Celebrating Pentecost with a Baptism and memories of this past year in the Spirit

A year ago today (June 12, 2010), in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, I was ordained a deacon.  Within a week of that blessed moment, I was with Bishop Bruno and others in the Holy Land, where we would walk the paths of our Lord and the early disciples and also renew our baptismal vows in the Jordan River.

Today, a year later (June 12, 2011), in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, now having been ordained a priest, I celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and baptized one of our Kansas State campus ministry 'peer ministers' at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Manhattan, KS.

The summer of 2010 launched me into an international journey of deep vocational discovery that would fuel my discernment about job opportunities upon my return to the U.S. and eventually lead me to relocate to the Diocese of Kansas on Labor Day to accept their call to serve as Campus Missioner.  Life over these past nine months has been full of healthy new beginnings and discoveries about humility, service, worship, formation, faith, and ordained ministry.

This summer of 2011 promises to be an equally wonderful journey.  In less than two weeks, I'll be sharing and learning with colleagues at a campus ministry conference in northern California before traveling with Bishop Wolfe to Kenya to serving alongside a team of college students on a Kansas2Kenya mission trip.  After our mission service in Kenya, I'll separate from our team and begin a long-awaited extended vacation that will include travels alone as well as fellowship with friends and family. This extended sabbath should provide plenty of time and space for reflection, renewal, and rejuvenation before my return to a new academic term of campus ministry in the Diocese of Kansas.

This past year of dancing with the Holy Spirit has been full of fire, water, wind, and new breath - I can't help but offer God heartfelt thanks and joyful praise for all that has been and for all that will be !