Starting training for ordination in the CofE

[MrsTulip]

As promised new thread now based on training over the next three years.

I hope your training continues to go well. You've given me more insight so far than I ever had from a relative and a friend who are both vicars.

Day off today so just pottered around at home and decorated the Christmas cake and made mince pies, both of which will be shared at college on Monday.

Do you just get one day a week off?

@FuzzyPuffling my friend which priest doesn't even get one day off a week!

All the priests I have known have been ( very sensibly) insistent that they are not available on Mondays.

We work a six day week. I generally lead three services on a Sunday. Monday is my admin day when I look at the next Sunday's readings. Tuesday or Wednesday is my day off depending on when funerals come in. I write the sermon on Saturday morning. These days it takes a couple of hours but it took a lot longer when I first started out. There are no other priests or lay preachers so I preach every week. I have four churches. This is pretty normal. Many of my colleagues have 6-8 churches.

I try not to work more than48 hours a week as more than this is burn out territory.

I'm worried about my DD who starts her training in September. She is currently a secondary school teacher and works stupid, stupid hours, weekends and holidays. She also has two primary age children.
I was hoping the priesthood might offer her at least a bit more flexibility and rather less burn out. She's terribly thin and permanently exhausted and apologising for having no time.

There is a lot more flexibility than a 9-5 job. Many clergy parents can knock off from the computer and meetings in the late afternoon and early evening to be around for the children. There are often evening meetings, but it is sensible to limit those to what you can manage. It is doable and I count hours to check that I'm not overdoing it. It is easy to work stupid hours at this time of year with all the Christmas planning. I do take the week after Christmas off as do most clergy.

Thank you @mostlydrinkstea . That's really helpful.

Yes I get just one day off, however if I'm at the church that has 3 Sunday services my placement supervisor tries to give me a week that isn't too busy. At the moment I don't do a lot of evening stuff, but when I do I tend to not have anything on in the morning or afternoon. For example one day next week I have collective worship followed by coffee morning, then nothing until the advent course at 7pm.

They need to be careful they don't make themselves ill. Do they get holidays?

Yes my day off is usually Saturday but occasionally swap it for a Friday, when there's things like Christmas fairs.

@MrsTulip he does get holidays. He's been desperate to retire for a a while. But the powers that be have messed up his successor.

My child is older primary age and I used to work in school, I find that at the moment I have good flexibility on my study days to do both school runs, if I want and at least one other school run on a parish day.
When i have a study day at home I try to mirror the college day but starting and finishing an hour earlier.
My placement supervisor also likes to pick his children up from school at least one day a week so he likes to ensure I can also do that.

I've got boxing day, 27th, 28th off and then 30th -6th off. I find it far more flexible than when I worked in a school full time, although might be different for those who have younger children or limited help from family and friends.

To give people a bit of insight this is what my diary looks like on an average week.
Sunday (St M's) 8:30am HC, 9:30 family service, 11am parish communion 1pm baptisms ( I usually do 3 of the 4 services, unless preaching then only do 2)
Monday -college
Tuesday -8:30 Morning prayer on zoom with placement supervisor then self study (with breaks) until 3pm -sometimes do a bit longer depending on workload but always stop by 5pm.
Wednesday and Thursday -parish days , day split into 3 parts usually work 2 parts of each day (unless like this week where I've had a PCC meeting) usually collective worship, coffee morning, tots, burial of ashes, pastoral visit, mission community,/clergy meetings, supervision, seeing spiritual director , sermon prep
Friday - day off
Saturday - study day but always finish by 3pm, this is usually followed by getting robes, clothes,printed notes and bag ready for the morning .
Sunday (HR) 10 am parish communion followed by fellowship

As I swapped my day off and study day this week, I'm off today so currently chilling on here, I have a traditional Christmas cake to ice and mince pies to bake ready to take into college on Monday. Also going to do some gift wrapping and cleaning whilst my son is out with his grandparents.

Thank you @MrsTulip . Its really helpful to hear your experience and to know what DD's days might look like. We moved house to be closer to DD ( and other DD!) so we could be of more help and currently do some school runs, inset days, sick days etc.

Led worship this morning, bit cross with self as it didn't go how I would have liked and I know I can do it better.

So that's the first term of training completed!
Still got two assignments and this terms portfolio (most of portfolio and one assignment completed , hoping to have it done before Christmas) to complete plus my days in parish will continue but will be having some time off after Christmas day before returning to college in the new year.
Thanks everyone for the support xx

Well done @MrsTulip . A term down already!

Led the 10 am at HR and it went a lot better this morning. Off to St M's Christingle in about 15 minutes, then back to HR for the lessons and carols at 6pm. The next 10 days are going to be busy, but I'm really looking forward to it!

Had a lovely week last week with all the school events and the 9 lessons and carols at both churches. St M's was fantastic, the children who were in the choir were amazing. Been told I have to rest today as tomorrow will be full on busy so going to pop out for a bit of shopping and make some homemade mince pies for my neighbour who lives alone (will also have a brew and chat with her, become a bit of a thing since her husband died three years ago). Tomorrow is crib at 2pm, Christingle at 4pm Holy Communion at 8pm and midnight mass!

Ah, @MrsTulip it does sound wonderful. Have you noticed a shift in yourself, now you're 100% all in?

I wish you and yours a happy and blessed Christmas tide. X

I’ve noticed that my prayer life is a lot more disciplined and I’m more confident in talking with the older members of the congregation.