Christine Shepherd - Reader

As a reader, I am allowed to take services and preach sermons and generally, assist the clergy. However, there are lots of other things readers can do - it depends on the need of the parish. In the Priory we are blessed with enough staff to ensure that there is no dependence on any one person. It seems different in some of the parishes outside Malvern, where the work of the Reader may be to take several services every Sunday!

Some of what I do I did before my licensing - reading lessons, intercessing, singing and playing instruments in some services, serving at Communion and arranging instruction for the younger members of the Choir. I felt led towards Readership initially while I was working for Christian Aid and preaching and taking services. I had special permission from the Bishop then, but after returning to Malvern, realised I would need to do some kind of training. Two years of part-time study are not enough, of course, and I realise that learning has to continue all the time on our Christian way!

I was brought up in a Christian family, but struggled for many years to find a faith that was really my own. At University I toyed with the Catholic faith but in the end remained an Anglican. When working in China it seemed hard to continue to believe in God when faith played no part in most people's lives, but other Christians around me helped, and it is good to experience what it is like to be a Christian when there is little structure to help. In contrast, the Priory gives so much support and encouragement! It is wonderful to be part of a real community, the kind of network of believers who help each other. The Bible describes this as trying to do God's will by obeying the command of Jesus which is so simple and so complex, straightforward and yet very difficult to perform: 'Love one another.'

Christine Shepherd