Revd Melanie Houston is ordained presbyter
We're delighted for Revd Melanie Houston whom Bishop David has ordained presbyter for Ordained Local Ministry in the Parish of Ardkeen.
The service took place on Sunday evening 21 June in St Mark's Newtownards, Melanie's sending church. The leader of Moneyreagh Community Church, the Revd Rory Blake-Knox (OLM), gave the address and Bishop David was assisted by Ven Roderic West and Canon Gill Withers.
Rory began by presenting Melanie’s ordination as not just a ceremony but as a meeting point between “God’s faithfulness behind us,” “God’s purposes before us,” and “God’s presence with us now.” He invited the congregation to ask God for “eyes to see” - not merely physical sight, but anointed, spiritual vision that recognised where Christ was already at work.
Taking Isaiah 61:1-3a as his text, Rory explained that God's incredible promises of “good news to the poor,” “freedom for the captives,” “beauty instead of ashes,” and “joy instead of mourning,” were connected to the biblical idea of Jubilee, understood as restoration, freedom, reconciliation, and the renewal of God’s people and creation.
The heart of his message was that Isaiah’s vision had been fulfilled in Jesus, who had declared that this scripture was fulfilled in the hearing of those listening. He described Jesus not simply as the one who proclaimed Jubilee, but as “the Jubilee” himself, and said that Christian ministry was therefore about joining what Jesus was already doing through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rory invited Melanie, on her ordination as presbyter, to share more deeply in this mission and reminded us that the call extended to every follower of Christ. He closed with a challenge to seek “anointed eyes” - eyes that could see what Jesus was still doing and the courage to join him there.
Melanie reflects on her deacon year
My deacon year has been spent with my church family in Christ Church Ardkeen and assisting with my church family at St Mark’s, Newtownards. It has been a busy year, balancing commitments, study, lectures and tutorials and visits to Dublin, but through all of this I’ve been aware of God’s help and grateful for the love and support of both churches.
We’ve had an exciting year at Ardkeen. We now have Sunday School which has grown from four to 16 attending regularly. We have a breakfast club for families every fourth Sunday before our all-age service. We have had film nights and praise evenings as outreach and recently a celebration service for the church building’s 179th birthday, with supper and lots of cake. During the service, some members of the church family spoke about what the church has meant to them. This was important as we have had to close our church building because of structural problems and meet in the hall. We require a very substantial amount of money to repair the church building and make it fit for purpose. Ephesians 3 verses 20 & 21 have become very important to us, as we depend on God, the One who is able. Our fundraising is underway and God has gone before us.
The church at Ardkeen is continuing to grow as we continue to plant the seed of the Good News of the Lord Jesus. We’ve even managed to record some services for our new YouTube channel for outreach and pastoral purposes. I am thankful for all that the Lord has given me and done for me over this past year. Thank you to my husband Russell for his love, care and counsel. Our God is able.
