Parish of Walton-on-Thames
St Mary with St John

From the Vicar - June 2008

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MINISTRY FOR ALL

On Friday 27th June at 6.30pm, Steve will be ordained Priest in Guildford Cathedral, together with all the other deacons from the Archdeaconry of Dorking. (See Jackie Kennedy's note elsewhere in this Radius about places on the coach.) As well as being a great diocesan occasion, celebrated rightly in our cathedral, it is also a milestone in Steve's ministry and in the life of our parish. Please hold Steve and Angie (and Samuel!) in your prayers.

The following Sunday morning, June 29th at 10.00am at St Mary's, Steve will preside at the Eucharist for the first time at a joint service. I hope that as many of you as possible will come to St Mary's for this special occasion. After the service there will be a celebration in the parish hall, at which cake, coffee and a glass of something cheering will be on offer.

Steve's ordination gives us a good opportunity to think more widely about ministry as the Church understands it, an understanding that is rooted in the foundational understanding and practice of the first Christians. Among the Bible verses that speak about ministry, Ephesians 4.11 is particularly apposite: "The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers."

In other words, God gives certain people to undertake particular ministries within the Church - for example, Steve to be ministering as a priest - but the reason behind these named, specific ministries is not to create a hierarchy; rather, says Paul, it is "to equip the saints for ministry"

There we have it. Ministry is to be carried out by "the saints", which in Paul's language simply means Christians. God's plan is that each and every Christian is to be equipped and trained for "the work of ministry", a ministry whose goal is to bring us to unity in faith, maturity, and "to the measure of the full stature of Christ".

This is not to denigrate ordained ministry in any way. Rather, it is to help us reclaim the scriptural perspective that ordained, or reader, or pastoral ministry exists chiefly to equip, enable, train and stimulate the ministries of all the rest of us. On Pentecost, I mentioned some of these ministries in my sermon: hospitality, administration, acts of service, generous giving, and forms of assistance - in other words, helping; all ministries mentioned by Paul alongside the more overtly spiritual ministries of preaching, teaching, healing, and prophecy.

Jesus said: "You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last" (Jn.15.16). God has called us to follow him and to be his people. He has also called us to be fruitful in his service.

We all have a vocation, whether or not we're aware of it as yet. This month, as we pray for Steve, are you willing to ask, "Lord, what are you calling me to be and to do now?" May God reveal to each of us our vocation, and equip us for that calling, so that each of us can make our unique contribution to the ministry and mission of the Body of Christ which is his Church here in Walton.

Yours in Christ,

Charles Stewart

May 2008

Information:
Charles Stewart
Last changed:
1 June 2008

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