Another action packed day: Started with the Daily Office followed by Admin and service prep, Thursday Communion, funeral visit, service in the Crem', cup of tea, service in the church building, quick stop to chat and drink tea with the mourners, home Communions, quick bite to eat and then off to another funeral visit in a McDonald's between me and the home of the person sorting the service (so I could be somewhere between their home and mine).
A mixed and sad day as I've been taking the deceased Communion for some time now and have known them for some fourteen years and valued, respected and loved the man. The privilege of doing any funeral is always tinged with the reminder that I am not there to let my personal grief be indulged with. There's a person who I have seen on a few occasions conducts funerals at the Crem' and they invariably cry during the service - one day, without being prompted, they told me that they always find the service to be sad and 'always' cried. That made me sad because surely, if that's the case, then the service either becomes about you, leads the people into tears and exacerbates their distress (one they took had pretty much everyone howling - I know because the FD officiating called me over and pointed it out!) and takes the focus off the person in the box beside you.
From funeral to home Communions where I had the privilege of sharing my privilege with someone looking to make this ministry their own. They enjoyed the experience (I think, haven't debriefed them yet) and the next step is to run through the home Communion theology, service sheets and the way we keep the liturgical year. It is so good to have people come and ask to do stuff - a real blessing indeed.
So with two of my home Communion customers having cancelled their standing orders for a happy meal visit, I'm in the lookout for more. Thankfully have added three more customers and have the potential of two more - so the empire building continues. Have what looks like three more care homes to add to the list too so if all goes well might not only be going corporate but have another volunteer in the offing too so expanding the workforce too!
All I need is a volunteer for the admin' and I can settle down into the stuff of ministry: Winning souls for Christ and pastoring them.
Off to look at last year's stat's!
Lord, I thank You for the gifts you give, the gifts of grace which help us live, and ministering before Your throne I truly strive them all to know; and especially pray, with fervent heart, that of them all there's two whose part I pray that others they will know as in their daily walk they grow.
So Lord this day may administration and celibacy find someone with a stronger, tidier, mind.
Give me the broken and ignore my desk!
Showing posts with label funeral visits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label funeral visits. Show all posts
Friday, 17 March 2017
Monday, 27 February 2017
Journal: Wow!
I think that's the only word I can use to describe the day now past: Wow!
Talk about variety - funeral visits, home Communions, funeral service, pastoral stuff, Kid's Club, bit of time at the Monday drop in, admin (hooray), lunch on the hoof and then there was the usual stuff to add to it as a kind of garnish. If Vicars only work one day - I guess that must be me finished for the week then!!!
Was actually a bit disciplined today as the finish line was drawn and kept to - nothing after 22:00; so feeling a little pleased with myself (is this the sin of pride or the satisfaction of discipline I have to ask?).
It's been a brilliant day as a couple of people have done what they needed at their stage of selection and received a thumbs up. How cool is this - looking forward to seeing them start training in due course and make their formational journey. Another is in the final part of their training and heading towards ordination. Vocations are such a privileged place to be part of at all levels.
Lord, I pray for all who are testing and discerning their vocations - give them clarity of vision and a true self-awareness that they might find that place where the leadedness of life becomes the gold of being the person they have been called, and made, to be. Bring humility and confidence, leadership and the ability to be led by others into their realities and touch their families with your continuing grace I pray.
In a five funeral week, I pray for the wisdom to speak words of life and to reflect the deceased with integrity, compassion and freshness. Comfort those who mourn and help us to be more than just a formality. May those whom I serve in this way hear the words of life in the midst of death and be touched by Your healing hand.
For those I communicate at home, I pray that this expression of true koinonia and Grace. All are on a journey towards the grave, some sooner than later, and all, whether attending or not, are family. Bring me more people to visit and help me never to become like so many careers whose arrival is to perform whatever as quickly as possible and move on. Help me to give the gift of time and the gift of love to all I visit.
And for the pastoral matters I pray that Your hand be seen and You will be done. As You give us our daily bread - forgive our sins and make us new creations - touch the lives of the children we engage with and help them to see something compelling in the love You are.
And for tomorrow? Bring it on Lord!!
Talk about variety - funeral visits, home Communions, funeral service, pastoral stuff, Kid's Club, bit of time at the Monday drop in, admin (hooray), lunch on the hoof and then there was the usual stuff to add to it as a kind of garnish. If Vicars only work one day - I guess that must be me finished for the week then!!!
