What do Vicars do? The beginning of a new ministry

It’s a whole month since Roger was installed as Vicar of the Priory. Time flies!

So, in a deviation from the ‘What do Vicars do the rest of the week’ blog series, here’s a tiny peek into a little of Roger’s first month of ministry here.

The Priory’s huge, not just architecturally, but as a very active living expression of God’s church. There’s always something going on, and this month was absolutely no exception. It was deep-end stuff for the new Vicar, as Roger introduced the first consultation phase of the Priory Development Plan at two public meetings, and then again when the video of a meeting was shown after the 10,30 service, for those who couldn’t attend the midweek meetings. Oh yes, and an interview for the Malvern Gazette, explaining the new plans for Project Light and Space.

He’s been meeting volunteers and staff, beginning to get a feel for how things run and the extraordinary breadth of Priory life. Roger has enjoyed not one, but two PCC meetings, plus a few Committee and Management Team Meetings. Then there was the volunteers’ ‘Thank You’ Tea, the Parish Lunch at the Foley Arms, Messy Church, and the Junior Choristers’ concert, where he was pressed into service as narrator in ‘Swingin’ Sampson’.

Inspiring sermons have been delivered and much discussed at coffee, after services. Children’s talks, too - from experiments in reflection, via the desirability of flowers on daffodils, to ‘guess the Christmas present’.

‘Surrounded by angels’ in the stained glass windows, Morning Prayer has offered Roger an opportunity for more reflective worship in the peaceful early-morning Priory.

With Holy Week and Easter, the APCM and Lifepath coming ever closer on the horizon, there’s plenty more to look forward to.