The third induction service in the Diocese of New Westminster within six days took place on a warm, moonlit, late summer evening at St. George’s, Fort Langley on Monday, September 8th, 2014. Just 24 hours earlier, Bishop Melissa Skelton and the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Sardis had completed the Celebration of New Ministry of that faith community’s new rector, the Reverend Allan Carson.
These parishes share a common deanery, “Valley”, and a common Archdeaconry, “Fraser”, but more than that, both communities worship in the original buildings built when the Province of BC was very young; Sardis in 1912, and St. George’s in 1901 (consecrated in 1908). Both of these buildings have undergone major but respectful renovations including some practical additions. These additions enhance the buildings, maintaining the original integrity of the structures while at the same time making them more useful for the mission, ministry and worship of the 21st century. This has occurred at both locations entirely due to the commitment of the two worshipping communities. They are tremendous examples of modern Anglican congregations moving forward with new full time rectors as their ordained leaders.In the past, when significant numbers of members of the new rector’s last parish would attend their induction, former Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster, the Right Reverend Michael Ingham would sometimes joke that this was probably a good thing as those parishioners more likely than not wanted to be there to offer support and not to make sure that their departing clergy person was now actually gone and installed elsewhere. The former was certainly the case with the large numbers of St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale parishioners who made the 60+ kilometer trip to St. George’s, Fort Langley to help celebrate the new ministry of their former assistant priest, the Reverend Kelly Duncan.
Kelly has been a priest of the Diocese of New Westminster for almost six years and this is her first incumbency. Prior to the commencement of worship, People’s Warden and canonical committee member, Kim Hodge remarked that she was very excited about the choice that they had made and that she sees “a very bright future” for Kelly and St. George’s.
There was an excellent turnout of clergy for this liturgy and of course the tiny nave was absolutely full with approximately fifty more seated in the overflow located in the Parish Hall. In a similar set-up to the day before in Sardis, the fifty worshippers followed the worship through live streaming video.
This induction service was similar to the first of the three as Kelly’s induction also took place on a Feast Day, September 8th being the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church has celebrated Mary’s birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September, it is also exactly nine months after the Immaculate Conception, December 8th.
The Gospel for the liturgy read by the Deacon, the Reverend Karen Saunders was Luke 1: 26-33:
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’
The preacher at this induction was Bishop Melissa Skelton. In a brief but profound address, Bishop Melissa focused on the concept of preparation. How the scriptures prepare the reader for the foretelling of the Birth of the Saviour by relating the story of Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist who will prepare the way. The Bishop listed all of the planning that goes into the preparation of a Celebration of New Ministry Eucharist liturgy. But no matter how prepared we are we must remain open to possibilities. When Mary is visited by the angel, she is fearful, she faces the announcement with trepidation. She is unprepared, but the “dignifying love of God fills her.” She becomes more than equal to the task.
"For Kelly, the same is true. Everything that has come before—her upbringing, her education, her personal life, her work experience in and outside the Church, all her brilliance and her mistakes, all her joys and her pain have prepared her and brought her to this night.
And yet at the same time, here you both are, parish and new incumbent, by the grace of God, fresh and new, unprepared, and wondering, like Mary, what sort of thing is about to happen—and this is all just as it should be. But know this, if you, like Mary, are willing to say 'yes' to each other now and 'yes' to each other in your life together as it takes its twists and turns, its own ups and downs: if you, like Mary, together are willing to create an empty space of openness, prayer, wondering and discernment here, God’s Holy Spirit will come upon you and within you as parish and incumbent. And Christ will again be born: here and now."
(Please click the link to download the text of the Bishop's homily)
Following the Bishop’s homily it was time for the Covenant in Ministry. Prior to describing the process by which the new Incumbent had been chosen, the Venerable Douglas Fenton, Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese of New Westminster thanked the Wardens, Kim Hodge and Rick Pallen for their excellent work and their devotion to the process. He also thanked the Reverend Paul Borthistle who served the community for two years as priest-in-charge. At all the inductions Archdeacon Douglas described the process of how ministry positions are advertised throughout the diocese, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Episcopal Church in the United States and throughout the Anglican Communion. He wanted the people of St. George’s to realize that priests from all over the world had seen this posting, had read and studied the Parish Profile of St. George’s, Fort Langley and in some cases had made enquiries or sent applications for the position.This was all followed by the administration of the Oaths and Subscriptions, the reading of the Oath by the new rector, the signing of the Oath, the reading of the License of Institution, the Presentation of the Symbols of Ministry, the Peace, the Eucharist, the Dismissal and that great church tradition, the Reception, with sweets, squares, cookies and cakes. The music at the liturgy was led by Organist, Andre Erasmus and Cantor, Kat Goheen close friend of Kelly’s). They created an environment most conducive to congregational participation.
By 9:15pm on Monday, September 8th, 2014, as the last remaining cookies languished on plates in the St. George’s Parish Hall the three Celebrations of New Ministry had come and gone, our diocesan family strengthened and inspired by the uplifting liturgies that took place in these three parishes. Please keep the parishes of St. Helen’s, Surrey, St. John the Baptist, Sardis and St. George’s, Fort Langley in your prayers as together with their new ordained leadership they accept their “unpreparedness” and “make space” for Jesus Christ.
Images: Top and homepage, Bishop Melissa Skelton leads the applause as the Reverend Kelly Duncan is welcomed by the community of St. George’s, Fort Langley as the leader of their shared ministry. Upper right, Cantor, Kat Goheen leads the Psalm, 132: 6-8, 11-18. Middle left, the Deacon for the liturgy, the Reverend Karen Saunders offers the Gospel for this special feast day, Luke 1:26-33 – Jesus Christ’s Birth is foretold to Mary. The new rector is visible behind and to the right. Lower right, Bishop Melissa preached about preparedness and how that relates to Mary’s acceptance of the Holy Spirit and how that relates to us and to the start of a new ministry. Lower left, The Reverend Kelly Duncan who's last Ministry post was as Priest Assistant at St. Mary's, Kerrisdale is welcomed to the Valley Deanery by Regional Dean, the Reverend John Sovereign and to the Fraser Archdeaconry by the Venerable Stephen Rowe. The Archdeacon of Fraser appears to have said something funny. Below 1, the overflow in the Parish Hall. Below 2, between 40 and 50 gathered in the St. George's, Fort Langley Parish Hall to worship with the aid of an in-house broadcast shown on a screen. Many folks from St. Mary's Kerrisdale Church attended the induction in support of Kelly
PHOTOS: Randy Murray