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

My goodness the waiting is starting to drive me scatty and make me really tired.

I'm not at all surprised. Be assured I'm still praying for you and hope you get the news you want very soon. Almost there....!

Yey heard from the bishop earlier today!
I've been recommended for training and will start in September.
Thanks to all of you on here for the love support and prayers.

Brilliant news, congratulations! Will keep up the prayers as you enter this new phase.

So happy for you @MrsTulip, well done and good luck! x

Congratulations. Have been lurking and hoping that it would go well for you. Best wishes for the future!

Oh, @MrsTulip , I am so very delighted to hear this. Well done!

Oh fantastic! I am so happy for you 😁 Thanks for updating us. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Woohoo!

Very happy for you your commitment was clear. I wish you all the best

Congratulations!

I'll look forward to meeting you in September (I'm a student at the college MrsTulip will be attending)

Congratulations ! That's fantastic news.

Congratulations @MrsTulip I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about your journey so far and I hope you keep posting throughout your training.

💐

Another lurker here. Congratulations!!!

That's great news! Well done, I'm delighted for you. From another lurker who has been following your updates with great interest.

And as predicted the church warden/reader/ church hall manager/deanery synod rep was difficult after the news was announced in church this morning. Came over to me and announced very loudly that when the group I run returns after their summer break will now be led by someone who is no longer a member of the church then the cost of hiring the hall will go up.
Smile through gritted teeth and nod MrsTulip it's a good learning opportunity

Great news. I am enjoying following your progress MrsT. You are doing such an awesome thing. Think of the difference you are going to make to so many people (even people like the grumpy church warden!) x

I told the rainbows tonight that Im going to train to be a priest and their response was so you’re going to tip water on babies heads and make them cry , marry people who love each other and then watch them kiss at the end ( yuk!) and pray for old people to try and stop them dying. I love the way little girls minds work.
Also had a massive cry this morning when I handed my notice in.

One if my favourite sayings..." Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better".

Not long until you'll be building again.

And you have to love those small girls!

Apologies for very tiny derail but that saying is new to me, however, it is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks @FuzzyPuffling

Hey, OP!

I've not said much but I've been following your journey with much interest and I pray for you often!

So pleased to hear that your BAP went well and you got the result you wanted! Huge, huge congratulations!

If I am picking up on contextual clues correctly then I think you're going to the training college my DH (and by proxy, me and our baby son) is hoping to go to in September! He has his BAP in mid-July.

I will be continuing to pray for you as you do those hard goodbyes to jobs etc and look forward to hearing about your new hellos!

So starting to wrap things up at work. Only 8 more days to go.
Ordered some little gifts for my boss, line manager and biscuit buddy (each member of staff is partnered with another for support ).
Still got until the end of August until I leave my church but have started writting my final sermon.
Feels strange to be moving on.

Actually need to find a suitable Bible verse to write on my bosses card cos she has been amazing - not just whilst I have been in the discernment process but with loads of other stuff too.
Suggestions for a suitable verse welcome (although not Philippians 1:3 as used that before)

Writing in cards is hard, especially when the right words never come to mind.

Matthew 13:16?

Blessed are your ears because they hear...I should imagine she has been a steady ear for you throughout this process.

Every blessing to you 🙏

Well yesterday was very emotional, the parents from the forest worship after school club I run prayed for me and they took the lead on an extra session with the theme of calling and vocation, the school clergy came into give me a special blessing and I led a whole school collective worship. A perfect way to end an amazing four years.
Excited and terrified in equal measure for what is next.