Hi everyone,

At our baptism, we are all named priest, prophet and king.  It is a royal anointing and a certain way of living.  At ordination, those names are called forth in  a new way to lead the faith community as presbyter (priest).

Here at L'Arche, I am living my time as the "priesthood of the baptized".  In other words, I am not here in a parish presbyteral role, but as one of the priesthood of the baptized.  I was asked not to get involved in parish ministry here for three months. I agreed and was happy not to do that so as to enter fully into this L'Arche experience as an assistant in one of the homes.  I even wanted to cloak what I do so as not to worry people or make them feel uneasy.  I guess they knew before I got here and have become very friendly with me and see me as another assistant, a priest also, but first an assistant with whom they can talk, joke and share a common experience.  They are surprised that a priest can be human with emotions, a lived story.  For some of them it is the first time they have a contact with a priest this close up.

For me, it is interesting, but I am so content to live this year as an assitant without doing parish ministry.  I am not interested in presiding, being content to be ministered to, nourished with the wondrous prayer here at the Dayspring chapel.  You might be surprised to know that each week it is different.  One week it is Catholic Eucharist, another week it is Anglican Eucharist, another week it is United Church communion service and the next week it is Taize prayer. I appreciate the different styles of prayer. The Anglican priest is Wendy Lywood who is wonderful and used to be an assistant here at L'Arche. When she presides and preaches, my heart jumps.  It is so amazing to hear a woman preach and preside.  The Catholic church needs to see her at work, to hear her love and then they might not be so scared to think that a woman could lead a Roman Catholic community as an ordained priest.

Some might be shocked to hear that I do not miss parish ministry (I do miss so many wonderful people who supported me and nurtured me).  I think one of the reasons is that the ministry I am a part of is so amazing.  It is a real gospel based love, full of dignity and hospitality that is lived here.  There is an attempt to work through conflicts but even more so a real attempt to create community.  Through the core members, who some people would see as less than whole, I am growing within, being stretched and challenged in a new way. The gospel is coming to life in a new way and I feel in touch with God in new ways also.  I look around and see so many people living their time here in a way hat is radically changing them and it is awesome.  They are so blown away by the experience thus far as I am.

I do know that I will not be home for Christmas in the parish grouping.  I believe this is important for me to continue to live my sabbatical year away and continue to allow God to move and breathe in me and challenge me.  I know by coming home, it would be a return to the hustle and bustle of Christmas masses and I am just not in that space.  I probably will be here at Centre Street wih some of the Core members who cannot go home.

Yes this is ministry, this is God's work.  Along with the other assistants, support staff, we extend our hands and arms to give and receive from God's goodness to one another.  I am beginning to touch the mystery we call God.  It is wild and wonderful and where I need to be right now.  Please keep me in your prayers as I live this year open to God and where I am being called in my spiritual journey.

So now I take off on my time away...Until I get back....

Jeff