Ordinations in the Holy Church of God

The Book of Alternative Services (BAS) gives the following information as background about ordination.

“The Holy Scriptures and ancient Christian writers make it clear that from the apostle’s time, there have been different ministries within the Church. Since the time of the New Testament, three distinct orders of ordained ministers have been characteristic of Christ’s holy catholic church. First, there is the order of bishops who carry on the apostolic work of leading, supervising, and uniting the Church. Secondly, associated with them are presbyters, or ordained elders, in subsequent times generally known as priests. Together with the bishops, they take part in the governance of the Church, in the carrying out of its missionary and pastoral work, and in the preaching of the word of God, and the administration of the holy sacraments. Thirdly, there are deacons who, in addition to assisting bishops and priests in all this work, have a special responsibility to minister in Christ’s name to the poor, the sick, the suffering and the helpless.”

This Celebration of Holy Eucharist with Ordinations took place at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, June 24 at 10:30am. Bishop John Stephens ordained Kevin de la Mare (now the Reverend Kevin de la Mare) to the diaconate and the Reverend Paul Richards was priested. Deacon, the Reverend de la Mare will assume a non-stipendary position as Deacon for Diversity at Christ Church Cathedral and the Reverend Richards who has been Deacon of the Church of the Holy Trinity, White Rock will continue to discern his ministry which will focus on interim ministry around the diocese. The Reverend de la Mare was presented by the Reverend Arvin Amayag and Dr. Camilla Jeffries-Chang. The Reverend Amayag is Rector of the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Sapperton, the church where Deacon Kevin had been posted during his internship. The Reverend Paul Richards was presented by the Reverend Joseph Dirbas, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, White Rock, and Mrs. Lenore Richards, who is the Reverend Richards’s spouse.

The preacher was the Venerable Fr. Kevin Hunt. Fr. Kevin is the Archdeacon of Burrard and the Rector of St. James, Vancouver. He was Chaplain to the Ordinands.

In the early stages of his homily, Fr. Kevin looked at John the Baptist and the relevance of this feast day to the sacrament of ordination.

“John the Baptist, (in a sense) the hinge between the old and new covenants is a strange and not immediately attractive figure. Living in the wilderness, and I guess, bathing infrequently, dressed in Camel skins, preaching a challenging message; telling it as it is. Yet, if we look more closely at his role and ministry we will discover that this Feast is an appropriate day for the Church to ordain a new deacon and a new priest. John has something to show Kevin and Paul and indeed all of us gathered here this morning. At ordination the Church sets apart through a particular ministry those who’s call has been recognized by God and by the Church. The deacon as we shall soon hear is to follow the pattern of ‘Christ the servant’, within in the Church and out in the wider world. The priest is to minister the sacraments, to lead and guide the community, to exercise Christ’s ministry of healing and reconciliation. Both are to preach and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel by the lives they lead, the words they speak, the love they show. It is important however, to remember that these things belong to all of us, the community of the baptized, the priestly people of God.”

(Fr. Kevin's sermon is available here on this website)

 Joining the bishop and the archdeacon in leading the liturgy were: Dean of the Diocese of New Westminster and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Reverend Christopher Pappas; Deacon of the Word, the Reverend Patricia Ratcliffe of St. Laurence, Coquitlam; Subdeacon, Rejoice Anthony of Christ Church Cathedral, Rejoice is also Chaplain of St. Jude’s Anglican Care Home; Bishop’s Chaplain, the Reverend Jeffrey Preiss, Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral; Megan Otton, MC; Andrea Gailus, Sarah Lehman, Ron Bowles, Servers; Jennifer Luis and Elisa Castro, Readers, and the Litanist was the diocesan Director for Mission and Ministry Development, the Reverend Tellison Glover. The music in worship was led by Members of Cathedral Choir under the direction of Rupert Lang.

Please keep the newly ordained in your prayers as they continue their journey in ministry.

The next scheduled diocesan ordination liturgy is scheduled for December 2, 2023.

IMAGES

•  The newly ordained are greeted with applause  
• Bishop John gathers the community in prayer  
• Jennifer Luis shares the First Reading, Isaiah 40: 1-11
• Members of Cathedral Choir lead Psalm 85: 7-13
• Elisa Castro reads the Epistle, Acts 13: 14b -26
• The Reverend Ratcliffe proclaims the Gospel, Luke 1: 57-80 
• The preacher  
• Kevin de la Mare responds to the Bishop’s Examination 
• The Reverend Tellison Glover chants the Litany
• Bishop and ordinands kneel during the Litany 
• Kevin de la Mare is ordained 
• Kevin is anointed 
• The Reverend Paul Richards is priested 
• The new priest receives the prayer book, chalice and paten 
• The newly ordained deacon prepares the altar during The Offertory 
• "Gifts of God for the People of God"
• The newly ordained administer the Body of Christ 
• The posed group shot: Ordinands, presenters, bishop, preacher, deacon and dean. (in the body of the post)
  

Photos: Randy Murray