Induction of the Revd Mark Robinson – Sunday 3rd April 2022 4pm

The Induction Service took place in Hertford URC. It involved members of all three churches and included a sermon from Revd Dr Michael Jagessar which gave rise to considerable hilarity.

The two readings (Isaiah 55:1-9 and John 21:1- 13) emphasised how we as Christians should celebrate what is offered to us and enjoy a party on the beach as the disciples did when their fishing catch became huge thanks to advice from ‘the man on the shore’.

Revd Mark Robinson replied to Revd Michael Jagessar’s question: I have chosen John 21:1-13 as the main text. I have always loved the imagery of Jesus frying fish on the beach and calling the disciples to breakfast. It reminds me of friendship, support, encouragement, unity and a scene I’ve witnessed on a riverbank in the Caribbean.

Michael’s response : Excellent choice. The sermon is already beating in my head like steelpans and Peter Minsell “moko jumbie” [which is a reference to the Caribbean River breakfast].

Mark adds: For me the main point of the sermon was about being generous as Christ is generous. As Christians we need to follow Christ’s example of abundance, he gave in abundance, he cared in abundance he loved in abundance. He told the disciples to throw the net on the other side and they followed and caught an overwhelming amount of fish. And there on the sand was Christ with a hot breakfast prepared.

There can’t be many couples who have been inducted to new ministries on the same weekend but that was the case for Mark and Tessa. It was truly a day for celebration and thanks to the organising, making and providing of delicious cakes by the Hertford URC ladies, Dorothy Kelso and Diane Price, there was a most enjoyable tea served in the hall.

Photo: Left to right: Revd Martin Legg, Interim Moderator, Revd Jim Gascoigne, Secretary, Enfield and East Herts Local Area Group. Revd Mark Robinson and Revd Dr Tessa HenryRobinson, Mayor of Hertford, Cllr Ron Dearing, Revd. George Watt, Moderator of the North Thames Synod.