On Tuesday evening the Venerable Canon John Tongue responded to words of welcome at his Commissioning as Rector of the Parish of the City of Devonport. John’s response is a fine example of Gospel clarity, encouragement, challenge and warm hearted grace. With John’s permission, I share it with you. Thank you, John, and blessings on your life and ministry in Devonport. John’s response:
Thanks:
- for all the kind words of welcome – to Shirley and me (and the children, in their absence)
- for those who’ve come along this evening to support us in this new beginning, and those who’ve been praying for us and for the Parish,
- For the warm welcome we’ve already received from many of the Devonport parishioners
- to the Ulverstone and Penguin folk, for your sharing with us in this journey of costly generosity
We are really looking forward to continuing the good work that’s been happening here in Devonport. It has sadly been a situation of much turmoil and heartache, over many years, but even in the midst of that, we give thanks for all those who have contributed to the life of the church, and the growth of Christ’s Kingdom in this place over many years. We look forward to continuing that legacy, in partnership together.
I look forward to getting to know people, as we all join together in supporting and encouraging each other in the love of Jesus. To that end, please be patient with me, when I remember your face, but maybe not your name – and also please try to find – or to get, and wearing, a Parish or other name tag, would be a great help, not only to Shirley and me, but to other newcomers to our church, as well. Also, please don’t be afraid to drop round to the Rectory for a cuppa, or to “have a look at what we’ve done with the place”!!
Because of past history, as a Parish, we will need to “look to ourselves” – to be seeking healing for past hurts, to be building each other up, fostering and encouraging unity and community. BUT – we can’t just be inward looking! We believe that in Jesus, we who follow him find real life, but that’s a life that the wider community also needs. Even as we look to the Lord to strengthen our weak hands, and make firm our feeble knees, so the Lord still calls us to be offering the hope, life and love of Jesus to those around us. Some of Jesus’ last earthly words to his disciples were “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We here in Devonport (and in Ulverstone and Penguin) cling onto that promise, that Jesus is with us, and so we find strength and comfort in that. But these words come after he said to them “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded.” Then he said, “And lo! I am with you”. Go….and Lo! I am with you. I once heard someone talking on this passage say – “no Go… no Lo”. The Lord will be with us, to strengthen and encourage us – even in the “going” (by his Spirit) to fulfil his great Commission.
Devonport has been promoted as “The City with Spirit”. I long to see the Anglican Parish of Devonport, encouraged and empowered by Christ’s Spirit, to be working with the Spirit of Jesus to bring real life to bear in our city, so that it might truly be, “The City with the Holy Spirit”.
This journey may not always be comfortable – but the Lord promises to be with us always, even to the very end of the age. In a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry in England, depicting the battle of Hastings, one scene has the King standing behind his troops with drawn sword, prodding them in the backs, and urging them onwards into battle – and the caption reads “The King comforteth his troops”! The Lord will bring us comfort, peace, restoration and renewal in him – but in the journey that lies ahead of us, we expect that this will sometimes be a “discomforting comfort”. Still, we wait on him to do great things amongst us as we move ahead in partnership in him, and to bless us greatly as he does.
See also: http://imaginarydiocese.org/bishopjohn/2014/05/08/prayer-for-devonport/
