my new video "Who Are You?" on Youtube

Peace be with you!

The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Sermon Preached at my Ordination to the Diaconate by the Rev. Robert L.Tate

Bob Tate sponsored me for ordination out of St. Martin in the Fields, Chestnut Hill, PA and he preached this challenging and incisive sermon at my ordination to the (transitional) diaconate.

~ The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Diocese of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Cathedral, Saturday, June 9, 2007

A Sermon Preached at the Diaconate Ordination Service

A sermon preached by the Rev. Robert L. Tate, Rector, Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Philadelphia, on Saturday, June 9, 2007 on the occasion of the Diaconate Ordination Service at the Philadelphia Cathedral.

I.

Last week I picked up my teenage son from his AP US History exam. Now any parent can tell you that some of the most important conversations happen in the enclosed environment of the automobile. “So, Andy, how did your exam go?” “Ungh ” “How do you think you did?” “Uh-uh-ungh.” See what I mean? Quality conversation.

I kept pressing. “So what do you think was the most important thing you learned this year in AP US History?” Long silence. Then. “OK Dad. We learned that your generation has completely ruined this country for our generation. Social Security. Health Care. Public Education. The tax system. Our cities. Our reputation in the world. The environment. You want me to go on?”

I didn’t know quite what to say, so I just kept driving. Because I know in my heart he is right.

I have spent the last three days leading the pre-ordination retreat with our seven ordinands at the Diocesan Conference Center at Wapiti. In several of our sessions I heard their comments about the current state of the church. “The parish church model is bankrupt. For 400 years we have basically perpetuated an anachronistic 18th century English agrarian model of living the Christian life that no longer works. Our aging buildings are killing our parishes and stifling ministry. Many, maybe even a majority, of our parishes seem to be expending all their energies and resources simply trying to meet the ever-rising costs of everything and trying to survive. That is not why Jesus Christ lived and died for us. That is not ministry.”

And they did go on. “We haven’t even begun to realize the vision of the ministry of the baptized embodied in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Clericalism is still a cancer in the church. And the leadership of the church, not to mention the people in the pews, are clueless about the paradigm shift that is required.”

I didn’t know quite what to say, so I just kept listening. Because I know in my heart that they are right.

Read the rest HERE or HERE.

God has a way of speaking to us ... I really drove by this yesterday!

On the way back from my grandparents' 65th (!) Anniversary Party, we drove by this sign:

There is no vacation from my vocation, however, this summer, I am learning a deeper level of humility, kenosis (self-emptying), and how to function on little sleep and much caffeine as I continue to care for my two sons (4 yrs, and nearly 2 yrs). I am learning much about caring for their souls (and bodies, and minds...), and learning much about serving those in need while I set aside some of my own wants.

Many of my friends are serving as curates for their transitional diaconate, and the traditional term "curate" meant "cure" or "care" of souls - that to serve as a curate an ordained person would care for those people surrounding the church and would be specifically charged with care for their souls. The role of a deacon is a wonderful calling, or vocation, and really has to do with leading the laos (ALL the people, "laity" and "clergy") into the world to serve those in need, especially the poor, the sick, those in prison, and those in need. In addition, the deacon "brings" the needs of the world into the worshipping community of the church -they are bridge-builders and servant-leaders.

So, there is no vacation from our vocation, and I know I would do well to remember the vocation of the deacon, and also the important vocation of a curate, which all ordained people should remember (imho) and try to embody.

There is no vacation from our vocation!

Since I was just ordained to the transitional diaconate 6 days ago, my wife and family are just at the beginning of the adjustment period for learning some of the issues of being a "clergy family" and a "clergy spouse." Luckily, my sponsoring rector and his spouse have been good models for us, as well as several other priests that we know. Also, during seminary my wife made close friends to discuss some of the implications of being a clergy spouse.

I was on the Episcopal Cafe blog and found this entry on "A Priest's Wife Buys Underwear" written by Sara Mcginley, which is just wonderful, insightful and hilarious. I surfed over to her other blog called "Sara Mcginley" and it is also great ...


We are about to move to New York for the summer, where I will be exercising my diaconal ministry mostly serving those in need ... in this case, I will be watching my two young boys (under 5 years old) while my wife pursues a master's degree. After she has supported me in seminary for three years (as well as the discernment process before that!), it is really the least I can do. Do I have some trepidation about being in New York City and have as my charges two energized young boys for 8-9 hours a day? Well, yes I do. I hope to reflect upon this intensive parenting and "incarnational" spiritual practice in this blog, as well as post them in a new blog dedicated to my deacon summer in NYC.

There is a lot to do in NYC and I am excited about the adventure, I'm sure it will be formational for me!

Ordinations this Weekend

Ordinations

There are a plethora of ordinations this Saturday, June 9th, Dioceses of Washington, Los Angeles, Central PA, Eastern North Carolina, and Pennsylvania...and probably others, congratulations and blessings on all those who are being ordained this weekend.

From the Philadelphia Cathedral Website
JUNE 9 ORDINATIONS

One of the greatest joys of Cathedral life is to witness the consecration of those who have offered their lives to God in the ordained ministry of the Church and have been commissioned to serve as servants of the servants of God.

On June 9 the Bishop of Pennsylvania will ordain these seven men and women who will serve initially as deacons before being ordained as presbyters later this year or next. Please pray for them and the parishes that have nurtured them and the churches where they will serve.

Christopher Mark Bishop
Peter Michael Carey
Wilda Clydette Magee Gafney
Jennifer Emily Gregg
Christy Elisa Laborda
Peter Carlson Lane
Kathleen Marie Walter

The Ordination liturgy is at 10.00 am on June 9 and is open to all. Please come and rejoice.