Friends, I pray that you all are doing well and feeling well. Honestly, I am feeling some deep exhaustion these days – Covid exhaustion is a real thing. But the comforting presence of our Creator God, our Loving Lord, and God’s Indwelling Spirit, that is even more real and more powerful than my exhaustion. For that I am profoundly grateful.
I am writing to let you know that after much prayer and many conversations with my family and a few close friends, I have decided to postpone my ordination and installation service until July 11, 2021.
I know that the call of God on my life is sure and irrevocable. I know that I have been called by God to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PCUSA, specifically at Caldwell. I know that what we do in word and deed at the service of ordination is only an outward manifestation of what God has already called and ordained me to do.
Nonetheless, last week, as I worked on creating a very short list of people who would be able attend the Service of Ordination and Installation on August 30th, tears of sadness flowed unabated. As I wrestled with the very real sorrow of being able to have only a few people in attendance, I was reminded by a dear and wise friend that you, the members of the congregation, are the ones who have called me to serve as Associate Minister at Caldwell. That is why the thought of taking this step without you being there with me was breaking my heart. That is why I have decided to wait.
I acknowledge that we don’t know what next summer will look like in terms of crowd size and gathering limits. However, I will go forward with my ordination next year on July 11th, even if we are under restrictions similar to the ones we currently find ourselves living under (GOD FORBID!!!).
In the meantime, I will continue to love, serve, preach, pray, and walk alongside this congregation as I have for the past two years.
I invite each of you save the date – July 11, 2021. I invite you to join me at what I pray will be a glorious service of worship and celebration.
Thank you for your love and support on this journey thus far.
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Grace and peace, Gail
