The Rector's 30th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood
| The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ Ephesians 4.11-12 |
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The occasionAlan Gill's ordination to the priesthood was, like many, celebrated at Michaelmas. But as he was ordained in 1976 this year gave us the opportunity to do something special to celebrate and give thanks for his 30 years as a priest - and in particular the six and a half years since he came to be Rector of Gillingham. "Mastermind" cum "This is Your Life"Alan knew there were refreshments following the Eucharist for Michaelmas - what he didn't know was that there was a buffet supper and not just a bowl of crisps, or that he was to figure prominently in the entertainment. Not, that is, until Mastermind-like he was asked to take that black chair to be quizzed. The questions, he quickly discovered, were to be about his life, being enhanced with slides that depicted scenes from his boyhood onwards. We learnt of something he hopefully doesn't have to contend with in his ministry - his hiding from the Rector when a boy! His excuse was that this was on his mother's instruction; the way to do it is, apparently, to have your neighbours give a coded tap on the wall and then huddle under the stairs! But, if Alan is calling on you, and you are tempted - remember he knows about these ploys ...! We learnt about milking cows, and of an incident concerning cows tails - that resulted in losing his after-school job. Given his love of cows perhaps it is not so surprising that, aged 7, he first met his wife-to-be, Margery, under a cow! Last but of course not least the important years of his ordained ministry were outlined. The formal bitThe "quiz" was followed by the presentation of gifts to Alan, which so took him by surprise as to leave him momentarily speechless, and e-mails from the Bishops of Salisbury and Sherborne thanking him for his years of service to the church were read out. Alan thanked Margery for her role, vital to his ministry, and we all congratulated them on their 44th wedding anniversary which was also that day. |
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