“Deacons are to stand between the church and the world. ”
Bishop Michael Curry
We bring the needs of the world into the church and we bring Christ’s love into the world.
Not a small mandate. There are more than 3,400 active deacons in the United States but in Maine, there are 57 year-round congregations and yet there not enough active deacons to fill each parish. St. Ann’s is particularly blessed to have a deacon and 2 “retired” deacons. This means that we have a wealth of resources.
Most deacons work and have a family or like me, support themselves and run their own business, a full-time job plus. It starts with a 4 year process, at least, including discernment, to get towards ordination. Deacons in The Episcopal Church are to only work 10 hours a week at the most and we do not get paid. Deacons have varied gifts and interests just like you. Some deacons have administrative gifts such as my classmate, the Rev. George Cooper. His gifts in administration and finance allowed him to help the diocese out as the Director of Finance. Another classmate, the Rev. Jean Cavanaugh, is advocate with NAMI – the National Alliance for Mentally Ill. Some deacons are more involved in social service. For example, the Rev. Wendy Rozene, your retired deacon, who created your food pantry. Or the Rev. Cindy Beaulieu, who was and is involved in prison ministry with women returning to home. We are there to serve Christ in all persons and in the church as well as outside the church. Some of us are preachers, some teachers, some pastoral, some with gifts for social justice. No-one’s gifts go unused.
I have always found my gifts to be more in the Pastoral and Social Justice area. It is why I am a social worker and Trauma therapist. I volunteer in the prison with people inside who will not leave for a long time. I, along with Cindy and Wendy, am involved in multiple areas of pastoral care. I am involved in social justice in the community. I have been able to work with people in grief here, people thinking about suicide. People who have needed food and people who need understanding and acceptance. I could say it is a thankless job but it is not. It is filled with thanks. I am thankful every day I am alive. Every day I wake up and get a new chance to serve Christ and to love my neighbor better than the day before.
I like to think that as long as we seek to serve Christ, we bring Christ closer to each person we meet.
Deacons in The Episcopal Church take vows at ordination to study the scriptures and model our lives on them. We are to make Christ’s love know by word and example in every part of our lives. We are to minister especially to the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely. We are to serve those who cannot help themselves. We serve the poor, the sick, the needy and the lonely. We are not alone. We are all deacons in the church of God. We are all called to serve those that are helpless, the prisoner, the child, the ill, the stranger. Those that Christ spoke about when he said to the disciples,
Matthew 25: 35-For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
The Rev. Carlisle Blind, LCSW
Lisle follows our two recently retired Deacons, Wendy Rozene (left) and Cindy Beaulieu (right), who are still very active in the ministries and life of St Ann’s.
