Chaplain’s Blog — Stardate 27:10:2026
Monday 2nd of November has come around very quickly – 10 months of the years have flashed by and we are nearly 2027! Readers in Conversation is 10am on Monday morning on Zoom. Hopefully the following post will give some fuel to our discussions.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86332023762?pwd=dDNlU240UWpiRzlCWE0zL2pTcXdmdz09
Not only months have flown by but also years; It’s hard to believe how quickly they have gone! I took over as Chaplain to Readers from my good friend Chris Kingshott after the Readers’ Quiet Day for Advent in 2015. The earliest published blog post I can find dates back to March 2016.
The website is now ten years old and showing its age. These days, we can share so much by email and on social media that it no longer really meets our needs. So, before the next payment is due in early 2027, I’ll be closing it down and putting it to bed! I’ve tried to clear away many of the dead links and outdated information, but I’m leaving the blog posts there for now. If you fancy a browse through the archives, you’re very welcome.
Looking for those early posts has sent me rummaging through a decade’s worth of material on my hard drive. This one is about our Quiet Days, which sadly fell by the wayside because of the costs and low attendance.
In that first blog post I wrote:
“It has been an interesting first few months as chaplain to readers and a huge privilege to be able to talk, share with and pray for such a wonderfully diverse group of people. Conversation topics have ranged from the affects of Alzheimer’s on carers to the changes in our ministry as our health changes and from the promises we make on licensing to our need for spiritual feeding and companionship.
I see the role of chaplain as more than a designated prayer person for Readers, although it is important and I do pray for you all daily. I send out cards and write to people but there is no substitute for conversation so if you would like to speak to in confidence to someone impartial but understands the role of Reader please do contact me. I am quite happy to chat on the phone or to meet in person even if it does men a car journey.
As a chaplain, I have much to learn – so anyone with bright ideas is particularly welcome!
The first Quiet Day passed with much approval from those attending. We were fortunate to have some really thought provoking input on the subject of spiritual direction that certainly had several participants considering that facet of their ministry. It was a beautiful day and one reader commented…. “a lovely day on Saturday at Epiphany House. The weather was perfect, the talks very thought provoking and the whole atmosphere of the day spiritual, peaceful and calming. Such a pity there were so few of us, the others missed a real treat.” Hilary focussed on the Emmaus road story and the sudden realisation of the disciples that their companion had been Jesus – ” They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” It is good to remember those moments when our hearts have burned with recognition that the risen Lord is with us and the privilege we share in trying to impart that to others.
The next Quiet-Day is on Thursday December 8th and will be led by Bishop Chris. Several people have already signed up for that one! I shall book a date for the Lenten day 2017 shortly. Saturday did not seem very popular – any suggestions? “
I’ve had one or two requests to bring back the Quiet Days. The challenge is finding a way to run them that attracts enough people to cover the costs.
The Warden’s Group meets on 11 November, and suggestions for the agenda are always welcome. If you’re unfamiliar with the group, here’s a little background on how it came about and what it does.
Back when I was chaplain only to Readers in training, the arrangements for Readers (LLMs) were rather different. Every deanery had a Deanery Reader Steward whose role, at least in theory, was to bring local Readers together, organise events and take their concerns to the Readers’ Committee.
The Readers’ Committee included the Warden, the Deputy Warden (Canon Paul Arthur), the deanery stewards and several others. The Warden’s role had previously been held by a lay person, but for the past couple of decades it has been held by the suffragan bishop. A smaller standing committee—the Warden and Deputy Warden, the secretary and deputy secretary, and the Director of Training—prepared the agenda for the main committee. There was also a Readers in Training Committee, which dealt with courses, welfare and related matters.
Over time, Reader activities declined in most deaneries, with Bodmin perhaps the exception. Some deaneries had only one or two Readers; others had no one willing to become a steward. Eventually, stewards were no longer appointed, leaving the main committee with far fewer members.
When Bishop Chris became Warden, the Warden’s Group was formed to bring together all matters relating to Readers, from welfare and training to events and governance. More recently, its remit has expanded to include other licensed lay ministries, so it now serves the wider Licensed Lay Ministries community.
Who is on the Warden’s Group?
Secretary: Mel Pomery (now an official diocesan role rather than a voluntary one)
Warden: Bishop James
Deputy Warden: Canon Paul Arthur
Events Secretary: Claire Salzmann (LLM)
Minuting Secretary: until recently, Margaret – Sylvester Thorne (LLM)
Chaplain: Jim Seth (LLM)
Director of Ministry (and Training): Isaac McNish
To bring a broader range of LLM perspectives to the discussion, we have interviewed and appointed two more LLMs to the group: David Watson and Ann Kerridge. Another candidate is due to be interviewed soon.
With members of the Reader and wider Licensed Lay Ministries community meeting alongside diocesan representatives, we should be well placed to have constructive, robust discussions, develop ideas and plans, and shape a shared vision for the future.
I am often asked about Prayer lists for readers and in the past I have asked for suggestions without any response. My own feeling is that in these days of GDPR and privacy that the lists are hard to update and hard to keep sufficiently private so I have no really pursued the task. Your thoughts would be welcome.
I leave you with one or two links for useful things:
This is the link to a Facebook Reel… one of a series on Sacred art that I thought I might use with my Upper Room advent Group this year.
and Facebook ‘St Faithful’s Havenot’ Is wonderful page with some delightful Church Satire! Definitely worth browsing.
And if you do not know it already: Reflections – HeartEdge is a wonderful resource for sermon writing on the lectionary readings of the week .
With every blessing
Jim
Mobile: 07803 501658
15 Trewirgie Rd Redruth TR152SX