Letter from the Rector
Icons of Service, at the Table and in the World
The month of June brings with it many transitions: graduations, weddings, and in the case of life in the greater Church, ordinations. At the beginning of the month three people who have participated in the life of the parish were ordained at Grace Cathedral: Michael Lemaire, Sylvia Miller-Mutia and Joyce Parry-Moore. And at the end of the month, in the Diocese of San Diego, someone who will be soon participating in the life of the parish, Andrew Shamel, was ordained. All four of them were ordained as deacons, and have begun living into the set of vows taken with the support of all present. And starting this month, both Michael and Andy will be joining us as ordained leaders at All Souls.
During this time they will be known as “transitional” deacons, as they are expecting to be ordained as priests in December and April respectively. This is in distinction to the vocational diaconate, those who hear the call to be vocational (at times called permanent) deacons, who serve in this capacity throughout their ordained life. At times this difference between transition and vocation can be downright confusing, especially at a parish like All Souls, where we already have a fine Parish Deacon, the Rev. Mary Hintz. In hope for clarity, I’ll offer a short reflection on what it is to be a deacon, and why and how Michael and Andy will be serving with us in the next six to nine months.
Last month, the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Professor of Liturgics at CDSP and a priest associate here at All Souls, preached at an ordination of deacons at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio. As part of her sermon that day, she reflected on the sermon preached at her own ordination as a deacon, twenty-five years previous. The proclamation that day was short and memorable, “The job description of a deacon is relatively simple. Deacons should be expected to raise hell and do the dishes.” Historically, (since the 1st century) deacons have served to bring the world to the church and the church to the world. As such they bring the needs of the world to the church in prayer (in addition to other functions around the altar and with the Gospel) and then lead the church’s efforts to respond to these needs in the world (that’s the raising hell part). Michael and Andy will be working with Mary to learn both elements, by writing Prayers of the People, serving at the altar, and serving with Open Door Dinner among other things.
But one of the most critical aspects of ordained leadership that they will be learning will be iconic. Because just as Bishop Marc is the icon of a shared episcopacy, and Kristin and I and the priest associates at All Souls are icons of a shared priesthood, Mary, Michael and Andy are serving as icons of a shared diaconate, leading us all in a life of dual service, both raising hell (in a righteous way) and doing the dishes. They will be living out their vows as symbols for the work that we are all called to do, both in our prayers and in our lives of service beyond the corner of Cedar and Spruce. So, the next time you see Michael and Andy (maybe after they’ve served at the Eucharist), be sure to ask them how the righteous hell-raising and table service is going. Just be prepared for them to ask the same question in return.
Peace,
Phil+
