In a joyful service of welcome and commitment to shared ministry in the Cornerstone Team, the Revd Tom Devas was recently licensed as Team Rector by Bishop Saju.
St Luke’s Church in Thurnby was “full to bursting” with the worshipping communities of its five churches, gathered to support Tom and his family in their commitment to St Luke’s and the Cornerstone Team.
Bishop Saju joined the celebrations, preaching using the ‘We Are All Saints’ artworks and around the Prodigal Son scripture from Luke 15: 11-32. He was delighted to share in Tom and his wife Emily’s story, who have faithfully served the parish for the past seven years.
Talking about the service and their journey to this point, Tom said: “The licensing service was a real encouragement in recognising and celebrating all the Lord has done at St Luke’s and the Cornerstone Team in recent years.
“St Luke’s has become a really intergenerational church from babies yet to be born to one who is 103 and everything in between sharing life together with Jesus.
“It’s a really precious and joyful place for Emily and I, along with our family, to belong and serve. It was a joy to have people from St Luke’s, St Mary’s, St Catharine’s, Living Hope, and Hope Hamilton.”
He added: “My prayer for the role is for people’s progress and joy in the faith and our boasting in Christ Jesus will abound (Philippians 1:25-26) across these precious churches on the eastern edge of Leicester.”
During the licensing service, Tom and Emily shared two commitments: “That we are willing and we are weak,” explained Tom.
“Willing, because we are committed to pointing people to Jesus - through a ministry focused on prayer, preaching, and people. The big win in all of this is more of us loving Jesus more.
“Weak, because over the last seven years we’ve never felt incredibly strong or confident in our own abilities. We lead from a place of weakness and God uses us in our weaknesses. As a church and a network of churches we mustn’t be scared of sharing our vulnerabilities with one another. Again and again throughout the Bible God uses people who are willing and weak because God is strong and sufficient.”
Please pray for Tom and his family, and all those who lead, worship, and live in the communities of the Cornerstone Team.
