post, our Arch Deacon was his predecessor (keeping it in the family) who is also himself covering a vacancy in a troubled parish in the Deanery, until a new way forward for them can be found. They are a traditional parish, who suffered a bit with the last incumbent, who wasn't real in sympathy with their traditions. Hoping that it will recover as they are in the centre of an area of the Deanery, where real poverty, deprivation is an issue. There is a great need for lively, active involvement in their patch.<br /><br />UKViewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18114944341930758335noreply@blogger.com