You Are Gatherers of Community

"You are gatherers of community, and you will shape our church, and our church will shape you. 

Ask questions, be wise, take risks, start new things, remember that you are beloved and chosen.

And that what we do together does matter for us and for the world, we just have to be clear about what that is."

The preceding passage quoted consists of the final three sentences of the Reverend Marnie Peterson's homily shared at the Ordination in the Holy Church of God Eucharist on the Feast Day of St. Barnabas (transferred), June 12, 2021. The Eucharist was celebrated at Christ Church Cathedral with approximately 30 in attendance, the largest onsite gathering for worship at the diocesan cathedral in recent months. The service was livestreamed. Rev. Peterson is gathering priest for the St. Brigid's worshipping community resident at Christ Church Cathedral and Chaplain to the four who were ordained June 12. 

(The sermon video and text are both available here on the diocesan website)

(The service in it’s entirety is posted below)

Bishop John Stephens ordained to the diaconate:

• José Luis Aranda Moyano – St James, Vancouver presented by the Venerable Kevin Hunt and Mr. Peter Symons
• Brynn Craffey – Salal and Cedar – currently serving as a student intern at St Thomas, Vancouver, presented by the Reverend Laurel Dykstra and Mr. Hubert Brooks III 
• Montegomery Tugwete – Christ Church Cathedral, presented by the Right Reverend John Hannen and Ms. Meredith Hannen-Tugwete 

All three are on track to the priesthood.

Ordained to the Priesthood: the Reverend Amanda Ruston – St Andrew, Langley – currently serving as a student intern at St James, Vancouver, presented by the Venerable Kevin Hunt and Mr. Gerald Harder. 

This was an historic event not only in the lives of the ordinands (a date they will not forget) but they were also the first to be ordained by the Right Reverend John Stephens who was ordained a bishop, January 23, 2021 and installed as the 10th Bishop of the Diocesan of New Westminster, February 28, 2021. Also of note was the presence of retired bishop, the Right Reverend John Hannen, former Bishop of Caledonia 1981-2001, who is Reverend Tugwete’s father-in-law and was clergy presenter for his ordination. 

In addition to the bishop and the chaplain/preacher, the sanctuary party consisted of the Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese and Archdeacon of Vancouver, the Venerable Douglas Fenton who witnessed the signatures on the Oaths and Subscriptions and led the Litany; the Dean of the Diocese and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Reverend Christopher Pappas; MC & Sacristan, Liturgical Assistant, Vincent Carey.  The Deacon of the Word was the Reverend Amanda Ruston, the Deacon of the Table, the Reverend José Luis Aranda Moyano. The Reverends Brynn Caffrey and Monte Tugwete dismissed the community at the conclusion of worship. 

Music in worship was led by the cathedral’s organist and director of Music, Rupert Lang and Cantor, Byron Hanson, one of Cathedral Choir’s tenor soloists and section leads. 

In addition to the ordinands, presenters, chaplain/preacher, musicians, and sanctuary party there were also a number of priests in attendance for the worship and participating in the priesting of the Reverend Amanda Ruston. These included: Regional Archdeacon of Westminster and Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cathedral, New Westminster, the Venerable Richard Leggett; Regional Dean of Royal City/South Burnaby and Rector of St. Alban the Martyr, Burnaby, the Reverend Gregory Jenkins; Rector of St. Thomas, Vancouver, the Reverend Michael Batten; Rector of St. Paul’s, the Reverend Philip Cochrane. Archdeacon Leggett had celebrated the anniversary of his own Feast of St. Barnabas ordination the day before, June 11. He was ordained in 1981. Congratulations on 40 years of ordained ministry, Richard!

Apart from the Reverend Brynn Craffey serving an internship at St. Thomas’, Vancouver and completing his studies at Vancouver School of Theology, information about pending curacies for the newly ordained will not be available until later in the summer of 2021.

Please keep these newly ordained clergy, their families, friends and faith communities in your prayers as they move forward in their vocations.

IMAGES

• The Episcopal Blessing with the newly ordained
• 40 minutes before the start of the 10:30am liturgy the rehearsal is well underway.
• At 10:30am, Saturday, June 12, The Feast of St. Barnabas (transferred) all are robed and ready for the liturgy. On the left the Reverend Gregory Jenkins, Regional Dean of Royal City/South Burnaby and Rector of St. Alban's, Burnaby; on the right, the Venerable Richard Leggett, Archdeacon of Westminster and Vicar of Holy Trinity Cathedral.
• Cantor, Byron Hanson and Organist, Rupert Lang lead the music in worship.
• The Reverend Amanda Ruston proclaims the Gospel, Matthew 10: 7-16
• The preacher was Chaplain to the Ordinands, the Reverend Marnie Peterson.
• The ordinands kneeling prior to the Litany
• As the people stand, the ordinands continue to kneel as Executive Archdeacon, the Venerable Douglas Fenton leads the Litany.  
• Diocesan history taking place, the Right Reverend John Stephens' first ordination of his episcopacy, the Consecration of Deacon, the Reverend José Luis Aranda Moyano 
• The Reverend Brynn Craffey is vested by his presenters according to the order of deacons.
• The Reverend Montegomery Tugwete receives a bible.
• The laying on of hands, the priesting of the Reverend Amanda Ruston
• Bishop John Stephens leads the applause of welcome.
• The Reverend José Luis Aranda Moyano prepares the altar during the Offertory
• The Venerable Kevin Hunt, clergy presenter of the Reverend Jose Luis Aranda Moyano and the Reverend Amanda Ruston receives the Body of Christ.
• The new priest blesses Ms. Meredith Hannen-Tugwete and the the Right Reverend John Hannen.
• The Group Shot.