Lent's start, and ordinations - Rector's Rambling for February 18, 2024

 “Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou return”.

These words were said, over and over, as ashes were applied on the foreheads of people at St. John’s, and in churches around the world.  This past Wednesday the Lenten Fast began, although it faced stiff competition from the secularized version of Valentine’s Day.  St. Valentine was martyred for his faith in Jesus – we can be sure he doesn’t mind that his feast day was bumped this year.

I like Ash Wednesday because, in addition to our regular worshippers, we see folks in church we don’t see very often, and we get visitors from neighboring office buildings who realize what day it is and dash to the nearest church.  It is nice to see people make an earnest start on this important season of the Church year.

 Two weeks ago a group of St. John’s folks made the pilgrimage to Wisconsin to see our own Cam Walker ordained to the transitional diaconate by the Bishop of Long Island.  It was a wonderful evening and we look forward, God willing, to The Rev. Mr. Cam Walker’s ordination to the priesthood, God willing, in Garden City, NY in September. 

Deacon Cam came to St. John’s as a new parishioner and law school student, and quickly jettisoned his law studies after a semester and began his discernment toward ordination soon thereafter.

Today at 3 PM in Grand Rapids a man who did an internship with us in the summer of 2010 will be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan.  Rev. Alex Quick was a college student at the time, and was discerning whether or not he may have a call to the ordained ministry.  He was ordained a deacon and now, God willing, will be a priest. 

Remember also that not long ago another former intern at St. John’s, Fr. Zack Baker, was ordained a priest in Long Island.  May God continue to use us to help men discerning their vocations to the ordained ministry!