Since this is the day of the annual congregational meeting, there will be no sermon this morning, so if you are visiting or if this is your first time at the Cathedral…things may seem a little peculiar to you. But it is customary that the rector of a parish deliver an annual address, reflecting on the last year and looking ahead to the future. I have chosen to put these remarks in the context of our worship rather than as a part of the parish meeting itself because it is worship that binds us together as a community. Here is where we come when we have burdens or joys to share. Here is where the Good News is proclaimed to us and we are nourished by the Sacraments to live in extraordinary ways in an ordinary world. Here is where all sorts and conditions of people with their doubts and fears and hopes and dreams become a community of the faithful because of God’s amazing grace.
In the service bulletin for James’ ordination last month, these words were printed: “The Baptismal Font has been placed at the entrance to the nave as a visible reminder that the call to active ministry is not solely for the ordained, but rather is the calling shared by all Christians through the initiation of baptism.” The font is still there…and how appropriate a symbol to us all on this day when we commemorate the Baptism of Christ and celebrate the ministry we share together in this place. It is in those waters of baptism that each of us received our commissioning to serve God and one another and to renew our commitment to his Church.
This has been an extraordinary year. Significant change has happened on this corner of 16th and Bayshore. The complete replacement of the roof was accomplished without catastrophic impact to our budget or to our common life. During the construction, parishioners seemed more than accommodating to the inconveniences all around. That’s a good thing…because the roof replacement is only the first step in what will be a long-overdue restoration of the Cathedral. Repair of the stained glass, stucco and masonry, and the floor around the altar must be accomplished over the next several years or else this venerable building will simply not be here for the next generation of worshipers. This will entail a major capital campaign, and will involve not only this congregation, but hopefully Episcopalians from around our Diocese, as well as those interested in historic preservation in South Florida. We are one of the oldest structures in Miami, and we have a responsibility to preserve and protect that which has been entrusted to us. Substantial strategic planning will need to occur as we contemplate any kind of renovation to ensure that it furthers our mission and ministry to this City and community.
Another significant change at Trinity has been an increase in staff. The Chapter officers and I have spent much time and energy recruiting what I believe are some of the best in their field to be a part of our day-to-day management team. (And here I need to thank Lucretia Allen and Laura Jamieson, our wardens, for all their support and encouragement.) If we are hoping to grow this church, then we must have people in place who are able to inspire and assist those who pass through our doors, welcoming and encouraging them in their individual faith journeys. Matthew Steynor, our Director of Music, has formed the Anglican Chorale, a choir that comes from parishes all over the Diocese, and will begin this year a regular schedule of evening services to enhance our Cathedral worship. Billy Mitchum, our Gift Shop Director, has put new life and merchandise in our store and transformed it into a significant source of revenue for Trinity. Cheryl Chapman and Jim Nolan daily supervise the operations and administration of this place as we struggle with budgets, contractors, fundraising, weddings, facilities management, pest control and a hundred other issues that sometimes assist and sometimes interrupt the ministry to which we are called. Monica Beniste (as well as Annelise) staffs the office with a smile and a graciousness that shows that we are a welcoming community of faith, opening our doors to all who happen by this place to stop for prayer or quiet. Gil Purdy, our brand new sexton, is already making his mark as a jack-of-all-trades and all around handyman, despite the overwhelming nature of this huge facility. Andy Taylor and Elaine Jessup serve with such great pastoral sensitivity that no one in the parish is neglected or forgotten. This is a team with whom I am honored to serve, each of whom absolutely see their work as ministry, who collect a paycheck almost incidentally, who are individually and collectively committed to the mission of this Cathedral church and will do anything to support its future.
And then, there’s James. Friends, I will turn 60 this year, but I never felt old until he arrived. Not a day passes without him coming in and saying, “I want to talk to you about a new idea I have.” His boundless enthusiasm, his brilliant intellect, his deep and broad spiritual base have been gifts to us all, and we are blessed to have him among us. He and Carolanne are adjusting to 70 degree weather in January, and they both have added a youthfulness to this place which is palpable.
So things are changing around here. Programs and ministries are shifting. We are trying to be more intentional in why we do what we do. Each of the six ministry areas, and the host of people who support them, are spending time and effort asking some hard questions, looking at new solutions, addressing issues from a different perspective. In Worship and Music, there have been “liturgical work days” to ensure that our Sunday services are joyful, uplifting and dignified. In Parish Life, work has been done to utilize the internet more in order to attract younger people to our many programs and ministries. Christian Education has begun a new curriculum with our youngest children to help them grow in the faith in a very hands-on way. Outreach, since our homeless feeding program has been shifted away from the Cathedral grounds, has partnered with another church to provide weekly meals, and is developing an exciting initiative that will assist those transitioning from living in a shelter to living in their own home. The Building and Grounds Ministry has overseen a series of projects including installation of an irrigation system, air conditioning repair, major landscaping and renovation of a number of public spaces in the Cathedral Hall. In the area of Administration and Finance, we are working toward a shift in investment strategy that will benefit the Cathedral in the long term preserving the limited resources that we have.
All of this signals a healthy and committed parish. As I said in my sermon last week, “Sometimes we find that the old maps don’t work, and we have to travel by a different way.” But different doesn’t mean wrong…it just means different. And one of the strengths of this Cathedral is that it is full of people who are willing to listen and explore and consider new options to move forward in faith. And faith, at this time, is what we need most.
Let’s be honest. The future is uncertain. Trinity, like every other parish, has been affected by the current economic recession. Our giving levels as well as our comparatively small investments have shifted downwards. We do not have the luxury of some cathedrals to turn to our endowment to bail us out in difficulty. Good stewardship must be our watchword at all times. However, I do not believe this means cutting programs or people…we are a church staffed for growth. We are committed to investing for the future. We are confident that change will occur. And that means holding on to a vision and a promise. Faith, you recall St. Paul saying, “is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” And so we look ahead with conviction, and commitment, and confidence.
As soon as the new Cathedral Chapter is seated, we will begin to look at both increasing stewardship as well as undertaking new fundraising ideas. This must occur if we are to continue to be a spiritual home for our congregation as well as our community, if we are to transform the lives of people who are at the center or on the edge. Each ministry area will seek to involve more parishioners, not simply to ensure that those who have committed time and energy aren’t burned out, but to help as many as possible feel that they contribute to the life of this place. We will seek to broaden our newcomer ministry, mindful that many of our new neighbors are totally unfamiliar with our worship and our faith. In this regard, we will be starting a new evening service, broadening the ways that the message of the Gospel can be proclaimed in new and exciting terms. We will maintain and increase our commitment to outreach and explore the possibility of funding a foreign mission team that will particularly respond to the needs of women and children. These are new initiatives. And they are exciting and energizing. But they must take place alongside the reality that all of us must share part of the load…we all must participate…we all must shoulder a bit of the burden. The waters of baptism drowned every one of us to our old way of life, and today we are summoned to a new way, a new path, a new direction.
In this morning’s first lesson, we heard the story of the first day of creation from the Book of Genesis. Often, Sunday is called the eighth day of creation, reminding us that God is forever creating, forever making things new. As we move ahead in our life together, let us not forget that we are co-creators with God in this eighth day. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to shape a future that is filled with God’s grace, and the new life that is given to us in Christ will give us the courage, the strength, and the faith to move forward into that future, whatever it holds, with confidence that God will be with us all along the way.
krishna das, yoga, anusara, john friend, anusara yoga, kirtan, miami, downtown miami, omni, valentines day, heart, devotion, meditation, chant, chanting