Gill & Richard

After a service at The Sands...

The dialogue with these two, especially Gill was incredible.  Slightly uncomfortable and very punchy opener from Gill about the timescales for entering ministry.  The agreed "What makes you say that?", was beautifully brushed aside by Gill and she went for it.

She then followed up by email:

Evening Matt,

Richard and I want to apologise for putting our two big feet into your situation and appearing to be intrusive.

We certainly had not intended that to be the case.When I asked someone if you were thinking of becoming a presbyter I was told you were probably candidating in January. I am so sorry. I only asked him as it was so obvious that this is what you should be doing! Please accept our apology for presuming you wanted to discuss it at all or even with us.

We were so pleased to see you again and folks at Appleby love having you. Please come again soon! We look forward to having opportunities to meet your family. Trust today has been a good day for you.

Very best wishes and prayers 

I replied:

Good evening both,

You’re so kind to write - and there really is no need to apologise. The subject has cropped up a number of times, from various corners, and I appear to have a strategy along the lines of ‘what makes you say that’ - I’m certainly not going to lie about it and it is an incredibly affirming (and ridiculously humbling) moment when my call appears to be recognised by others.

Nothing's 'been let out of the bag' - it’s a tricky question to answer and I retuned from the service yesterday and shared our encounters with Margie. She smiled.

Oh, what a challenge. It was refreshing to talk so candidly and openly about the logistics of such a ‘directional shift’ with you Gill and Richard’s wise counsel (and shared love of strong singing) was also so welcome.

Who knows what will happen, (God?), I am in the very first official stages of the process now - wonderfully titled Discerning Ordained Vocation 1.

It all comes to a head at the retreat in May as to whether I have had sufficient clarity to test this call alongside the Methodist church and if so I move on to…drum roll…DOV2. Fearful levels of organisation are being applied and I have the support of a few in and around Sedbergh including my mentor, my superintendent and my minister but most importantly my family appear to be completely alongside.

Again, thank you so much for reaching out this evening, I am very moved by you both doing so. I really do enjoy coming to The Sands and always receive such a warm welcome. It is the most diverse congregation I’ve experienced in the circuit - with their joys and challenges - I love it!

I’ll be back in a few weeks time to share a service with Andrew, I can’t wait. See you soon. I hope you both have a fulfilling week.

With all best wishes and prayerful thanks,

Matt 

Erm. Wow.