The words are set to the nursery-rhyme tune, Girls and boys come out to play (c.1650).

This song marks the ordination to the priesthood of the Reverend Kate Carey-Smith, who served as a deacon at Michael & All Angels, Christchurch, throughout 2000. Although women had been ordained to the priesthood in the Anglican Church in New Zealand in 1977, the priesthood at S. Michael’s remained a male preserve until 1997. Like many other Anglo-Catholic parishes, some members and vicars were leading opponents of women’s sacramental ministry. Much has since changed and the Revd. Carey-Smith found some members of the ‘old boys’ club’ to be very helpful as she embarked on her new ministry.

The two verses link several aspects of reform:

• In 1893 New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote in Parliamentary elections. (vs.2)
  
• Women in the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches in New Zealand were among the first in the western world to be admitted to all levels of the ordained ministry. (vs.1)
  
• In 1985 the country became nuclear free and refused entry to US warships and submarines (vs.2)
  
• In the 1970s the Anglican Church in New Zealand allowed children aged seven and older to receive the Eucharist, before they were confirmed. In 1990 baptism was recognised as conferring full membership of the church - even newborn babies could now receive a sliver of communion wafer (vs. 2)

The term ‘ordinary’ (refrain) in liturgical usage refers to what is authorised, what has to
be done. It does not necessarily mean uneventful. Festal days, the church calendar, and
the chasuble, a richly embroidered outer vestment worn by priests celebrating the
eucharist, reflect S. Michael’s Anglo-Catholic heritage.

The Paraclete (Gk parakletos par-ak’-lay-tos ‘advocate’) brings justice through
movements for change in our world. Older translations emphasise the Holy Spirit’s
mission to strengthen and guide the Church into all truth.

© Jane Simpson (2002)