The Return of the Surrey Parishes Deanery Eucharist and Picnic

The quote that comprises the subtitle of this piece comes from the penultimate paragraph of the sermon preached by Bishop John Stephens at the Four Surrey Parishes Eucharist and Picnic that took place June 25, 2023, for the first time since 2019. Bishop Stephens had taken the Hebrew Bible reading for the day, Genesis 21: 8-21 for his text. For the bishop:

“this passage from the Hebrew Bible is not really about family relations or jealousy or resentments or harsh punishment. It is not a story about power struggle or one person’s hatred of another. Those aspects to the story exist but the real essence to the passage is that it is a story of grace: that no matter what, God will not give up on us… God’s love for humanity goes much farther than the limitations we put upon it.”

(Bishop John’s homily is available here on the diocesan website)

A timely message on a day when four churches gathered to worship and break bread together, and three Christians affirmed their commitment to faith through the Sacrament of Confirmation, the bishop’s laying on of hands.

For several years, three Surrey parishes, St. Michael’s, St. Helen’s and ‘Epiphany’ would gather on a Sunday in mid or late June at Surrey’s Bear Creek Park with the diocesan bishop presiding and preaching to worship together and enjoy a meal. The last time this happened was June of 2019, and on that day the three parishes were joined by the Cloverdale parish of Christ the Redeemer. The three-year hiatus was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that Bear Creek Park was not available was not an issue as the parish grounds of St. Helen’s located in Surrey’s venerable Gateway (aka Whalley) neighbourhood more than sufficed. The hall and pastoral ground around the hall were a perfect location for a picnic and the green space on the church building’s north side is an albeit small but natural amphitheatre.

For the 2023 iteration, liturgy leaders were: Bishop John, presider and preacher; the Venerable Luisito Engnan, Archdeacon of Fraser and Vicar of St. Michael’s and Christ the Redeemer; the Reverend Stephen Rowe, Regional Dean of Peace Arch and Rector of The Anglican Parish of the Church of the Epiphany (‘Epiphany’); the Reverend Robin Ruder-Celiz, Rector of the Parish of St. Helen’s also served as MC; the Reverend Stephen Thompson, Deacon of the Word; the Reverend Maggie Cole, Deacon of the Table; Mark Whitmore, parish musician at Christ the Redeemer led the music in worship; intercessor was Susan Foulds of Christ the Redeemer; the readers were Sara Batt of St. Michael’s; Shawkat Shammas of ‘Epiphany’; psalmist/crucifer/server, Maureen Thompson of St. Helen’s and the Bishop’s Chaplain was Kelly Foulds of St. Helen’s.  

The three confirmands were Katrina Dharmaraja of ‘Epiphany’ and siblings Ronit Aaron and Nikita Hannah Venkatachellum of St. Helen’s.

The weather was beautiful, and everything went very smoothly. There was lots of food served buffet style in the parish hall with the participants taking their plates and going out into the St. Helen’s grounds to enjoy the meal outdoors.

IMAGES

• Following the sermon and prior to the confirmations, Bishop John leads The Baptismal Covenant
• The worship space (chancel) 
• Prior to worship the space is filling up. 
• The rector of the host parish and MC, the Reverend Robin Ruder-Celiz welcomes the congregation with pre-worship announcements. 
• Crucifer/Psalmist/Server, Maureen Thompson leads the Procession in to the singing of “Be Thou My Vision”
• Bishop John addresses some younger members of the congregation. In this brief address he outlined what a bishop does.
• Younger members of the congregation listening to the bishop’s address
• Sara Batt of St. Michael’s shares the OT, Genesis 21: 8-21
• Maureen Thompson leads Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17
• Shawkat Shammas of ‘Epiphany’ reads the Epistle, Romans 6: 1b-11 in Arabic
• Deacon, the Reverend Stephen Thompson proclaims the Gospel, Matthew 10: 24-39
• Bishop John preaching
• Intercessor, Susan Foulds
• The third of three, Ronit Aaron Venkatachellum is confirmed  
• The deacons prepare the altar during the Offertory, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
• The Eucharistic Prayer
• The Reverend Stephen Rowe administers Holy Communion
• Archdeacon Engnan administers the Body of Christ
• Bishop John administers the Body of Christ to the Communion Administrators
• Two of the three confirmands, Ronit Aaron and Nikita Hannah Venkatachellum of St. Helen’s pose for a photo.  
• Baby Daniel with Grandad and Bishop John  Photo Submitted
• Enjoying the lunch outdoors 

All photos by Randy Murray except where noted