What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • The Questions

    I’ve just done one of those Knowing Me, Knowing You sessions that I do from time to time that allow members of the congregation to get to know me a bit and ask any questions about who I am and where I come from.

    I asked the group for permission to share the questions. Here’s what they asked me.

    • How did you get from the Salvation Army to the Scottish Episcopal Church?
    • Why were you into politics and why did you leave it behind?
    • How has the congregation changed and why?
    • What was your curacy like? Were you really in charge of a cathedral when you were a curate?
    • Is there a God shaped hole in everyone?
    • Do you have a boyfriend?
    • Where in Yorkshire do you come from?
    • Where in Scotland do you come from?
    • Did you come here as Provost?
    • What do you mean when you say you hated your training?
    • What are the good points and the bad points of being Provost of St Mary’s?
    • How do have you used the Maths and Computing skills you got in your first degree?
    • Do you want a new cat?
    • Where are you going next? And when?
    • Do you believe in Predestination?
    • Is there space for more razzmataz at St Mary’s?
    • Salvation Army vs High Church. Is it very different?
    • Prayer? How do you pray?
    • How do Bishops and Provosts get on?
    • What’s a Canon?
    • How do you relax?
    • What did Chaplaincy work teach you?
    • Where would you like to work?
    • Where have you been overseas?
    • What TV do you like?
    • What’s the difference between the role and the person?

    Great questions and as always a really interesting session. I think a lot of congregations would like their rector to do an any questions session from time to time. It is always worthwhile.

    Want the answers?

    I’m repeating it in September.

4 responses to “Retreat”

  1. Carole Avatar
    Carole

    Retreat
    Interesting choice of theme for the Advent retreat.
    Mary Magdelen was of course know to be an energetic, implusive and caring woman. Quite a dream really.

    Unusual combination of food stuffs lentils and banana, anyway.

    Reply
  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Retreat

    Just struck by the coincidence that you and I were on retreat at the same time.  While you were considering the place of Mary Magdalene I was being led to listen more deeply to my dreams.  Through a process of table fellowship and sharing I came to find much meaning in what seemed like a completely random collection of items which regularly arise during the silent hours of the night:  medical pots; gas masks; military apparel; a purple stole; a half-mauled rabbit; a friendly ghost and a bottle of single malt.  I was really appreciative of my fellow retreatants one of whom, realising it was my first time, was very gentle with me and showed me the ropes.  The other, the slightly more talkative of the two, showed a persistent yet Liberal interest in delving deeper into my darkest recesses to see what might come up. If your retreat was anything like as rich as mine you should have enough to chew upon for a very long time, Kelvin.  Thanks for reading this anyway.

    Reply
  3. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Another dream
    I don’t know what that retreat started but since posting that last message I have had yet another dream.  In this latest one there were two soldiers carrying a sofa up a glen!!! What on earth does that tell me.  Any offers of help most gratefully accepted.

    Reply
  4. Saph Avatar
    Saph

    Another dream
    As a person of quite mature years, let me share with you my thoughts on your dream.
    I see the soliders with their uniforms as a sign of discipline – perhaps you are searching for someone to take you in hand and put more structure in your life. The sofa to me represents comfort and familiarity maybe this is what you are searching for but combined with the rugged landscape of the glen are prepared to take the rough with the smooth. Sometimes our dreams are like a humane mouse trap, we are lured in with the promise of something nice to taste but in the end we are trapped and at the mercy of someone elses hand to release us back into the wild.

    I hope this has been of some help to you. Thank you for taking the time to read the ramblings of an old woman anyway.

    Reply

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