“Grateful to be known and loved by God, that Christ has taken residence in my heart. Thankful for family that increases in size each year, through marriages and births, and the fellowship of the church.” (Facebook post Nov 24, 2011 7:20am)
Maybe that’s all that needs to be said, but I feel so much more.
I am grateful for being an inheritor of a great line of tradition. In following my pilgrim path I discovered a treasure which anchors my place within the lesser known history of this nation. Thanks to Professor Ann Taves who taught Christian History by having each student research our own family history, looking for the story of how religion played a role in each of our families. That research led me to a corpus of correspondence between my maternal grandmother and all the family connections she could make. Ruth’s quest provided a treasury of stories of faith from many generations. There was one in the late 18th Century who belonged to the Church of England and became Methodist because of the zeal of the preachers. Another who, it is told always was a member of the Episcopal Church. There is a record of an 19th Century Episcopal priest, Rev. Wright, in North Carolina. There were many Congregationalists and very many Irish Roman Catholics. All belonging to the one Body of Christ, united in the Covenant of Baptism, and strengthened by Holy Communion. Both priesthood and servanthood have been handed down from generation to generation. These and many more watch over me and embolden me as I continue to pray for clarity in my vocation.
If a certain committee does not or cannot hear my call to holy orders, I will still be a Christ-bearer. From the covenant of my Baptism I am empowered to serve. By the gift of the Holy Spirit I am a leader and teacher in the church. By the authority of the Bishop and my priest, I am a preacher, lay Eucharistic minister, and lay reader in the service to my parish. I will continue to be a prophetic voice speaking for the hungry, homeless, jobless, victims of disaster. I will remain a voice that speaks in opposition to institutional violence and corporate greed. This is both my diaconal ministry and priesthood; for this I need no other authority than the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Ever since I completed my undergraduate degree, I have always been called to serve as an equipper and one who empowers others to live out their baptismal ministry in the unique ways that God has gifted them; to see the sacred in all of life and to respond faithfully to God in extending Christ’s reign in the present age.
While huddled under my warm covers this morning I was struck by the tremendous contradiction of the present day American celebration of Thanksgiving, in relation to the first pilgrim feast, following the harsh winter and first year in this new land. The Pilgrims voyage in the Mayflower was for the pursuit of a place to live out their Puritan Christian ethic, one which disdained the celebration of Christmas. The day was set aside to feast with their new neighbors; Native Americans who welcomed them and helped them through that first year. Thanksgiving Day in the present age seems to be only about over-consumption for mainstream America. Now, the vast majority of Americans engage in massive eating. After that they plan and execute great shopping trips consisting of waiting hours, or days in lines for the best deals of the day.
The Pilgrims life is a worldview. Living the Christian life faithfully requires making faithful choices; choosing to be in the world and yet not of the world. Thankfully, last night our parish was afforded the opportunity to gather together for Evening Prayer led by our young Christians with the guidance and direction of Deacon Nicholas. Those gathered were the faithful remnant scripture often upholds to us. I am grateful that our family has been steadfast enough in our faith to resist the constant pressure of advertising which fills the air.
Today, we will take a trip up to Big Bear to join our daughter-in-law’s family. We are blessed to share this day with ones we love, who also love God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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