Was actually a bit disciplined today as the finish line was drawn and kept to - nothing after 22:00; so feeling a little pleased with myself (is this the sin of pride or the satisfaction of discipline I have to ask?).
It's been a brilliant day as a couple of people have done what they needed at their stage of selection and received a thumbs up. How cool is this - looking forward to seeing them start training in due course and make their formational journey. Another is in the final part of their training and heading towards ordination. Vocations are such a privileged place to be part of at all levels.
Lord, I pray for all who are testing and discerning their vocations - give them clarity of vision and a true self-awareness that they might find that place where the leadedness of life becomes the gold of being the person they have been called, and made, to be. Bring humility and confidence, leadership and the ability to be led by others into their realities and touch their families with your continuing grace I pray.
In a five funeral week, I pray for the wisdom to speak words of life and to reflect the deceased with integrity, compassion and freshness. Comfort those who mourn and help us to be more than just a formality. May those whom I serve in this way hear the words of life in the midst of death and be touched by Your healing hand.
For those I communicate at home, I pray that this expression of true koinonia and Grace. All are on a journey towards the grave, some sooner than later, and all, whether attending or not, are family. Bring me more people to visit and help me never to become like so many careers whose arrival is to perform whatever as quickly as possible and move on. Help me to give the gift of time and the gift of love to all I visit.
And for the pastoral matters I pray that Your hand be seen and You will be done. As You give us our daily bread - forgive our sins and make us new creations - touch the lives of the children we engage with and help them to see something compelling in the love You are.
And for tomorrow? Bring it on Lord!!
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
A funny sort of day
Touching base with many different people in a variety of ways - it seems that as we get closer to celebrating the incarnate we lose that self-same attribute in ourselves. Jesus, the invisible God made visible and made flesh - clergy, man made invisible, as we communicate by text, email and social media!
A quick encounter with someone by telephone is worth a hundred texts and to actually manifest ourselves physically before someone - well it's akin to a theophany in the Bible - and for some, as rare too!
Being aware of someone's existence is something but being in their physical presence is something else. As I sense God in my life I am uplifted, quickened and enabled - I call upon Him, sometimes to answer by fire as the story relating to the contest with the Baal followers, because I have a confidence that He's there. Do those I serve have the same confidence in me?
Today a day of encouragement and hope from a organisation of the same name and funeral visits, another Kid's Club, pastoral stuff and an evening off. Lost a couple of people - amazing how someone moving and changing get their mobile number can cause them to just vanish - not even the support workers can find them. It's worrying that there are so many mentally ill people slipping through the net, if the welfare state is in such a state that it can ignore and incompetently handle the mad like this, isn't it time that the Church got mad and brought some sanity to it all?
But here I am, knackered tonight, eyes heavy and it's not even midnight - the Christmas rush hasn't bit yet - there's no time - and it's always my busy time of year, because that's what I reckon the Boss always has too. So Lord strengthen me, fill me with your Holy Spirit, and make me to become an incarnate presbyteral entities - burn the paperwork and, having buried the dead, proclaim the Christ in the company of a living and broken world - in the flesh.
For all that today was I thank you and for all that tomorrow will be I bless your name.
A quick encounter with someone by telephone is worth a hundred texts and to actually manifest ourselves physically before someone - well it's akin to a theophany in the Bible - and for some, as rare too!
Being aware of someone's existence is something but being in their physical presence is something else. As I sense God in my life I am uplifted, quickened and enabled - I call upon Him, sometimes to answer by fire as the story relating to the contest with the Baal followers, because I have a confidence that He's there. Do those I serve have the same confidence in me?
Today a day of encouragement and hope from a organisation of the same name and funeral visits, another Kid's Club, pastoral stuff and an evening off. Lost a couple of people - amazing how someone moving and changing get their mobile number can cause them to just vanish - not even the support workers can find them. It's worrying that there are so many mentally ill people slipping through the net, if the welfare state is in such a state that it can ignore and incompetently handle the mad like this, isn't it time that the Church got mad and brought some sanity to it all?
But here I am, knackered tonight, eyes heavy and it's not even midnight - the Christmas rush hasn't bit yet - there's no time - and it's always my busy time of year, because that's what I reckon the Boss always has too. So Lord strengthen me, fill me with your Holy Spirit, and make me to become an incarnate presbyteral entities - burn the paperwork and, having buried the dead, proclaim the Christ in the company of a living and broken world - in the flesh.
For all that today was I thank you and for all that tomorrow will be I bless your name.
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