A YEAR GONE BY.

In 10 days I will have been attending Annunciation Episcopal Church (AEC) a year. Much has happened in that year. I joined AEC in November transferring from St. John Episcopal (SJE) where my membership has been since 1982, despite becoming a minister in the United Methodist Church (UMC). I cannot recall the last time I was at SJE. Probably the Sunday before I left for St. Luke's Seminary. I actually was surprised that I was still left on the rolls.
It was time to get off the fence. I knew I would never go back to being an active UMC minister. I could not imagine worshipping in a UMC regularly. And the thought of being buried from a UMC was unthinkable.
This past Annual Conference in June I submitted a letter saying I was dropping my connection to the UMC. The dialogue/correspondence with the Board of Ordained Ministry is a story in itself and also indicative of why I could no longer be a UM. ( but that is another blog entry)
My intention is seek clergy status in the Episcopal Church. Rather that happens or not this where I plan to remain.
The truth of the matter it was a great relief to leave the UMC I had come to think I was jeopardizing my integrity.
AEC has been a blessing to me. The Providence of God is quite amazing. I cannot imagine that I would ever on my own found AEC. Much has happened there in the past year. The Rector left for another parish in Nov. The Canon of the Diocese, RS, served the church as the interim rector until the end of May. We are now without a rector and have supply every other week. This means Eucharist only every other week and Morning Prayers the other Sundays. While I have used the Divine Office since I was 10 years old I just do not think the Office should replace the Eucharist as the main celebration for Sunday. I would much prefer having Morning Prayers end with Communion from the reserve Sacrament, but for some reason in this Diocese this is not done regularly.
I found myself likely RS very much and I cannot begin to tell you how much we think alike, even his spouse was amazed at this. If one were to just look at us we would think that we would be miles apart. This alikeness goes well beyond theology into personal life style things.
He started teaching the weekly Men's Bible Study when our rector departed and before long is was basically we were co-teaching. When he left I was asked to teach which I am doing now. While RX was still there he asked to do some pastoral things
like visiting the sick and anointing them. On his last Sun. Something very interesting happened. While receiving Communion from him he first gave me the regular host but then he took it back and specifically gave me part of the fractured host. This is very old liturgical tradition that clergy present should receive the sacrament from fractured host.
I had a long conversation about my making the step into becoming an Episcopal Priest and he encouraged this. I am now in the process of trying to figure out how to go about this.
This past week I have been asked by 2 folks at AEC if I would consider doing the pastoral work at AEC which I would but I told them you need to talk to the Bishop about this. I am trying to play it as safe as possible i do not want to jeopardize my moving into the priesthood of the Episcopal Church.
So much has happened in the past year.