URC  Christ  Church  Colchester

mail@urcchristchurchcolchester.org.uk

Andrew Royal writes

The congregations of Lion Walk and Christ Church Colchester welcomed me in worship on Sunday 31st August 2008. Over the next 10 months I will be sharing and exploring with you ‘ministry’ in your own context as an internship student. The internship programme is the final part of my training as a self-supporting ministry within the United Reformed Church. 

Over the next 10 months I will work as a student minister with the congregation of Lion Walk, Christ Church and Chappel. I have agreed to take part in some of the internship programme organised at Westminster College. The Revd Ken Forbes is my supervising minister and a number of people in the congregations have been asked to form a reflection group to explore the internship experience. 

My internship experience will be demanding and challenging- [not least because this will be very part time]. Training will continue to make demands on my ‘free time’, time with the family and my own levels of stamina and energy as I continue to combine full time work as a ‘Floor Covering Manager’ and offering part-time service as a student. The distance travelling between Stowmarket and Colchester is also a factor in this experience. In September I clocked up around 650 miles- thankfully the college will cover my travelling costs. 

I am looking forward to the ‘hands on experience’ which will put three years of study on the Eastern Region Ministry Course into practice. I also look to draw on my experience gained as accredited lay preacher, elder, church secretary and my involvement through the Boys’ Brigade. I am expected to do around 700 hours of service. These hours of service will be made up of sharing in the life of the local Church: Lion Walk, Christ Church and Chappel and attending Westminster College as I am able.  

I am very humble that I have been called into this form of part time study. This form of training has kept my feet firmly on the ground- I am a simple Suffolk boy who tries his best to share something of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through work, service and witness. 

I met with the Moderator at the end of September and over the coming months there will be some exploration within the Area Partnerships and local Churches. How can the Church use my offer of part-time service [10 hours a week, 3 out of 4 Sundays] in the local Church?  

As we journey together- as I explore future possibilities of ministry- I look forward to the times when we will share together something of our faith and witness.

Andrew