"So, a priest and two deacons walk into a bar. . ."
Actually, that's the end of the story.
It really began yesterday, with a road trip south to St. Louis with Jen and Beth for Hope's ordination. We made good time, as well as good progress on our respective knitting projects (afghan, scarf and baby blanket are all works in progress). We got everyone dropped off at our respective billets, changed, and over to the cathedral in good time to join in the service. I joined the clergy in procession and then stood in joyful prayer as the bishop laid on hands and asked the Holy Spirit's descent on three candidates kneeling before him. And suddenly, my seminary roommate was a deacon!
I also need to note here that the clergy of the diocese of St. Louis are among the most gracious groups of people I've encountered in a while. Any number of folks made a point of introducing themselves, before as well as after worship: making me feel very welcome, and not at all The Rookie Priest in a Strange Place.
After the service, Beth and Jen went to spend some time with local friends. Deacon Hope and Deacon Andrew, and Hope's parents, graciously invited me to join them for supper. Upon the recommendation of one of the local priests, we ate at a very nice restaurant/microbrewery only a few blocks from the cathedral (which was when Hope's mom made the title observation).
This morning the original three travelers packed up our belongings and our knitting and headed back north. Again, an easy trip-- and we even arrived just in time for Jen to catch her train home without having to wait for any time at all.
A short trip, and a good one, and a blessing to have shared in the moment.
It really began yesterday, with a road trip south to St. Louis with Jen and Beth for Hope's ordination. We made good time, as well as good progress on our respective knitting projects (afghan, scarf and baby blanket are all works in progress). We got everyone dropped off at our respective billets, changed, and over to the cathedral in good time to join in the service. I joined the clergy in procession and then stood in joyful prayer as the bishop laid on hands and asked the Holy Spirit's descent on three candidates kneeling before him. And suddenly, my seminary roommate was a deacon!
I also need to note here that the clergy of the diocese of St. Louis are among the most gracious groups of people I've encountered in a while. Any number of folks made a point of introducing themselves, before as well as after worship: making me feel very welcome, and not at all The Rookie Priest in a Strange Place.
After the service, Beth and Jen went to spend some time with local friends. Deacon Hope and Deacon Andrew, and Hope's parents, graciously invited me to join them for supper. Upon the recommendation of one of the local priests, we ate at a very nice restaurant/microbrewery only a few blocks from the cathedral (which was when Hope's mom made the title observation).
This morning the original three travelers packed up our belongings and our knitting and headed back north. Again, an easy trip-- and we even arrived just in time for Jen to catch her train home without having to wait for any time at all.
A short trip, and a good one, and a blessing to have shared in the moment.
posted by Jane Ellen+ at
5:50 PM
4 Comments:
I'm guessing you went to the Tap Room, the official post-Cathedral service watering hole.
I'm glad you were made to feel so welcome.
(We also had a version of that joke at the ordination down our way, although ours took a more interfaith turn. . .)
Knit on!
I hope you brought along my prayers and blessings; wish I could have been there. . . .
Emily: yes: the Tap Room was indeed the place. Very good food, made better by good company.
And the knitting, in my case, is a new thing-- we'll see how it progresses.
Heh heh, it's a small slide to addiction like the rest of us.
So portable, so restful, so useful at church meetings.
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