September 2024
Enjoying a little down time in the ‘play room’ space set up for the storytelling week.
This felt like a brave and challenging programme. I felt ‘held’ both practically and spiritually by the structure of prayer, teaching and formation group sessions, and social time. Even ordinary moments felt significant but there was still space to ‘breathe.’
The Formation Groups were set up well. Guidelines, introductions and our own agreed boundaries, released us to work supportively as a group, empowering us through this process, and quickly forging strong bonds that I believe will continue to develop.
The focus on ‘the stories we tell’ was very powerful and revealing. It seemed well-crafted (deliberately so, I imagine?) to ease us into the topic on the Monday, pushed forward dramatically with Sef and Jayme and further again with Alison. This was a hugely emotional ‘journey’ for me, and clearly for other students too. As a counsellor and life coach, I felt equipped to manage these emotions internally, but I picked up that some others felt it a little overwrought. I had a realisation about the use of stories in my own coaching work, helping me to verbalise my techniques more effectively.
One highlight for me was hearing all the tutors sharing your own stories; each modelling openness and vulnerability in your own unique way. It was breath-taking and inspiring. You all created an accepting open atmosphere, which freely allowed both tears and laughter.
Personally, I would have also liked additional time to process and discuss the ideas that came up around stories (our own stories; when it’s safe / not safe to invite others stories etc…) and the ways that we might use stories within The Church. This would have helped to ‘ground’ this more but I appreciate the balance of sessions and space in the programme.
‘Dwelling in the Word’ was new to me. I found it both frustrating and then illuminating (a bit of an internal battle there!) but then relaxed into it.
I enjoyed choosing my top Sarum Aims in completing the induction module, and others said the same. I wondered if we could have had a short session exploring these and also the Sarum values (these weren’t entirely clear to me, from the Programme Handbook.)
Friday’s presentations and the Eucharist service, was a perfect ending to the week and helped to frame the learning, experience and newly-formed community. I left feeling that our spirituality had been fully-lived out throughout the week and that I had found ‘my tribe.’
Colin Potter is a first-year ordinand from Portsmouth Diocese.
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This reflection is the third in a series of posts about Summer School 2024. This residential week held in late August is an annual gathering for ordination students to come together for prayer, learning, reflection and formation ahead of the academic year.
Read previous posts by Lindsey Crowhurst, Mike Dyne and Claire Morrish
Read the Reflection by Sarum College Principal James Woodward
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