There, but not there...

Following the abolishment of the quinquennial review of Reader ministry in the Diocese of Worcester, a three-yearly Ministerial Development Review for Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) is being introduced in our Diocese, beginning in 2019. Our Deanery has been selected to trial the new evaluation. Readers across the Diocese were invited along to a special day at Holland House, to reflect on the questions that will form the new review.

At the beginning of each session, volunteers shared a little of their story to inform and inspire our discussions. It is always fascinating to hear what other people get up to - some may be working in complicated situations, while others have golden opportunities that bear much fruit.
After each introduction, there was the opportunity to slip away for quiet contemplation. However, as far as I could tell, folks preferred to say put, taking the opportunity to share experiences. There are plenty of spaces and places for personal reflection, this was a chance to enjoy the company of those we do not often meet.
The morning concluded with Holy Communion in the chapel, which was set up for Remembrance Sunday.

As the set time approached we made our way from the Conference Room, avoiding being distracted by the tempting displays of Christmas Decorations raising money for good causes,
past the comfy chairs in the Drawing Room,
across the entrance hall,
diagonally through the Dining Room,
along the short corridor that links into the library, with the gift shop to the right and vestry to the left,
through the library,
past a door to the garden,
up a couple of steps
and into the chapel.


























Chairs had been arranged in a semi-circle around the perimeter of the room.
Some of the chairs bore perplexing perspex silhouettes of soldiers, each adorned with a single poppy.
The early birds picked the vacant chairs, with the late arrivals having little choice but to sit in front of the silhouettes.
"Are they supposed to be sitting on THOSE chairs?" whispered one delegate anxiously, desiring to avoid offending anyone's sensibilities.
"Well, they have no-where else to sit!" I replied. My logic being, that if they really hadn't wanted those chairs used, they would have made the leaders of our group aware, and placed something strategically upon the seat to indicate that the chair was not to be used.

In her opening remarks, the Warden of Readers referred to the 'backrests'.
There was a small, but tangible, sigh of relief,
as that which was almost invisible, was defined and identified,
and those who were gathered stopped worrying about how they were supposed to respond to the silent company amongst them
and were free to concentrate on The Eucharist.

To one side of the altar were photographs of poppies. A group of items were assembled in the middle of the room, based around a large metal candle stand, decorated with poppies, a prayer desk and some military items.



As I looked at the ghostly representations of those who gave their lives in conflict, I was reminded of Readers who have been promoted to glory. Soldiers of Christ, who worked tirelessly and selflessly for others, both those known to me and those I never met.
They also were 'there, but not there'.




This sign I saw recently in Cornwall seemed even more pertinent.

Let us hope that our new reviews are more cheery!