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Michaelmas Ordinations 2021

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The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich presided over the service with the Revd Hilary de Lyon preaching. At the end of the ordinations, Bishop Graham prayed this prayer over the new deacons:

Through your Spirit, heavenly Father, give these your servants grace and power to fulfil their ministry. Make them faithful to serve and constant in advancing your Gospel in the world. May they follow the example of Jesus Christ your Son, who washed the feet of his disciples, and set the needs of others before his own.

May their life be disciplined and holy, their words declare your love and their actions reveal your glory, that your people may walk with them in the way of truth and be made ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom, with you and your Holy Spirit, belong glory and honour, worship and praise, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Christina Rees – to serve in Sheringham St Peter & Beeston Hall School

Christina was born in America and grew up with her family on a small wooden sailboat. She is married to Chris, a former BBC producer and they have two grown-up daughters. She is a chaplain at Beeston Hall School, a Senior Partner of a communications and media consultancy and on the ministry team of St Peter’s Church, Sheringham.

For many years Christina led the campaign for women bishops and was chair of WATCH (Women and the Church). She was a member of General Synod for 25 years and a founder member of the Archbishops’ Council. She has served on many national Church committees. She presented Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 and Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2 as well as contributing to numerous television and radio programmes. She authored many books including; The Divine Embrace, Feast + Fast – Food for Advent and Christmas and Voices of this Calling. Christina leads retreats and speaks and preaches widely. In 2015 she was awarded a CBE for services to the Church of England.

 

Jenny Lodge – to serve in the Trunch Group

I have been living in Norfolk for 27 years working mainly in North Norfolk as a Nurse and health service manager. I have worshipped at Mundesley and the Trunch Group of Parishes during that time. I trained to be a Licensed Lay Minister and I was Licensed in 2017. I have continued to be within the Trunch Group.  I am also a volunteer Chaplain at the Cathedral and North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, both activities have been severely restricted over the last 18 months.

I have felt called to Ordained Ministry since I was in my thirties but this was not to be because women were not allowed to be ordained then. I was delighted to be part of a pilot which after a vigorous vetting and BAP I was selected to be Ordained and will be a curate in the Trunch group after Ordination

 

Judy Rosser – to serve in the Matlaske Benefice

My faith has underpinned my work as a psychological therapist in NHS mental health and more latterly in a hospice setting. I have felt myself to be held in the love of Christ, which has sustained me personally and enabled me to strive to offer this love to others. I am indeed privileged to walk this Holy ground.

Family is central to my faith and my four children, their partners and my grandchildren bless and enrich my life, together with friends and our much loved canine family.

I have been developing a ministerial role for over a decade and the practice of daily contemplative prayer and meditation, informs both my spirituality and my passion for understanding the complexities of humanity.

I am inspired by the North Norfolk landscape which has been my home for over 40 years and I remain committed to making a contribution in the surrounding community. I hope after ordination to be able to offer myself as a chaplain in a medical setting.

 

Sue Shillam – to serve in the Blofield Benefice

I was called to faith later in life and trained as a Licenced Lay Minister with the ERMC. I was licensed in 2017 and enjoy a full and active ministry in the Blofield Benefice of churches. I have also been privileged to belong to the College of Chaplains at Norwich Cathedral. I enjoy taking services but I feel that God has called me to pastoral care with people of varying degrees of faith, especially through residential homes and bereavement ministry, and parish visiting. My experience is that, when I grow too comfortable in my faith, then God calls me to new challenges, and ordained ministry now beckons.