Revd Andrew Irwin reflects on his deacon year
Between September 2017 and June 2018, I served as a deacon in the Parish of Donaghcloney (which takes in the Villages of Donaghcloney and Waringstown) between Lurgan and Banbridge. I will be serving as Curate–assistant in Seapatrick/Banbridge Parish for the next few years.
It was an immense privilege to serve in Donaghcloney Parish over the last year. It is hard to even know where to begin to reflect because such is the shortness of time, yet the amount learned. Over the course of our training with CITI we were able to serve in different parishes for a short–time on placements: I went to St Mark’s Armagh, Kajiado Diocese in Kenya, and St Columba’s Portadown. On each placement I learned so much, yet at the end of it always wished I could stay for longer, so it was such a blessing for a year to minister in a vibrant parish and call it home.
I learned so much from working with Canon Bryan Martin and his example in terms of pastoral ministry and church leadership: as he ministered faithfully in a busy parish, yet never seemed to be overcome by the expectation. Overall my time there reminded me of the importance of what the church is called to be and teach – God’s truth and love as revealed in Jesus, and the hope that the good news of the Gospel offers to all who are willing to receive it.
As I look over the horizon and try to envisage some sense of the future I find myself feeling both excited, and, equally nervous about what God is calling me to. Yet, I know that what God calls us to, he will lead us through. I am excited to settle in Seapatrick, and learn as I work alongside Archdeacon Roderic West, Revd Rory Corbett and Revd Catherine Simpson.
When reading the beginning of Mark’s Gospel we find that wonderful call of Christ: “Follow me” (1:17) – a call offered to two sets of brothers who abandoned everything to follow Jesus into the unknown. Why? Because they trusted the one who called them. It is a call that is spoken to each one of us with the same responsibility, and with the same help of God’s Holy Spirit, whether we are walking the road to ordination or working 9 to 5. It is that call that I pray would always be my primary reference.
Please pray for all of us ordained this year; that we will above all seek to follow God and nothing else, that our identity, rest and security will be always in him; and pray for the churches where we are called to serve.