Saturday Celebration

The wardens affirm to the Bishop that the new minister is "well qualified."

The rite had not been conducted for 25 years in the local Episcopal church. Yesterday the new minister was formally installed in the Celebration of a New Ministry. The Bishop was there, of course, as well as a dozen clergy.

With 70 people present, the service hit a post-pandemic attendance record, and on a Saturday no less.

After the service, there was a reception marked by some poignancy because the Bishop will retire next year, and this was likely his last official visit to our parish.

{Prior to the service, it had been arranged that the plate offering would go to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund, but he announced that it would be re-directed to our new Rector's Discretionary Fund. If he had announced that earlier, maybe "you would have given more," he joked.) A small act of grace that should not go unnoticed.

I thanked Bishop Marc and Sheila for their service. The 16 years had passed in the wink of an eye, like an evening gone.