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Called to Common Mission: An Episcopalian living Lutheran
By Archangelica | January 20, 2009
Salutations!
All of us are on a journey. All of us are seeking to find our place in the world and while we quest and move through the mystery and the meaning of life, the Eternal One sends us companions for the journey. These companions comfort, encourage and sometimes challenge our perspectives. It is my belief that life is a kind of gift exchange and the people who come alongside of us on our life-path, those who walk closely with us through valleys of shadow and seasons of light, are wise ones bearing good and holy gifts. These soul-friends have the potential to interrupt our lives in strange and wonderful ways.
My own journey has led me from the Piney Woods of East Texas to the glittering hills of Hollywood, from the magic of Manhattan to the quiet cornfields of Nebraska, from history haunted New Orleans to the spired cathedrals of Oxford, back to Texas and now here to Rochester and to all of you. It is my great honor to be invited to be your companion on the Journey and in ministry with children, youth and families. It is my hope that we will do big and small things with great love.
For the past sixteen years I have worked with children, youth and families in many contexts. Some of my work has included: teaching Pre-School/Head Start, assisting with Vacation Bible School, teaching English as a second language to grade school Hispanic children, leading after school programs, creating summer camp programs for at-risk youth, Community Relations Manager with Barnes&Noble Booksellers, writing a grant for and helping with Equine Assisted Therapy (providing horsemanship experiences for struggling youth to enhance the quality of their lives), served as Youth Services Coordinator for children, youth and families infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, been a private duty caregiver and hospice volunteer, cared for adults with special needs, taught Sunday School, served as Director of Christian Education and Children’s, most recently was Youth Director for a group of multi-racial youth at a Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and completed a yearlong internship in hospice chaplaincy.
I am a strong believer and advocate for developing and nurturing the life of the mind and am committed to being a lifelong learner. Learning to think theologically has been a grand and glorious adventure into Great Ideas. To that end I have: earned a Child Development Associate from Eastfield College, studied the classics for three years at the College of St. Thomas More (A Great Books School), spent a summer abroad in Oxford taking a course on Shakespeare and lyric poetry, earned a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Tyndale Seminary and just completed a two year program earning the Certificate of Theological Studies from the Center for Biblical Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. I am currently in a degree completion program via distance learning with St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary and hope to pursue graduate level studies at either Colgate Rochester Divinity School or St. Bernard’s Institute.
In 2007 I received the graces and the courage to answer a call to live a consecrated religious life as a Brother and member of a Religious Order. I had been running from this call since I was sixteen years old, afraid of what saying yes to God in such a radical way might mean. Consecrated life is a way of being in the world. My community is named Anamchara Fellowship (www.anamcharafellowship.org ). Anamchara is Gaelic (ancient Irish) for soulfriend. We are rooted in the Episcopal Church but are open to members from any Christian denomination who feel called to this way of life. The Fellowship is part of a global revival and reinterpretation of Religious Life called The New Monasticism. Our members may be single, married or partnered. This way of life was created for people who wish to combine the contemplative and the active life. Members of these emerging Christian Communities are “in the world and not of the world, but for the world.” We live in whatever providential circumstances God gives us, but we wholly consecrate our lives to God through vows of simplicity, fidelity and obedience. We are the newest vocation in the Church, and many say this kind of religious life is the vocation of the new millennium.
More than fifty years ago Dietrich Bonheoffer (renowned Lutheran theologian) predicted that the renewal of the Western church would come from a new monasticism whose only connection to traditional monasticism would be Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). He wrote:
“…the restoration of the church will surely come only from a new type of monasticism which has nothing in common with the old but a complete lack of compromise in a life lived in accordance with the Sermon on the Mount in the discipleship of Christ. I think it is time to gather people together to do this…”
Anamchara Fellowship is one community among many seeking to live into this bold vision. Brothers and Sisters are fallible, sinful and imperfect men and women who; with God’s grace, live ordinary lives in extraordinary ways.
In my Community it is our custom to maintain the ancient and venerable tradition of wearing a habit as an outward sign and symbol of our inward commitment to Gospel values. The habit may be worn at all times but is especially encouraged whenever and wherever we are engaged in worship or ministry. The habit is a silent sermon visually reminding both the wearer and the watchers of the invisible realities of the spiritual life. More than this; the habit is a radical, counter-cultural sign and symbol, standing out like a “green thumb” so that others will know that we are always available to help, to listen, to pray and to serve. Finally, the habit is a symbol of our baptismal promises: “My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the garment of righteousness and has covered me with a robe of gladness….” (Isaiah 61:10) To wear the habit is to dress with the joy of the Lord!
I rejoice in being called to serve with and alongside all of you at Atonement Lutheran Church as your new Youth and Family Minister. I look forward to a fun and faithful relationship and gift exchange as we walk in the Way of Jesus together. Above all else, I am enthusiastic and excited about partnering with you to provide children, youth and families with soul nurturing experiences and opportunities to become deep adorers of God, committed followers of Jesus, and bold doers of loving-kindness, justice and mercy.
My goal is that every person I minister to and with is known, loved, cared for and discipled. To my way of thinking, youth and family ministry is about speaking blessing into the lives of others, building relationships with them and pointing them to Jesus.
Some of you have already met my partner of almost five years, Kevin Fuller. Kevin is a native son of Rochester and we moved here mostly to be closer to family (we’ve had so much fun enjoying many Holiday activities and events with the nieces and nephews!) and to live in a more progressive and inclusive city and culture. Kevin works in website design and business development and says that I am an analog soul in a digital age! You won’t see him in church too often as he is a self described “reverent agnostic” but so far he thinks Atonement Lutheran Church is the friendliest church he’s ever been too and he’s been to lots as my partner! We have both been blessed and deeply moved by your warm welcome and beautiful hospitality.
Thank you for inviting me to minister with you in servant leadership as together we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
In Christ Our Lord,
Br. Christopher Cleveland
My Installment Reception January 4, 2009
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