Mark Carey writes

June is going to be a month of events. The national celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee, and more locally the ordinations of Miriam Thurlow, Darius Traves and Steve Cox.

What do these occasions have in common? They are all about a public dedication to a higher purpose. In a sense, all of us are consecrated in baptism but we recognise that there is a benefit, for all of us, in setting aside certain people for certain tasks and responsibilities. I found myself thinking about the decision the disciples made to replace Judas with someone else. Two people were proposed but only one, Matthias, was chosen to become one of the 12 apostles. Does this mean that Barsabbas was not as important as Matthias? No. It simply means that Matthias was the one set aside for that particular role. Some of us are set aside, consecrated publicly, like the Queen, and Miriam and Darius and Steve. But all are, in Jesus’s words, “chosen and appointed to bear fruit, fruit that will last”. My hope and prayer is that each one of us will live our lives as consecrated people – set aside for the high purpose of serving the health and well-being of our communities.

Dates for your diaries

Thursday 2nd June 2.00pm – 5.00pm Free Family Fun-day at Christ Church

Sunday 5th June 6.00pm Gathering. Network commissioning and prayer for Steve Cox and Darius Traves.

Saturday 11th June at 4.00pm. Miriam Thurlow Ordination as Priest. Hull Minster.

Sunday 12th June Miriam Thurlow celebration lunch at Christ Church

Saturday 25th June at 4.30pm. Darius Traves and Steve Cox Ordination as Deacons. York Minster.

Rev. Mark Carey. Christ Church Bridlington Network.