From the Desk of the Priest in Charge
Dear Friends in Christ,
On November 19, I will be leading a seminar for the diocese of Delaware's Parish Life Day. When I agreed to do this, it was in a weak moment. As the time grows nearer I am having a great deal of angst. I am to lead a discussion on what we do with our resources. One of my friends told me all I had to do is know what someone's net worth is. He then proceeded to lead me through his own assets and liabilities. It is simple. Take what you have against what you owe and that is your net worth. He came up with a seven figure number which was quite remarkable.
Having finished I asked, in my naivete, what he thought the net worth of his darling granddaughter might be. He said that she was different and that there was no worth that could be put on her. I am not sure he got my point but the truth of the matter is that a person's net worth is not measured in dollars and cents but in the love which is bestowed upon them. For you and me our net worth is not what we own but in the love which is bestowed upon us. Ultimately our net worth is not in the things we have but that He finds us worthy of His love. So worthy to Him that He sent His Son into the world to save us. Read in your bible John chapter 3 verse 16.
In Christ,
GJK
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Good Shepherd welcomes transitional Deacon
Good Shepherd welcomes transitional Deacon
As we began the program year at Good Shepherd, we were thrilled to learn that Gary Taylor would be joining us through the fall serving as a transitional Deacon. Gary is the Chaplain at St. Anne’s School in Middletown and will be ordained into the priesthood in January 2012. Below is a letter from Gary.
It is my blessing and privilege to serve among you this fall as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. It is part of the process of becoming a Priest in our church to first be ordained as a "transitional" deacon and to serve in that capacity for no fewer than six months before being ordained a second time, this time to the priesthood. In some diocese, some people choose to be ordained as "vocational" deacons, otherwise known as "permanent" deacons. As the name implies, they do not go on to the priesthood but rather serve as deacons for their entire career in the ministry.
All deacons are first and foremost servants of Christ, and even those who go on to become priests never move past that professed vocation. This servanthood is symbolized by the collar we wear and the stole or "yoke" we don for services. The word "
diakonos" which appears 30 times in the bible and is usually translated as "deacon" is really the Greek word for "servant." The New Testament gives examples of both "appointed" servants elected by the church to specific tasks and of "unelected" servants who served the Lord in a general sense in a local church. Thus, seen one way we are all deacons in that we are all servants of Christ; indeed in our Baptismal Covenant we pledge to "Seek and serve Christ in all persons." (BCP p. 305). Seen another way, those of us ordained as deacons make an additional public vow beyond baptism to "look for Christ in all others, being ready to help and serve those in need" and to "pattern my life in accordance with the teachings of Christ so that I may be a wholesome example to all people." (BCP p. 544).
At my ordination my bishop charged me to " make Christ and his redemptive love known, by word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship... to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world ... [and] to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God's Word and Sacraments" At all times, my "life and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself." A tall order indeed! And one that I cannot begin to do without God's direct assistance - as well as the lveo and support of all of you, which have felt already so palpably at Good Shepherd!
Thank you for your very warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know each of you and to discovering the depths of God's love for us together.
In Christ,
Deacon Gary
As we began the program year at Good Shepherd, we were thrilled to learn that Gary Taylor would be joining us through the fall serving as a transitional Deacon. Gary is the Chaplain at St. Anne’s School in Middletown and will be ordained into the priesthood in January 2012. Below is a letter from Gary.
It is my blessing and privilege to serve among you this fall as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. It is part of the process of becoming a Priest in our church to first be ordained as a "transitional" deacon and to serve in that capacity for no fewer than six months before being ordained a second time, this time to the priesthood. In some diocese, some people choose to be ordained as "vocational" deacons, otherwise known as "permanent" deacons. As the name implies, they do not go on to the priesthood but rather serve as deacons for their entire career in the ministry.
All deacons are first and foremost servants of Christ, and even those who go on to become priests never move past that professed vocation. This servanthood is symbolized by the collar we wear and the stole or "yoke" we don for services. The word "
diakonos" which appears 30 times in the bible and is usually translated as "deacon" is really the Greek word for "servant." The New Testament gives examples of both "appointed" servants elected by the church to specific tasks and of "unelected" servants who served the Lord in a general sense in a local church. Thus, seen one way we are all deacons in that we are all servants of Christ; indeed in our Baptismal Covenant we pledge to "Seek and serve Christ in all persons." (BCP p. 305). Seen another way, those of us ordained as deacons make an additional public vow beyond baptism to "look for Christ in all others, being ready to help and serve those in need" and to "pattern my life in accordance with the teachings of Christ so that I may be a wholesome example to all people." (BCP p. 544).
At my ordination my bishop charged me to " make Christ and his redemptive love known, by word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship... to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world ... [and] to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God's Word and Sacraments" At all times, my "life and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself." A tall order indeed! And one that I cannot begin to do without God's direct assistance - as well as the lveo and support of all of you, which have felt already so palpably at Good Shepherd!
Thank you for your very warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know each of you and to discovering the depths of God's love for us together.
In Christ,
Deacon Gary
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