Words of Grace: Living Hope in the Diocese of Sheffield

Siân Checkley, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, and Claire Sayce, Safeguarding Training Officer, join Paul and Ben for a special Safeguarding episode.Siân and Claire talk about:✝️ Their roles in the Diocese✝️ How they came to faith✝️ Improvements made to safeguarding✝️ Why it’s important to affirm the work of safeguarding officers✝️ The upcoming Safeguarding Sunday (16 November)

Revd Tom Finnemore, Rector and Oversight Minister at St Thomas Crookes, joins Ben and Paul on the podcast today.Tom talks about:✝️ His working-class background and how it’s shaped him✝️ Being given bad advice at school✝️ How faith has transformed him✝️ The importance of being authentic and speaking directly✝️ Moving to Sheffield three times

Lizzie Ilsley, Assistant Curate at Rotherham Minster, is on the podcast today. Lizzie talks about: ✝️ Growing up in a mixed Catholic and Anglican household✝️ Working as a Speech and Language Therapist for 20 years✝️ Her experience of living with depression as a person of faith✝️ Rotherham Minster’s welcome to the community✝️ How a silent retreat helped to guide her path to ordination

‘Jesus provides this hope. I realised there’s more to life than getting a degree, getting a job, getting married – I found that in the person of Jesus’.Revd Jon Hidden, Oversight Minister and Priest in Charge of St Chad’s Woodseats and St Paul’s Norton Lees, is on the podcast today.Jon discusses:✝️ His family coming to faith at the same time✝️ Working in banking after studying marine biology✝️ When he first asked someone to pray for him✝️ The warm welcome at Anston, Woodseats and Norton Lees✝️ The three methods for making tea in Yorkshire

Revd Vicky Camber, Priest in Charge at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Todwick, is today’s Words of Grace guest.Vicky talks about:✝️ Her faith evolving in her late twenties✝️ The importance of conversations about Jesus✝️ How she feels rooted here in the Diocese✝️ Encouraging others in their faith✝️ The communities in Laughton, Todwick and Ulley

‘The fundamental reality of Christ is that he is there reaching out to us.’ John Davis, former Ministry Experience Scheme student in Sheffield, joins Paul and Ben via Zoom from his New Mexico home. John talks about: ✝️ Generations of his family working on a ranch✝️ Swapping the American West for Sheffield✝️ What attracted him to the UK✝️ His hopes for ordination✝️ His placement at All Saints Ecclesall and the Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy

‘Every step I’ve taken, God has been incredibly faithful. I love doing all the work I’m doing and being able to speak about God all day.’Revd Rachel Crossley, Curate at St Chad’s Woodseats and St Paul’s Norton Lees, is today’s guest on the podcast.Rachel talks about:✝️ Growing up in a Methodist household✝️ Spending her childhood telling people she’d never become a minister✝️ Receiving her calling to ordination during bereavement✝️ Finding new ways to connect with God – particularly outdoors✝️ Metal Methodist services and what they entail

John Ray, author and former mountaineer and teacher, is on the Words of Grace podcast today.John talks about:✝️ Watching the Battle of Britain as a 12-year-old from a Surrey field✝️ Working at Gordonstoun School✝️ Being inspired by Lesslie Newbigin✝️ Working in Pakistan for 25 years✝️ Moving to Hook in his eighties for a new challenge

Revd Canon Karen Cribb, Associate Vicar at St Mary’s Bramall Lane, is on the podcast today.Karen discusses:✝️ Growing up in North London✝️ Being part of a brethren church background in her youth✝️ Her passion for social activism ✝️ The diversity of the congregation at St Mary’s✝️ Busting Self-Supporting Ministry myths