Saturday, December 9, 2023

A Letter from Fr. Jamie


 December 9, 2023

 Dear St. Stephen’s family,

 

The other day I was told I was a “rebel priest.” At first, I didn’t know how to respond to that. But as I thought about it, I realize: yes, I am. And rather than evade that monicker, I need to embrace it.

But I also realized: I am a rebel priest at a rebel parish. We are rebellious and defiant and passionately trying to live out the message of the Gospel, and the revolutionary commandment of God to love God and love others as fully and completely as we can. We have Christ in our Eucharist, in the hearing and proclaiming of the Word and in our presence with one another.

In addition, we have a beautiful Anglo-Catholic liturgy. We have bells and music and, at our Wednesday evening Mass, incense.

Most importantly, we have passion and commitment.

And we not only radically welcome people, but we also include them fully and completely. No one is ostracized here. No one here is turned away. No one here is snubbed or shunned or looked at strangely.

We are gay and straight, trans and cis, asexual or non-sexual, straight or “out there.” We are normal and weird, staid and radical, old and young. And everything in-between. We are imperfect but striving to be better than we are and in doing so to make the world a better place as well—to make the Reign of God real and present in this world.

Everyone knows we are welcoming. It is not secret that we are fully accepting. We are also very strong and committed. And when we stand up for something, we STAND UP. And we speak out loudly!

We were inclusive before inclusivity was expected of the Church. We welcomed and included people when other churches discarded or turned away. And we continue to do that. And we do so unapologetically.

That is what St. Stephen’s is.  

As I write this, we are getting ready to have our Pledge In-Gathering, which finishes the one time of the year in which we ask for your help to help being the unique, eclectic parish we are. We cannot do it without your pledges. We cannot do it without your time and your talent.

If you have already pledged, THANK YOU!! Thank you for contributing to the unique ministry we do here.

For those of you who have not pledged or have simply forgotten, it never too late. But, please do so.   Please consider filling out a pledge card and returning it so we can continue to do what we do. Or simply fill out our name and the amount you can pledge and send it by email to Laura Nylander at laura.nylander56@gmail.com  Or you can do a one-time pledge through our Paypal account at Ststephensfargo.org or by simply sending a check (also marked “pledge”) to 120 20 Avenue North Fargo.  All pledges are strictly confidential. Only Laura knows who gives what.

People assume pledging is so much harder than it really is. A pledge can be as little as $10 or #25 or $50 a month.

Or you can give a one-time pledge of the amount you feel most comfortable with.

          Your pledge is not about paying my salary. Your pledge is not only about paying the bills of St. Stephen’s. Your pledge is about contributing to a parish that makes a difference in this community, in the world and in our individual lives. It helps us be the place we are. It helps us as we continue to grow, continue to welcome new people each week in our doors, continue to be a place where God’s Spirit is alive and is shared with ALL people, no matter who they are.  But more importantly, we do what we say we do: when dire situations happen within the lives of our parishioners, we are there to help, to lend support, to be a supporting presence. That is what your pledge supports here.

          More than anything, however, please know how grateful and humbled I am to be serving as your Rector and priest. I am truly blessed by God to be serving a parish that is excited about what it is doing, that is renewed by its energy and committed to its very radical following of Jesus. Thank you for all you have given to me.

 

-peace,

Fr. Jamie+

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