Mike's musings

Personal assessment - and back to work

So, get the first of these out of the way first: I went back to work today, a day before I had to, but felt much better, and it was good to be back. Had a meeting in Cambridge, and afterwards took a colleague around King's, including the chapel. Nowhere feels more like home.

I was hoping to start writing my personal assessment for the year. This is an important document, as it goes to my DDO and bishop. I'm not going to do it tonight, actually, as I'm tired and we're up early tomorrow (Moo's off to Birmingham for the day). I've made some notes. I've included them (unedited), as I'm trying to use this blog as an open and honest way to reflect on my journey. The growing importance of this blog, and how I use it, along with the realisation of how central music is to my experience of the divine, give these subjects pride of place at the top of the page.

Personal assessment headings and topics

Music and me

Blog

Pastoral

Calling on others for help

Suggestion that I should have some counselling training

Impact of having to provide pastoral care, keeps happening – a calling?

Learning to listen

Spiritual

Asking for prayer, and accepting when offered

Grounded by regular offices, particularly when tired and/or travelling

Realisation of the importance of music to my spirituality

Being touched by the Spirit

Being a father and husband

Humility, importance of the dominical commandments

Academic – and grounded in reality

Engaging with contemporary theological and sociological issues, including syncretism, sexuality and women's roles.

How communities grow online, and what we can do to help.

ERMC & parish

Breadth of worship at ERMC

Variety of traditions

Lively debate

Moving higher "up the candle" – about respect and reverence

Confidence

Preaching – finding a voice

Leading

Difficult areas

Holding back, reining in

Death and dying – but actually, the pastoral comes astonishingly easily to me

Placements

Not yet arranged– mental health...

After ordination

Music

Difficult – parish life, the day-to-day. Self-supporting: what does that mean?

Academic involvement – but in the social (Inclusive Church & Changing Attitude?)

Labels: ERMC, work