Message from Bishop Chilton Knudsen
Wanderings
Come, sit by my fireplace with your cup of tea and let’s go through my memory-scrapbook of the last few weeks. There’s just one hitch - you will have to use your ears rather than your eyes.
A ringing phone (Vicki calling to tell me of +Fred’s death) merged into ringing
church bells as we said our goodbyes to him at St. Luke’s Cathedral...The bagpipe
chorus at Governor King’s Inauguration...the silences of deep snow that scrambled
schedules and (I confess) provided
welcome fireside moments in midweek...the radio companionship of NPR as I drove to
Millinocket to meet with that wonderful congregation’s dedicated vestry...the ah-ha!
sound of insights voiced at the powerful Workshop on Healing Racism...great singing at the
Diocesan Youth Council overnight...the happy noise of babies being baptized at St.
George’s, Sanford (and voices renewing the Baptismal Covenant as we confirmed,
received and witnessed baptismal reaffirmations; altogether some 50 people)...thoughtful
exchanges as Diocesan Council met to be the diocesan
convention-between-conventions...table sounds as both street-dwellers and those living in
stately homes shared dinner following Larney Otis’ ordination...respectful voices in
a question-and-answer period following joyful worship at Trinity, Saco...the whir of the
new kitchen fan dedicated at Trinity, Lewiston, where hundreds of meals are served each
week. And, in between all of this, phones ringing, conversations happening...and that
funny little buzz of my modem bringing email messages from all over the diocese...and the
blessed silence of each day’s meditation time. Gracious Lord, your voice is heard
through all the land, in sound and in silence.
Ponderings
In Lent we seek to follow Jesus. It’s that simple (and that challenging). We follow, most of us, with significant trepidation. Journeying with Jesus
is a process of transformation, and most of us aren’t altogether sure we want this. Just as we are getting used to something in ourselves (or in our world), it all changes. In a recent sermon, our Presiding Bishop described it this way: "[In] wild and disconcerting ways, Divine Mystery, whom we name as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, manifests itself; unsettling our plans, toppling our fondly held notions, stretching our hearts and minds to the breaking point."
This tug of transformation slips into our diocesan community rather deeply right now. We rejoice over much that is happening: congregational collaborations in all areas of ministry, amazing creative work in diocesan
commissions and committees, deepening collegiality amongst the clergy, the sacrificial generosity of congregations in supporting the diocesan program at an unprecedented level. I continue to observe congregations full of faith and dedication, clergy who heroically and faithfully attend to heavy burdens of responsibility, and people who love God and one another with all their hearts even when they differ on various issues. I love you all - and the life God has given me here - more with each passing day.
Woven into the tapestry of our diocesan life is transformation on a visible scale. Hank prepares to retire, and we work to assure that nothing falls between the cracks while Linton gets "up to speed" in his new ministry. The Youth Ministries area is touched, first by Cindy McClellan’s transition to new work and now by Liz Beal’s imminent departure. Each of those changes sends ripples around 143 State Street, for every change brings resultant further change. One in six (I didn’t believe it either until I counted) of our congregations is - or soon will be - in transition regarding clergy leadership. Transformation is in the air.
As we follow Jesus this Lent - and in the days long past this Lent - let us ask God to strengthen our trust. May we stay the course, come strange winds or turbulent waters. Let us trust Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, accepting the assurance of his companionship. Having that companionship, we have all we really need. Godspeed to you all in your Lenten journey.
In Christ’s love,
+CHILTON