Just a reminder that tomorrow (Sunday) is the patronal festival for St Peter's Church, Hascombe at 10am.The celebrant for our Holy Communion service will be the Reverend Rutton Viccajee, who is helping us during Reverend Ian Maslin's sick leave. It will be great to see you there tomorrow.
Venerable Dr Amanda Bloor, Archdeacon of Cleveland and Director of Ordinands, specialises in helping clergy flourish in their roles and encouraging people to discover their individual gifts and callings.On top of all that she is also a writer for the BRF series New Daylight. And in some timely reflections this week on 1 Samuel she delivered her insight into having to tell a candidate that the church doesn't believe they are the right person for ordination.She explained: "It's an awful responsibility to pass on bad news. As a director of ordinands I've helped people investigate what they believe is a calling to ordained ministry. After months - or years - of discernment, they submit themselves to the scrutiny of the church and wait anxiously for a decision."Many will have their vocation affirmed, but to some the church will say: 'This is not for you.'"Having to telephone someone I've got to know very well and destroy their hopes is hard; it's a bitter blow to receive. But better that the news comes from me than a stranger."I've found that many disappointed would-be clergy recognise over time that their calling does indeed lie elsewhere. There will be times in our lives when we have to say something that is hard for a friend or a loved one to hear. Do we have the courage to speak out?"We pray for all those clergy newly-ordained this weekend. And also for the many men and women who may have been guided away from ordination at the moment. You still have a vital role to play in the church of Jesus Christ.
It will not have passed unnoticed by frustrated choristers that 40,000-plus fans were inside Wembley this week to watch, sing and celebrate England's victory over Germany in the European Championships.It was a landmark win that has delighted the nation but also prompted challenges to the lockdown rules that continue to stifle the freedom of church choirs to assemble and sing.Lady Barran (pictured), a government culture minister, attempted to defend the lockdown rules for choirs on Wednesday. Amateur choirs are limited to no more than six people indoors or 30 outdoors.The contrast between this and the football fans who failed to recognise any suggestion of social distancing could not have been more acute. Members of the Lords made clear their disagreement with Lady Barran.Lord Berkeley insisted it was mad to treat amateur choirs differently from professional singers, particularly while football fans were "singing, kissing, hugging and chanting."It is claimed that Labour, Tory, Liberal and cross benchers, and many MPs, agree on this matter. But many prefer to keep their views private - at the moment.Lady Wheatcroft, the former editor of the Sunday Telegraph, wondered what would happen if someone broke the rules. Lady Barran didn't know.
