Thought for the Week

by The Revd Christopher Phillips, of St Margaret's, Ilkley

I TRY to avoid talking about myself, but this week is a little different. I have been offered the post of Vicar of a parish church down in London – St Mary’s, Willesden. A couple of stops on the Tube into the centre from Wembley Stadium, the parish is a somewhat different place to Ilkley. The challenges posed by such a different context, with much higher levels of poverty, deprivation and crime, and a far more diverse population, are great. Having come to Ilkley as what’s known as an Assistant Curate, which is how new priests complete their training, this is in many ways the moment of truth, as I am now to take on the responsibility of running a parish of my own for the very first time. So the learning curve will be immense.

It’s times like this, when life presents us with great challenges, that we can be tempted to despair, or to fear. What if I fail? What if people don’t like me? How will I cope without familiar places and people around me, and a comforting routine to fall back on? What if I just don’t like the place?

When I feel like this, I draw great reassurance from the love and support that I know that God has given me, particularly through my close family. As I make this move, and take on these new challenges, I trust that he will continue to give me the grace and strength to complete the tasks set before me.

Christians talk about this idea of “vocation” quite a lot. We are all “called” by God to some form of definite service in the world. It can be to a particular profession, to a life-long dedication to marriage and parenthood, or to a combination of many things. It is often difficult to tell what one’s calling is, particularly in earlier life. But as we grow older, and as we persist in prayer and try to become more open to God’s voice, it often becomes clearer. Discovering one’s vocation is a joyful experience. Whatever happens in life, we can count on God never to send us more than we can cope with, and also that He will always strengthen us for the tasks ahead if we ask Him to.

As I leave Ilkley, my prayer for you is that you continue to grow in faith, and in your vocational journey with God. May He bless and guide you in all that you do – in good times and bad.