Behold, I Make All Things New

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."
-Revelation 21:5
St. John wrote those words in Revelation during his exile on the Isle of Patmos. The One upon the throne, of course, is God. It is an awe-inspiring thing to consider all of the intricacies within God's plan. So many stories have yet to unfold. What does the future look like for each of us?
Yesterday was our first Sunday in a transition period at St. John's Episcopal in Waynesboro. You see, our beloved Father Kim accepted the call at St. Matthew's in Charleston, WV. His last Sunday at St. John's was New Year's Day. 
I remember when Kim first told me the news on the phone. He said, "There's going to have be some soul searching. People are going to have to ask themselves why they attend St. John's. Are they attending because of Father Kim, or are they attending because that is their home for worship?" I had to ask myself that very same question, yet it didn't take long to find my answer.
I can't begin to describe how my faith has deepened through my association with St. John's and the Episcopal Church as a whole. It is not so much that I did not have a genuine relationship with Christ; it's that I did not fully understand where that faith stemmed from. I did not fully recognize what authentic worship meant. Now, I have a clearer (not a full) understanding of what that looks like. I have learned that God often moves in ways we cannot see or understand. I have learned to listen to God in the silence of life.
But now the journey continues... for me and others at St. John's. Over the next several weeks, we will be served by what are called supply priests. After that, we will be provided an interim priest who will serve us until we elect a permanent priest. The process could take some time. But God is faithful, and we will wait on the right man or woman that He provides. 
I'm eager to learn more about the different worship settings within the Episcopal Church. As you may know, different priests present things differently... from the order of service to communion, etc. For me, it offers a well-rounded view of the different traditions that make up our faith experience. I pray that it is through these experiences that we would learn to appreciate the rich history that our church has. In that, I pray that our faith would be strengthened and enriched through the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Thank you for your continued prayers for us during this time. We are thankful for where God will be taking us.
"Behold, I make all things new."
(photo courtesy of Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston, SC)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

For the past couple of posts, I've offered thoughts on opportunities - taking the right opportunities and appreciating big and small opportunities. During these thoughts, I want us to think about how we sometimes miss opportunities. How many of you drive while constantly looking in your rearview mirror? If you answered yes, please tell me where you normally drive, and I will avoid that area! Seriously, folks, it'd be foolish to think that we can move forward while constantly looking back. Let me put this into perspective. Oft times, the only person holding us back is ourselves. For instance... We often dwell on those "what if's" in life. What if I had made that decision differently? What if I had told that person how I really felt? What if I had actually taken the time to think things through? We spend so much time contemplating over the failures of yesterday that we prevent ourselves from seeing the opportunities of tomorrow. We remain so stuck in the past th...
Read more

Sing Me a Song

Music is an interactive art form. Not only are you able to hear and take in a performance, but you are also able to participate by singing, humming, or dancing. When it comes to senior citizens, they love to participate in musical programs. In fact, at 99% of my performances, the seniors will sing along with just about every song. Yet, at a recent show in Potomac Falls, VA, I was witness to something that will remain with me for years to come. It was a relatively large crowd at my performance this past Friday at Falcon’s Landing. Since last year, I have hosted a number of “Simply Timeless” programs. This day, however, a number of seniors had the company of their children and grandchildren. As the program continued, I moved into a highlight of songs written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. Then I began to sing “Moon River.” The words went something like this...”Moon River, wider than a mile. I’m crossing you in style someday.” I then looked out and saw a daughter singing th...
Read more

Then Sings My Soul

When Mom and I were living in Beaverdam, VA, we would often go to the community's 5th Sunday Gospel Sing. Choirs from all around northwestern Hanover County would gather to join in worship through song. Those churches were packed, but we didn't care. It was such a blessing to sing the hymns of the faith with my brothers and sisters in Christ. We laughed and we cried together through the music.  That was over ten years ago... Fast forward to this weekend.  I've been battling the creeping crud of the fall season. Thankfully, I'm past the worst of the ordeal, but needless to say, it has not be a fun weekend. I had to cancel a gig in Pennsylvania yesterday that I was hoping to attend, and I barely made it to St. John's this morning.  My heart was hurting, and I just wasn't feeling like myself.  Before the sickness had set in, my dear friend and mentor  Karen Keating  had invited me come to a Community Gospel Sing in Berryville, VA, which was to be h...
Read more