Grace Upon Grace

Greetings Friends in Christ,

The picture above is from the service yesterday. I'm wearing the new stole made for me by church member Cari Sherwood. As you can see, it is made to represent the church windows behind me. Cari made it for me so that I can always remember and feel connected to everyone at SPOTH. I'm so thankful for this gift, and the gift of the past nine years as priest-in-charge and then rector of St. Paul's on-the-Hill Episcopal Church. Standing with me is the Rev. Dr. Ellen Richardson, who has been my colleague in ministry since 2010; she remains priest-in-residence at the church.

This will be my last post from this blog as a blog from St. Paul's on-the-Hill. In the next few days, I will rename this blog and begin posting here from the reality of my current transition to new ministry.

We had a great day yesterday, December 30th, the 1st Sunday after Christmas. The service was lovely and included within the liturgy was a form of The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship, which I include below. I'm also including here a link to yesterday's sermon from my new personal sermon site, where you will be able to hear my future sermons.

The Meaning of Incarnation Sermon given by Hilary+ on December 30, 2012

The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship

Rector In September of 2003, I began my ministry with you as priest-in-charge and was later called to be rector. I have, with God’s help and to the best of my abilities, exercised this trust, accepting its privileges and responsibilities. After prayer and careful consideration, it now seems to me that I should leave this charge, and I publicly state that my tenure as rector of St. Paul’s on-the-Hill ends today at the conclusion of this service.

Rector Do you, the people of St. Paul’s on-the-Hill recognize and accept the conclusion of this pastoral relationship?

People We do.

Symbols of our shared ministry will be given to representatives of the congregation, after which the following prayers are said.

Rector Let us pray. O God, you have bound us together for a time as priest and people to work for the

 advancement of your kingdom in this place:

Rector and People We give you humble and hearty thanks for the ministry which we have shared in these years now past.

Rector We thank you for your patience with us despite our blindness and slowness of heart.

Rector and People We thank you for your forgiveness and mercy in the face of our many failures.

Rector Especially, we thank you for your never-failing presence with us through these years,

Rector and People and for the deeper knowledge of you and of each other which we have attained.

Rector We thank you for those who have been joined to this part of Christ’s family during these years.

Rector and People We thank you for opening our hearts and minds again and again to your Word, and for feeding us abundantly with the sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.

People Now we pray, be with Hilary+ who leaves and with us who stay;

Rector and People and grant that all of us, by drawing ever nearer to you, may always be close to each other in the communion of your saints. All this we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior. Amen.