Deacon Matthew’s Reflections: Gratitude and Growth at St. Mary’s

AN OPEN LETTER TO A FRIEND

Nathan,

God has a plan! Who would have thought after 20 years our paths would cross again in the Church and in life? I can still remember sitting on the ground under a tree in your backyard in Fredericksburg, Virginia talking about God. You were newly ordained in the Episcopal Church then, and I was a college kid who knew everything, and yet didn’t have a clue. And yet, 20 years later to have our paths cross again in Maine of all places: you as a rector and me as a deacon is quite astounding!

As you know, when I first came to serve with you at St. Mary’s, I was in a very low place in my ordained life. However, serving with you and in this community has been a blessing I could not have hoped for or imagined. For the first time in a long time, I feel I am in a faith community where I belong; I have a home. And I’m so very thankful to you and Erin for the work you did with the Diocese to make that happen.

I am sad you are leaving, but also very excited for you. When you talk about this move, and the way everything has worked out, it has the fingerprints of God’s kindness all over it! I am very excited for your family, the community of St. Mark’s, and for Louisville for what God is doing.

Working with you has been incredibly easy and drama-free; you are a man of God and a gracious colleague. While being here you again exposed me to new saints and traditions. I feel as if I learned a whole LOT about holy humility; maybe one day I will know the “true joy” St. Francis talks of in his writings. And in your teachings through sermons and adult forums, I not only have learned more about holy living through the saints, but, more importantly, I came to yearn for it as well. You are fun to disagree with as you take nothing personally.

You are indeed a man who bears no grudge! In worship, everything just flows with The Spirit. As a clergy person, the best I can hope for is to create a sacred space for our people to encounter the Divine, and then get out of the way… you do that. When I worship beside you, I actually feel connected to God, and I can become entirely focused on Jesus; I forget you are there. I think you will understand when I say that me forgetting you are there is the highest compliment. I can give to a priest with whom I serve. I forget you are there because your style makes it all about Jesus.

My prayer for both of us is: “May the discomfort of Jesus be with us always”

And for Erin and your family may God’s peace and joy be with you all for days to come!

“Now to Him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

With great respect and admiration, your friend,

Matthew