This morning I was invited to attend the Chaplaincy council meeting at El Portico. It was a good opportunity to meet representatives from all three centres of worship, and listen to their discussions on a variety of topics. It's nearly three years since St Christopher's first went into interregnum, and only had a full time Chaplain for a brief spell before locum clergy had to be recruited again.
In a situation where the two outer congregations are fifty miles apart, it's difficult to sustain mission and ministry in the absence of a long term pastoral leader who knows and is known by everyone, to unite, stimulate and encourage people. It's gratifying to see morale among lay leaders is as good as it is, and that so much effort goes into maintaining the routine rhythm of worship and necessary fundraising effort to ensure the chaplaincy remains viable.
The Bishop has been asked to recruit a new Chaplain. It requires the same preparatory work by church officers, but unfortunately it can take just as long as recruitment by advertising. There simply aren't as many suitable available candidates these days.
It was late by the time I'd cooked and eaten lunch and done domestic chores, so there wasn't enough daylight left for an excursion, just a walk in the dark back from shopping at the local supermarket along the coastal path, listening to the music of the sea beating on the rocks and sucking at the pebbles - a wonderfully calming way to enter a long dark autumnal night.
No comments:
Post a Comment