NeuroDivine

In worship with an all‑Ireland church, I was reminded that ministry begins in presence, continues in prayer, and flourishes as gift—never possession, always shared.

The Church of Ireland Pioneer Ministry Gathering in Mullingar was both a privilege and a challenge. It brought together people from all 11 dioceses, representing most of the traditions on this island. To worship in such breadth was to glimpse the richness of a truly all‑Ireland church, united in diversity and alive to new possibilities.

We heard from The Rev Dr Michael Moynagh, whose teaching on fresh expressions of church urged us to listen deeply: to God, to community, and to the unexpected places where the Spirit is already at work. Pioneer ministry, he reminded us, is not novelty for its own sake, but the faithful planting of the Gospel in new soil.

We also heard from several of the full‑time pioneers serving across the island. Among them was Ross Barrett, whose ministry in the dioceses of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory includes food initiatives and prayer walks in local housing estates. His witness showed how simple acts of presence and hospitality can open space for prayer and community in the midst of everyday life.

The worship itself stretched me beyond my comfort zone. Yet in that unfamiliarity I glimpsed how others encounter God, and was reminded that diversity in worship is itself a gift. I found myself doing some very Benedictine things, even though I was not “in choir” or “in habit.” I bowed my head at the Trinitarian doxology in a hymn whose style was far outside my comfort zone, yet whose words carried deep meaning. That simple gesture reminded me that we worship with our bodies too—just as others raised their hands during song. And when I needed a moment of quiet focus, I raised the hood of my bright yellow hoodie, my own makeshift habit, to seek a little space from distraction.

There were personal connections as well. Dr Moynagh spoke about initiatives in his parish in south Oxford, which made me wonder which parish he meant, having worked in one nearby over twenty years ago. Later I discovered it was St Matthew’s, the next‑door parish to the one I had served in. In a lovely twist, he even knew a friend who lives there—and promised to say hello to her from me.

Above all, the Gathering reminded me that the Gospel itself is a gift. It is something we receive, and something we can give. But if we hold it only for ourselves, it risks becoming a possession—something grasped rather than shared. In truth, the Gospel is never ours to own; it is always God’s gift, entrusted to us so that it may be passed on in word and deed, in prayer and presence, in hospitality and hope.

Closing Thought

I left Mullingar with a renewed sense that pioneer ministry is not only about planting something new, but also about allowing ourselves to be planted in places of discomfort—where growth, humility, and fresh vision can flourish.

May we continue to bow, to raise, to listen, and to be stretched — so that the Gospel, in all its breadth, may remain a gift: received with gratitude, shared with generosity, and never reduced to possession.