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THE REVEREND JIM FIELD PRIEST IN CHARGE September 2010 |
Revd Jim Field |
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My dear Friends, In this month of September we have two very important additional services and at which our Bishop, Rt Rev’d Trevor Willmott will be presiding. The first is a deanery wide confirmation service which will be held on Wednesday 8th September at St Nicholas’s church, New Romney at 7.30pm and is for the whole deanery. Over the years I have been privileged to baptise many people; often babies but also young and old folk yet so often the purpose of later confirmation of these baptism vows by a bishop is not understood. Some would argue why baptise an infant at all when he/she cannot possibly be initiated into the Christian church without fully understanding the vows that are being made on their behalf. The counter argument is that the parents of youngsters promise to raise their child in the Christian faith, in a belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and to walk in his ways. We care for our children as they grow up in so many different ways without them initially understanding why. We feed them, clothe them, teach them how to behave, send them to school and so much more in order for them to grow up and take responsibility for themselves in due course. The same is with faith, parental care and concern and example is so important for the child’s spiritual development. And the time hopefully comes when the mature child or adult finds faith for themselves and wants to stand up on their own hind legs and be counted as a Christian, a follower of Christ. We then wheel in a bishop who affirms or ‘confirms’ in a special service those baptism vows made earlier. So do consider confirmation if you haven’t already done so and do come along on the 8th and take part in one of the great celebrations of the Christian church [but watch out for Bishop Trevor as he tends to be rather profligate in splashing the baptism water around the congregation]. The second great occasion will again be with Bishop Trevor in St Nix as he ordains our own John Graves. This will be on Tuesday 28th September at 7pm. John will be ordained a Deacon and receive the title Reverend before his name, a title John has more than earned in his many years of Christians leadership both as a Reader and more recently as a Focal Minister at All Saints, St Mary’s Bay. John has been studying at Canterbury and at home on his theological course, written more essays than is good for him, been away on residential weekends and spent time on placement in another parish. The studies will continue and, all being well, John will be ordained as a priest next year [possibly in July]. Do come along to St Nix on this great evening and be with John and support him in this huge milestone of his Christian pilgrimage. And even if you cannot come along to both or either of these special services do pray, for all the confirmation candidates, for John as he prepares for his ordination retreat and for Bishop Trevor as he prepares himself for these affirmation services. With my love, Jim
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