ELEVEN new Lay Worship Leaders (LWLs) have been commissioned to serve the Bishop’s Waltham deanery.

The newly-trained leaders were commissioned by the area dean, the Rev James Hunt, and assistant area dean the Rev Fiona Grove, following a course and safeguarding training. They have been commissioned to serve the whole Deanery, while concentrating on their own parish or benefice for the most part. Canon David Isaac organised the course and the trainers.

The 11 people were:

• Mary Blow (St Peter’s Church, Bishop’s Waltham);
• Andrew Cox (Church of the Blessed Mary, Upham);
• Helen Finch (St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon);
• Simon Harrison (St Peter’s Church, Bishop’s Waltham);
• Richard Hull (St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon);
• Emma Kerby (St Peter’s Church, Bishop’s Waltham);
• Miriam Levy (St Peter’s Church, Bishop’s Waltham);
• Louise Millard (St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon);
• Liz Parr (St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon);
• John Phillips (St Peter’s, Soberton); and
• Paul Quinn (St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon).

One of those commissioned, Paul Quinn, is also a churchwarden and has led services at St Peter and St Paul, Hambledon, during periods of vacancy.

He said: “I enjoyed leading the occasional service, especially Evensong, but kept strictly to the order of service. Following a marvellous Alpha course led by Rev Emma Andersen and her husband Robin I re-discovered the role the Holy Spirit had played in my life and have a new spiritual energy. When Canon David Isaac advertised the Lay Worship Leaders course, I felt moved to give it a go.

“The course was run at Hambledon as a deanery project over consecutive Saturday mornings. It was wonderfully informal and was about all the different styles of worship, how a service is put together, and how to do a reflection on a Bible passage – LWLs don’t preach but make a reflection – including preparing a piece and delivering it in front of our course mates. A really affirming process full of support, joy and laughter.

“So, what will I do differently? Firstly, and most importantly I will have more courage to try different things, rather than following the usual order of service. I’m hopeless at extemporary prayer and the course showed I could have a go – but that is an area to work on. I’m so grateful for the Rev David Isaac and Stephen Campion who co-led the course, and the deanery clergy and lay ministers who presented to us – all inspirational and full of faith.”

And the area dean, the Rev James Hunt, said: “This is an exciting development and encouraging as the deanery seeks to grow and develop all its various ministries and mission. Might God be calling you to something in your parish?”