Spirit of the Heartland

Our Saviour's,Little Falls

Candidate for the priesthood

I was raised primarily in the Roman Catholic church and was very active in that church until about 16 years ago. At that time, I was encouraged/ asked by a priest to leave the church because I found so much of the politics of the church were hurtful to me and many people I cared about. I have always been a deeply spiritual person and for a time was comfortable with worship in a family setting at home with Johanna and friends. As time went on, I found myself hungering for a larger (but not huge) community that worshiped in a church building with better music than I was capable of making. Finding the Episcopal church was truly a gift from God. The warm and friendly welcome quickly convinced me that I had finally found my spiritual home.

I was received into the church more than four years ago. During that time I have gotten to know many people in Region III and especially in the Spirit of the Heartland churches. When I was called to the ministry team, I found myself very excited at the opportunity to serve with the people that I had begun to know in all of our churches. I have been honored to be a Lay Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lay Eucharistic Visitor, Treasurer, Vestry member, a Youth Leader, Altar Guild member and trainer of Acolytes, and a member of Diocesan Council. (And I can also park cars!) Needless to say, there was no way that I could continue in all of those duties and do justice to the Total Ministry, to you or to myself. So, I have had to give up some of those lay ministries and pared down on others.

With my involvement in EFM for four years, Cursillo, and Diocesan events I have come to know that my call to a ministry is stronger than I ever imagined and is growing day by day. For many years, I have felt called to serve God and God's people. The call and confidence of the churches of the Spirit of the Heartland and the discernment committee helped me to find the answer. I am called to serve with dedicated Christians in the Episcopal churches in the Spirit of the Heartland. After even further discernment at the local and diocesan level, I am currently a candidate for holy orders as a priest/sacramentalist. (And that is an awe filled, humbling, exciting place to be!) If all goes as planned I hope to be ordained to the transitional deaconate this fall/winter and in another year, to the priesthood.

I have found that many people have questions about what being a priest/ sacramentalist means. To me, it means serving God's people as an ordained member of the church. To the churches in the Spirit of the Heartland, it means that I will be a priest/sacramentalist serving in all three churches. So, again I hear the question: "What does that mean?" I will be ordained to officiate at five of the sacraments of the Episcopal church. I will serve at the altar for Eucharist, serve next to the baptismal fonts for baptism, serve near hospital/hospice/sick beds for unction and healing, officiate at weddings, and be present with people seeking reconciliation in their relationship with God. I will also stand near in support, prayer and love when confirmation or ordination happens in the churches that I will serve. Will I preach? No, unless I become licensed to do so at some time in the future. I will serve you in your time of need? Yes, if I am the priest called to do so. The three of us that have been called to the priesthood will share in serving all three churches. Some will also preach, or minister in the area of pastoral care. My hope is that I will one day be prepared to answer a call to working with the chronically ill, terminally ill, and the dying. I believe that in God's time that will happen - hopefully sooner rather than later.

In order that we might be geographically closer to all three churches, my partner Johanna and I moved 25 miles closer to all three churches in April of this year. Johanna continues to work full-time in Brainerd, so we decided to make our home in Little Falls for the time being.

This is an exciting time for all of us. I believe that the Episcopal church in rural/central Minnesota is doing more than surviving. We are a church that is stepping out in faith so that we may thrive and grow, both of which I have witnessed already beginning to happen. We are also spending our money in faith. For all three of the SOH churches the financial investment involved in getting on-board for Total Ministry has not been easy. Investing in the future for people who will be coming into our churches in the years to come is what God has called us to do. Let us be thankful for the growth that has begun and for the growth that we have not yet seen. I believe that by building up our churches through total ministry; that we are following in the steps of the disciples as we have been called to do. I am honored to serve with you and to take risks with you. Please hold the ministers from all our congregations in your daily prayers as we come together to serve.

Together all of us can serve God and carry on the ministry of Jesus in rural Minnesota today.

"Let us pray."
Most loving and gracious God, bring us ever nearer to you that we may know and understand what it is that you would have us do as we all minister to each other in your Son's name; and we so pray that you grant to us your continuing guidance and ever present love, with the spreading fire of the Holy Spirit and the perseverance of Jesus the Christ. AMEN.