Ordination Season

In writting this blog, I am doing so in order simply to record what has happened in the last week - I have said my farewell's in Seapatrick Parish
- Took a trip down with some others to waterford for Ruth's Ordindation
- Headed up to Coleraine for a trainning event
- Back down to Kilmore for Alison's Ordination.

These Ordinations are getting a bit close to home now. I think something which might be of use on the blog is to explain a little about the ordination service as we have it in the Book of Common Prayer and about the vows I will be taking sunday week.

Over the next couple of days I hope to be able to look at the Declarations & The ordination prayer which basically boil down to the outline of the job description of a Deacon in the church of God.

The service is similar in structure to the other services in the prayer book

• The gathering of God's People
• Proclaiming and Recieving the Word
• - The Rite of Ordination
• Celebrating at the Lord's Table
• Going out as God's People

The role of the deacon is outlined by the bishop

"Deacons in the Church of God serve in the name of Christ, and so remind the whole chruch that serving others is at the heart of all ministry".

Special responsiblity

• Those who are in need are cared for with compassion and humility
• Strengthen the faithful
• search out the careless and indifferent
• Minister to the sick, the needy, the poor and those in trouble

When called upon deacons may

• Baptize
• preach
• Give instruction in the faith

Deacons assist the bishop and priest under whom they serve

When people are gathered for worship

• Deacons are authorized to read the Gospel
• Lead the people in intercession
• Distribute the bread and wine of Holy Communion

So that's the basic job description of a deacon ... quite a lot to keep me busy then in the years which lie ahead. More on ordination in the next while!