THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
Let’s reconcile. That is exactly what all harboring of hates and resentments against others is—a biting of oneself.”
Let’s reconcile. Resentment makes us permanently angry, it carves deep lines on our faces. . . adds heaviness to our steps . . . takes energy to maintain. This is no way for the people of God live.
Let’s reconcile. In our homes/businesses/church it’s important we keep good records. But when it comes to keeping records in our relationships with our family, friends, fellow Christians, we need to throw away the book.
As I was writing this sermon on the Ministry of Reconciliation, I was awoken in the middle of the night by God (He tends to do that). He told me to write MY story of reconciliation. “Ah, Lord,” I said, “I don’t want to do that. It was a painful time of my life. And who would want to hear it anyway?” “Do it child,” He replied. “It will be cleansing for you.” So here goes.
I was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2003. I loved serving our Lord in any way and I felt extremely called to follow this path. In 2014, I became divorced. Hard times. But God was always there. I was content with my life, living alone, and working full-time as an RN. But God had other plans.
Without going in to details because they really don’t matter, I was called into the Bishop’s office and was asked for my resignation due to my living conditions. With lots of tears from me and the Bishop, I agreed. I went home in remorse but felt I was so called to serve in any way I could.
So I walked across the street to Bethlehem Lutheran Church and asked the pastor if there was anything I could do for them. The pastor (whom I had known for about 10 years as our children went to Oak Grove together and we had gone on a mission trip to Guatemala together) looked at me in awe. “I’ve been praying about this,” he said. Both of his associate pastors had recently resigned for other positions, and he was especially concerned about his shut-ins. How he was going to get the time to see them. So, I took over! It was odd at first. I was coming from a church I had gone to for 30 years to a church where I didn’t know a soul. But you know what? It worked.
Then a new Bishop came to North Dakota. I set up a meeting with him and explained my situation and my desire to be reinstated as a priest. He understood. He also set up an agenda of what I needed to do in order to be reinstated and the list went on and on. God told me, “I don’t care what hurdles are in front of you, you will surmount them and do what needs to be done.” I needed recommendations from three people of Gethsemane who would recommend that I return. I was scared. I thought this would be hard but to my surprise, I had support! I had papers to write and even a psychologist evaluation (I was really nervous about that one!) but I fooled her and passed!
After about a year and a half, I completed all of my requirements. When I was reinstated at Jamestown with the Bishop and other members of the clergy, I turned to them with a gleam in my eye and said, “I’m back!” And back I am. I continue to serve at Bethlehem as their visitation minister and preach once a month. I’m at St. John’s Divine in Moorhead once a month.
I have to tell you, the first time I preached at Bethlehem, I was nervous. These people weren’t used to me as you from Gethsemane were. What would these stoic Norwegian/Germans think? So on my first Sunday, I was totally into my sermon with my arms flying wildly and I hit the microphone, hit it off the pulpit and it went flying. I went scrambling after it and once I got it back in place, I said, “Well, now you know how I am.” My husband, who was there and witnessed the whole thing, asked me afterwards, “Were you embarrassed when that happened?” I told him, “No, that’s me. Gethsemane accepted me as a klutz and kinda strange so Bethlehem will either accept me or reject. Guess what? They accepted me!
God is so good.
Dean Mark asked me if I would be willing to do a message during Lent and I was excited. Would you accept me again? You bet! We have reconciled and it’s all good. Thank you so much for accepting me back and let me tell you, it’s great to be back. May I continue to serve our Lord wherever He puts me and continue to spread His Word. Like the glass window by the Fireside Room say, “I among all women, am truly blessed.”
How good it is to be reconciled.
Amen.
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