Our clergy and lay leaders renewed their commitment to ministry at the Leeds Diocesan Chrism Eucharist at Ripon Cathedral on Maunday Thursday.
Every seat was taken as Bishop Nick presided for the last time over the annual service at which Holy Oils for use in church ceremonies are blessed and distributed.
He spoke of the present need to be strong in the fundamental commitments of being a disciple of Jesus and also being human beings, engaged with humanity.
“This is my last Chrism Eucharist after 22 years as a bishop in three different dioceses and in one sense, nothing has changed, but we need to be changing back to our core vocation.
“Ministry is derived from discipleship, and that feeds into your humanity.”
Speaking of current local and global challenges that could be dispiriting, he said how we are prone to behave as if strife is something new.
“The Scriptures were written in times of struggle and destruction and from an historical perspective it has always been thus.
“Those who are called cannot collapse. We must have the courage to proclaim a narrative of confidence in the God who calls us.
“Christianity plunges us into the heart of the reality of the world - to tell the truth and not be squeamish. The Church’s vocation has not changed, it’s our calling to point the way through.
“Take heart, get up, he is calling you.”
Three different oils were blessed at the Chrism Eucharist for use in baptisms, confirmations and other occasions across the diocese: Oil of Healing, Oil of Baptism and Oil of Chrism. These were then available for clergy to collect after the service.