CF – So what have you been up to Natalie?
NA – In a big picture kind of way I would answer that question by saying, I’ve been trying to live out and focus on my relationship with God, my family and others as well as myself. Some areas have been attended to more fully than others this week.
It’s now Friday, the week has been varied, I’ve been leading and preaching, worshipping God, praying and reading, had various pastoral visits, different meetings such as exploring the vision of Children’s and Youth Work at St James’ Stretham and today preparing reports for our annual general meetings. I have spent time with my family, but my day off tomorrow will be more family focused. I went to the cinema this week to see the film LION (really recommend it but do take tissues!). I’m now catching up on emails as I turned up to my weekly Pilates class and it was cancelled this am!
CF – I am not sure about adults playing Pirates, but hey. Tell me a bit about your pre-Ely life, your family and how you ended up here:
NA – Well I trained at Ridley Hall, Cambridge a few years ago and then went back to Leicestershire where I grew up. My family and I were in some churches in Loughborough before coming to Ely. My husband first saw the advert for my current role in the Church Times and when I saw it and had a conversation with Chris Hill on the phone I was keen to apply. My husband and I prayed about it and when I was offered the role and met with Bishop Stephen we sensed God was calling us to Ely.
CF – What is your favourite book from the Bible and why?
NA – It has to be John’s gospel because it’s the gospel that made me realise that Jesus wasn’t just an interesting character but my Saviour, my Healer and My Lord. I love the way that the more you chew and meditate on John’s gospel the more you see and encounter.
CF – And mine, and Chris H’s. It is truly amazing. And what is your favourite verse?
NA –Having just preached on Sunday on John 3:1-17 Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus, I love the reminder in 3:8 that the Spirit blows where it pleases. An encouragement that when we give our hearts (not just our heads) to Jesus he gives us new life, the hope of eternal life and his Spirit works in us in ways we don’t always understand, transforming us from within so that we might daily receive Jesus into our lives, becoming all we are called to be in Christ and impacting the world around us.
CF – Wonderfully poetic. If you were an animal, what would it be?
NA – Well not really an animal – a bird…..a humming bird!
(Because – they are small yet bright and vibrant, and have a unique way of making sound with their wings….I love the fact that we are all made differently by God and we all have a part to play in life’s great orchestra – the humming bird reminds me that God wants me to be me and not a carbon copy of someone else.)
CF – So not a knat then?
NA – No!! (Laughs)
CF – what is the favourite part of your job?
NA – Seeing Christ being birthed in individuals’ lives and seeing lives transformed especially those who are struggling in any kind of way. I also love enabling others to go deeper in Spiritual practices. I enjoy thinking and hopefully putting into practice the ways in which the Church can live out her calling and flourish in the 21st Century.
CF – and the least?
NA – Meetings for the sake of meetings!
CF – Agreed. I am the world’s number one hater of meetings, unless there is a stated purpose, a clear desired outcome and everybody is fully prepped. Next, a little bird told me that you an astonishingly accomplished skier. Care to elaborate?
NA – Well maybe not accomplished!!! I went skiing for the first time last year, I was doing really well, the ski instructor was impressed J Just as I was feeling rather proud, I started to whizz down the slope like something out of Wallace and Gromit….ending in a heap….the next day I got smacked in the face by the button lift!! The moral of that story is?????
CF – Well I think the moral of that story is always wear a suit of armour when skiing and avoid buttons. Next, a trickier one. What is good about the Church of England and what needs to change?
NA – I love the way the Church of England as the Established Church and with the Parish model has access to the communities it finds itself in in very privileged ways. For example through local schools and through weddings, funerals and baptisms, as well as other aspects of community life. It means that the Church still has a presence and potentially a voice in our parishes. As the Established church it is still expected that we will be present in various forums including the House of Lords, this is a gift.
In terms of what needs to change, I think that when we consider the ‘future’ of the church we need to ensure that we don’t allow perceived lack of finances and scarcity to be our focus, but to keep the main thing the main thing, asking ourselves what does it mean to be Church as opposed to a corporate organization and what would Jesus do with a lack of resources?
CF – What do you regards as you great likes and dislikes?
NA – Likes – I Love travelling and exploring – loved India – visiting the Diocese of Trichy. Like creativity. Healing and wholeness – seeing lives transformed through Jesus. Interested in New Monasticism and passionate about spirituality in our everyday lives….in order that we might be sent out into the world to join in with what God is already doing!
Love walking the dog and spending time with family and close friends.
Dislikes - Capers!! And Peanuts (well I like them but am allergic to them!). Injustice, inequality, abuse of power, insincerity and falsehood!
CF – Marvellous. Finally, sum yourself up in fewer than 20 words
NA – Calm yet passionate with an inner lioness that gets out sometimes.
