Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Shane R]

For me, there is great comfort in donning the vestments. In a sense, I am being swallowed up as an individual and need not worry about how I feel. I am donning the 'robes of righteousness' as it were and presenting only an icon of what the church has been, is, and should be. And it brings a beauty to the worship service that is important to understanding the glory of Christ expressed through our liturgy.

 

[Paidiske]

I've heard other people express the same sorts of ideas, Shane, but there's something in me that's uncomfortable with the idea of the erasure of the self. I think, for me, there's something important about the particularity of individual people, who are able to model for the whole community responding to God's grace in love and obedience without losing any of our particularity.

I'm not sure I've expressed that well.

It may be related to the experience I had when, at college, we talked about wearing jewellery when presiding, and some people talked about taking their wedding rings off. And I was horrified at what came across to me as the public repudiation of a faithful spouse in that way. I found the idea insulting to my husband!

 

[gordonhooker]

I've heard other people express the same sorts of ideas, Shane, but there's something in me that's uncomfortable with the idea of the erasure of the self. I think, for me, there's something important about the particularity of individual people, who are able to model for the whole community responding to God's grace in love and obedience without losing any of our particularity.

I'm not sure I've expressed that well.

It may be related to the experience I had when, at college, we talked about wearing jewellery when presiding, and some people talked about taking their wedding rings off. And I was horrified at what came across to me as the public repudiation of a faithful spouse in that way. I found the idea insulting to my husband!

I totally agree with you outside of the Sanctuary as far as the role model goes - but in the Sanctuary I think it is best to give oneself up and to empty oneself totally as Shane says in his post above.

 

[Paidiske]

Resolution: In my new parish, I will keep my filing up to date, and not let it pile up until the in-tray is overflowing.

(Says she, neck deep in random bits of paper, trying to sort it all out before moving house...)

 

[Catherineanne]

I've heard other people express the same sorts of ideas, Shane, but there's something in me that's uncomfortable with the idea of the erasure of the self. I think, for me, there's something important about the particularity of individual people, who are able to model for the whole community responding to God's grace in love and obedience without losing any of our particularity.

I'm not sure I've expressed that well.

It may be related to the experience I had when, at college, we talked about wearing jewellery when presiding, and some people talked about taking their wedding rings off. And I was horrified at what came across to me as the public repudiation of a faithful spouse in that way. I found the idea insulting to my husband!

Priests do not need to remove their wedding rings when presiding at Mass. That is a very bizarre idea.

 

[gordonhooker]

Priests do not need to remove their wedding rings when presiding at Mass. That is a very bizarre idea.

Yep.... there are some pretty bizarre ideas out there...

 

[Paidiske]

Some people do it, though, even if they don't "need" to.

 

[Catherineanne]

Some people do it, though, even if they don't "need" to.

Their choice. As long as their spouse doesn't object I suppose it is up to them, but there really is no liturgical reason or doing so.

 

[Shane R]

The readings for Trinity III were: 1 Peter 5:5-11 and Luke 15:1-10. I worked mainly with the Gospel.

 

[SnowyMacie]

The readings for Trinity III were: 1 Peter 5:5-11 and Luke 15:1-10. I worked mainly with the Gospel.

Good picture. My rector joked on Trinity Sunday this past one about how our Deacon always "volunteers" to preach, and looks forward to when he volunteers to preach next year on Trinity Sunday as well.

 

[Paidiske]

In my last year as a theological student, I was "volunteered" to preach on Trinity Sunday. Afterwards, my supervising vicar did a lovely thing by praising my preaching on FaceBook... where he promptly got roasted by other clergy for leaving something so important to a student.

 

[Paidiske]

So, eleven years almost to the day since I first approached the church saying "I think I might be called to ministry," I'm now a vicar.

Sitting here this morning trying to get my head around everything I need to do in this new role, feeling ever-so-slightly surreal...

 

[Padres1969]

So, eleven years almost to the day since I first approached the church saying "I think I might be called to ministry," I'm now a vicar.

Sitting here this morning trying to get my head around everything I need to do in this new role, feeling ever-so-slightly surreal...

Wait is that a new role for you being vicar?

If so congratulations. If not belated congratulations.

 

[gordonhooker]

So, eleven years almost to the day since I first approached the church saying "I think I might be called to ministry," I'm now a vicar.

Sitting here this morning trying to get my head around everything I need to do in this new role, feeling ever-so-slightly surreal...

Onya you go Girl! Now don't the the cranky old church wardens get you down and watch out for the ones out there just waiting for you to say the wrong thing in a sermon.

PS and be careful of the crotchety old Sacristan who gets upset when you leave things lying around the vestry..... (Yikes wait a minute that would be me.... )

 

[Paidiske]

Wait is that a new role for you being vicar?

If so congratulations. If not belated congratulations.

New role as of Wednesday evening. Before that I was still a curate. Thank you!

Fortunately, gordon, I spent several years working as a verger for the cathedral here in Melbourne, so I've been well trained in keeping an orderly sacristy. Hopefully I won't upset anyone too much for the first week or so...

 

[gordonhooker]

New role as of Wednesday evening. Before that I was still a curate. Thank you!

Fortunately, gordon, I spent several years working as a verger for the cathedral here in Melbourne, so I've been well trained in keeping an orderly sacristy. Hopefully I won't upset anyone too much for the first week or so...

You mean assistant curate don't you?

 

[Paidiske]

Well, yes, if one is being technically accurate, but I think the colloquial "curate" for the assistant in a training role is well understood.

I am somewhat amused at the way today turned out. They tell you, before you get to this point, that the way you implement change early in your time as vicar is important. I had all sorts of ideas about what I would and would not hurry to change, but I did not envision my first change being to mastermind an upgrade of the parish office computer.

But when I discovered that it had so little RAM that they hadn't been able to receive parish email for a week, clearly fate had intervened!

 

[gordonhooker]

Well, yes, if one is being technically accurate, but I think the colloquial "curate" for the assistant in a training role is well understood.

I am somewhat amused at the way today turned out. They tell you, before you get to this point, that the way you implement change early in your time as vicar is important. I had all sorts of ideas about what I would and would not hurry to change, but I did not envision my first change being to mastermind an upgrade of the parish office computer.

But when I discovered that it had so little RAM that they hadn't been able to receive parish email for a week, clearly fate had intervened!

Only if you don't understand what a curate and an assistant curate is, but starting life as a baptised member of the Church Of England I know the difference. I don't know that the amount of RAM has anything do with the ability to receive email but I wish you well with that.

 

[Paidiske]

Well, the IT person in my life (my husband) said the computer had so little RAM it couldn't run Outlook and Word at the same time. I don't really understand these things, but I've learned to trust his expertise, so... new office computer it is.

What amazes me is they've let it be this bad, apparently for quite some time, and just muddled along without trying to do anything about it!

 

[SnowyMacie]

so little RAM it couldn't run Outlook and Word at the same time.

How old was that computer?