December 9, 2023
Dear St. Stephen’s family,
The other day I was told I
was a “rebel priest.” At first, I didn’t know how to respond to that. But as I
thought about it, I realize: yes, I am. And rather than evade that monicker, I
need to embrace it.
But I also realized: I am a
rebel priest at a rebel parish. We are rebellious and defiant and passionately
trying to live out the message of the Gospel, and the revolutionary commandment
of God to love God and love others as fully and completely as we can. We have Christ
in our Eucharist, in the hearing and proclaiming of the Word and in our
presence with one another.
In addition, we have a
beautiful Anglo-Catholic liturgy. We have bells and music and, at our Wednesday
evening Mass, incense.
Most importantly, we have passion
and commitment.
And we not only radically welcome
people, but we also include them fully and completely. No one is ostracized
here. No one here is turned away. No one here is snubbed or shunned or looked
at strangely.
We are gay and straight,
trans and cis, asexual or non-sexual, straight or “out there.” We are normal
and weird, staid and radical, old and young. And everything in-between. We are
imperfect but striving to be better than we are and in doing so to make the
world a better place as well—to make the Reign of God real and present in this
world.
Everyone knows
we are welcoming. It is not secret that we are fully accepting. We are also
very strong and committed. And when we stand up for something, we STAND UP. And
we speak out loudly!
We were
inclusive before inclusivity was expected of the Church. We welcomed and
included people when other churches discarded or turned away. And we continue
to do that. And we do so unapologetically.
That is what St. Stephen’s
is.
As I write this, we are
getting ready to have our Pledge In-Gathering, which finishes the one time of
the year in which we ask for your help to help being the unique, eclectic
parish we are. We cannot do it without your pledges. We cannot do it without
your time and your talent.
If you have already pledged,
THANK YOU!! Thank you for contributing to the unique ministry we
do here.
For those of you who have not pledged or have simply forgotten, it
never too late. But, please do so. Please consider filling out
a pledge card and returning it so we can continue to do what we do.
Or simply fill out our name and the amount you can pledge and send it by email
to Laura Nylander at laura.nylander56@gmail.com Or you can do a one-time
pledge through our Paypal account at Ststephensfargo.org or by simply sending a
check (also marked “pledge”) to 120 20 Avenue North Fargo. All pledges are
strictly confidential. Only Laura knows who gives what.
People assume pledging is so much harder than it really is. A
pledge can be as little as $10 or #25 or $50 a month.
Or you can give a one-time pledge of the amount
you feel most comfortable with.
Your pledge is not about
paying my salary. Your pledge is not only about paying the bills of St.
Stephen’s. Your pledge is about contributing to a parish that makes a
difference in this community, in the world and in our individual lives. It
helps us be the place we are. It helps us as we continue to grow, continue to
welcome new people each week in our doors, continue to be a place where God’s
Spirit is alive and is shared with ALL people, no matter who they are. But more importantly, we do what
we say we do: when dire situations happen within the lives of our parishioners,
we are there to help, to lend support, to be a supporting presence. That is
what your pledge supports here.
More
than anything, however, please know how grateful and humbled I am to be serving
as your Rector and priest. I am truly blessed by God to be serving a parish
that is excited about what it is doing, that is renewed by its energy and
committed to its very radical following of Jesus. Thank you for all you have
given to me.
-peace,
Fr. Jamie+
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