"We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood" (Holy Baptism: Book of Common Prayer, p. 308).
This is how the newly baptized are welcomed into the church by the whole congregation: "Share with us in his eternal priesthood." If by our baptism we are all priests, then what do we need ordained clergy for? Why does this "total ministry" vision include ordaining a few of us? What does the sacrament of ordination mean if everyone already shares the priesthood?
A clever little girl once replied to a Sunday School question about the number of sacraments with, "There are seven for boys and six for girls."
Things have changed in our church since then, and now girls may have seven, too. But still the question stands: What's ordination mean if all of us, girls and boys, share the priesthood already?
Ordination is sacramental – one of those "outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace." Most people consider the "outward sign" to be the bishop's laying on of hands, and many identify the grace as that mysterious and misunderstood "apostolic succession thing." Yet I think our understanding of baptismal ministry leads us to see something more in ordination.
The sign could be the person ordained; the grace then is the priesthood of all believers. I am the common, ordinary thing, like communion bread or baptismal water, that stands for, points to, and shares in something spiritual, mysterious, and holy. You have the grace I am simply the symbol of YOUR priesthood.
In the community of the church the ordained priest becomes a sacramental sign. Like bread becoming Christ's body (whether you understand that as transubstantiation or a memorial), when I am with you, I mysteriously become something more – I embody the grace of your priesthood; it is an awesome blessing to receive. Without you, I am just myself, as common and ordinary as water.
A priest cannot be a priest without the baptismal community that shares Christ's priesthood. It is Christ's priesthood, not mine. The priesthood belongs to all of us, together the body of Christ.
An ordained person cannot "do ministry" alone. Remember I'm just the sign of your priesthood. Alone, a priest is about as powerless and bland as water or bread. Your baptismal priesthood, however, is as powerful and mysterious as the Body of Christ.
My New Testament seminary professor once explained to us the difference that ordination makes: "You get to wear funny clothes and bless things." That's about it. It's sacramental and relational: Look different so people will recognize you as an "outward sign." Bless things in the name of the Church, because that's what signs do – they point to something else, naming the blessing that is already there.
So I, as the outward sign of your participation in Christ's priesthood, point to our baptism as the beginnings of our ministry together.
This Lent we will be remembering our baptismal promises as our preaching team reflects on our baptismal covenant (Book of Common Prayer, p. 304-5). Each Sunday in Lent we will consider one of the five questions in that covenant along with the readings for the day. Here is our lenten preaching schedule. (Note: Sermons may not be posted till the Tuesday after the date.)
I invite you all, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, remembering your call to share in Christ's priesthood.
Blessings !
pat +
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Johanna Morrigan
Our Saviour's, Little Falls
Called as Deacon and Preacher
The peace of God to all of you in the Spirit of the Heartland.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
WHERE'S OUR TEAM
Our Team did not meet in February, but we go on retreat the second weekend in March. We maintain our regular contact over the internet which is an invaluable communication tool for our team, and we are recovering from our various illnesses. Please join us April 14th at 2pm for a quiet day. Ask any team member about location.
MEET OUR PARISHIONERS
Ivy Hildebrand
Good Samaritan
I was born on May 24, 1907, baptized in that year, and confirmed in 1922 in the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan. I have been a member ever since so I guess that makes me a cradle Episcopalian +.
From the age of six I wanted to be a teacher and was fortunate enough to achieve that goal. I taught in one-room country schools, graded elementary, junior-senior high school and finally junior college.
During the years my church activities, besides attending services, included teaching Sunday School, working in study groups, serving on committees, altar guild, waiting on tables, washing dishes at church dinners: you know, the things St. Paul thought women should do, besides wearing hats to church and keeping silence!
In the 20th century I have lived through great (and sometimes terrible) events: two World Wars, the Great Depression, the atomic bomb, the holocaust, and on the plus side, the almost unbelievable achievements in technological and medical areas. Also there were at least two revisions of the book of Common Prayer (and Hymnal). Some were considered radical but we have survived despite the loss of some clergymen.
