Elaine Pentland is ordained deacon
Congratulations to Revd Elaine Pentland who has been ordained deacon for an internship in Willowfield Church.
Elaine was ordained by Bishop David along with Andrew Moore at a service in Dromore Cathedral on Sunday 22 August. The preacher was The Most Revd Pat Storey, Bishop of Meath and Kildare.
Elaine’s journey to ordination
I entered theological college after a 20–year nursing career, 10 of which were spent on the front–line. I’m married to Sydney, and we have three children aged 20, 18 and 9. I have always lived in Crossgar, attending school in Downpatrick and Belfast.
As a little girl my faith was nurtured in the local parish church and even as a child, I would say that my love for Jesus was expressed as being part of His church. While I enjoyed nursing, for a long time I had a desire in the back of my mind to retire as soon as possible and volunteer at my local church. However, around 2016 this desire began to grow, along with a restlessness and dissatisfaction in my professional career. It became an overwhelming desire to give all of my energies to advance the Kingdom, and it wouldn’t go away.
In the end it was my husband who urged me to explore ordination. Thankfully as I went – very tentatively – through the process of discernment with the Church, they too affirmed this ‘pull’ on my life.
It was daunting and exciting, to give up work and return to full time education. I have enjoyed studying for these past two years, but feel I am ready to get ‘back to work’, and I am delighted that going back to work means going to Willowfield Parish. I am so looking forward to getting involved in the parish and getting to know the people.
One of the things that encourages me most is hearing other people’s journeys of faith, so hopefully we will share stories and be an encouragement to each other as I learn more of the Lord and His ways as He continues to grow and develop me for a life in ordained ministry.
