New Readers Admitted and Licensed

28/09/2009

'God’s call is personal; he is gentle in his calling, and he waits for us to respond . . . He takes us as we are, he starts from where we are and provides for what we need. It’s not like asking someone in the street for directions and getting the answer “Well, I wouldn’t start from here.” God starts from wherever we are. Those of you who are taking the first steps as Readers will know that; you have come a long way since this journey started.'

So said Katherine Venning, a Reader in Durham, who was the preacher for the annual Readers' Service in Durham Cathedral on Saturday 26th September.

For the full text of Katherine's sermon click here

The service, during which the Diocese's Readers re-dedicate themselves to this ministry in God's service was also, this year, a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the admission of women to the order of Readers. And, not only was the preacher a woman Reader but, of the eight new Readers who were admitted, seven were women.

The new Readers (pictured above receiving the applause of the congregation) are:

Karen Abbott     Durham North Team Ministry
Elizabeth Armes    Dalton le Dale, St Andrew with New Seaham, Christ Church
Olwyn Aylott    East Darlington Team Ministry
Peter Haig Cross     Harton, St Peter
Lana Green     Stockton-on-Tees (Hardwick) with Stockton-on-Tees, St John the Baptist
Katherine Macpherson     Durham, St Nicholas
Constance Robinson     Stockton-on-Tees, Holy Trinity with St Mark
Catherine Ross     Durham, St Nicholas

On the back of the Order of Service was a prayer adapted from the Methodist Church in Singapore which ended:

. . . God grant you grace not to betray your ministry but to uphold it, not to deny but to affirm it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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