CAPTION: The Rt Rev'd James Grier was welcomed into his new role during the Installation service at Exeter Cathedral

Bishop James Preaches ‘Jesus Who Journeys With Us’ at Exeter Cathedral Installation Service

Posted: 9th October, 2022

The new Bishop of Plymouth has been officially welcomed into his new role during an Installation service at Exeter Cathedral.

The service is an historic one at which a new bishop is asked to swear a vow of allegiance to the King, the Bishop of Exeter and the Cathedral. Traditionally the bishop is also given a loaf of bread.

During the Choral Evensong on Sunday 9 October, The Rt Rev’d James Grier was presented to the Bishop of Crediton, who asked him to share with her and the Bishop of Exeter in their mission to lead “the people of God” in the Diocese by helping them to grow in prayer, make new disciples and serve the people of Devon with joy.

Bishop James, who was wearing a mitre for the first time, responded by saying “By God’s help, I will.”

Bishop James is prayed for after vowing to lead Devon’s Anglicans in their mission

He was then presented to the congregation who greeted him with a round of applause. He was also welcomed by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon, a representative from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth and representatives of the Diocese clergy and laity.

During his sermon, which was based on the Road to Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-35), Bishop James drew on some of his experiences over his six-day Going in Prayer pilgrimage from Exeter to Plymouth.

He said he had been struck by how many people he had met on his walk had suffered a loss, whether it was a bereavement or the loss of livelihood.

He said “What Jesus does is that he comes alongside people and he walks with them and spends time with them.

“He listens and allows them to describe their struggles and pour out their pain.

“He doesn’t just join them, he helps them to open their hearts.”

The bishop preached on the story of Jesus walking alongside two people on Easter Sunday

Bishop James said it was a message that people often hear but somehow “does not compute”.

He added: “God does not force himself upon us, he wants to be invited.

“He’s there all along but waits until we say we want to know more.

“He connects with us in his love.”

Bishop James said that he hoped that, as he went from church to church, “people won’t be excited by me being there, but will be excited by God being there.”

He ended by saying that the God of the Emmaus Road “is a God worth following.

“Jesus journeys with us in the good times and the bad.”

Click here to view the Order of Service

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