Ordination

The Curate in Highley (CIH) was ordained on Sunday 2nd July in Hereford Cathedral by the Bishop of Hereford, Anthony Priddis. The service was a joyous occasion with hundreds of folks gathered to support the seven people who were being ordained.

Before his ordination, the prospective CIH was away on retreat with the other six ordinands. The retreat took place in the Bishop's Palace and was led by Revd Canon Dr Maureen Palmer. The prospective CIH was able to spend three days in quiet preparing himself for his future ministry. It was not a silent retreat (unlike some ordination retreats) and he was able to get some messages out to his family. Each day the retreatees gathered for morning worship in the Bishop's chapel, Evensong in the cathedral and Compline in the outdoor chapel that forms part of the palace gardens. Through a series of talks, Maureen Palmer encouraged the ordinands to remember that they were formed by God and made in his image; and that, in the same way as a potter moulds clay into different shapes, they were being formed and reformed by God into what he wants them to be; and that, plain as they may be, they carry within them the treasure of the gospel; and that they were shortly to be saying 'YES' to God's call on their lives. "Deacons," she said,"are called to be lovers of God, lovers of God's Church and lovers of God's World - especially of those at the margins of society."

Since his ordination service on Sunday (after which he was rescued by his family and taken to a nearby pub for lunch with his friends and supporters) the CIH has done absolutely no work for five days due to his vicar going away. When he does start work, I shall report some of it here. Until then. Every blessing to you.