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	October 2003				Helen Chick, centre, at the Longford ordination with some students from Ridley College
		Longford lets fly by Trevor G Cowell
			The bell pealed, members of the congregation applauded wildly, stamped their feet, clapped their hands and hooted and hollered: all of this in the hitherto staid and conservative Christ Church, Longford. The Spirit of the Lord God must have inspired them on a very special occasion. And it was: Saturday, the 6th of September, the Deaconing of Helen Chick and Peter Adkins by the Bishop, the Rt Rev'd John Harrower. In a service that was strong on message and deep with enthusiasm we welcomed into the ministry of Christ's Church these two servants of the Lord. Helen will begin her ministry as Assistant-Curate at Longford/Perth and the associating Evandale/Nile, and Peter will continue his wonderful service on the North-West Coast. Perambulations Several moments in the ordination were inspiring. in a challenging sermon Bishop John quoted an acquaintance of another faith, who said that we will only really see God when we learn to bow low enough. What a thought! A reminder of the centurion who came to Jesus saying 'I am a man under authority'. He had a grasp of humility. Visitors from (very) far and wide augmented local worshippers and, although the music was new to many, all joined in with enthusiasm and there was sustained and loud applause at Bishop John's presentation of the deacons to the congregation. Even the Greeting of Peace - not always a strong point in traditional Anglican worship - was marked with perambulations and arm-waving and hugs. It was only the insistence of the liturgical order that curtailed the spiritual riot! Bells and whistles As the service concluded and the VIP's recessed down the aisle, with the magnificent westward-facing East Window shining on us all, our inspired organist Bruce let fly with Mine Eyes have seen the Glory... and the congregation went off its head again! The gathering over the sumptuous lunch in the Parish Hall kept us on the mountain we had climbed earlier. This Parish, with its many centres of worship, can stack on a service ranging from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer to an ordination such as we experienced, with all its bells and whistles. Some of us prefer the former, but we are certainly not spiritually damaged if we find ourselves involved in the many alternatives 21st century Anglican Church liturgies offer. Our parish welcomes Helen into our midst - we will soon knock each other into shape!