After 20 years in the ordained ministry of the Church of Ireland, Alan Abernethy took a short sabbatical in order to put down on paper his reflections on his experience. He has long seen his life as a personal pilgrimage of faith and has struggled with his developing vocation to ministry. In trying to cover the main areas of Christian ministry in parish life, he includes discussions on worship, preaching, leadership, clergy training, managing change and spiritual disciplines.