A warm welcome to the latest Anna Chaplain to join the team; Juliette Hooper was commissioned at Lordshill Church on the 10th of November as part of a wonderful service supported by many of the Caraway family.
Juliette writes:
Hi my name is Juliette. I’ve been volunteering with Caraway for almost 2 years; first as a volunteer at the coffee cake and connect group based at Lordhill church until my commissioning as Anna chaplain about three weeks ago.
Volunteering with Caraway has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I’ve always felt a calling on my heart to help people especially those experiencing loneliness and isolation but I didn’t know how and in what capacity it would happen. I often thought of going into Christian counselling but I never got to do it.
One day I was sat in my car outside Lordshill church, praying and interceding for those who are struggling (post Lockdown), I felt the spirit of God convict me to walk towards the church and that’s when I saw the Caraway poster and decided to contact Reverend Margaret Hague who then invited me for a chat, and of course two years later I was to become an Anna chaplain.
The commissioning service was an incredible experience. As God would have it, it took place at Lordshill church on Remembrance Sunday, and as you can imagine we had lots of people from the Connect group, and from the local community in which I would be serving. Margaret Hague took the commissioning vows, and Reverend Tom Boulter anointed me with oil.
I had lots of incredible support from the lovely Anna chaplains who attended the service and from Reverend Erica Roberts who was not able to join us but sent messages of her support and best wishes. Finally, I had my pastor pray over me and release words concerning God’s plan and provision for the work ahead.
I really felt like this whole journey was planned by God in a way that I could never have imagined and I prayerfully look forward to the work ahead and touching lives with the love of Jesus.