CF – Hence the reason you want to see Lion? Well I will keep away from that lioness when it is feeding time. Thank-you for very much Natalie
NA – In a big picture kind of way I would answer that question by saying, I’ve been trying to live out and focus on my relationship with God, my family and others as well as myself. Some areas have been attended to more fully than others this week.
It’s now Friday, the week has been varied, I’ve been leading and preaching, worshipping God, praying and reading, had various pastoral visits, different meetings such as exploring the vision of Children’s and Youth Work at St James’ Stretham and today preparing reports for our annual general meetings. I have spent time with my family, but my day off tomorrow will be more family focused. I went to the cinema this week to see the film LION (really recommend it but do take tissues!). I’m now catching up on emails as I turned up to my weekly Pilates class and it was cancelled this am!
CF – I am not sure about adults playing Pirates, but hey. Tell me a bit about your pre-Ely life, your family and how you ended up here:
NA – Well I trained at Ridley Hall, Cambridge a few years ago and then went back to Leicestershire where I grew up. My family and I were in some churches in Loughborough before coming to Ely. My husband first saw the advert for my current role in the Church Times and when I saw it and had a conversation with Chris Hill on the phone I was keen to apply. My husband and I prayed about it and when I was offered the role and met with Bishop Stephen we sensed God was calling us to Ely.
CF – What is your favourite book from the Bible and why?
NA – It has to be John’s gospel because it’s the gospel that made me realise that Jesus wasn’t just an interesting character but my Saviour, my Healer and My Lord. I love the way that the more you chew and meditate on John’s gospel the more you see and encounter.
CF – And mine, and Chris H’s. It is truly amazing. And what is your favourite verse?
NA –Having just preached on Sunday on John 3:1-17 Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus, I love the reminder in 3:8 that the Spirit blows where it pleases. An encouragement that when we give our hearts (not just our heads) to Jesus he gives us new life, the hope of eternal life and his Spirit works in us in ways we don’t always understand, transforming us from within so that we might daily receive Jesus into our lives, becoming all we are called to be in Christ and impacting the world around us.
CF – Wonderfully poetic. If you were an animal, what would it be?
NA – Well not really an animal – a bird…..a humming bird!
(Because – they are small yet bright and vibrant, and have a unique way of making sound with their wings….I love the fact that we are all made differently by God and we all have a part to play in life’s great orchestra – the humming bird reminds me that God wants me to be me and not a carbon copy of someone else.)
CF – So not a knat then?
NA – No!! (Laughs)
CF – what is the favourite part of your job?
NA – Seeing Christ being birthed in individuals’ lives and seeing lives transformed especially those who are struggling in any kind of way. I also love enabling others to go deeper in Spiritual practices. I enjoy thinking and hopefully putting into practice the ways in which the Church can live out her calling and flourish in the 21st Century.
CF – and the least?
NA – Meetings for the sake of meetings!
CF – Agreed. I am the world’s number one hater of meetings, unless there is a stated purpose, a clear desired outcome and everybody is fully prepped. Next, a little bird told me that you an astonishingly accomplished skier. Care to elaborate?
NA – Well maybe not accomplished!!! I went skiing for the first time last year, I was doing really well, the ski instructor was impressed J Just as I was feeling rather proud, I started to whizz down the slope like something out of Wallace and Gromit….ending in a heap….the next day I got smacked in the face by the button lift!! The moral of that story is?????
CF – Well I think the moral of that story is always wear a suit of armour when skiing and avoid buttons. Next, a trickier one. What is good about the Church of England and what needs to change?
NA – I love the way the Church of England as the Established Church and with the Parish model has access to the communities it finds itself in in very privileged ways. For example through local schools and through weddings, funerals and baptisms, as well as other aspects of community life. It means that the Church still has a presence and potentially a voice in our parishes. As the Established church it is still expected that we will be present in various forums including the House of Lords, this is a gift.
In terms of what needs to change, I think that when we consider the ‘future’ of the church we need to ensure that we don’t allow perceived lack of finances and scarcity to be our focus, but to keep the main thing the main thing, asking ourselves what does it mean to be Church as opposed to a corporate organization and what would Jesus do with a lack of resources?
CF – What do you regards as you great likes and dislikes?
NA – Likes – I Love travelling and exploring – loved India – visiting the Diocese of Trichy. Like creativity. Healing and wholeness – seeing lives transformed through Jesus. Interested in New Monasticism and passionate about spirituality in our everyday lives….in order that we might be sent out into the world to join in with what God is already doing!
Love walking the dog and spending time with family and close friends.
Dislikes - Capers!! And Peanuts (well I like them but am allergic to them!). Injustice, inequality, abuse of power, insincerity and falsehood!
CF – Marvellous. Finally, sum yourself up in fewer than 20 words
NA – Calm yet passionate with an inner lioness that gets out sometimes.
CF – Hence the reason you want to see Lion? Well I will keep away from that lioness when it is feeding time. Thank-you for very much Natalie
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