printed 13 September 2024
Learn for two minutes
Ministry is a deeply rewarding however demanding vocation and typically ministers have to take a while out of busy parish life to recharge their batteries.
That’s precisely what 11 ministers lately gathered at Kilmalyew Retreat Heart in Lochaber to discover and deepen their journey with God by way of reflection and prayer.
The Ardgore Peninsula facility, overlooking Loch Lynhe within the west of Scotland, is a distant location and on the coronary heart of a 3,000-acre property that features hills, shoreline and woodland.
The week-long retreat was organized by the Rev Dr Martin Truthful, the Church’s Pathways to Ministry Supervisor with accountability for supporting early years ministers, and hosted by guides Steve Aystorp and Wendy Lloyd.
The ministers current, besides one, have been all appointed inside the final 5 years.
They’re:-
Rev Fiona Crawford, Glasgow: Barlanark Greyfriars
Carnwath with the Rev Sumit Harrison, Carstairs
Rev Stuart Finlayson, Forres Neighborhood Church
Rev Tim Minard, Barrhead: St Andrews
Rev Amy Bender, Keith North, Newmill, Boehrm and Rothieme
With Rev Z McLean, Ardgore, Morvern and Strontian Acharacle and Ardnamurchan
Rev Gillian Rooney, Giffnock: Orchardhill
Rev Elsie McRae, Higher Annandale
Rev Andrea Fraser, Fife: Forthview
Rev Johnny Clipston, Brimond
Rev Mike Weaver, Dunfermline Gillespie Memorial
Dr Truthful described the week as “great and an absolute pleasure”.
“It was positively every week of retreat, moderately than a convention or coaching session,” he defined.
“The one enterprise on the agenda was tending to souls and doing so with fellow vacationers.
“And what may very well be higher than sharing house with golden eagles, sea eagles, buzzards and the richest range of wildlife within the quiet, reflective areas of the middle and the encompassing countryside.
“The truth is that the ministry is demanding, no much less in these difficult occasions.
“It may be simple to get caught up in a continuing vortex of busyness, damaging one’s well-being, not least spiritually talking.
“The primary evening collectively and ‘How is it along with your soul?’ In response to the query, among the members have been fully trustworthy in describing methods by which their reply was ‘not so good’.”
Dr Truthful stated spending time within the lovely and peaceable countryside has a restorative impact.
“On the finish of the week we heard a few of this – ‘I reached x miles of empty territory with my gauge and left with my coronary heart and soul full’ and ‘Kilmallew Retreat was a blessing for the soul’ and ‘It was good to be free from busyness, actual work. Doing – the within factor’,” he added.
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Dr. Truthful, moderator of the Normal Meeting 2020-21, stated the retreat ended with a refrain of ‘It’s effectively, it’s effectively with my soul.’
“The retreat will develop into a fixture within the calendar and it’s hoped that many extra may have the chance to profit from the peace and solitude of Kilmalyew and from taking time to be inwardly-nourished for the work of ministry.” he added.
In the event you really feel a name to ministry, the church’s In direction of Ministry workforce is right here to assist and reply any questions you might have.
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