Tuesday, February 1, 2011

To Robe or Not to Robe, That is the Question

Our Congregational Care staff person called me yesterday to see if I could help with tomorrow's healing service (we have a healing service once a month with Communion and anointing oil). She normally helps serve Communion, but can't because she broke her wrist. I just talked to my pastor, and am pretty excited about it. He's preaching, and my main role will be to serve Communion, while he prays with and anoints anyone who stays behind after taking Communion. I may assist with some other part of the service, too. I haven't seen a bulletin, yet.

I'm deciding whether or not to wear a robe. He mentioned that I could, then mentioned that P (the normal staff person who helps him) always just wears street clothes (she's a lay person), but then said, "if you want to robe, that's great, if you don't, that's fine, too." It sounds like he's really OK with either option, so I'm deciding what I want to do. Any thoughts?

I haven't heard about the chaplain job, so I'm assuming I didn't get it. That's fine, really. Harry and I talked about it on Friday night, and we both felt that it just might not be the "right fit" for our family. For starters, I would have needed to find childcare for both kids, one day a week. Do you know how difficult it would be to find an affordable option?

Oh, and in other news, I'm officially on the schedule to preach at our regular Wednesday night service (the first Wednesday is a healing service, and Mac preaches. The other Wednesdays, our lay speakers and now me, take turns preaching.) and as a liturgist for the 8:15 service. Yay.

3 comments:

I'm here! Now what? said...

Robe! It really separates you from the chaplain role and more of the clergy role.

Pastor Joelle said...

I'm a Lutheran and I say robe. It takes the emphasis off of you as a person and instead emphasizes your role in the worship.

Muthah+ said...

What tells you of your vocation? What helps you know who you are as an ordained minister of the Gospel? When I was first ordained (Episc), I wore my collar a lot more to remind ME of who I was. Now that I am retired, I don't need it but sometimes parishioners do.

In this time of regathering one's ministry, help yourself by using the signs of the ministry to strength your resolve, to remind you of the laying on of hands that sent you out to do what you had been called to be. I know I had to grow into my "priesthood", "pastorate". Let yourself use the outward and visible signs of ministry to help you regain that vocation.