Dear friends

Time certainly does fly; Christmas (as I write this is just five days ago) and New Year seem to come round quicker and quicker each year, (is that because I am getting older?) and we seem to try and cram more, and more, and more, into our lives each year as time marches on unabated.

But, is that what we should really be doing?

Surely it is we ourselves who choose to be busy? and that if we chose to do less then we certainly could do less.

There is an old, but true saying, that is you want something done then give it to a busy person, and they will ensure that the task is completed on time – and often before it is required. I am never too sure why this is the case, but it is true, and I know that when I am at my busiest, I can do so much more work than in the quiet times.

But what is work? and what is it that a Priest should be doing?

These are questions that some of my clergy friends and I have been looking at over the last year, it is something that Vanessa is also looking at as she seeks to find out what it is that God is calling her to do, and so, it may, or may not surprise you that all of us had a different view on what it is that God calls us to do in our working week.

There follows just a few of the things that we came up with:

Sacramental, incorporating Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession – feeding, preaching, teaching, reconciliation, anointing, forgiving and healing.

Ordination – setting apart – but involved with the people

Capable and willing to respond,

Visible

A Priest of, and for ALL believers (i.e. we are there for everybody)

Saving souls

Listener for everybody

Leadership – but others might do this better

Reflector of Christ in the world

Legal role – needs to be open to change – Canon Law can be changed – but takes time

Support of the community

Outward, visible sign of an inward invisible grace – a priest should reflect that

Person of prayer

A person who can reflect on the world in which we live in

Study the word of God

These are just a few of the ‘things’ that we came up with, but I did wonder what you thought?

What do you think that your Priest should be doing? and how do you support them in that task?

If you do have any ideas, then I would really like to hear from you.

We are, as a church, having to face a future of fewer and fewer stipendiary clergy, and it is therefore becoming vital that our Priests are used properly, and that others take on the tasks that can support the ministry of Christ in our local community.

Perhaps a New Year is a really good time to be thinking of this? perhaps not? but it is an issue that will not go away and it would be really, really helpful to hear your views.

It would also be good for you to reflect on what you do to represent the church in your daily lives, and how you might be able to be more Christlike in the future. A New Year is also a great time to be thinking about what roles you might be willing to take on – especially as we do need new Church Wardens in Rostherne, Dunham Massey and it would be lovely to have a Warden at Over Tabley – is this something that you might consider doing??????

May I take this opportunity of wishing you a very blessed and peaceful New Year.

I leave you with an image of one of my latest Icons. This is in the Coptic style and features the Annunciation,

Nativity and Resurrection of Christ. Robert