Wednesday, May 1st marked the fiftieth anniversary of Ron Wickens' ordination to the priesthood.
Over a hundred well-wishers gathered at St. Thomas Anglican Church in East Vancouver to join with Ron & his wife Pat to celebrate this milestone.
Ron began by thanking everyone for attending, especially his long-time friend Rev. Ron Barnes,
who had driven nearly eighteen hundred miles to attend.
At this point Rev. Barnes quipped that he hoped that the sermon would be worth the trip.
Ron's family was very much involved in the service: his wife Pat played the organ; his daughter Karen read Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, & his grand-daughter, Kim led the Prayers of the People.
Ron's homily was on the topic of grace, & how he envisioned God's grace as being contained within a funnel with a stopper at the bottom.
He encouraged us to take the plug out, & allow grace to flow freely.
A number of good wish messages, on behalf of those who could not attend in person, were read at the end of the service.
Afterwards, at a reception in the church hall, a number of guests spoke fondly of Ron.
The Venerable Ron Harrison noted that Rev. Wickens endured some difficult times as a priest, particularly when his then church - St. Margaret's Cedar Cottage - burned down.
His eldest grand-daughter spoke of what it was like to have him as a religious instructor,
playing the Devil's Advocate, in an effort to help his grand-kids understand a particular point.
Over a hundred well-wishers gathered at St. Thomas Anglican Church in East Vancouver to join with Ron & his wife Pat to celebrate this milestone.
Ron began by thanking everyone for attending, especially his long-time friend Rev. Ron Barnes,
who had driven nearly eighteen hundred miles to attend.
At this point Rev. Barnes quipped that he hoped that the sermon would be worth the trip.
Ron's family was very much involved in the service: his wife Pat played the organ; his daughter Karen read Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, & his grand-daughter, Kim led the Prayers of the People.
Ron's homily was on the topic of grace, & how he envisioned God's grace as being contained within a funnel with a stopper at the bottom.
He encouraged us to take the plug out, & allow grace to flow freely.
A number of good wish messages, on behalf of those who could not attend in person, were read at the end of the service.
Afterwards, at a reception in the church hall, a number of guests spoke fondly of Ron.
The Venerable Ron Harrison noted that Rev. Wickens endured some difficult times as a priest, particularly when his then church - St. Margaret's Cedar Cottage - burned down.
His eldest grand-daughter spoke of what it was like to have him as a religious instructor,
playing the Devil's Advocate, in an effort to help his grand-kids understand a particular point.
A suitably decorated cake was then cut & shared.
Images: Top and homepage, the Reverend Ron Wickens shares the homily during the 50th Anniversary Eucharist. Above right, Pat Wickens. Below, Pat and Ron's daughter, Karen and grand-daughter Kim
PHOTOS: Cliff Caprani