Where do our students go after Wycliffe? 

Of our 35 leavers, over a third are going on to get ordained and serve in Church of England parishes. One of our Episcopalian students has just been ordained in the Diocese of Missouri and has returned to Oxford to begin his curacy (more on him here). The majority of students are going on to different things: mission and ministry in their home churches and countries (e.g. one student is actually headed to Houston!) as well as pursuing research degrees (e.g. one student is about to start a PhD at the University of Toronto).

What happens at a Commissioning Service?

The commissioning service takes place at a nearby Anglican church, St Andrew's. It's our way of praying for, blessing and saying goodbye ot the mix of students we have. We sang hymns, heard an inspiring sermon on how to bring the gospel into new places from former Wycliffe alum Bishop Saju Muthalaly, (Bishop of Loughborough). We broke bread together in the Euhcarist. Then each of the fellowship group tutors stood and shared which of their students are leaving and where they are going. (If you saw my recent FB pic - it was me on my way up to the lectern to share about where my students are going).

Towards the end of the service, all the leaving students stood and the Principal, Revd Dr Michael Lloyd, prayed for and blessed the students as they head out into various roles of responsibility and leadership in the church and the world. He prayed, among other things, that they might steward the responsibility with humble and gentle hearts and out of an attitude of servanthood modelled after our Lord.

And then it was time for the College BBQ and Ball!

Immediately following the service was a BBQ and garden party for students, staff and their guests. There was a bouncy castle (US: bouncy house) and a jazz band and lots of time to chat with different students, meet their families and say some goodbyes. For those not staying for the ball, anyway. 

The evening was the annual college ball with a fairgound theme. I wasn't able to attend (I had a baptism to attend the next morning), but I understand everyone had a great evening to round out the year.

So what's left of the school year?!

Well, this past week the remaining students have been doing a special study week on Islam and Christianity with the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (they actually have a new Houston centre too, see here).

Not only that but this Sunday begins the Friends of Wycliffe Hall Summer School! I'm looking forward to preaching on Ezekiel 17 at the opening worship service on Sunday evening and connecting with those of my Houston friends who've been able to make it (sermon blog post to follow sometime next week...).

And for me?

After that I am going to be heading into a lot of teaching prep: on Daniel, the Prophets and two preaching courses. Please do keep me and all the staff and students at Wycliffe in your prayers!

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