Bumper Ordination

Tonight I was over in Shankill Parish in Lurgan for the Down and Dromore diocesan ordination of Deacons. There were a (record?) 8 new deacons ordained - containing most of this year's final year students. The college will be a quieter place without them!

The service was excellent - a good range of music led by praise band, and others on the organ. At times, though, when the congregation broke into clapping during the choruses, you would have thought you were in a wee country mission hall rather than the largest parish church in the Church of Ireland! Even being the largest, the Church of Christ the Redeemer was bunged - completely packed!

The sermon was very good - thankfully not just addressed to the candidates, but to the whole congregation, and a careful exposition of the passage. Clive Atkinson, an Inter-Continental Church Society Chaplain in Switzerland was the preacher, and he spoke on Mark 10:35-45, on servant leadership.

Following the two-hour service (which didn't seem like two hours), and greetings outside the church, we moved down to the Jethro Centre for refreshments. Great to see that amazing centre being used to good effect.

For the record, the newly ordained deacons are - Clare Ashbridge (Donaghcloney), Carlton Baxter (Shankill), James Boyd (Magheralin), Stanley Gamble (Knockbreda), Edward Gorringe (Aghalee), Mervyn Jamison (Ballybeen), Adrian McLaughlin (Bangor Abbey), and Brian O'Reilly (Seagoe). May God bless and strengthen them for the work he has called them to. Amen.

(One year to go until I am ordained DV!)