Waiting to Serve - Reflection by Canon Myles

During these weeks of lockdown many of us will have had events and appointments cancelled in our diaries. This Tuesday, I should have spent the morning with the ten new priests who would have been ordained in the Cathedral earlier in June. Their ordination has had to be postponed.

I look forward to this day each year as we focus on their new role as president at the Eucharist which will be theirs following their ordination to the priesthood. Each of the newly ordained will have experienced their own unique journey as they have answered the call of God, and these will reflect the wide variety of understandings of priesthood and of the Eucharist which are all part of our heritage as Anglicans. While there are a good number of simple practical things I am glad to share with those coming new to the art of presiding, what makes our time together really worthwhile is if we manage to have trusting and honest conversation about the deep feelings, including doubts and fears, which they may bring to this moment of transition in ministry.  

I was ordained priest at the youngest possible age of 24. As I look back, I realise that ordination was only the beginning of a lifelong journey, rather than a moment of arrival. As the old hymn says, ‘experience will decide.’ God certainly uses the experiences of life to enable us to develop, change and grow, and this must surely include the mistakes we make. Hopefully we can learn from these too.

For now, our prayers are with those who are waiting to be ordained as priests and as deacons, and we ask that our faithful God will bless each of their journeys, every step of the way.

Canon Myles

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.