Starting the discernment process in the CofE

[MrsTulip]

For a few years now God has been telling me he wants more from me, but that's all he's saying. He hasn't yet revealed what more is, then over the last 18 months a few friends and people I know from currently serving in children's ministry have mentioned I should consider ordination. Strangely this hasn't freaked me out like I thought it would but I do have a lot of questions and uncertainties about it, I feel this may be the way God wants me to go.
For a short while I did think it might be a call to reader ministry and I asked the vicar at a school I'm connected to (not my vicar or my child's school) a few questions about it.
I've also spoke to my own vicar about a placement in another church but have said I want this to hep me develop my current role.
I don't know why but I'm finding it hard to be totally honest with those around me and say outright I think God wants me to start the formal discernment process. Other than praying (cause I'm already doing tonnes of that) has anyone any advice of how to approach my vicar? I also for reasons that would be too outing don't want to talk my church warden. Thanks

Godspeed @MrsTulip and good luck!

Oh that’s lovely 💕

Wishing you all the best, I hope you feel supported by all of us throughout 🙏🏼

Definitely feeling supported by all the lovely people on this thread xx

And I’m off just left the train station, see you all soon xxx

Thinking of you as you head into your stage 2. Prayers for discernment. I really hope you find it an enjoyable experience.

Good luck!

My DD described it ( afterwards) as "like doing a skydive".
I did a skydive and it was flying free...great!

God be with you. X

My vicar said he felt like he had been peeled like an onion after his BAP, and was exhausted.

How's it going @MrsTulip ?

It's hard to say, think it's going ok, although I now know what my vicar meant when he said you will feel like a peeled onion. I feel wiped out, I'm off for some down time and possibly a short nap.

Good idea. Take all the rest you can get. God is awake. X

And breathe
Slightly early finish due to lower number of candidates
Different to tell how it’s gone but I don’t feel it’s gone badly.
Feel like I have baby brain but 100 times worse
Should have the result by the end of next week 🙏

Well done for getting through it @MrsTulip! Trust the rest of the process too x

Well done @MrsTulip . I hope you've got a quiet day or so to recover.
Let us know as soon as you hear. (DD got a phone call from the actual Bishop! )
Prayers for you.

Be gentle with yourself, this is a really weird time and I found the waiting time just as tiring as the BAP itself.

I'm off today so I came back to the premier inn last night so I could crash (would have got home after 11:30 pm and then had to get from the station home) and have space and time to process my own thoughts in a private space. Will be travelling home today but unfortunately (as much as I love my job) I have to be back in school tomorrow

So even after not doing much (mainly sitting on the train travelling home) yesterday I still feel like I would have been questioned less if I'd been witness to a crime and like I've been repeatedly hit over the head with a large print copy of mission praise.
Hopefully the children at work will be in a good mood today

I laughed at your reference to Mission Praise...but hope today is easy, or at least distracting!

Well I got off the bus and said to the driver "Bye sweetheart I love you dad will pick you up from Nans later."
Just proves where my head is / has been (up bottom) today.
Work has been ok not too taxing, my class are currently on their residential trip so I was covering elsewhere today

Have you got a date for your feedback and results? I hope it's not too long a wait.
Bet the bus driver loved you!

This is such an interesting thread! It popped up in Active. I wish you all the best OP

I’ve been told next Friday at the latest and meeting to discuss report next Saturday morning

I love how well supported you are throughout this process. Years ago I just went into selection blind with no idea what to expect, and after results came through it was just like ‘great, see you in college’.

Oh my goodness, how long does it actually take to recover from BAP? I had Wednesday off work ( had to travel home from Bath to Manchester on the train) but back in work Thursday and yesterday (primary school TA) and slept from 7:30pm to 8 am this morning and have had an hours nap this afternoon but still feel exhausted

Make sure you do as little as possible tomorrow. Rest, sleep, read a trashy novel and breathe....!