Message from Bishop Chilton Knudsen
Come sit in the passenger seat of the Bish-mobile as
it carries me through Maine in this beautiful spring-flows-into-summer time. You will note
that it makes lengthy stops at golf courses on days off. While I haven’t yet
succumbed to the temptation to preach a sermon on golf-as-
metaphor-for-the-Christian-journey (times of easy progress, shots into the rough, blobby
little flubs which use up energy and get nowhere, desert wanderings through sand traps,
amazing putts which dance perilously around the cup and then astonishingly - like grace! -
tumble in...well, maybe I just DID preach that sermon, after all. Amen.).
Climb out of the Bish-mobile and look with me at some wondrous sights where Jesus Christ
dwells amongst us:
- The lovely and peaceful prayer garden which we dedicated at St. David’s, Kennebunk.
Did you hear the bagpiper?
- The lavish dinner following the lavish Eucharistic Supper at which we gave thanks for 25
years of ministry shared by Dick Hall and the people of St. Philip’s, Wiscasset.
- The exquisite stained glass windows at St. Thomas, Camden; fittingly enclosing us as we
celebrated our Lord’s Ascension in Eucharist together.
- The quilt which depicts the ministry and people of St. Andrew’s, Readfield;
lovingly assembled as a thank offering by a parishioner, hanging in view on the wall as we
spoke of discernment and vision.
- At a "search process" meeting, the architect’s drawings covering the
walls of the parish hall at St Alban’s, Cape Elizabeth, witnessing to the faith and
commitment of those who know that a building program is a work of prayer.
- The pomp and majesty of seminary graduations, both at Bangor Theological Seminary and
Episcopal Divinity School, and the glowing faces of our Maine graduates as they mark this
step in the journeys to which Christ has called them.
- The joy in the eyes of Mary Ann Hoy and Sue Murphy as they were vested in the stoles
signifying their transitional diaconate, that ministry of servanthood in which all
ordained ministry is rooted.
- The sign over the door at St Peter’s, Rockland...for all to read as they exit the
church: WELCOME TO THE MISSION FIELD, an especially significant message as we celebrated
the Feast of their Patron, Peter the Fisherman - Apostle, the Betrayer - Believer whom
Jesus looked upon with love.
- The wadded kleenex in the lap of a priest who sat in my office and spoke of deep
discouragements and sorrows, in whose face the Crucified One was so plainly apparent.
And always...the intent faces of those gathered in meetings and councils and task forces
and committees; the pensive faces of those being confirmed and received, the many forms
and styles of the Cross which hover over our gatherings and the Bread and Cup which sit
boldly upon a rich variety of altars. All of these sights are unspeakably holy. I often
want to shed my shoes. I walk ever on holy ground.
Isn’t Christ astonishingly present if we but look with eyes of faith? May Christ be
increasingly visible TO you, and IN you. Thanks for joining me in my travels.
With grateful eyes,
+CHILTON