Today was a day of meetings. I had clerius in the AM followed this evening by a warden’s meeting and a parish council meeting. Lots of meeting. It was a good day in that there was lots of interaction with those who minister. This morning it was the ordained – tonight it was the baptised. Either way it was good to be with those who minister. It was in being with others that I am given hope for accomplishing that which God is calling us to. There are days that it is not easy to accomplish all that needs doing as a priest on the church. John Chrysostom wrote about the challenges that faced him as priest in the church.
“I know my own soul, how feeble and puny it is: I know the magnitude of this ministry, and the great difficulty of the work; for more stormy billows vex the soul of the priest than the gales which disturb the sea.”
The difference today from the fourth century (at least hope I hope it is the case) is that we have come to understand that there is much more to ministry than a priest alone can provide. There are days that I am flabbergasted at the magnitude of all the need. Yet I am put at ease when I have opportunity to meet with the people of God as I did today (well yesterday by now) and realise that while stormy billows vex my reality I am not alone and I do not minister alone. No matter how small or puny I feel, no matter how ffeble I thnk my attempts at ministry sometimes are, I know that I am not alone. My ministry is rooted in community and that is a gift no matter what storms lap at my existence. The people of God are ultimatley the Priesthood that matters. I am glad to have a role in that.
Thank God for the multitude of gifts and talents that are alive and well at St. Mark’s by-the-Lake.
It's Just Kevin's Corner 
Wonderful……..I\’m not surprized with this: "The people of God are ultimatley the Priesthood that matters." Carry on Kevin!
For whatever it\’s worth, some of us articling students feel the same way sometimes. There is SO much need, all the time. I can only be grateful that people have the ability to find those willing to help, and the trust necessary to ask for that help. It truly is a co-operative effort, and I can do nothing without those who need me working along side. That\’s all I have sometimes, but it seems to be enough– at least at the moment.
Keep on keeping on…your work provides a lighthouse for some of us Kevin.