| Acts 6 and 7 The Sacrament of Ordination has been around for a long time, with men and more recently women, serving as deacons, priests and bishops in support of the people of the Church in our shared vocation. In our reading today we see the emergence of the diaconate as an order of ministry especially concerned with service. “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely,” reads the Examination for ordination into the Sacred Order of Deacons in the Book of Common Prayer (page 543). Seven newly minted deacons are named in the sixth chapter of the Book of Acts, Stephen among them. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was martyred in the Roman Coliseum sometime during Trajan’s reign (98AD – 117AD). He wrote several Epistles to various churches while languishing in prison, and in his Letter to the Magnesians, he writes: “Let the bishop preside in God’s place, and the presbyters take the place of the apostolic council, and let the deacons (my special favorites) be entrusted with this ministry of Jesus Christ who was with the Father from eternity….” (Magnesians 3: 6). Deacons have been with us from the first. Stephen had been well-prepared for his vocation. We have already seen the jealousy and hostility toward the emergent Church displayed by civil and religious authorities in Jerusalem. Stephen comports himself well before the public council with an exposition of salvation history from the time Abram and Sarai first wandered away from Ur of the Chaldees, forming a people who would be aliens and strangers for centuries, performing menial tasks as migrants in Egypt until the day of their liberation. All of salvation history is subject to interpretation, and the leaders of the nation are not pleased by Stephen’s spin on matters. They are enraged. They grind their teeth, drag him out of town, and stone him to death. This is the first mention of young Saul, who we will soon see the Lord transform into Paul, our parish patron. Young Saul is, at this juncture, a religious intolerant who approves the murder of Stephen. Not many of you have had the pleasure of meeting the Reverend Deacon Anthony Christiansen, deacon at St. Paul’s. By the time he had received approval to function within the Diocese of Mexico, the coronavirus was among us. Deacons are liturgically visible as they vest, wear stoles over their left shoulders, read the Gospel and prepare the Altar for the celebration of Holy Eucharist. They are authorized to preach, and to preside at baptisms, weddings and funerals. Deacon Anthony will, God-willing, inhabit these liturgical functions once the current pandemic has subsided. He has not been idle in the meanwhile. You may be especially aware of his advocacy on behalf of a local woman suffering vasculitis of the internal organs. It had been hoped that sufficient money might be raised to provide her a kidney transplant, and just as funds were realized, she lost her fight, leaving three children and a bereaved family. Deacon Anthony has continued his ministry with this family, and also among sundry of our own parishioners. Stephen set rather a high bar for the diaconate. So does Anthony. We all ought similarly strive for a high bar in the exercise of our gifts and ministry and in our zeal for the revelation of God among us. All have charisms to exercise. Deacons, priests and bishops are no more than support staff to the laity, who are the fundamental expression of the Body of Christ in each generation. I am privileged to serve among creative and gifted parishioners, and I suspect our withdrawal to our respective hermitages will see us strengthened in ways we did not expect for present good work, and for labors not yet perceived. Grace and peace, The Reverend Canon George F. Woodward III For Clergy and People “Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.” The Book of Common Prayer, page 817 |
| St. Paul’s Anglican Church Calzada del Cardo, 6 Centro 37700, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 415.121.3424 www.StPaulSMA.com |