I returned this afternoon from a weekend retreat with the St. Philip’s Vestry–my first one with them. From Friday evening until noon today, we spent good time together. We worked hard, reflected, talked about our hopes and dreams for the parish, laughed and had fun, broke bread, prayed, worshipped, and celebrated Eucharist.
On Friday night, the moon was very close to being full, and although my camera is not terribly sophisticated, I took some pictures of the moon and clouds.
Yesterday morning, I got a few pictures of the fields and trees at the retreat center in the early morning mist and sunlight.
So there were the natural lights of the world.
There were other kinds of lights. There was the light of Christ in the faces of people at the retreat. Each person there brought his or her own gifts and talents, prayerful intention, and concern for those in the parish whom they represent. I heard gratitude expressed for getting through some tough times. I heard gratitude expressed for the leaders who have recently rotated off the Vestry–those who helped guide the parish in the past several years. I heard love and joy, and I saw all that too, in the faces of my brothers and sisters.
Some other lights: on Friday night, we continued something that had been done in the past couple of years. I took the Parish Directory and cut out every name in it–even several whom we know to have left our midst for all kinds of reasons. I put all those names in a glass bowl, then we lit small candles and surrounded these names with light. It was a reminder to the Vestry that they as leaders, are responsible for the care, nurture, protection and leadership of the members of St. Philip’s. The Light of Christ shone from the three candles not far away–a reminder of our God who is Three in One, and from candles lit to represent Vestry members.
The Light of Christ is strong and good and steady and faithful. The people of St. Philip’s were in our thoughts and prayers throughout the weekend. As they gathered to worship this morning, I hope that they felt our love and prayers crossing the miles between us as all of us celebrated the love of God in bread and wine around holy tables.
Praise God from whom all Lights and Blessings flow.
