A common fear for those deciding whether or not to set out on the road to holiness is the idea that this life will somehow make us boring. We want to
remain uniquely and authentically ourselves, but we also know that conversion,
by its very definition, changes us. But when we muster the strength to entrust ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to mold our hearts to be more like His, we find that we are not less ourselves, but more, because we are made in
His image and likeness, and are meant to become like Christ. This does not diminish our unique character or story, but rather enriches it, and incorporates us into an ever more beautiful assembly of believers, brought together from across the world and from every age. To become holy is to become truly ourselves, and in unity we can still see the beauty of our distinctions.

If that is what is happening on a macro level across God’s Church throughout the history of the world, then we should also take joy in it happening in small ways here in our own little corner. Our family of parishes, each unique in their history, style, and character, have always shared in the same mission and now they share
in resources, staff, events, and many other things. Becoming more like the Church
triumphant in heaven does not make our parishes less themselves, but rather strengthens and completes their identities in this transformation. This is all very dramatic language to say that while we see some of our practices start to unite in the form of more unified worship across the family, we can still glory in what God
is doing in our midst, and trust that everything that happens in life and in our parishes can be used to draw us closer to God in our worship as a community.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be changes or that we won’t have to take time to adjust to what is happening. This weekend marks the final weekend for Matt Kamphaus and Greg Cerimele, who have served admirably and generously at OLR and St. James for many, many years. Hopefully Greg doesn’t mind that I point out that he began his ministry at St. James the year before I was born. They are both stepping away, and I am nothing but grateful for their hard work and great success in helping our people participate in the worship of God. They have been an immense help for me in getting to know the lay of the land at the parishes, and they will remain in my prayers always.
 
Ultimately, in an era of the Church that is defined by change and adapting to the
circumstances of a changing world around us, we are called to grow in our trust of God’s providence. Throughout the scriptures, we see God leading His people in ways that they may not have chosen for themselves, and yet their fidelity to God was always rewarded in the end. It is my hope that as we continue to navigate through the Beacons of Light process, the changes around us and our struggle to adapt to them might always be filled with hope and trust in God’s care for us.
 
Prayers always,
Fr. McC