"My fingernails are painted pink!"

That is what the little girl that was baptized today said to me during the Prayers for the Candidate. There we were standing at the font. We were serious about the work we were doing. Mom & Dad had their eyes glued to the Bulletin, so that they could make sure that they responded when they were supposed to. And in the midst of all this serious liturgy, Sydney, who is two years old, was very happy to proclaim that her fingernails were painted pink! And I couldn't help but smile.

This was my first Sunday at St. Michael's. 

The Gospel reading for today was the parable of the Wedding Banquet from Matthew 22:1-14. It is a strange reading. There is murder, burning of cities, casting into outer darkness, and gnashing of teeth. It is a story of a King trying to give a wedding banquet, but no one will come. When he finally sends folks out to invite everyone, he is able to fill the banquet. But then there is a curious part where he comes upon someone that is not wearing a wedding robe. That person is cast to "outer darkness." 

Now some folks posit that this ending to the parable as well as the line "Many are called, but few are chosen" are not part of the original parable. They look to a similar parable in Luke and the Gospel of Thomas (which is non canonical) that do not include the violence and exclusivity of Matthew's version of the parable. But is there something to be learned from Matthew's version? Perhaps it shows us that while the invitation to God's Kingdom is open to all, but we have to do something to be ready to accept the invitation. We have to say yes and live a life worthy of the Gospel. It also shows us that it is only the King who gets to decide who gets in and who is cast out. The servants job is to send the invitation, to make ready the banquet, but not to judge those that respond to the invitation. 

Whatever the lesson of the curious parable, one thing is for certain, Sydney was ready. She was in her pretty dress, and her fingernails were painted pink. She had gotten ready to respond to God's invitation. She put on her best (surely with help from her mom) so that she would be ready for her baptism. 

Dog Collars

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

This morning I journeyed to St. Michael's for the Blessing of the Pets. My red dog Frankie was the lucky winner that got to make the journey. Both she and I put on our collars, and headed out. It was a beautiful morning. I take 171 to Fayette. It is a quiet curvy highway. And this morning it was filled with fields turning white, as the cotton has started popping out. 

Frankie turned out to be the right choice. She road in the car like a champ. Played with the other dogs. Looked curiously at the horses, and thankfully did not notice the cats or the parrot. She was blessed, ate some milk bones and had a grand time. 

Pet Blessings are really one of the most joyful things. You can't help but have fun when there is a parade of animals. It is a fitting tribute to St. Francis of Assisi. So many of the stories we have about St. Francis involve animals. Francis preaching to the birds and the Wolf of Gubbio to name a few. And it is a good a worthy thing to bless our companion animals. Our pets are gifts from God. They are examples of unconditional love and service. They remind us that we have responsibilities to take care of God's creation.

So thanks be to God for St. Francis and the reminder to find joy in creation and to accept the responsibility of being good stewards. And God bless Frankie, Lucy, Ally, and Zoe (the cat), who bring so much joy and humor into my life.

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

On Sunday October 2, 2011, I joined my Canterbury family to serve as a Deacon for the first and last time. It was a time for joy and celebration, but also sadness. That's me up there, serving as the Gospeller for the first time. The Gospel for the day was Matthew 21:33-46. And while I may not look so happy in that particular photo, I was truly full of joy. Check out this shot from the Celebration Coffee Hour. 

My Canterbury family has provided tremendous support for me on this journey. I don't think I would have made it to this smiling photo if not for them. Through prayers, love, and financial support they raised me up and got me through school. They helped me find joy in worship and service. And when I dreamed big dreams, they were always ready to go along for the ride. 


And then there are these guys:

This is a fair contingent of my acolyte corps. These guys were always ready to serve. And at this special Coffee Hour, they took it upon themselves to raise money for Canterbury's Meals on Wheels ministry. It has been a great joy to watch them grow.


Canterbury is an unique church. Both parish and college ministry. One of the things that we do best is recreating ourselves every Fall as new students come in. We work to support and love them. And after a few months or years we send them off into the world.


It is now my time to go into the world. I am sad to be leaving, but I have been made ready for my work of love and service because of my Canterbury family. When I think of leaving my Canterbury family, I keep coming back to a line from an e.e. cummings poem: "i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)." I know that no matter where I go, I will carry the heart full of love that I found at Canterbury with me. I will carry each person, each moment, each moment of joy and of sadness with me. And I know, just like I have told students as they have left to go on to new adventures, that I always have a home at Canterbury. It is just a phone call away. 


I am humbled by the love and support Canterbury has given me. I say thank you to them all. And I also vow to go into the world, carrying Canterbury with me, to do the work that Canterbury has raised me up to do. 


i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

New Journey Begins!

That's me up there. The one giving Communion, wearing the striped red stole, and looking rather pleased with myself. Today was the culmination of several years of work and of twists and turns in my path. Today I was ordained a Deacon in the Episcopal Church.

The Diocese of Alabama pulled out all the stops for the new class of Deacons. We were a baker's dozen. Every seat in the Cathedral was filled. The Church did what the Episcopal Church is very good at, which is liturgy. Each Candidate was presented. Prayers were said and scripture read. Bishop Sloan preached a sermon that was full of joy and laughter. Then the Candidates went forward again, this time as a class. We knelt together, and one by one the Bishops laid their hands on us. And when we stood again we were Deacons.

Before I went forward to be ordained, I looked down the long pew and saw all the folks that I love and that love me sitting there. Genevieve & Graham, Mom, Dad, and Uncle Ken, Drew & Allison, Jon and other friends. I carried with me the prayers of those friends and family that could not be there. I also carried with me three very special things. My grandparents are all deceased, except my MeeMaw, and I wanted something of them with me. The Book of Common Prayer I carried was given to me by my grandmother Christine, I wore a ring with the family crest that my granddaddy Charles was so proud of, and in my prayerbook I carried a picture of my grandmother BeBe, her high school graduation picture.

It was a glorious day, and I don't think I have stopped smiling since. I am beginning a wonderful new journey. Maybe not so much a new journey and a turn in the road of a journey I have been on for a while.

So here we go . . .