I donated blood today at Church which brings together a couple of worlds of mine. Twice a year we do a blood drive which I organize because it helps those in need. In full disclosure, I work at Blood Assurance which is our regional blood bank that brings a mobile donation unit to the church. We do this as an outreach to our community to provide life-saving blood to patients in the hospitals we serve.
Tonight I graduated from the Education for Ministry course that is a program of the University of the South at Sewanee which is an Episcopal university in Sewanee Tennessee. This was a four-year course in Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Theology. I am not the best student but I made it through and I am grateful for making this an important part of my life. Hopefully, it will help others as it helped me. It was a challenge and I finished. Yay Me!
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. I received ashes tonight at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Lent is a time of reflection and examination. Easter is coming and now is the time to make that journey.
The fourth Sunday of Advent is about Love. Remember to love your family, friends and neighbors during the season and going into the new year.
Tonight, I attended my last meeting as a member of the Vestry of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The Vestry is the leadership group in the Episcopal Church. For the last three years, I have served my parish during extraordinary times in our world and my own personal loss in 2019.
This experience has taught me a lot about how wonderful my church people are and how we come together to lead during the good and tough times. I will continue to serve in other ways but my time as a church leader has ended and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to do the good work of the church.
The third candle of the Advent wreath represents Gaudete/Rejoice. May this be a time to rejoice in the season. Grace and peace to all.
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