Priests: Their stories
Those being ordained for Christian leadership are not
‘perfect’ or
‘superhuman’. They are ordinary people who have
said ‘Yes’ to God’s
call and are seeking to live their lives in the light of His
forgiveness, love and purpose in Jesus Christ. For them to say Yes has
meant a call to ordained leadership, which the Church has affirmed in a
process of prayerful discernment, selection and training. Let
these
stories of ordinary Christ Followers, who want to make a difference for
God in the world, speak to you today.
See also:
Licenced Lay Ministers stories >>
Deacons stories >>
Ordained Priest 2008: |
John Goodridge During my time as Deacon, I have faced many challenges, including feelings of inadequacy and working within a large partnership plus the demands of a full time job. It is not easy balancing family, work and Church and finding time just to be. In my paid job as a Pensions Service Visiting officer, I meet and engage with some very vulnerable people in our city. I am very lucky and privileged to have a job, where I can utilise my secular and ministry training for the sake of others. This to me is an important part of my pastoral ministry. As a priest, there will be greater expectations of me from the East Bristol Partnership, which fills me with excitement and anxiety. I am very concerned about the whole area of mission, growth and pastoral commitments, yet I know God will lead me to do what he wants me to do, wherever that may be. |
| Celia Jones It has been a long journey to reach this point of my YES to God's call to become a priest; ten years as a Church Army evangelist and seven years as a Distinctive Deacon. My reluctance to take on the responsibility of leadership finally lost its hold on me through the tenacity of God's grace and the joy of healing. Coming to St Agnes Church nearly fifteen years ago was such a blessing. I learned more about the love of Christ in this inner city parish, more about the glory of God in this place than anywhere else I have been. God's longing for each us to be made whole, to reach our full potential as children of a God who loves us passionately, keeps me moving forward to serve God in the Church of England. To God be the glory! |
| Hester Jones It seems just a moment since I was preparing to be ordained Deacon at the end of September! The last eight months have been full and rich, adjusting to new experiences and places and responding to new roles and people, in Bristol, in the University and in St Mary, Redcliffe as SSM Curate. My family and I have felt welcomed and encouraged, and are grateful for so many people’s kindness and warmth as we’ve settled into our new lives here. God’s joy and peace has been with us in these moments, in the business of work and in the quietness of reflection, whether at Morning Prayer in Redcliffe or beside our pond at home, where the burgeoning life of tadpoles and other creatures reminds me of God’s wonderful creative energy at work throughout our planet. I look forward with enthusiasm and openness to all that may come in the following year, and pray that God’s grace may be with us all now and always. |
| Elaine Mills When I retired in 2002, I was able to give more time to church and to offer a couple of hours helping in the hospital chaplaincy department. Following his sabbatical, Joe Hasler, our vicar, spoke to several members of the congregation and I was suggested as a possible candidate to train as an Ordained Local Minister. The voice in my head that I had tried to ignore began to make sense, but it took me a long time to accept that I had anything to offer. I have been lucky to trial a mostly practical ‘in house’ training with the support of the people in church and other clergy. I thank them for the happiness that I have discovered during this time and I thank God for his love and trust. |
| Joseph Morris This past year has been one of enormous high points and terrific low points. Six months of arduous chemotherapy with the consultant’s prognoses that it would do little but extend my life for a few months has to be one of the lows. However ordination and beginning a curacy at St John’s in Haydon Wick have definitely been among the highs. Thanks to the prayers of many people in this county and around the world, combined with excellent treatment from all at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, I have confounded the medical opinion that I would not be alive for my ordination and indeed look like I shall be here for several more years. My family, church and diocese have all been fantastic in their care for me and I am constantly reminded that ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end…’ If I had to choose one verse to sum up my year it would be Isaiah 43:2 ‘Do not fear…when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.’ |
| Eve Pegler ‘The Lord who calls you is faithful and he will do it’ a verse from 1 Thessalonians that kept cropping up as I prepared to be ordained deacon and move to the Gauzebrook Group of Churches last year. Feeling the most unlikely candidate for ordination, God has shown us his abundant generosity and grace, as well as sense of humour, over the past year! As Jerome and I settled into life in North Wiltshire we have seen that God is true to his calling and we have experienced his faithfulness. In the past year there have been many joys and much laughter as well as challenges and consternation – but through it all God has been faithful. There has been, and still is, much to learn from Andrew and the people of Gauzebrook who have been supportive and patient with my enthusiasm and questions. As we arrive at the service to be ordained priest I really do marvel how ‘with God all things are possible’. |
| Liz Perry Growing up in an un-churched family, I was always drawn to children's literature with a Christian theme so you could say that I read myself into the kingdom! I did not find faith until I was 16; since then I have had growing and deepening involvement. I have always found myself “alongside” vulnerable people in my secular jobs which have included the Benefits Agency, Primary Care Practice Management and Church Administration. I now work half time for the Parish and half as a Support worker for Emmaus Bristol which is a community for formerly homeless people. God has taken all the threads of my life this far and woven them together to fit me for this role. Balancing family, ministry, life, and work continues to be a challenge but the threads may be frayed at the edges sometimes but have not unravelled yet thanks to God's grace! |
| Maria Shepherdson A friend celebrates 20 years of ordained ministry today. An abbot told him that it was impossible to give your entire life to God. I believe the abbot and my friend, Simon, are right when they say you can only give to God the present moment, just as it is and just as you are. And to rise to the call to give each moment as we live it, as fully and freely to God as we can, without hooks. This past year has been lived out in a place where I have been enabled to do just this. Phil and I have felt loved, welcomed and supported by Paul, the team and the congregations of Warmley, Bitton and Syston. We would like to take this public opportunity to thank them and to ask for their continued prayers as we continue to try to live each moment for God alongside them. |
| James Stevenson This last year has been a roller coaster, yet it is safe to say that, even if we find ourselves back at the Cathedral, in the parish of Henbury we find ourselves landing somewhere new. It has been a joy to be a part of two congregations that are growing in size, in faith and, most importantly, in commitment to their neighbours. On a personal note, I have found it difficult to make unpopular decisions and to live with others’ misdirected frustration. At times, Christ has become a pattern in His silent suffering, but I am slowly learning to derive my self-worth from God and loved ones, rather than the crowd. And my loved ones are growing too! As we look forward to the birth of our second child, so we look forward in hope to the next few years as we continue to serve the living God in Bristol. |
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