Spirit of the Heartland

Our Saviour's, Little Falls

Called as Deacon and Preacher

It's been a very busy year since I last wrote about my life in the Episcopal Church and on our Spirit of the Heartland Ministry Team. Preaching at the three churches has been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to continuing to do so. Still mentoring the Little Falls EFM group, and continuing with my own studies involves a weekly commitment of study and gathering. Once a month the preachers in training meet for three hours to practice and learn more of the craft and art of breaking open the word of God. And after the preacher's gathering, the entire team meets for four hours to study, pray, problem-solve, and continue the building of a team of ministers who will assist every member of the Spirit of the Heartland parishes to find and live out their own particular ministry. In between all of those meetings, there is frequent discussion and dialogue on our Team Board - a computer page where we can all keep in touch with one another (created, of course, by none other than our team mentor, Pat).

Some days this Total Ministry idea seems pretty overwhelming. After all, the goal is for each parishioner to live out their baptismal covenant - not because they "should," but because they are open to the calling of God which fills them with a desire to heed God's call. Fortunately when I feel most inadequate to the call, God finds some way of reminding me that it isn't me or any other team minister who is doing all of this - it is the power of the Holy Spirit working through all of us which will succeed in this thing called Total Ministry - the ministry of all the baptized.

After a year of prayer and wrestling with God, I finally figured out that God was calling me to the diaconate. Like my matron saint, Brighid of Kildare, much of my life has been characterized by speaking and advocating for the marginalized in our culture. Probably because I have lived on the margins most of my life, God has seen fit to use my gifts for those who are vulnerable, unprotected, and often ostracized by mainstream society. All my life God has been putting God's wounded and broken children in front of me and asking me to help God mend them.

Two and a half years ago, when I first met with the Commission on Ministry, they urged me to consider the call to the sacramental role of the priesthood. While I was honored and rather surprised by this call from my parish and the Commission, it didn't feel as though that was what God was asking of me. Now I understand that God has called me to the servant ministry of the diaconate. Finding ways to build bridges between the church and those who have been floating adrift fills me with an excitement and zest which feels like pure running water.

On a more practical note: Cedar and I are very much looking forward to moving to Little Falls this spring or summer. Our house goes on the market the last week of February. We plan to begin visiting St. Stephen's and Good Samaritan more often once we are settled. We're eager to get to know you folks better. And the move will cut down on a lot of extra driving time that we're spending now just getting to Little Falls.

May this Lenten season be one of renewal and growth for each of us. My prayers are with each of you as we journey together and share in the ministry of Jesus, our Christ.

Your sister in Christ,
Johanna