I suppose my journey to ordination, began long before I realised it myself.
10 years ago, I was seeking to change my busy and demanding life for a more balanced and less complicated lifestyle. I wanted to work to live and not live to work. This required some radical decisions, as a family we downsized so we could work part-time, and I decided to apply for the Children’s Ministry Officer’s job in the diocese.
Also at that time, a small group of people from our local church, ‘The Making Space Community’ were seeking to develop a pattern of prayer within our daily lives.
Prayer is powerful and as we still ourselves in God’s presence and as we seek his will and purpose for our lives, things begin to happen, and everything seems to fall into place.
In the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 6, Jesus teaches the disciples to pray and tells them not to worry about life or be anxious about what we eat or what we wear, but he says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
Prayer makes a difference to how we live and see the world, it allows us to consider what is important and what isn’t.Through prayer we gain a very different perspective, and by his grace, we can live our lives knowing that God is there with us every step of the way.
When I was asked to consider my vocation within the church, I was uncertain that ordination was the right path for me. It was not something I had envisioned for myself. I was encouraged to trust in the process and rest in the knowledge that it is God will lead and guide us in his way.
Ordination is not a destination but a gateway into another field, a new space, in which we have the privilege of serving others in the joys of life or through the sorrow of death and all the ordinary days that exist in between. It is truly wonderful to be able to offer the word and sacrament in church and to encourage and support others on their journey of faith.
I wonder, “Where is God leading you?”
- Rev Rachel Nelmes – Curate
Thanks for reading. Over the next couple of weeks, we will hear from a few people about their calling and sense of call. Rev Matt.