Once Again
I wrote back in December about my delight in being part of the altar party for my friend and fellow parishioner in his ordination to the diaconate. Thanks be to God! I got the call a couple of weeks ago: The Cathedral wants me again to serve as subdeacon tomorrow when Marshall and three others are ordained to the priesthood.
All this week, I've been counting down the days and hours, trying to prepare myself. I've been studying the ordination liturgy, trying to prepare to serve at the Cathedral, which has a different customary than my parish.
So I'll be offline tomorrow. I hope I may get photographs this time.
Edit (06/21/08): I didn't get any photos, but the service was marvelous. Follow-on remarks are in the comments below.
All this week, I've been counting down the days and hours, trying to prepare myself. I've been studying the ordination liturgy, trying to prepare to serve at the Cathedral, which has a different customary than my parish.
So I'll be offline tomorrow. I hope I may get photographs this time.
Edit (06/21/08): I didn't get any photos, but the service was marvelous. Follow-on remarks are in the comments below.
posted by Lisa Fox at 6/20/2008 10:36:00 PM
7 Comments:
Totally cool! Maybe we will see you! Debbie is going to have the Cathedral Bookstore open tomorrow for a special sale. Hope to see you!
This is delightful news, Barbi.
I would love to see you there. I have missed you, my sister.
Congratulations, Lisa. What an honor. I'm sure you'll do a great job.
Thanks, Mimi.
I'm just now home. It was a glorious day. We now have four new priests in the church of God. And I was so honored and humbled to be part of it!
No photos, alas. I couldn't figure out anybody who could/would use my digital camera. So I suppose the memories will have to reside in my mind instead of my blog or hard-drive.
By all accounts, I comported myself well. I didn't embarrass myself or anybody else.
I must say ... the Cathedral has the heaviest darn "gospel book" I have ever seen in my life!! (Without exaggeration, the book must be about 20" x 12", with all the pages of any Gospel book and a very heavy leather binding. It's a behemoth!) We did a double-loop around and through the nave for the processional. I, of course, was holding the book high aloft. But with every step, the darn thing got heavier and heavier. My arms were shaking and it was an ever-greater struggle, as we processed in figure-eights through the nave through all the verses of St. Patrick's Breastplate. I'll confess: I began the procession with High Holy Thoughts. But by the end, my only thought was, "Please God, don't let my arms fall off!" It never occurred to me that one should do weight/strength training in order to serve as subdeacon. ;-) (
And, yes, the movement disorder definitely did have a part in that -- even though I had taken an extra dose of my meds this morning.)
I will say this. I had never seen a priestly ordination from "the altar side." Being able to see those four ordinands' faces "head-on" was astonishing and profoundly touching. The almost beatific smiles of some. The tears of some. I declare I could almost see shekinah glory radiating from a couple of them.
I am so very glad I got to be a part of it. Unspeakably glad.
And, Barbi, if you and Debbie are still reading: I am terribly sorry that I didn't get more time to visit with you today. :(
Lisa, it sounds lovely. To be able to see the beautiful faces during the ceremony was a gift. That's a big book, all right.
Hope your arms have recovered - some of that Shekinah must have been going out from you - you know even Moses had to have his pals hold up his arms to keep them from dropping off.
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