21.11.2017
‘Only Build What God Asks You to Build’ – The Revd Rob Jones Becomes Rector of Rathmines with Harold’s Cross
Holy Trinity Church was packed last night (Monday November 20) as the people of the Parish of Rathmines with Harold’s Cross celebrated with their new Rector. The Revd Rob Jones was Vicar of the parish for seven years and last night was instituted as Incumbent by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Surrounded by his family, friends and parishioners, Rob received a warm welcome to his new role. Introducing the service, the Archbishop said Rob was carrying on a tradition which he began in the parish with the previous Rector, Canon Neil McEndoo. The parish is unusual because it has both a traditional church community and a fresh expression community.
The preacher was the Revd Eoghan Heaslip who urged Rob and his wife Dilys to ‘only build what God asks you to build’ and to ‘choose to live beyond fear’. Drawing on the Gospel reading [Matthew 17: 1–13] he said that we are being invited to listen, in relationship, so that we can have the joy of knowing God. He said that by hearing what God was saying to them they would know that they do not have to prove themselves and would have the courage to resist building anything they had not been asked to build.
“It’s God that builds the church. The Parish of Holy Trinity Rathmines with Harold’s Cross is His and he has a plan for it, a plan for you both and a purpose for your shared life together as a community,” he stated.
The preacher said that the second thing that stood out to him in the Gospel reading was Jesus’ invitation to the disciples, and to us all, to live beyond fear. “[Jesus] comes to where we are and speaks in our lives, offering us a way out of the places we have become bound by fear. ‘Get up,’ he says. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ Don’t live that way, that’s not what I want for you. Don’t stay there, don’t get trapped into a limited world of thinking,” he said.
You can read the sermon in full here.
Speaking at the reception following the service, the parish’s Lay Reader, Edward Lewis, welcomed Rob. He observed that for many years Rob had looked after trees, having worked for Coillte, and said the Lord must have been impressed because he called him to his vineyard. It was while he was serving his Curacy in St Catherine’s that his connection with Rathmines with Harold’s Cross began as he served there on a part time basis. When the parish decided to establish it’s fresh expression, Rob was chosen to lead it and “it blossomed and flourished like the leaves on the trees that Rob knew so much about,” Edward said.
Mr Lewis added that Rob was a joy to work with and a great encourager. “Rob you give us your heart and soul in everything you do. You’re a great enthusiast for the Gospel and this is maintained by a fervent prayer life. By your example you have thought me and many others to live life and thank God,” he said.
Archbishop Jackson paid tribute to Edward Lewis for the contribution he had made to the parish. He said that the affection in which Rob and his family was held in the parish was clear for all to see. He said Rob was great and engaging and networking and was wonderful at sharing with and equipping others. “He is consistently friendly, consistently kind and as Rector he will be consistently authoritative,” he stated adding that it had been a very special evening.
Rob told the gathered crowd that he had gone on a retreat in the West of Ireland in preparation for his institution and went climbing in the Maamturks in Connemara. He set out to climb Binn Mhór and when he finally made it to the summit he looked beyond and saw another peak and considered climbing it before a little voice urged him to stop and enjoy the view. He sat and took in the view and was flooded with thankfulness for all God had done in his life and in the parish. He said he had the same feeling last night and was thankful for all that had gone before. He said the service was a great collaboration between the traditional and fresh expression congregation and added that Holy Trinity was all about collaboration.