I believe that all of the churches, ours included, are facing new and difficult challenges in this new century and millennium. How we resolve them will determine our fate in the "new-old" world. I have faith in what the Episcopal Church will do – keep what is good of the past and work for what will improve it in the future – always with God's help and guidance.
CHURCH DIRECTORY ON LINE
When our Picture Directory arrived belatedly, it was already out of date. The ministry team added some sticker updates in the back. Your newsletter included some corrections. But many of us probably didn't get around to recording them. And things keep changing. So, for those of you with computer access, the most recent updates of our Spirit of the Heartland directory are available online. This directory is available for our community and our friends only. The directory is password protected. It will not be available through internet searches.
The URL (address) for the Church Directory is:
http://www.motherflash.com/directory/
When you go there, you will see a window with blank spaces for UserName and Password.
Send an email to any team mister to find out what to type
in the UserName and Password spaces.
Then click on "OK" or hit the Enter Key.
Use only lower case and don't add any blank spaces.
If this makes no sense to you, ask any team minister or plan to attend a "Computers and Church Work" workshop in Little Falls (see below).
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Good Samaritan continues a bible study of the Book of Tobit on Tuesday mornings, March 13 & 27, at 11:00 am. Meets at the church. Here's your chance to find out about one of the Bible's weird apocryphal books.
St. Stephen's continues a book study on Dance of the Spirit by Maria Harris on Thursday mornings, March 15 and April 5. Meets in nearby homes; location will be posted on the church door.
THEATRE & THEOLOGY
St. Stephen's will be showing The Last Temptation of Christ on Friday, March 30th, at 7pm. Stay for the post-show discussion afterwards with Rev. Pat Gillespie. All are welcome.
SNOW DAY !!
This is Minnesota and some days we can't make it out of our driveways to church. God saw fit to transfigure our surroundings on Last Epiphany, and services in all three churches were canceled. Apologies to those who weren't notified in time. This is a reminder that we are not as prepared as we would like to be. Good Sam has a phone tree, which, unfortunately, was still sitting by the copy machine instead of in people's hands. It would be good for all our churches to have a phone tree of some sort for quick notice of snow and other events. Look for phone trees with instructions in your next newsletter.
FIFTH SUNDAYS
Our Saviour's in Little Falls will now have regular Sunday morning worship at 10 am, every Sunday, including fifth Sundays of the month. Pat will alternate fifth Sundays between Good Samaritan and Our Saviour's. We will continue to have occasional evening services, including some beautiful liturgies. Look for details in upcoming newsletters.
LENTEN PROGRAM
LENTEN PROGRAM - OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Wednesday evening Soup Suppers at 6:00 pm, followed by Lenten Program at 7, and on our journey home by 8. People are welcome and, indeed, encouraged to attend programs at other Spirit of the Heartland churches as well as your own parish. Each program can stand on it's own; so don't decide not to come because you can't get to all three sessions. The focus topics and schedule are a reflection of Pat's calendar and are not meant to be a reflection of characteristics of your parish.
Volunteers who like to make soup and/or bread are hoped for ... please let Pat know.
NOTE: Good Samaritan and St. Stephen's dates have changed from last month.
ALPHA
Alpha is coming to Spirit of the heartland - Watch for details. Contact Harriette Burkhalter, St. Stephens at:
harrijack@sedona.net for more information.
MARCH BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Church of the Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
March 10th Pat Gillespie & Paul Schlauderaff
March 15th Pete Wilson
March 21st Lacy Schwanke
Church of Our Saviour, Little Falls
March 6th Dick Berguson
March 7th Sue Kretsch/Wright
March 9th Andy & Charlene Starin
March 21st Cedar Morrigan
March 21st Jack Lemme
March 24th Sylvia Aleshire
March 26th Jean Lemme
March 26th Joe Tax
March 30th Dick Thomson
St. Stephen's, Paynesville
March 13th Doris Dodds
March 18th Pat Hassenstein
March 20th Joan McMillan
MINISTRY SCHEDULES
Good Samaritan
Our Saviour's
St. Stephen's
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