‘Three-in-one’ occasion in St Polycarp’s

Thursday October 12th 2023

Pictured with the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, and the rector of Finaghy and Upper Malone, the Rev Louise Stewart following the Confirmation service in St Polycarp’s are from left: Ben, Amy, Rosemary, Lynn and Nanci. (Photo: Rev Clifford Skillen)

Sunday October 8 was a special day in St Polycarp’s, Finaghy, when five candidates were confirmed by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, a memorial gift to the church dedicated and Harvest Thanksgiving celebrated, all within the setting of Choral Eucharist.

This was the first Confirmation in St Polycarp’s since 2017 and only the second in the last 10 years.

In his introductory remarks, the Bishop said that such a ‘three-in-one’ occasion marked ‘a significant moment in the life of the congregation,’ with Harvest not only being a reminder of thankfulness to God – as exemplified in the parish gift – but also presenting a spiritual dimension with an opportunity for a spiritual stocktake which he applied to both the candidates and the congregation.

Drawing together the two readings – Philippians 3: 4-14 and Matthew 21: 33-44 – the Bishop reminded the candidates that Paul experienced God’s love through his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, as a result of which the rest of his life was given over to introducing people to the risen Christ.

The candidates, the Bishop said, were now committing themselves to live a Christ-focused life in the power of the Holy Spirit. He hoped that, on their Christian journey and with the support of their parents, godparents and the congregation, they would more and more seek to discover and daily live out what it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Following the act of Confirmation, the Bishop dedicated a set of handrails in memory of the late Victor and Yvonne Green, founder-members of St Polycarp’s, which were gifted by their family.

Report by the Rev Clifford Skillen