• Sunday’s Sermon on Vocations

    Here’s what I said on Sunday about vocations

    [Sorry about the poor audio. We’ve some major problems with the sound system that are going to take some weeks to sort out – however, the Vestry are well aware that Something Needs to be Done].

    The Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church have asked the whole church today to reflect on vocations. The idea is that on this Sunday, when the readings tend to reflect on the idea of Jesus as the great shepherd of the flock, we think about the notion of calling. So we must think about how we discern God’s calling and what we might make as an appropriate response.

    I am aware as I begin to open up that subject that we are stepping on sacred ground and must mind where we go. Immense amounts of sadness and disappointment have been the result of vocations, and not exclusively clerical vocations, which the church has not been able to affirm and rejoice in. On the other hand, this is, as the gathering place for the diocese, a place where vocations are delighted in and celebrated in ordination services and in various ways of thanksgiving for lay ministry, including the Ministry Celebrations Service in the summer.

    But I do with caution. And I begin with my own experience. (more…)

5 responses to “Exciting Day for the Scottish Episcopal Church”

  1. Chris Avatar

    In the excitement of welcoming the news, let’s remember a wee prayer for the people of St Michael’s, who are going to miss our new bishop dreadfully. A well-loved priest’s departure leaves a huge gap in people’s lives.

  2. ryan Avatar
    ryan

    Exciting! I suspect that those with names beginning with ‘Ke’ and ending with ‘in’ are uniquely suited to the episcopate 😉

  3. Stewart Avatar

    That’s an idea Ryan – another SEC episcopate is about to go vacant if I have read the latest issue of Inspires on-line correctly.

  4. Stewart Avatar

    Ryan – We should also note that there is a vacancy in the Southwark Diocese with +Christopher, the Area Bishop of Woolwich, now the Bishop-designate of Southwark.

    1. kelvin Avatar

      I used to live round the corner from +Christopher when he was Rector of St Dunstan’s in Stepney.

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