Penetcost Sunday is a "New Beginning". It is the time when the Spirit is sent to the children of God to give them the courage and strength to share, spread and live into the love, forgiveness and Grace that God has offered to us through the selfless giving of his Son Jesus.
This weekend, Memorial Day weekend 2010, also known in the "church world" as "Trinity Sunday", we have a conglomeration of newness going on. We remember those who have served this wonderful land we call the United States of America. We have many "new" names in which we add to the list of those who have died in service to our country. No matter your political stance on the wars in Iraq, Afganistan, and Pakistan, we must stop, give thanks and remember those who have served the USA to the point of death. We must remember the burden on the families that those deaths have left behind: the spouses now widowed, the children now orphaned, the parents who have now outlived their children, all so that we might still have a "free" life.
Yet, there is more going on this weekend in our "world"...at least the world of the Kenny and Tania Miller world and the world of St. Paul's Church, Smithfield. We have a new beginning. This past week I announced that I had accepted a call to serve as the Rector of St. Boniface, Mequon, Wisconsin. This sparks the "memories" of the past three years of my ministry in Smithfield. There have been many successes and, yes, my share of failures. But the ministry that has occurred has been in concert with the fine and wonderful people of St. Paul's.
This announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter in my ministry, the life of my family, and the life of the parish of St. Paul's. It brings with it a lot of uncertainty. IF we are not careful, the uncertainty can bring fear. However, we must stand firm in our faith and trust that we are surrounded by God's love and grace, and more importantly, we are surrounded with the Holy Spirit of God who will give us the strength to take the necessary steps forward on our Spiritual Journey.
One thing we must be aware of in this is that not only does this announcement mark the new beginning for the Miller family and for the parish of St. Paul's, but it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of St. Boniface. They, too, have been faithful, yes, maybe blindly, in calling a new Rector. Like me and St. Paul's, they have their successful moments as well as their failures, yet in their call, they trust that they and their new Rector is surrounded by the Holy Spirit.
My prayer for all of us, St. Paul's, St. Boniface, and my family is that we not dwell on the shortcomings of the past, but learn from them. My prayer is that we focus on the positives and build on them. My prayer is that we all find our passions and serve God faithfully, building the church, seeking Christ in everyone, and respecting the dignity of every human being.
Remember, when parishioners have had their disagreements or even some may have left, the church is a place of reconciliation. When one is truly, humbly and openly repentent and forgiving, it is our duty as followers of Christ forgive. When one seeks to find God and they look, act, smell, or have a different outlook on life than we do, it is our duty to respect their dignity and welcome them into the household of God. As the hymn says, "Let us build a house where all can dwell...all are named...and from floor to rafter we proclaim, all are welcome in this place." That is my prayer.
My family, St. Paul's in Smithfield and St. Boniface in Mequon will forever be connected, if not by interstate or balance sheet, then by spirit and in my heart.
God's peace be with you all,
Kenny+
