The Spiritual Gym invitation is simple: a gospel reading, a time of silence and then Eucharist. It draws all ages to a time of quiet reflection before work, school, or whatever the day may bring. “We are good at thinking about our physical health,” said Assistant Priest and Chaplain to Schools, Father Jack Noble. “Increasingly, we’re good at thinking about our mental health – but we are less good at our spiritual health. “We wanted to help with that.”During lockdown, the service went online, and became an instant hit with between 200 and 300 people joining in from around the world, from Nigeria to the USA. Spiritual Gym helps “begin the day in the right way” explains Fr Jack. “You just come before Jesus – and stay there. “There’s no more precious thing in the world.”One of those who has found the Spiritual Gym a helpful addition to life is classical singer Louisa Beard. “At the Spiritual Gym I feel grounded” she said. “It’s a beautiful idea. It can be very hard to be still and be with God and to make time to pray,” she said, “it’s amazing how powerful it is.”After a few months online, the Spiritual Gym is back in real live form, at least for now. Fr Jack said that he is “really surprised” by its popularity. “I thought I might be here by myself,” he laughs. But he is not.Families, including babes-in-arms, and every kind of city worker and dweller attends.“It’s not novel, or jazzy, and yet it seems to be something that people can grasp,” says Fr Jack.
“We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling…” 2 Thessalonians 1 : 1I wonder if you have ever thought you were being called to Ministry but perhaps not ordination? God may be calling you to be a Licensed Lay Minister.Today Lay Ministers serve their parishes in a variety of ways. Throughout the year we have been adapting our skills to serve both online and in person.It is my role as Diocesan Warden of the LLMs to lead, support and encourage the Lay Ministers and all parishes, and to look for new people to join us.This is a national ministry – check out our national website www.transformingministry.org.ukOn June 26 there is a very special service and Quiet Day to celebrate the Licensing of five new Lay Ministers to the Diocese. Lay people have served in this way for decades supporting their ordained colleagues and providing a strong theological preaching and teaching resource to parishes. We take funerals, serve as Chaplains, lead services, small groups, pastoral work, community service – a whole variety of things and it all begins with following our calling.Imagine a church where everyone is following their calling to serve God. A Church where vocations are recognized and valued and where the right training is given to the right people to serve the Kingdom wherever they are. That’s my passion and I look forward to making it a reality with your help. So I ask you once again – Is God calling you to serve him? If so then please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will guide you on to the right path.Jane Hiley, Warden of Licensed Lay MinistersWardenofLLMs@cofeguildford.org.uk
Click on this link to listen to the interview.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09l9h5t?utm_source=Daily+media+digest&utm_campaign=9945a4b524-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_11_27_02_01_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_296e14724b-9945a4b524-249740152&mc_cid=9945a4b524&mc_eid=1d87734465
