, July 2009
Once upon a time, I worked with a college chaplain who liked to remind the students at the start of each year that chaplains are not mind readers.
He said this in order to urge them to speak with him (and with me as his assistant) directly and openly about their needs and concerns, rather than assume that he was personally and professionally omniscient. It was his charming way of opening up the lines of communication in a very cerebral, but sometimes forgetful, world.
As a parish priest, I have certainly learned that I am no mind reader either. And I also understand: parishioners are not. From time to time, it is helpful for the clergy to let folks know what is going on in the universe of priestly ministry. Rather that expect everyone to guess what it is I do on a weekly and monthly basis, I am glad to share that with you in a way that fills in the blanks.
Let me offer the following as an update on what I have been up to recently. If you find it dreadfully boring, please know that I have not found it to be so at all!
My world is defined by several significant work relationships. The most important of these are: 1) my work relationship with the parish of Saint James, 2) my work relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, and 3) my work relationship with the wider Church, including ecumenical connections.
In Saint James’ Church, my ministry has been primarily with the lay leadership of the parish as we seek to set our house in order in these difficult and challenging economic times. We have been reorganizing the work of the parish in important ways, so as to poise ourselves for growth, as well as for greater efficiency. In early 2009 we passed a budget that was much more realistic, but carried with it the loss of staff, as well as reductions in other areas. Volunteers have come out of the woodwork to take up the slack. They are now collectively known as the Scribes and
Scrubbers Guild – office volunteers, who work daily in the Rector’s Office; and folks who clean and reorganize the buildings and grounds. I very much enjoy working with the Scribes, who help with the telephone, the mail and mailings, the weekly leaflet and notices, and other tasks. Thanks be to God for the Scrubbers!
In liturgy, I now minister primarily with our new parish musicians Quentin and Mary Murrell Faulkner and together we organize and implement the music and liturgy of the Church. We have created a Worship Forum that participates in the selection of music, meeting every few months to do so.
I have asked Ricker Smiley to head up the scheduling of acolytes, readers, and Eucharistic Ministers at the principal Sunday service (the 10). He has done so admirably. I have called Brian Cooper and Steve Houghton to serve as Vergers, assisting me in the practical behind the scenes preparation for the services. David Lewis and Betsy Carlisle continue to schedule the servers and readers for the 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday services respectively. We have re-instituted the Worship Commission, including the Altar Guild; to make sure we are all on the same page and to plan as needed.
In pastoral care, my activity has been predominantly in the area of the pastoral offices, especially burials. I have officiated at over 15 burial services, including Eucharists, Memorial Services, Committals, and the like. In several cases, I have been active in ministering to the dying and to their families. Hospital and home visitations are done as I can, but my priority there has been with the terminally ill. Several upcoming weddings are on the books, which involve not only planning, but also premarital counseling.
Related to pastoral concerns, are the important meetings I have had with individuals about issues of conflict. This has taken a great deal of energy and (need I say it?) nerve. None of us likes to talk about inappropriate behaviors and tense relationships in an accountable way, but this has certainly been part of my responsibility. I have worked with the diocese to deal with some very trying episodes and surprises in my first year. While most of the content of this work is and should remain confidential, it has been an important part of my ministry.
By way of committee work, I meet regularly with the Welcome Committee, the Finance Committee, the Property Committee, the Vestry, the Vergers, the Worship Forum, the Worship Commission, the Adult Formation Committee, the Stewardship Committee, the Nominations Committee, and a few others. My attendance is not perfect and as time progresses, I will need to make some decisions about it and about where to take a back seat. In the first year, however, it has been important for me to learn firsthand about the work of each group. I currently handle building use and the parish calendar in order to learn more about and connect better with the groups and activities of the community. I support Marie Paquette and the church school and youth ministry as I am able (but not nearly as much as I would like to). It is wonderful to witness these ministries developing.
It has been my privilege to baptize four of our children so far in 2009: Joseph, Michael, Ethan, and Will. Remember them in your prayers.
In relation to the diocese, I have been attending a number of meetings and gatherings. It is expected that I participate in the 2-year diocesan Fresh Start program, designed to help rectors and vicars new to the diocese get connected, be educated regionally, and build collegiality. This is a monthly obligation and the first year is now complete. I also attend clergy days and clergy conferences, taking my part in the greater councils of the Church. Some of these have been over-nights, others day long events.
Preaching three or four times a week is the hardest thing I do and simply celebrating the Eucharist is what I love best. I taught a Lenten series and I am leading a summer study group. My time off on vacation will come in July this year.
On the ecumenical front, I have genuinely enjoyed being a part of the Franklin County Interfaith Council, which meets monthly. As a result, I have also appreciated getting to know some of my Congregationalist colleagues over breakfast or lunch.
Certainly I have left out roughly half a billion things.
But, alas, I will have to write about those in the August edition in Ministry Journal, Part Deux
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