Deacons are sent as ambassadors to shine the light of Christ in places which risk being plunged into darkness. The sheer scale of today’s port makes the calling to ‘reach into the forgotten corners of the world, that the love of God may be made visible’ even more important. As seafarers are often “out of sight, out of mind”, it is the role of the port chaplain to go into those invisible corners of the world, to thank seafarers for what they do, and to remind them that they are loved by God, to know that they are not alone or forgotten.
Tag: deacon of the month
Nicholas Ferrar’s legacy for the deacon’s calling as community educator was rooted in a rule of life comprising prayer, study and service. Little Gidding was intended to be a spiritual, intellectual and service community. This outreach to the community arose through his work as a physician providing medical care in the neighbourhood. This was one of the ways in which he fostered networks of spiritual friendship.
The Book of Acts does not have a central place in many lectionaries and the story of Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch is not as well known as stories such as Peter being loosed from the chains which bound him in prison. But it is memorable and highly significant for the mission of the Church. In this fast moving account of the early church, Philip is a deacon ‘on the move’, prompted by an angel to get up and go on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26).
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 