Deacons: Fifth Word: Pastoral and Prophetic

The Fifth Word — Pastoral and Prophetic

The dining room smells of soup,

bread warm on the table,

coffee brewed too strong.

Plates clatter.

Chairs scrape.

The six ordinands eat together,

half hungry,

half still mulling the morning talk.

The planter says first:

“Funny, isn’t it?

We talk of pubs and prisons—

but Sunday still comes round.

We’ll have to preach.

Pray.

Lead services.

I’ve never worn robes,

let alone led a liturgy.”

The old priest smiles.

Butter knife resting in his hand.

“Ah yes.

The outward call is only half.

The other half

is here.

Among the people of God.

Deacons share

in the pastoral ministry of the Church.

They lead God’s people in worship.

They preach the word.

They bring the needs of the world

before the Church in intercession.”

He sips water,

eyes kind.

“You’ll spend plenty of time outside—

on estates,

in care homes,

with those forgotten.

But you are also called inside.

To serve the covenant community

with tenderness in private,

and with leadership in public worship.”

The wounded one frowns.

“But worship feels so ordered.

So structured.

What if people need freedom?”

The priest nods.

“Yes.

Worship is never a free-for-all.

Order is a vessel.

But it is to be filled

with Spirit-fire.

The deacon learns to hold both—

the form,

and the flame.”

The quiet one leans forward.

“And intercession?

What does that mean, really?”

He sets the knife down.

“It means listening.

Listening to the world.

Then carrying what you’ve heard

into the prayers of the Church.

Today it may be

the cry of the poor,

the wounded,

the overlooked.

It may also be,

as Pope Francis reminds us,

the cry of the earth itself.

You teach the Church to pray

by naming what the world groans with.

And you take that suffering seriously.

Always seriously.

Because our God listens seriously.”

He folds his hands.

Voice lowers.

“Let me show you.”

He prays:

“Father of Creation,

to you be praise,

honour,

and glory.

You call deacons

to lead the flock in worship,

to preach your word,

to pray before you.

By your Spirit,

help us read your Word

and read the world,

that our worship may reflect your wonder,

and the context in which we stand.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.”

Silence holds for a moment,

longer than grace before a meal usually lasts.

The planter breaks it,

smiling awkwardly:

“And now…

pass the salt?”

Laughter ripples.

Lightness returns.

But the words

have sunk deep.

These reflections/poems are from Rev John Swales, MBE, who is mission priest for the Lighthouse project in Leeds (placements for deacons are offered there!). In Lent this year I published here a series of his meditations on diaconal ministry https://cofedeacons.org/2025/03/11/herald-of-christs-kingdom/