All Souls Cathedral, Asheville, NC
My husband and I are both Episcopal priests and Holy Week is always a busy time for Episcopal priests, even for those who are retired. In addition to all the special daily Holy Week services, the Western NC Diocese has the annual service for Renewal of Ordination Vows each year on Tuesday of Holy Week. It is held at one of my favorite churches, All Souls Cathedral in Asheville, consecrated in 1896 after being built by George Vanderbilt of Biltmore Estate fame, one of Asheville’s main tourist attractions (http://www.biltmoreestate.com).
The history on the Cathedral website (www.allsoulscathedral.org) includes the following:
“All Souls Church was conceived as a congregation and a building by George Vanderbilt, developer of the Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Village, to be the central focus of the village. The Church and Parish Hall, designed by Richard Morris Hunt, were completed in 1896 and consecrated on November 8th of that year. Mr. Hunt was the architect of the Biltmore House. Mr. Vanderbilt gave possession of the church buildings to the Wardens and Vestry October 26, 1896. He served as Senior Warden for eighteen years until his death in 1914.
The style of the main church building is from the Norman period of transition from Romanesque to Gothic. The basic plan is cruciform (cross shaped), using proportions of the Greek cross, which features a short nave or main body of the room. The design is said to be inspired by abbey churches in Northern England, though the apse, or semi-circular chancel, is characteristic of churches in Southern France.”
There were many powerful things about the service today which began with the singing of the processional hymn, I Bind Unto Myself Today/St. Patrick’s Breastplate, the same processional hymn I chose for my own ordination well over two decades ago. It is a stirring hymn, but difficult for small congregations to sing so the opportunity to sing it usually comes only at special services.
The parish where we live is also an historic parish, but a tiny one. The Church of the Transfiguration is blessed to have talented retired musicians who share their talents with violin, viola, trumpet and piano; but,there is no organist and never singing like we experienced today. All Souls has a magnificent organ and a talented organist and the singing today touched me deeply. Music, especially sacred music, seems to have a power to translate truth directly to the soul in a way that words alone seldom can.
During the first years of my ordination, I remember that male voices always dominated the singing and liturgy at the Renewal of Ordination Vows services because I was one of several or sometimes the only female present. It was a joy today to hear the harmonious blend of male and female voices.
Today was the first time we have heard the new Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor, preach. His sermon was the best Renewal of Ordination Vows sermon I have ever heard. I asked him afterwards if it would be printed anywhere and he said it would be on the Diocesan website. It was a sermon that I commend to anyone trying to live their faith, not just clergy renewing their ordination vows. If you are interested in reading it, check the Diocesan website: http://www.diocesewnc.org/
It was a truly beautiful and meaningful service today . . . well done in all aspects . . . spirit-filled music, liturgy and preaching.
It has been six years since I had to take medical retirement, but at special services like today, I am aware that I still carry grief about having to end my ministry as a full-time parish Rector. I know I am not alone. There were many other retired clergy present along with those in full-time active ministry.
The Bishop spoke about faithfulness to the work we are called to within and for the Body of Christ. The ministry may take different forms, but goes on whether we are lay or ordained, working full-time, retired or disabled. We just have to figure out in each new stage of life, exactly what our ministry is. I’m still working on that. Today’s service did not provide answers to all the questions I have about how to do ministry with illness and limited energy, but it did provide grace and inspiration to continue seeking.
I know how hard it has been for you to be "retired," Betsy. This is a beautiful entry.
Posted by: Fran | March 23, 2005 at 11:05 PM