God is Present in Each “Each”
By Charlie Dupree
When I was a seminarian, I often wondered to myself, “What does a priest do all week?” After all, most people attend church only on Sundays, which is when we see a priest most “in action.” What do they do Monday through Saturday? Here’s a look behind the curtain of the past, very unusual few days in the life of this priest . . .
Thursday, joining with Michelle Walker and Emily Wingfield, your two delegates, I attended the annual convention of the Diocese of Virginia. Over 400 delegates gathered to hear reports, discuss resolutions, approve budgets, and learn more about the health and vitality of the Diocese of Virginia. Reports on these proceedings can be found here. I also remarked on the convention in Sunday’s sermon, coming soon to our website.
While a lot of time at convention was spent in business sessions and hearings, there were copious amounts of time to hang out, learn about the diocese, and meet other disciples who are trying to make an impact in their communities. I’m thankful for the St. Paul’s delegates who represented St. Paul’s at this important gathering.
Tuesday (which explains the tardiness of this blog post), the staff of St. Paul’s gathered at Union Seminary for a retreat. In so many ways, the staff and I are still getting to know each other. Like so many of you, they are asking, “Who is this new person that I have to work with every day?” Great question. At our retreat, we took the time to learn about each other and what we value about our ministries and our call to be at St. Paul’s. We talked about vision and values. We also spent time exploring the unusual nature of working in a church setting and the importance of setting healthy boundaries. The good news that I can report to you is what you already know: your staff is talented. More importantly, they are caring and thoughtful. They love St. Paul’s and they want our church and our community to thrive and flourish. They are dedicated to this church and they – we – want all people to experience the unconditional love of God. I am thankful for our time together and I am continually thankful for the gifts that they bring to our community.
In the life of the church, each week, each day, each moment, each person is different and I believe with all of my heart that God is present in each “each.” Being a priest is a great joy. Being YOUR priest is a great joy. The experience is heightened by working with our thoughtful staff, being part of a vibrant diocese, and by continuing to know each of you, your passions, and the ways in which God is present in each of you. Thank you, St. Paul’s, for your support and your faithfulness.
May God bless us and keep us, and may prosper the work of each hand and heart.
See you in church,
Charlie+
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Richmond, Virginia
Preferred pronouns: he, him, his