churches] but about the power activities. A fuller report and of more pictures will appear in love.” Cross Keys in the new year. Bishop Donald concurred. to become the people “We’re others want to join,” he said, and pointed out the growth of other denominations you there. “Are compared to the stagnation or It’s Me God” even decline of parts of the Deborah Hicks, a first year Church of is England. “God ordinand from Kettering and working outside our traditional a prolific blogger was one structures.” of the people to attend the Rachel Jordan (above), recent you being “Are National Adviser for Mission day. Called?” vocations and Evangelism set the This is an edited version of conference alight with a her article which you can vivacious presentation of read in full at facts, figures and anecdotes. www.allthroughthestorm. God “We’ve forgotten how big blogspot.co.uk. said, challenging the is,” she Way back in July my email conference to recover the pinged with an invitation from confidence that God can work Steve Benoy. Invitations bring in the seemingly most unlikely out the best and worst in me. places. A combination of - ‘oooh yeay Alongside these contributions And at the same time people!’ were thoughtful Bible Studies no - I love ‘ooooohhh people’. on Mark’s Gospel by other people but can easily Professor Paul Foster from find myself overwhelmed. The Edinburgh, witty yet also invitation was to the Are You spiritually profound music and Being Called day where lovely anecdotes from entertainer people from all over the Jonathan Veira, and a diocese can come along and selection of workshops on spend the day beginning to practical issues such as explore what God might be Messy Church (above) and saying to them about a leading a group Bible study. ministerial life. I had been The real fruits of the invited to share some of my conference will no doubt be story about exploring my call seen over the months ahead to ordained ministry. What a as ministers translate what privilege to be invited to talk they learned into their parish
churches] but about the power of love.” Bishop Donald concurred. “We’re to become the people others want to join,” he said, and pointed out the growth of other denominations compared to the stagnation or even decline of parts of the Church of England. “God is working outside our traditional structures.” Rachel Jordan (above), National Adviser for Mission and Evangelism set the conference alight with a vivacious presentation of facts, figures and anecdotes. “We’ve forgotten how big God is,” she said, challenging the conference to recover the confidence that God can work in the seemingly most unlikely places. Alongside these contributions were thoughtful Bible Studies on Mark’s Gospel by Professor Paul Foster from Edinburgh, witty yet also spiritually profound music and anecdotes from entertainer Jonathan Veira, and a selection of workshops on practical issues such as Messy Church (above) and leading a group Bible study. The real fruits of the conference will no doubt be seen over the months ahead as ministers translate what they learned into their parish activities. A fuller report and more pictures will appear in Cross Keys in the new year. “Are you there. It’s Me God” Deborah Hicks, a first year ordinand from Kettering and a prolific blogger was one of the people to attend the recent “Are you being Called?” vocations day. This is an edited version of her article which you can read in full at www.allthroughthestorm. blogspot.co.uk. Way back in July my email pinged with an invitation from Steve Benoy. Invitations bring out the best and worst in me. A combination of ‘oooh yeay - people!’ And at the same time ‘ooooohhh no - people’. I love other people but can easily find myself overwhelmed. The invitation was to the Are You Being Called day where lovely people from all over the diocese can come along and spend the day beginning to explore what God might be saying to them about a ministerial life. I had been invited to share some of my story about exploring my call to ordained ministry. What a privilege to be invited to talk