Our Rector Fr Mark Soady was Ordained Deacon on June 29th 1996 and Priest on June 29th a year later.
The Anniversary was marked at Holy Trinity Church, Tarleton at the Mass for the Feast of St Peter this evening (June 29th) with Fr Mark Deaconing and Fr Joe Presiding,
In his Sermon Fr Mark said:
“The gates mentioned in Psalm 24 are the Judges of ancient Israel , as they sat in the place of custom on benches in the City gates. At times of danger the gates were closed and they would judge who could come in to the City – the place of safety .
Even though the City dwellers needed the rural farmers produce to live by, when danger came they were kept out to keep the numbers of people in the City down and able to survive a longer siege.
The Judges of ancient Isreal were not so much the administrators of justice as the rulers of the people , but far from ruling selfishly they did not always look after the weak and ‘ do justly’. The Psalmist says ‘Lift up your heads o ye gates’, because the Judges were hanging their heads in shame for their behaviour as rulers, and the Psalmist looked forward to the new Jerusalem where the Judges would act honourably. .
In the Book of Acts we read that the disciples saw that due to pressure of work they were neglecting the care of the weak, and so the first Deacons of the Church were called. It was into this ministry of service that I was Ordained 30 years ago today. I pray that I’ve been…and will continue to be true to that calling. “
Addressing members of Tarleton PCC he continued: “ It is not just the Ordained in the church who are called to this role, but to an extent all Christians, and especially you called to lay leadership.It is your calling to assist the Clergy in ensuring that Our Lord’s work of service is carried out in our own day and age”.
