Ridley Partners' Group: Views + Comments
Spice Life 2006-7
It's been a busy year for Spice, the partners group here at Ridley. We meet twice a week, on Monday evenings and Thursday mornings, to offer one another fellowship and support, learn new things, share our knowledge and skills, and have fun!
We've all arrived at Ridley from different places, some of us have children, some of us work, but we share the highs (and lows!) of being married or engaged to a Ridley student. Our time together has been varied. The year began with a great family fun day, which included games for the children and a chance to begin to get to know one another and to feel fully included in community life.
Since then we've socialised together, had visiting speakers, shared from our own experiences, and are currently in the midst of a course looking at our spiritual gifts. We've also studied the Bible and prayed together, had two retreat days, had a Body Shop party and discovered what colours suit us! Our children have joined in with all age worship and spent time playing together on Thursday mornings. We're now looking forward to the end of year children's party, and to a lovely summer break.
Julie - 2nd year Spice: married to Martin and mother of two
My name is Julie Court and I am married to Martin, who is a 2nd year ordinand. We have 2 children, aged 10 and 6. I took a career break from my last job when we moved here as I saw my priority was to settle the children. I have also taken the opportunity to "audit" (or sit in) on various lectures, which include Old and New Testament, Psychology and this year I am doing Theology B. I have enjoyed them all immensely.
My best memory of Ridley so far is a difficult question to answer as we have had some great times. We as a family love the punting and the croquet on the lawn. I have also been greatly touched by the fact that as a spouse or child, you are so welcome at Ridley and looked on as part of the community. So many friendships have been established since moving here.
My vision for my family's future in the ministry is mainly to support my husband and to make sure family time remains precious. I also see us as all having a part to play, although which part, we will only know after arriving at our Church and through prayer, let God reveal what work He would have us do.
My Cambridge "top tip", especially if you have young children (although they do excellent clothes from adults too!), is Choice at Bar Hill. It is a seconds "Next" clothing store and all the items are usually half price! Also, I don't believe you can leave Cambridge without taking "Penny the Punt" out, especially in the warm summer evenings.
The Bible Passage I would like to leave you with is one that has been given to us, and really encouraged us. It is Jeremiah 29, verse 11:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Marie-Claire - 2nd year Spice: married to Ola and working
Hello, I'm Marie-Claire, married to Ola, a second-year Ordinand. We moved back to Britain a few years ago to allow Ola to explore his vocation. I have been working full-time in Cambridge, but will shortly be going part-time, in order to enjoy some of the College scene, try and drum up some business as a penniless translator, and take time to learn some things that might stand me in good stead for my future as a vicar's wife!!
The bible verse which struck us most when Ola began training was from Habakkuk 2: 1-3, and in particular:
This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming - it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time. (The Message)
This verse had been given to us many years earlier, to our puzzlement, when we were about to embark on another Christian service venture that did not work out in the end. We were gently reminded of it as we came to Ridley. It was wonderful to see the verse start to be fulfilled.
I think most working wives would agree that College Communion on a Thursday is a haitus in our busy weeks. To worship in a jam-packed sanctuary with students who are dedicating their lives to the Lord's service, is unfailingly uplifting. It has also been great to stop once a week on a Monday and meet other women in the same boat. We'll all be out there in a year or two, so it's a privilege to get to know each other at this stage.
Sally - 'ex-Spice': married to Christopher (a local vicar), mother and working
Currently, I am a working wife. I work half time as an Occupational Therapist in Intermediate Care, for people who are about to integrate more in the community. I am married to Christopher, rector of four rural parishes in the South of Cambridgeshire. Our children are rather large now: Emily is almost a doctor, training in Edinburgh and in her sixth year, Zoe has just graduated and has left for Thailand to teach and Samuel is fourteen and still at home with us.
My best memory of Ridley? This is a difficult one, as I have plenty of good memories! Possibly one of the cosiest was of our Spice group, which I never missed. Initially everyone seemed so 'holy' that I thought that I hadn't a chance of settling into it, but soon we all became friends and had a great bond, being in the same situation, lots of us having toddlers as well.
I love our four parishes. In many ways it was very different from what we had hoped for, but the people are lovely and very supportive of all we are trying to do. I have made lots of friends and Samuel is really well integrated into our young peoples' group. We have only been here for two and a half years, so we're still in our early days but feel we've been here long enough to belong. There have been many blessings: we genuinely enjoy our work, Samuel is happy, our home is perfect for us, it's great being near Cambridge, our young people have formed their own worship band - which they are excited about, and so are we -, people are open to grow spiritually. And, our village is a lovely place to live, if you are a country bumpkin, like me!
There have been challenges too: at some services the congregation is small, our four old churches lack toilets and disabled access, restoration work has been going on etc. - things that can be a burden for the Christians in the community. There is a lot for Christopher to do on his own, being the only clergy in four parishes.
Our vision? Well, Christopher will probably retire when we leave here. I am sure that he will want an active retired ministry. I expect I will continue to be involved wherever it is appropriate, at present I work with the teenagers and run a house group, I enjoy singing and I am a member of our singing group.
I love our Parish text card for this year - Romans 12:12:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
My Cambridge top tip: the free car park at the bottom of the meadows in Newnham.
More about SPICE :
