NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE

Dear Friends in Christ,

My good friend George Labonte once said that one of the things that was true about Holy Trinity Church in Southbridge, Massachusetts during my time as its rector was that people were welcomed no matter where they were in their relationship with God, but that there was a continuous invitation to move into a deeper relationship. I hope that that is also true here at Saint Matthias Church.

The words and music of “Nearer, My God, To Thee” are not, I confess, in a style which I particularly like, but the words at least express something important about the life we share in the Body of Christ, the Church. We are called to follow Jesus and to grow into a deeper relationship with God. We are invited, as another friend, Fr. Aaron Usher, once said, “to be intimate with the ultimate.” That journey into a deeper relationship with God is a lifelong journey with many twists and turns and even for some of us what used to be called back-sliding. We are given tools for the journey, tools that the Book of Common Prayer describes, in words from Acts 2:42 as “the apostles' teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.” Our life together in the parish, our worship each Sunday, praying and reading the Bible, with others or on our own, are all tools for the journey, all ways in which God can draw us into a deeper relationship.

Just as there are tools for the journey, there are also milestones along the way. Another friend, Bishop Bob Denig, said on the day that he became Bishop of Western Massachusetts that that day was not the most important in his life. The most important day was the day when he was baptized, but the day of his ordination as Bishop was, in his words, “not too shabby.” Milestones are important, places along the journey where we can reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. Milestone moments are also important as times when we can recommit ourselves to the journey and, perhaps, make some course corrections.

All of us have the opportunity to recommit ourselves to the journey each time a person is baptized as we join in the reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant. We have that same opportunity when Bishop Michael visits us for Confirmation, as he will on Pentecost, May 11. Young members of the parish are preparing with the mentors for Confirmation, but they are not only ones who can take advantage of this milestone moment. New members of the parish who have not been confirmed, or were confirmed in other denominations, can also reaffirm their faith and be confirmed or received by Bishop Michael.

Members who would like to consider being confirmed or received or reaffirming their faith when Bishop Michael is here on Pentecost are invited to The Episcopal Way, a four-week introduction to the journey of faith in the Episcopal Church, in Room 110 from noon to 1 P.M. each Sunday in April.

Your brother and priest, 
Daniel