Launching the Ship

As a new year dawns, certain memories tend to come into our heads. This week, I was thinking about a birthday party we had for our son when he was about 6 or 7. We went to the Titanic Quarter with his classmates and boarded a tram tour led by the then chaplain to the Titanic, Reverend Chris Bennett.

The boys (and some parents!) donned tweed caps as we were whisked around the shipyard which, at one time, employed so many men in Belfast. We got a running commentary on various sites, like the drawing office where plans were drawn, and how streams of men would make their way to work on foot from across the city. We heard about working conditions for welders and riveters, and were taken to the slipway where many ships, including the ill-fated Titanic, were launched. We saw the dry dock, where repairs were carried out, and much building work was done as Belfast had this global reputation for shipbuilding.

We went back to the Dock Cafe where we had hired some space and fed the hungry boys and their parents sandwiches and crisps and cake, and it was a very happy day.

Earlier this week, our former curate, Reverend Andy Hay, was introduced as Priest-in-Charge of the parishes of Clonallon and Warrenpoint with Kilbroney (Rostrevor).

We gathered with the parishioners and the Bishop, the Area Dean, local clergy and ecumenical guests, including the monks from the local Benedictine Monastery, for an inspiring service. There was a sense of Andy being launched into a new role under God, as we prayed and worshipped together and shared food and stories together afterwards. A lady introduced herself to me and I had been in school with her son about 35 years ago. I met her other son who had overlapped with me also for a year as we caught up on all those years that had passed.

Saying ‘goodbye’ is an inevitable part of the Christian journey. People often move to new stages of their lives, or new jobs or locations, and we find ourselves saying farewell.

That’s not an easy thing and, in my sermon, I spoke about the bittersweet nature of evenings like this for the sending parish. On one level, there is a great excitement and sense of anticipation of what potential could be released as Andy and his new congregations work together for the building up and growth of God’s kingdom in that area. There’s also that sadness as we say farewell to someone everyone grew very close to in his time among us.

Andy was there for so many of us in the best and worst of times, and now God has called him into something new, something which will take time to build and grow, but over which God has His hand.

Throughout the Scriptures we see this pattern being played out many times, as God called people to do particular tasks for a particular time. I think of Abram as he then was leaving his home country at the age of 75 with his wife to come to a new land. I think of God raising  up unlikely leaders like Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Esther, to name but a few.

I think of the transformation in the life of Saul, who became Paul and his missionary journeys to bring the faith across the lands, and how this work continues to this very day.

Our own parish supports the work of Reverend Andrew Quill and his wife Joanne. They responded to a call to work in Ibba in South Sudan, and learn a new language as they undertake the slow work of offering healing and prayer for a community ravaged by war and poverty.

In many cases, something symbolic or liturgical took place as God’s people gathered together to pray for these new initiatives and help people to get started on their task. It might have been as simple as the placing of a few stones, or maybe writing some letters or someone in leadership laying hands upon them and praying for God’s Holy Spirit to fill them and equip them for the journey and the task ahead.

Can I ask you to uphold Andy, his family and his new parishioners in this time of transition? As some of us had the privilege to be present and see at first hand this particular ship being launched in a special way, may the journey together be a fruitful and exciting one with God at the very centre of it.

Can I also remind readers that tomorrow’s Ladies Afternoon Friendship Group has been postponed to 22nd January because of the hazardous road conditions.

Looking forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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