For many of us Petertide is a time when we remember our own ordination to the diaconate or priesthood. As we give thanks for God’s faithfulness to us, I commend to your prayers all those being ordained at this time – 32 deacons and 45 priests.
In April our Director of Ministry, Dr Neil Evans, sent a letter to parishes with information and resources to help us raise the profile of vocations. There are still posters and cards available from Judy Barrett and the constantly evolving LondonCallings.uk website – flag it up on your weekly sheet as an encouragement to prayer for the faithful as well as a resource for those perhaps beginning to hear God’s calling on their lives.
Our own St Mellitus College now has over 200 ordinands in training and will be glad to suggest an ordinand who might preach or be interviewed. Dr Lincoln Harvey, Assistant Dean, would be happy to receive requests. You may particularly like to invite a younger ordinand or someone from a BAME background as an encouragement to those who often rule themselves out because of age or ethnicity. Many feel that they are academically unprepared to embark on college training and I commend the Beginning Theology course as an excellent way of gently improving self-confidence and deepening faith.
I pray for myself as well as for you that we may be alive to the promptings of the Spirit in challenging others to consider their vocation. It is vital to the wellbeing and growth of the church of Jesus Christ.
