• 01 July 2019

An unexpected calling to Reader ministry

It was exciting to see 11 new diocesan readers being commissioned in Down Cathedral on Wednesday 26 June. It’s a varied group of people, all of whom have successfully completed the 2 year training course, and each with their own sense of call to the reader ministry.

We’ve asked a couple of them to share their journey. Meet Paula McIlwaine from Ballyholme Parish:

“When I got the email about the Lay Reader course from my Rector Simon Doogan I thought he had sent it to the wrong person. I didn’t grow up in the Church of Ireland but in a non–denominational charismatic church where I gave my life to God following the death of my Auntie Barbara. I loved church but as my brother pointed out recently, I mostly enjoyed the social side!

“In my faith I have had many highs and lows and when I started to attend Ballyholme Parish with my new husband I learnt to find God in the quiet of church. There was no praise band, people did not raise their hands, and no one was dancing but God still met me there. 

“As with most things in my life I have thrown myself right into the life of Ballyholme Parish. I was happy in church doing what I could as a member of the body. I had no inkling of being a Lay Reader (in fact I probably didn’t know what one was) but God had other ideas. 

“The last two years has not been a breeze, it’s been a long time since I have studied at this academic level and the commitment needed to complete the course was difficult at times.  There was so much to learn and take in and I still work part time as a Community Nurse for Children with Disabilities and I have 3 small lovelies of my own. But the Lord went before me and guided my hand. I found the preaching aspect of the course excellent and daunting all at the same time. Willie Nixon, Brian Follis and Andrew Brannigan nurtured us through this part of the course and I could not have done without it. I had never had the opportunity to preach before but I am pleased to say now I have, even if my congregation was only 4 people and my pulpit was a music stand and we were in Willie Nixon’s living room!

“I am excited to see where God will take me and how he will use me, both within Ballyholme Parish but perhaps further afield. It’s in the looking back that you can see God’s hand most clearly, I would never believed someone if they told me 10 years ago that I would donning robes and stand up in front of my friends and family to be commissioned as a Lay Reader within the Church of Ireland! Isn’t God amazing!?”