Rob Little was licensed as a new Lay Minister at St John in Bedwardine in Worcester yesterday. The service was conducted in his home church by Bishop Alan Winton, former…
Licensed Lay Ministers, sometimes known as Readers, are authorised in particular to exercise a ministry of preaching and teaching and offer lay leadership in Mission. They undergo a two-year training course before being admitted to the role. After being licensed they carry out a wide range of tasks within their parishes and beyond, especially helping others to reflect on their faith and how it relates to their daily lives.
Rob has been a member of St John in Bedwardine for over 20 years, serving as an Authorised Lay Minster (ALM) for a number of years before training for Reader Ministry at Queen’s Theological College in Birmingham. He said:
“I had been feeling very conscious of the limits of my ALM role and although I didn’t think I wanted to move into a more formal ministry role, the idea started to take route after I attended an online event looking at the different types of ministry available. I realised that I wanted to learn more about my faith and then share that knowledge with others. The training was challenging but enjoyable and I am looking forward to my new role with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as I put into practice everything that I’ve learnt. It has also sparked a hunger in me to continue to learn and read more as I continue to explore my faith.”
Co-warden of Readers, Kath Davis preached at Sunday’s licensing service. She said: “Today is a beginning and not an ending. Even though you have finished the official training, you now need to build on that foundation as you continue to learn to be the person that God wants you to be. There is aways something new to learn in our journey of faith as we take that understanding into our hearts and lives. My prayer for all of us is that our relationship with God continues to deepen every day.”
Alongside Rob’s licensing, Sunday’s service was a celebration of all those who are Licensed Lay Ministers across our diocese. A number of Readers achieved long service awards, including Ron Rust from the benefice of Stoulton w Drakes Broughton & Pirton. Ron received a certificate marking 50 years as a Licensed Lay Minister.
At the recent Clergy Conference, the diocesan stewardship team launched a Boomerang offering, to help activate generosity across the Diocese. Each person was given a £5 note to take home, pray with and see what act of generosity God was calling them towards. We also asked them to share their stories of how the money was used.
Many of our churches hosted ‘light parties’ at the end of October as a popular alternative to Halloween. Some of our renewal churches hosted the biggest celebrations.
The Revd Sarah Gillard-Faulkner has been appointed as the new Managing Chaplain at HMP Long Lartin. She took up the role in mid-October and was officially licensed by Bishop Martin in Cathedral Evensong on Monday.
Our diocese has been awarded £3.6 million to continue to support churches as part of phase two of our programme to ensure our churches are healthy and sustainable for the future.
Kelly Gordon is a member of Wordsley Parish in Greater Dudley Deanery. She has recently been selected as one of only three people in the UK to be part of the Leaders Europe programme within the Obama Foundation.
St Peter’s CE Academy and St Peter’s Church in the Saltway Team have been awarded a silver Church and School Partnership Award recognising the close relationship between the church, school and local community.
This year’s Church of England Advent and Christmas theme focuses on the first and greatest Christmas gift of all: the gift of God being born as one of us in Jesus Christ.
An article from Archdeacon Mark for December editions of parish magazines.
The Muslim-Christian dialogue group in Lye, Stourbridge, arranged a litter pick on 31 October to clear up two local streets.
A new singing group for children will launch at St Peter’s Centre at Pedmore Church on 15 November, 10 years after Singing Angels originally began at St Andrew’s Church on the Straits.
