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Friday, May 4, 2012

5/4/2012
Ministry is not easy.  The demands of congregational leadership can be significant.  One finds that the great leaders in our church often express deep gratitude to those close to them who have felt the pressures and demands of their position.  The families of those in ministry play a vital and important role.  It is a truth that we often don't recognize sufficiently.

Today is an important day.  At 5.30pm in our Lettie Pate Evans Interim Chapel, we will gather for a "Celebration of Holy Eucharist and a Service of Celebration and Commissioning of Families of Graduating Students".  It is one of my favorite services of the year.  With the help of Dr. Amy Dyer, this is a service that SPIRIT organizes.  It is an opportunity for the membership of SPIRIT to recognize that they are also saying 'goodbye' to each other.  It is an opportunity to celebrate their shared time together as their 'significant other' has been trained at the Seminary.  It is an opportunity for us all to recognize the demands that minstry has on an entire family.

Tonight will be special on many levels.  One level which I wish to highlight is this: Dr. Dyer is planning to create a special space for children to play.  In the heart of the congregation with some mats on the floor, appropriately safe, where parents can sit around, both participating in the service and keeping an eye of their children, the children of the Seminary will be present for this commissioning.  This is good and exciting.

The Very Rev Ian Markham
Dean and President