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Beloved of God!
Pardon my delay in getting these notes out to you. It’s been a rich and full set of weeks. I know that it’s been the same for you.
This will provide a brief recap of some of my doings of late, and what’s coming up.
• Ordinations and Installation! What an incredible joy to institute the Rev. Lynn Campbell as Rector of the Church of the Advent in Medfield last Wednesday night. I was amazed by the turnout, despite the dreadful weather. You all sure love one another, and it’s beautiful to see! We also had a wonderful turnout on a busy Advent Saturday afternoon, for the ordination of the Rev. Sarah Neumann at Christ Church in Cambridge. On January 11 at 10:30 a.m., I am scheduled to ordain the Rev. Molly Minnerath at St. Paul’s Church in Bedford, and we have several more rector institutions. See you there.
• Speaking of great turnouts, the retirement celebration for Bishop Carol Gallagher on Sunday night was so much fun! The room was filled with joy and laughter. Remember, it is not too late to honor Bishop Gallagher’s service to our diocese, both as Assistant Bishop and Regional Canon, by making a donation to a fund here, which will support the Bishop Alan M. Gates African Anglican-Episcopal Mission Center in Everett and the Episcopal Church in Navajoland. A gift of travel funds also will be made for Bishop Gallagher and her husband, Mark, to enjoy in retirement.
• Among my meetings in the last two weeks were a gathering of the Hispanic Ministry Committee, the Budget Committee, the Congregational Consultants, and the Deans of the diocese. If you are not aware of the services our Congregational Consultants provide to the diocese, you should be. They are amazing! For more information, see their webpage here, or contact your Regional Canon.
• Getting to know clergy… At the Deans’ meeting, I was able to hear many clergy questions that have arisen since I was elected and consecrated. Several focused on my liturgical preferences and mandates. I deliberately wanted to take a little time to get the lay of the land before setting anything proverbially in stone, but please know that creating a customary is on my to-do list for the new year. Also we made a plan that I will join each clericus for a lunch meeting in the year ahead. Laura Simons is coordinating that with the Deans. Finally, please mark your calendars for the Clergy Conference April 28-30 at the Devens Common Center in Devens. We are scheduling a two-night, three-day conference, to give us more time to relax and to learn together.
• Coming up. On Sunday I will be visiting St. Mark’s Church in Dorchester. On January 12 I will be with St. Mary’s Church, also in Dorchester. On Sunday, January 19, I will be participating in a special 5 p.m. evening service at our Cathedral to pray for peace on the eve of the inauguration. Dean Amy McCreath is planning this with the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, as an offering for the whole Church. I hope you’ll join us.
Finally, many of you have been asking how I am doing. The honest answer is: I’m tired. It’s been a crazy set of months, made more complicated by temporary housing, temporary office space, and living apart from half my family. To address this, I have made the difficult decision not to be in the diocese, at our Cathedral, for the Feast of the Nativity. With the gracious support of the Dean, I will be heading back to Indianapolis on Monday, December 23, in order to be with my family for Christmas. The diocesan offices will be closed from December 24 through January 1, and I will be back to Boston by January 4—rejuvenated, Godwilling, by almost two weeks of vacation. If there is an emergency, the Regional Canons and Canon to the Ordinary know how to reach me by text and phone, and I will make myself available to you. Next year, I can assure you, the Whitworth-Neufeld family will have a very Massachusetts Christmas!
Blessings upon you all, dear ones. You have my prayers for energy and health in these busy days leading up to Christmas.
With Advent anticipation and hope,
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