On October 15th in Ely Cathedral Mick and Pam Lumsden, along with over 100 others, were authorised as lay ministers as part of a new initiative for Ely Diocese. These people are from parishes all over the diocese, and are ordinary Christians who have felt called to serve God in a specific ministry, such as music, pastoral, children’s work, youth or administration. They have given up evenings and Saturdays to attend training sessions over the past year.

Mick and Pam took the pastoral route, and we have already begun to see the fruit of their work in new projects. Pam is co-ordinating the pastoral work of the parish during the vacancy, and has been instrumental in getting the coffee morning started at the hall. She is also very interested in developing the ministry of healing in the parish. Mick, whose full-time job is as an accountant, has been co-ordinating home visiting. He also has a particular interest in the issues Christians face in the workplace.

This year Helen Druiff and Caroline Lamaison are taking the youth work training to equip them better for the work they already do with Junior Church and in their day jobs in education. They are also responsible for our very successful new Youth Event on the first Sunday evening of the month, based around films.