A New Deacon in our midst

On Saturday, 30 November a cohort of members from All Saints gathered with others throughout the diocese to celebrate the ordination of Carl Tinnion as a Priest and our own Derry Boylan as a Deacon. The service was a beautiful and reverential combination of choral music, profound moments if liturgical affirmation, and deeply significant expressions of calling and empowering with the gift of ministry in the church.

The preacher, our own Vicar Alan Burnett, spoke of the way in which God has blessed the church throughout history, through ups and downs and the gift that ministry is as a way of fulfilling what God needs for the church. But he also spoke of the risks that come with ministry - the conceit of theological education placing us in theoretical relationship with revelation. The conceit of false identity that leads us to live out our life from a stance of 'in ministry' rather than 'in Christ' making all success and failure a success and failure of who we are. Finally, the conceit of hubris that makes us arrogant and associates what we are called so directly to God that we inevitably face a humbling from which so many do not recover. The core emphasis was to not believe the ministry is your work, but rather it is God's work and God will do what God will do - be faithful and walk humbly in all that comes before you.

As we came to the ordination of Derry, the following snippets reflect both the calling of the deacon, but also the prayers and blessings offered over Derry's ministry as he begins:

What is the call of a deacon:

Deacons in the Church of God serve in the name of Christ, and so remind the whole Church that serving others is essential to all ministry. They have a special responsibility to ensure that those in need are cared for with Christlike compassion and humility. When called upon to do so, they may baptise, preach and give instruction in the faith. When the people are gathered for worship, deacons are authorised to read the Holy Scriptures, lead the prayers, and distribute the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

Encouragement of a Deacon

Derry Boylan, we praise God for your commitment to serve Christ in the order of deacons. To search and to serve is the priceless contribution God calls you to make;

by this you will bring enthusiasm and encouragement to others. Work with all who labour for the kingdom. As your hands care for the needy may they witness to Christ your Master; he took a towel and a basin; he came among us as one who serves.

Ordination Prayer

Blessed are you, God our creator, God in history, God in revelation; throughout the ages your unchanging purpose has created a people to love and serve you.

Blessed are you in Christ Jesus, your Incarnation, our Servant Lord, who by death overcame death.

Through his resurrection and ascension, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, you have given life and order to your Church, that we may carry out the ministry of love.

We thank you for calling this your servant to share this ministry as a deacon.

God of grace, through your Holy Spirit, gentle as a dove, living, burning as fire,

empower your servant Derry for the office and work of a deacon in the Church.

Derry's ordination to the Diaconate is part of the transitional diaconate, which is a period of typically a year in which he familiarises himself with the ministry of service and life as an ordained person in the church, before he is welcomed into the order of Priests some time in 2025. Please be praying for Derry as he begins this new ministry and continues to discern what God is calling him to in ministry and service to the church.