Shared Ministry

Today at St. Alban's, we officially welcomed our new assistant rector, the Rev. Jimmy Abbott, into our midst. And because we are Episcopalians, people who are fueled and formed by the order of the liturgy, the arrival of a new clergy person among us did not seem completely real or complete until we broke bread together at the Table in the Eucharist this morning.

For months (years actually) I had envisioned what it would look like to share ministry with another clergy person. Yet, as most things in life, the actual experience exceeded the vision. Walking side by side with someone and standing next to another person behind the altar is a much different feeling that walking or standing alone. It is shared ministry.

Jesus was pretty clear in his directive that it is better for us to go out into the world and serve in pairs. Jesus knew what he was talking about when he sent us out into the world to do the work we have been given to do, two-by-two.

Today, I give thanks that, in the work I have been given to do, there is now shared ministry.