Elaine

Elaine, who worships at Christ Church, Eston shares her story and how excited she is to be on Stepping Up.

My name is Elaine Marley and I started Stepping up in January 2023, I was not sure what was involved or the impact it would have on my life. After a visit to Bishopthorpe Palace, listening to Archbishop Stephen, Bishop Eleanor and the testimonies of others who have completed Stepping Up, I realised how much God has been at work in my life.

Five years ago I attended an AGM at Christ Church Eston, without any thought whatsoever of becoming a Church Warden, but low and behold God prompted me to stand, my heart was pounding. I walked out of church and was so bewildered and I had a handful of literature on the role of a church warden . The first few months were pretty uneventful, but then our vicar was off sick and then retired, leaving the church in vacancy. Then Covid arrived! It was a challenging time with many obstacles to overcome and I used skills I didn’t know I had! Eventually we welcomed our new rector in September 2021.

My elderly mother who had Alzheimer’s was in and out of hospital throughout this period and sadly died last July.  The months that followed were very difficult for me I was running on autopilot and was starting to experience symptoms of burnout. I realised it was because I had not made time to grieve for my mother and the trauma surrounding her death was giving me nightmares.

The new rector, Graham approached me and asked if I would like to join Stepping Up and I said I would pray about it. I was still functioning on autopilot and my mental health was suffering. I prayed and heard God say do Stepping Up. I spoke to Graham and agreed but said I was stepping down as church warden and the PCC, so I could really concentrate and focus on Stepping Up. When I reflected on the previous months, I realised I had been more of a Martha than a Mary and my spiritual health was really suffering.

I started Stepping up in January and was still feeling burnout. Then in February my husband and I went to Centre Parcs with our daughter and her family. I decided to recapture my youth and go roller skating, and you may have guessed I wasn’t as good as I used to be! I fell over and broke my wrist, so I had no choice but to step back at church, I couldn’t drive or do many domestic tasks. I definitely believe God forced me to slow down and focus on Stepping Up. I also think he enabled me to acquire new skills and gave me confidence.

Over the months of Stepping Up I have felt a peace and a calmness that I had not experienced for a long, long time. I have met wonderful people in the group, and I am loving it.

Just to sum up - I don’t recommend breaking a wrist but for me it has put me on a very different pathway!