Christmas is Coming!


Editorial Correction: The writer apologises for an error that appeared in her last blog. I have been reliably informed that it was, in fact, a whistle that was played in class, not a recorder. #FightFakeNews

In two days I will have reached the end of my first term of theological college. It feels forever since I started yet everything is still so new. So, here’s a whistle-stop tour of my first term: I’ve studied Mission and Ministry, Old Testament, Theological Reflection, Church History, Christian Ethics, Spirituality, Preaching, and Anglican Story, Ethos and Practice. I have led college chapel, led an 8am service and preached at the remembrance all age service at my context church. I’ve been to workshops about mental health, addiction, wilderness times and reconciliation. I have been to the zoo and the cinema 4 times each! I have shed tears and shared laughter too many times to count with the most incredible college community. My legs no longer turn to jelly halfway up Whiteladies hill and I can turn to the right page in the Daily Prayer book with all the speed of a Wild West gunfighter drawing their weapon. It has been hard and yet it has been great. I have missed home and the people I love and yet I have found a new home and a new community to love and be loved by. And now I’m coming home for 3 weeks holiday to catch up with old friends, sleep (a lot!) and probably write some stuff about God, the church and poor old Marcion.

And I am very excited about Christmas! I love Christmas! There are lots of things I love about it but I wanted to write to you, dear readers, about the most important aspect of Christmas. Some even say it’s what Christmas is all about. Yes, that’s right…presents!

I love giving and receiving presents. For those of you who are expecting a present from me this year, just a pre-warning that I’m wrapping everything in old copies of the Church Times. Think of it as both saving the planet (paper tape too, all fully recyclable) and an extra bonus present of some interesting reading material. Last night we had our Carter (halls of residence) Christmas party and we played Bad Santa, which is like Secret Santa except you get the choice of picking a new present from the pile or stealing someone else’s. It was great fun with much hilarity and more thieving than you might expect from a normally angelic bunch of trainee priests and other assorted Christian folk! It has left me reflecting on the gifts this community has given me (aside from the Maltesers and Santa hat last night).

(I just need to interrupt my own story for a moment…I left my study for a quick break from writing this blog and came face to face with Santa sat on the study area sofa drinking a cup of tea. Will try and post a picture. Only at Trinity…)

The first gift this college has given me is the gift of learning. When I was 10 years old I got sick with an illness called M.E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It meant a childhood of part-time school, struggling through extreme tiredness to try and learn, disrupted friendships and leaving school with 2 GCSEs. Now, at the grand old age of 33 I get another chance at full-time education…and it’s amazing! I arrive in my study on Monday morning and all I have to do for the whole day is read and write essays! My early education was stolen by ill-health but Trinity College has gifted me another chance.

The second gift I am so grateful for is the community I have found here. I feel privileged to have known some pretty incredible people during my time working as a musician in Ipswich and the loss of being part of those communities has been a hard one to bear. But here at Trinity I have made new friends, found new confidants, and been accepted as part of a new, big college community and lots of smaller communities united by shared activities and concerns. In stepping away from my existing life I have been given the gift of new friendships.

And finally, because I’d probably be chucked out of ordination training if I honestly thought the best thing about Christmas was the presents, I’ve been given the gift of Jesus. Technically we all have (it’s what Christmas is about, come see me if you’re confused and I can read you a story…) but I feel something of the newness of this gift being here, doing what I’m doing. I’m discovering new things about God, being assured in new ways of the things I already trusted, and meeting Jesus afresh through it all.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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