Sermon preached at the Insitution of Revd Victor Fitzpatrick, Mountrath

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

I want to say thank you to Victor and the Bishop for their invitation to preach at this institution service. An important milestone in the life and witness of the parish and of the new Rector. 

It is a service of comings and goings - of transition and looking forward to the years to come with optimism and hope. My role here is to remind us tonight of what God’s word is saying to us - as the congregation gathered here. I would like to look at the Gospel, the good news which has been appointed to have been read on this the Feast of St. Bartholomew. 

Tradition has it that Bartholmew is identifed with Nathanael, a man of Cana in Galilee who was summoned to Jesus by Philip. Jesus paid him a great compliment: “Here is a true Israelite. 

The only mention of Bartholomew is in the lists of disciples in the Gospels which for me is interesting in itself in terms of names - people who have experienced much and contributed much in their lifetimes … they may be remembered - in lists, on plaques maybe …  but they are to do what they can and what God has called them to do. 

But what are we called to? let's take a moment to think. about the gospel reading today which is a reminder of Christian Leadership, a reminder of the inside out, back to front radical nature of discipleship which Christ exemplified and which we are called to make ours for today. 

Two of the major images that surround us whether we’re on the road or at home are these 

The first is That of the pause button - on our DVD’s , music apps, live TV 

I would love tonight to press the pause button and to think about what is happening in this service 

A community, a church that has a long history in this community has come to this point, a community of disciples who have needs, desires, questions, hopes, a community of all different ages and stages. A community which has been shaped by wider society, by events from within and without. The Church, as with any parish anywhere, in this community is a unique body, a unique set of people with all the quirks, personalities, gifts and skills which make you you. 

As we pause here, this evening we are reminded that each member of the church is an essential part of the identity of this body.

This service yes is about Victor Fitzpatrick coming to you as a pastor, priest and leader but its also an opportunity to re-group and remind ourselves what life together as a parish family is about. 

We’ll have the symbols of 

Baptism, Word, Holy Communion, Place, Prayer presented by parishioners to Victor … but each one of us needs to take our responsibility to be part of the community of mission and outreach into our community, to take responsibility for our growth, to get involved in the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom here in this place

Which Brings me to the Gospel today … We see in the disciples there is conflict which Jesus uses as a teaching moment. A moment where instead of Lording it over the twelve … Jesus reminds them that even though all authority has been given to him … he’s there as one who serves. 

I wonder in what areas of our lives, in the homes we come from, in the forums we move and in the churches we worship in … are there areas where it could be that we need more of a servant attitude rather than an authoritarian mindset. Where can you and I serve or have a servant attitude

Victor, I know comes among you as one who serves, who loves and who is concerned in his pastoral and his caring attitudes … do take time to get to know him, chat to him, he has got a great sense of humour. 

As Clergy, none of us are the same as those who have gone before, each of us have our own personalities and gifts - we serve in different ways but we’re called to serve the Lord in our own way whilst fulfilling our vows to God. 

Victor is someone who is wise, caring, pastorally sensitive, serving as he has in various ways in various places. As he fulfils his calling in this place It’s my prayer for him that he will take time to get to know the individual stories of this place and be able to speak God’s peace, his love and his freedom into the places he finds himself. 

Priest and parish together is the model of ministry we’ve inherited and its one in which we work across this island. 

I’ve pressed pause as we’ve focused upon Jesus’ example 

But Now I would love to press play and see what we’ve got to learn from our acts reading … That is getting outside the doors and proclaiming in word and deed the good news of Jesus 

All of the symbols in our service today could be seen as internal 

Baptism, the font is in the church 

The Bible is on the lectern 

Bread and wine are consumed at the rails 

The keys open the doors of the church 

Prayer is said in the pews 

But this is not so … when we go through any of our liturgies in church there is a compulsion outwards, to take what we learn and experience in our buildings out to the communities that we live and work. 

My second image is that of an L Plate … When I am driving around, i’m very wary of people with these beacause they are a risk, they might not know what they are doing, nor do they always know all of the rules, they might stop suddenly, they might do something silly, they break suddenly, they might need a wee bit of help to know what to do. 

In the acts of the apostles reading today we meet some of the disciples out on the street and they are doing some amazing things - they are learning about the power that is amongst them. 

Any leader … any baptised follower of Jesus … no matter how much experience we have is called to a life of a life long learner … no matter our age, no matter what degrees, life experience we’re called his disciples which means life long L Plates up… its an attitude of learning. 

I wonder what you were doing 20 years ago … or 5 years ago if you are slightly younger than me. 

Are you the same as you were 20 years ago … no … well I wonder how your spiritual life has changed? what have you learned?

Now I wonder how you can put yourself in a place where you are learning more, developing into a mature Christian. Your community needs learners, needs people who are ready to help and assist with developing an outward looking community of faith. The church of Ireland, across this island needs people who are willing to put themselves in places that might be scary, might be putting their heads above the parapet. But the people of this community need to know that there is hope, there is a place of unconditional love available 

We need to be known as people to are learning together, and living out our learning - we’re not called to simply help the church survive in this generation but we’re called to be a living body pointing to what Jesus described as life in all its fullness. 

No person can do this by themselves - but what does this look like in our schools, in isolated farms, in small villages, in towns, with young mums, with teenagers, with our seniors, with those in debt, with those in hospitals and nursing homes, in shops, with those suffering from mental illness … This is a huge task but with our L plates up … every single one of us. 

We know that God has called Victor to be here as Parish Priest but what about you … every single one of us … what areas of ministry might God be placing on your heart?

In conclusion 

The church is the body and my prayer is that you may Pause and reflect on who God is and who he has created you to be 

And remember that you are his disciples … life long L plates up ready to learn, to take risks and to learn both from successes and failures… Remembering that you are chosen, sons and daughters of the King of Kings and he has plans for you. 

Luke 22: 24-30

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. ²⁵But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. ²⁷For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

28 ‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; ²⁹and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, ³⁰so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.