Ordination Anniversary

"He having promised to make Christ's redemptive love known ..."

Fifteen years ago today, Bishop Frank Griswold ordained me and six others to the diaconate at St. James Cathedral in Chicago.

Because Katrin and I had moved to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin six months earlier, I have never officially served as a deacon in the Diocese of Chicago -- all of my parish assignments have been in Wisconsin.

However, I worked in downtown Chicago until five years ago, so I was constantly "across the border" from the parishes I served. Now that my travels for work take me all over the country, I'm fortunate to be able to keep up with clergy colleagues and parishioners during the week through email, Facebook, and this blog.

But the Word become flesh is too intimate a truth to be preached from a distance, and I treasure every one of the people I have come to know in the five parishes I have served so far.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Milwaukee

Church of the Holy Communion, Lake Geneva

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Whitewater

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Racine

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Menasha



Reading the Gospel at St. Thomas, Advent 2010

I also treasure the people I have known who are responding to God's call to serve as deacons and who have been my students in the Deacons' School over the years. Their enthusiasm and questions keep me connected to the roots of my own calling, to the baptismal ministry we all share in Christ.

The last 15 years have taken me to places I would not have imagined. Here's to what the next 15 will hold!

May the Lord by his grace uphold me -- and you! -- in the service he lays upon us. Amen.