Clergyperson, what will you do today?

I put it to you that with some thought and resolve, you probably have the time and energy to do what you really want to do.

There are some things you are legally obliged to do:

Say Morning and Evening Prayer in Parish Church each day. This might take about half an hour each - less time if you lived next door to the church and wanted to do the minimum, longer if you hvae a fair drive or walk to the church.

Celebrate Holy Communion and preach a sermon in the parish church every Sunday and Principal Holy Day. You will want to prepare your sermon well. This will probably take you about 8 hours a week, give or take.

You are required by your Bishop to attend Clergy Chapter meetings.

You must have at least 4 PCC meetings a year.

You must baptise (or cause to be baptised) those who live in the Parish after necessary preparation.

You will also need to burry (or cause to be burried) parishoners.

You may have a churchyard to administer (or cause the be administered).

There maybe roles that go with your job, such as being a Governor at the parish Church school.

There is a bit of admin that needs doing: for example, things need registering and returns need to be made the the Registrar and the Diocese. Your fees need sending off. Someone else could do some of this for you, but you will have to sign bits of paper.

Now, beyond that, you are free to choose what you do. I know you don't feel like you are, but you are, really. No one can make you do other stuff.

So that leaves you with some free time each week, right? What are you going to do? You could shoot and fish or put your feet up or botanize, but you probably won't. It could be right for you to study and write but it probably isn't.

Some stuff you will probably do for the sake of good will, or because it is expected, or because you always have, or because the previous Vicar did, or to keep Mr Jones happy or..... But that should always be a deliberate strategic decision.

You must remember what your job is: the cure of souls, prayer and the ministry of the word, making disciple-making disciples, evangelism, nurture, discipleship and ministry training. How are you going to do that today?

Many of the things you will be tempted to do may be good and useful, but are they the best way of doing your actual job?

Doing what you want and need to do can only be done it there is lots of stuff you don't do. And not doing stuff is hard.