Roger Phillips
Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
Called as Priest/Sacramentalist
Who Am I? I am you and me! I am 64, born in Pennsylvania, raised all over the USA during WWII and then primarily in Florida from 1949 onward. My early years spiritually were spent in the Baptist and Presbyterian churchs, as a "believing-in –the –head-only" kid and typical, I suppose; but upon being introduced to the Episcopal Church in 1959,the Lord spoke to my heart, for the first time that I could identify, and I was His forever. Then, it took me 10 years to get confirmed, while serving all over the world as an officer of the U.S. Navy and commanding two ships during the Viet Nam War, until the Bishop of Japan laid hands on me in 1969.My active Ministries as a layperson began in 1971 at Church of The Messiah, Winter Garden, Florida where Rosemary and I were attending upon our return to my home in Orlando. Messiah is a small, very active parish in an agricultural town 13 miles west of Orlando where I learned first hand about Lay Ministry and the "Ministry" of everyone in the congregation to each other. Here, I had my first and glorious introduction to lay reading, chalice bearing, reading a sermon, being on a Vestry and praying with people. It was also from Messiah that I attended Cursillo, which again changed my life, and introduced me to the Living Lord in a new and personal way. And it was as a result of Cursillo that I ceased being a "head Christian" and gave my life to Jesus Christ and began to lead a "new life" in Christ.
In 1973, we moved near to downtown Orlando and realized that our "community" was now truly not at Messiah, but at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and of course the seat of the Bishop of Central Florida, and a brand new diocese.(Florida had previously had only two dioceses and split into four in 1970.) I immediately plunged into parish and diocesan life at this large, vibrant church and became shortly a Sub-Deacon, Lay Reader, served on many committees and was elected to the Chapter within two years. Also, I was led to serve in the diocese on many committees including the Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee and with Rosemary became active in Cursillo, Marriage Encounter and several "renewal" ministries. Then came Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Co-Chairman of the Building Committee. And so it went until the end of the century. Now I can look back and see The Lord's Hand in all of this, as he was preparing me by my love of liturgics, administration and leadership to serve Him in the future here in Minnesota. And at the same time, I was engaged in my career of property management, which would result in the founding my own firm, with Rosemary, in 1984. However, It was actually during the mid-seventies, that I received my first "call" to the ordained ministry, but it came as a response to my pleading with the Lord to answer my question if I was "called" by Him and His response was a clear "NOT NOW".
So, my life continued happily in Lay Ministry until last year when you "called" me and I began to pray to hear the "call" as well. And then, as we all know, the "call" came this May 20th when The Lord spoke "SERVE ME NOW",SERVE ME NOW'! I am humbled and overjoyed and scared by His Call, but am being obedient to it as best I can. I am studying, praying and learning and, God Willing, will be ordained in approximately two years.
As for the next few years, we will be living both in Florida and Minnesota as we continue in our business and in our preparation for our ministries. But our hearts are here with you, and we will be back and forth frequently, staying many weeks at a time, God and our company willing, each spring and summer until we retire.
Finally, I want you to know that I am a firm believer in the active ministry of the laity and without your/our ministry the church cannot survive. We must reach out to those who do not know Christ and literally bring them to church. We must be bold and risk their saying "no" to our invitation and keep praying that God will lead us to those who need His healing and constant love in their lives as we all do.
Please pray for me and Rosemary and know in your hearts that we love you very much!
In His Love and Service, Roger Phillips