Thank you to all who helped and attended my Installation service on June 13. It was meaningful, significant, and full of happy smiling people. Our bishop was stuck in traffic and as we waited our musician Jim Ledbetter played an impromptu and fantastic piano concert! A cookie reception followed. Thank you all again for formally welcoming me as your vicar and into the St. Anne’s community.
A small group of us went up St. Mark’s Cathedral Wednesday June 21 to be witnesses to Jana Whitworth’s ordination to the priesthood. It was my pleasure to present Jana on behalf of St. Anne’s. Being a witness to Jana and the other three newly ordained brought back my own memories of promising myself to the priesthood. When I laid prostrate on the floor of St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles, I experienced God’s presence and reassurance as I never had before. It was wonderful to have those memories return so strongly in Seattle.
All of us, ordained or not, are set aside by our baptisms to be ministers of God’s love to each other. When we are open to the Holy Spirit, each of us will be called to attending to the needs of others. Living with compassion and kindness gives us the opportunity to pass on all that we have received from God. The range of ways to share the good news of Jesus is unending, as nothing is ever too small or insignificant.
We believe that all we are and have, life itself, is a gift from God to be shared. When crowds gathered to listen to Jesus teach and they became hungry, Jesus asked for food to share. He didn’t receive much to work with, a few fish and a few loaves of bread, yet in the sharing it became more than enough. Jesus invites us to continue his ministry with the confidence that with him, we too can bring practical love to those in need.
You are all loved by God whose love is endless. The greatest way to thank God for this love is to share God’s love, as you are uniquely called.
Love,
Annie+