off on retreat

I am off on retreat in a few hours so I am busy packing. It is lovely sunny day but the forecast is not good so I am pondering which season to pack for?!

It has already been quite a busy day: I have been in my office doing some admin that can't wait till Monday and just been to vote. I also have some shopping to do so I little trip to ASDA's is required and I need a spot of lunch.

So, the next time I write will be back on the Ellen Loudon blog because my diaconate year will be over and I will be a priest! I will, of course, be changing the Ellen Loudon tagline and will be making some changes to the format...but I am not sure exactly when that will happen.

Thanks for all your support and prayers this year...it hasn't been the most straightforward of years but it has been far from dull. Loads of love...Ellen. xxx

what a week this is going to be!

So here I am starting my last week before I become a priest (do I really mean 'become' - like I will change into someone new on Sunday? I am not sure? But, I am not sure how else to refer to my 'change'...any ideas do let me know!). Anyway, I am ordained priest on Sunday so this week is a going to be a bit busy. I am in the parish until Thursday lunchtime then off on retreat at teatime until Sunday.

I have a long long list of bits and bobs that need sorting before Sunday though you'll be pleased to know most of them are very superficial and none are theological - they mainly involve cleaning, changing the sheets on the bed, visiting people in hospital and in the sheltered accommodation, going to the hairdresser, meeting Henry for various things, buying black clothes dye to revive my clergy blacks and there is a slim chance that I may go to see Girls Aloud tomorrow night (if my attempt at gegging into the Echo Area pull itself off - though to be honest it is not looking good - but I live in hope).

I have written a brief post for re:jesus about the appearance of Jesus' face in a marmite jar which you may enjoy.

Hope you have a good week.

ordination tips

me and my fellow deacons on ordination day!







I was asked today if I had any tips about ordination/starting a curacy. Having had a little think here they are:

- get to know the people who are responsible for your house - we have had a terrible time sorting out the building and it really needed careful negotiation

- set boundaries about answering the door/phone asap...I live in a vicarage and get a lot of cold calls...I wish I had been clearer about when I would answer, what I would have ready for people (food parcels etc) and how I would deal with emergencies (don't assume your parish/incumbent has a policy)

- find a spiritual adviser or someone outside of the parish to speak to about stuff (concerns, spiritual blockages, irritating situations etc etc)

- be prepared to be as flexible as possible over as much as possible - choose to 'debate' only things that are really important to you...

- when you first start it might feel a bit slow - enjoy the slow bit because it gets busy!

- finals, finishing essays, finishing college, leaving college friends, moving, getting family settled, sorting the house, meeting new people, getting ready for retreat, doing retreat, the ordination service etc is all very very tiring - a roller-coaster you have to get on and just hold on tight . There is a period of time when you feel very special (and you are, we all are in God's sight!) but it is important to know that that feeling is not going to last and not to give yourself a hard time when it calms down and (possibly) you don't feel so great about yourself for a bit - it happened to me about 3 days after ordination. It does pass but it was quite painful - I actually felt bereaved. It is ok to have a little cry and a large g&t (or cake or whatever)!

- try to keep in touch with a few theological college friends and keep the network going - great for mutual support and a sounding board

- be very very loving to your family, friends and supporters because they are as exhausted as you but don't get all the attention at ordination.

- if people say 'what would you like as an ordination present' say 'book tokens'.

- make sure you go for a wee before the ordination service starts - it's a long service and you'll be wearing strange clothes for the first time.

- don't wear new shoes for ordination.


So, I hope that helps!?

great face for the radio

I mentioned a while back that I was going to be on Radio Merseyside - Daybreak with Wayne Clarke - talking about how I came to be a curate! Well, I was - on Sunday at 8.20am. If you missed it then you can listen again (for one week only) by clicking on the listen again bit on the bottom right.

3rd from the left

This is a picture featured in the Church Times (if you click on it it will get bigger). I think it was taken immediately after the actual ordination moment. We have our bibles in our hand. I am on the 3rd from the left.