Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Missionary News

Induction and ordination

Sunday 9 April, 2006 · Posted by Philip Bassett

Last Saturday Margaret and I joined with about 100 other people at “A Service To Celebrate The Commencement Of Ministry Of The Rev. Trevor Oakley As Rector Of The Anglican Parish Of Lawson”.  Trevor and I were in the same year at Moore College and it was good to be able to go along and support him as he started his new ministry. 

Then last Sunday we attended Warren Esdale’s ordination as a Presbyterian minister at Chatswood Presbyterian Church.  Warren is the youngest son of Jim and Judith and attended Toongabbie Anglican Church until he started his training at Moore College.  Again it was good to go along and support Warren as he commenced this new phase of his ministry.

In some regards, given the different styles of Anglican and Presbyterian services, the two events were quite different.  But in other regards they were very similar.  In particular both services laid special emphasis on the candidate’s relationship to God, his faith and trust in the scriptures and commitment to serve Christ by serving the flock.

At one stage in Trevor’s service Bp Ivan Lee said to him, “Be a faithful minister of God’s holy word and sacraments, and a faithful pastor under the great Shepherd of our souls.” 

Whenever I attend one of these services I am reminded afresh of the great privilege and responsibility of Christian ministry that has been entrusted to me.  I hope to be able to say, when I come to the end of my ministry, those words of the Apostle Paul from 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

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