July 2009 Vol. 31, No. 7

THE REVEREND CLAIRE GOODE WRITES:

Dear Friends

By the time you read this I will have been ordained Priest in Southwell Minster and be entering into a second phase of ordained ministry. The most obvious development of this will be for members of the congregations to see me preside at Holy Communion. But how is it that we understand ‘priesthood’ and what is it that we understand by the ‘priesthood of all believers’?These are questions that I have been thinking about, particularly as numbers of ordained clergy have declined significantly over the years, but the ministry of Christ on earth probably has an even greater urgency than ever before.

Recently, the Archdeacon, Peter Hill, came to help us think about a new vision for the East Leake Benefice and he suggested two very simple messages. We are here to “reveal Jesus” and “serve our communities”. It’s really that simple. But we do need to consider how we can do this for today and this includes a need to do some things in a new way.

Some of the clergy have been reading the book “Creating Uncommon Worship” which explores how we might do things differently in our Sunday services to make them more accessible to those less familiar with the traditional church – some of the different chair layouts at St Mary’s have come from this! However, the most radical idea is actually about priesthood.

In his first letter to the early church, St Peter speaks of the early worshippers: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2.9) This is the passage of scripture which leads us to talk of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ – but what does that mean? It doesn’t mean that each individual member of the church is a priest nor that some are ‘ministerial’ priests and some aren’t. It’s a picture of all of us together, the body of Christ – the Church here on earth (the Church Militant as the Book of Common Prayer puts it). We’re all in it together! So when, we say, “We are the body of Christ” and share the peace with one another, we are affirming to each other, that we are together, collectively, one. We will still have different gifts that God gives us to use for the benefit of others in order to grow the Kingdom of God here on earth and we need to exercise those gifts wisely and well. We need to recognise and encourage others in their gifts – in leading the church, in preaching, in offering words of prophecy, in prayer, in generous giving, in acts of mercy and kindness – there are lists in some of Paul’s letters – have a look at 1 Corinthians 12 or Ephesians 4. In other words, it’s not about ‘what the vicar does on Sundays’ – it’s much bigger than that, and it’s much more exciting than that! It’s “more than we can ever ask or imagine” to quote St Paul again. (Eph 3.20) Neither do we do it, in our own strength – on our own we would achieve nothing – but the Holy Spirit working in us will bring about this building up of the Body of Christ.

So, when you see me, or anyone else, presiding at Holy Communion, remember that we are all ‘a royal priesthood’ revealing Jesus to the world as we come together in worship and as we serve our communities.

“Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, power and authority, be for all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 8.24-25)

My love and prayers be with you.

Claire Goode