They are worthy!

Last Sunday I had the privilege of being present at an Methodist Ordination Service held at Chandler's Ford Methodist Church in Hampshire. It was only the second Methodist Ordination Service I had attended since my own ordination in Rochdale 19 years ago. It so happened that three of our friends were among the eight ordinands (two of whom appear in the image to the right, along with yours truly). The service began at 4.30pm, meaning that I only managed to see the first half of the England v Germany World Cup match, which in retrospect was perhaps not a bad thing!

The service itself didn't exactly get off to the best of starts: an elderly minister, who I am sure must be a clone of Victor Meldrew, told the gathered congregation of how solemn an occasion it was and that we should be very wary of showing unnecessary enthusiasm or exuberance! What a misery! Ordination services are meant to be joyful occasions, and not just the kind of "deep joy" which hides itself from public view. It is absolutely right that we should joyfully celebrate the call of God upon the lives of men and women. Thankfully, the service was indeed a joyful occasion, despite "Victor's" dire warnings.

I want to pick up on one element of the order of service, where the congregation are asked to give assent to the ordinations, and were asked the following question: "Do you believe and trust that they are, by God's grace, worthy to be ordained" With a loud and resounding affirmation [hopefully not too loud for "Victor"], the congregation responded "They are worthy!" It was a moving and affirming moment.

The truth is, though, that there are probably times when we all doubt our worthiness. I remember a lovely, prayerful lady in one of my previous churches. She lived out her Christian life in prayer and service of others, yet she struggled when it came to praying for herself - she didn't feel worthy to bring her own needs before God. I have known others who didn't feel able to come forward for Holy Communion because they didn't feel "good enough".

Of course, in one sense none of us are good enough, or worthy. None of us can earn God's love, or fully deserve it. Yet the telling phrase in the question which was asked at the Ordination Service was "by God's grace". God gives, not on the basis of what we deserve, but on the basis of his grace in Christ. More about grace next time. In the meantime, I pray for God's continued blessing on the ministries of Claire, Frank and Kim: "They are worthy"