Zooming their way into ministry

Lockdown and the present government restrictions have meant that the ordinations to the diaconate that would normally take place at Petertide have been postponed until September.

Petertide is the Sunday nearest to St Peter's Day on 29 June.

So the virtual licensing will allow the 13, who have been training for ordination, to start work in the parishes where they will eventually serve as assistant curates.

The service will take place via Zoom, with Bishop Nicholas at South Canonry, the 13 candidates in their parishes, and Bishop Karen and Bishop Andrew, Dean Nicholas and our 4 Archdeacons also attending from their homes.

It is also hoped friends and family will be able to join from a separate link, technology permitting.

During the service, the Bishop will pray the following Collect:

God our Father, Lord of all the world, through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of your universal Church: hear our prayer for your faithful people that in their vocation and ministry each may be an instrument of your love, and give to your servants now to be licensed the needful gifts of grace; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Candidates are:
Ali Alexander (Salisbury St Thomas and St Edmund)
Sharon Boyle (Wimborne Minster and the Northern Villages)
Adrian Burholt (Wellsprings)
Helen Croud (Bridport)
Karen Franklin (Canford Magna – The Lantern)
Katie Jackson (Broughton Gifford, Great Chalfield and Holt St Katharine)
Gerry Lynch (Devizes St John and St Mary)
Leila Mather (Charminster, Stinsford and the Chalke Stream Villages)
Matt Smith (Corfe Mullen)
Caroline Spindlow (Warminster Christ Church)
Nick Webb (St Aldhelm)
Nick Wells (Wimborne Minster and the Northern Villages)
Helen Williams (Wareham)

Please pray for all of them as they prepare for this unusual start to their ministry.