Anniversary

Wow! Time flies. I can hardly believe it but today is the 30th anniversary of my ordination in Southwark Cathedral.

New Rev outside the Cathedral, 1989

Happy memories today of St Luke's, West Norwood, where I was curate, of the parishes of St Helier and Holy Trinity, Redhill, where I have been vicar, of my present churches of St James and St Anne's, of my training vicar, Peter Ronayne, of many  colleagues and curates, and of the many friends from all those whose churches and of all the things we have shared together.

I think it was the News of the World that had the slogan 'all human life is here.' It's like that in the ordained ministry - you share with people their very best and very worst times, their greatest successes, their disappointments, their secrets, their greatest fears, and their greatest hopes - and what is privilege that is.

And the best of all, those moments when the penny drops, the eyes of the blind are opened, and people step from death to life by the grace of God.

The Ordination Service says 'Because you cannot bear the weight of this ministry in your own strength but only by the grace and power of God, pray earnestly for his Holy Spirit. Pray that he will each day enlarge and enlighten your understanding of the Scriptures, so that you may grow stronger and more mature in ministry, as you fashion your life and the lives of your people on the word of God.'

That's a good prayer to come back to today and it's a good prayer for all of us as we seek to share the 'unsearchable riches of Christ.'