Why our church matters to us.

 

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Rt. Revd. John Rabb, Acting Bishop of Maryland, instituted Father Michael at a special service on Saturday October 27 at 4:00 as the twenty sixth rector of Saint Paul’s Church. In this Celebration of New Ministry service, Father Michael made a series of solemn promises and God’s blessing was asked for him and his work in this place.  The different parts of the service emphasized the way in which his ministry is shared with others: with the bishop and his fellow priests, as well as with all the people of God in our congregation.

In the first part of the service, the Institution, which dates back to the Middle Ages, Father Michael was officially “empowered and authorized” to exercise the ministry to which he has been called by the congregation.  He and the congregation stated their willingness to accept this ministry and Revd. Dr. Stuart Dunnan, headmaster at Saint James School, prayed to God for him and the whole Church, using the Litany for Ordinations.

Following the Liturgy of the Word and a sermon by Revd. Canon Warren Tanghe, Chaplain to the All Saints Sisters, Father Michael was officially inducted into his role.  Representatives of the congregation, Scout Troop 51, and the South County Ministerium presented objects that symbolize the different aspects of his ministry.  The participation of many different people shows that the priest does not do God’s work alone, but equips all of His people for their common work of loving and serving Him in the Church and the world.  Father Michael then dedicated himself to his part of God’s work using a beautiful prayer composed originally for the First American Prayer Book.

After the Liturgy of the Sacrament, the congregation followed the bishop to the Rectory, which will be blessed and dedicated.  A dinner reception hosted by the ECW followed in the Parish Hall. 

If we take our faith seriously, we will continually be challenged by the demands placed on us by God’s will.

 

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