Parish of Leatherhead - Rev Mike Stewart NSM Curate

From the December 2007 Leatherhead Parish magazine

Called and Collared
Rev Mike Stewart

Welcome to the December issue of our Parish Magazine and to my first effort at writing the introductory article! Carol and I would like to thank everyone for his or her kind welcome and continuing support in my ministry as an Assistant Curate here. I am gradually learning, if not always remembering, people's names. Please continue to forgive me if I ask you more than once for your name!

It is a huge privilege to be able to serve you, which is what "deacon" actually means in Greek. Obviously I still have my "training wheels" on at present, but it has still been something of a baptism of fire for me. And, speaking of baptisms, by the time you read this, I will have officiated at my first baptism; in fact, three of them! I'm still puzzling how to:

(i) hold the baby,
(ii) sprinkle him/her, whoops - nearly said "it" - with water and
(iii) hold/read from a text, all at the same time.

I suppose women priests have an advantage over male priests here: not only will they usually be comfortable with babies, if they're mothers themselves, but they're also better at "multi-tasking", at least, that's what Carol tells me ....

I've called this article "called and collared" as an echo of my fellow curate Mary Cruddas' article for the July magazine. Mary is still completing her theological training under the "mixed-mode" approach, which involves a number of further six-week courses back at St John's Theological College.

As for me, my theological training was rather shorter and possibly a little too intensive - everything squeezed into one year at Ripon College Cuddesdon, in Oxford. The powers that be obviously decided that my previous four years of academic theological study at King's College London would be sufficient to make up for this shortfall.

Anyway, here am I: "called" by God to be an ordained minister in His Church and well and truly "collared" to boot. "Collared," not just because I wear a dog collar, but because I have also leashed myself to working for the God of Mammon as well. I am now working three days a week as a Tax and Treasury Manager for WS Atkins, the Epsom-based Engineering Consultancy firm.

However demanding this may turn out, I am hoping that my re-entry into the business world will provide me with a little extra "street-cred" in one of my parochial roles, viz. the development of a ministry to the business community here in Leatherhead. In this connection, may I take this opportunity to invite any of you who find yourselves in Leatherhead at lunchtimes, especially those who work in Leatherhead, to either or both of two lunchtime musical events with a Christmas theme.

These two events will be held in the Parish Church on two consecutive Fridays in December, 7th and the 14th, at 12.40pm and will last no more than 30 minutes. You are welcome to bring and eat your lunch in Church, and coffee will be available at the back at the end. The event on the 7th is a short concert of light classical Christmas music; that on the 14th is a short come-and-sing carol service. David and I are hopeful that these events may prove a relaxing alternative to Christmas shopping for those who work in Leatherhead whether or not they live here or are regular churchgoers. Please do come along.

As I write, we are still in the "Kingdom" Season i.e. the period from All Saints Day to the beginning of Advent, which explains why the altar frontal colour is red. The Church marks different liturgical seasons with different colours e.g.. "Ordinary Time" is green. You'll know when we enter the Advent Season because the liturgical colour changes to Purple. Advent in Latin refers to the "coming" of Christ, i.e. the incarnation of God here on Earth in the form of Jesus Christ as our Redeemer. Christmas is therefore about celebrating God's incarnation, but we should also remember that the Church believes that Christ will return in the fullness of time: this is the second coming, technically known as the Parousia. Although I cannot tell you when this shall be, the Gospels warn us to "be alert"; I do at least know that this year the first Sunday of Advent falls on December 2, and we will be holding our popular Christingle [link] service at 4pm that day. The times for the various Christmas services may be found elsewhere in the magazine. You are warmly welcome to attend any of these services.

On behalf of the Vicar, David Eaton, and the rest of the clergy team, may I wish you all a spiritually fulfilling time this Christmas season.

from the June 2008 magazine
Priesting. This month sees the ordination as priests of Revd Mary Cruddas and Revd Mike Stewart who serve in this Parish as non-stipendary ministers. We have every reason to be grateful to both Mary and Mike for all they bring to Parish life. Mary has over the last three years been much appreciated for her warm hearted and dynamic ministry and Mike, although he only joined us last year, has established himself as someone bringing a great depth of biblical insight and understanding.

Mary and Mike will be ordained at 6.30 on Friday June 27 at Guildford Cathedral along with others being priested at the same time. All are welcome at this service and I hope you will want to support them on this special occasion. They will each celebrate for the first time on the Sunday June 29, Mike at 8 o'clock and Mary at 10.30. There will then be a Bring and Share Lunch with presentation after the 10.30 service. David Eaton

Ordination 27 June 2008