One of the many blessings of this community is the children.
During almost fourteen years with you, I have baptized two hundred babies. Each
one of them has been pure joy to me. So have the adults, yet the children are
less complicated, more primal. They cry when uncomfortable, hungry, overtired
or sick. They are happy with gentle attention, warmth, a clean diaper and warm
milk. Adults are more complicated and in their complexity a colorful panoply of
ideas and creativity, needs and feelings. Thank you for letting me be a part of
your lives and the lives of your children.
I'd like to remember that the little children can teach us
about our relationship with God: The little ones playing in the Baptismal
waters, Gillian and others wandering up the steps into the apse of the church
awed by the beauty, the light and color. I love their creativity and how they
see thins. The Eucharistic bread can be a Jesus cookie, and a child the height
of Ashlynn ascends the pulpit steps and practices giving a sermon. It has been
a revelation to me how the children calm down when they are given attention and
a calming warm body and some movement and how much more they focus when they are
near the action of the liturgy and participate with me in the consecration of
the bread and wine.
I wish I could have done more. I wish we could have done
more. We did much though. Between Dottie and Marilyn, Sunday School and
Confirmation, Youth trips and activities, we did much. We had help along the
way from parents and Al Varvella, Meredith Kay, Brian Sheftic, Kathy Williams
and John Penvose, and now Emily Phillips. Thank you. I have been blessed by you
and this parish.
Some are saying that it will be difficult to replace me. You
can't, You and I are one of a kind and so will your new interim and next
rector. As you welcomed and received me fourteen years ago, extend as hearty
and warm welcome to your next priest.
Believe me, be confident that your search committee and
vestry will have good candidates to meet and bring on board. You are a great
parish. Sure we can do more and will. And for now it is good and it is enough.
