It was three years ago I was ordained as a vocational deacon in the Anglican Church of North America. I had been in ministry over 30 years in another denomination. When I was transferring my ordination into the Anglican Church, it was on the assumption I would come in as a priest.

The Spirit has had other plans. It would be as a vocational deacon. I am given to service in another way.

Three years ago was chaos. It was in the middle of COVID. The transfer process was fairly new to the diocese and exactly when I was able to be ordained was a fluid situation. When word came I was fully approved it was a matter of having the bishop ordain me. When and where was a matter of scheduling.

All of a sudden, it all pulled together in a flurry and it is still a blur. We were able to worship outside on the pavilion at our church as we all spaced the seating and wore masks. The bishop was making a visit, so it was decided I would be ordained in the 8 am service.

I had spent a day in prayer a few days before. I reflected on the journey in my church life, my theological life, and my ministry life. I went over the liturgy of the ordination service prayerfully. While everything is a blur because it truly happened in a hurry, I still remember the exhortations and the vows.

I remember the laying on of hands from the bishop. I remember prostrating myself on the floor as part of my submission to Christ and his Church.

I remember the presence of the Holy Spirit in those sacred moments.

It belongs to the office of a Deacon to share in the humility and service of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the strengthening of the Church, which is his body. You are to read the Gospel and proclaim Christ at all times through your service, to instruct both young and old in the Catechism, and, at the direction of the Bishop or Priest, to baptize and preach.

There is the exhortation as well to assist in public worship, which is a deep joy for me every time I get to do that. I was at an Anglican gathering a couple of weeks ago and it would close with the Eucharist. Another bishop was presiding and it was such joy to serve at the table, preparing the bread and the wine. It was such a joy to read the Gospel. It is deep joy to lead in the prayers of the people.

And then this exhortation:

Furthermore, you are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. It is the Deacon’s office to encourage and equip the household of God to care for the stranger, to embrace the poor and helpless, and to seek them out, so that they may be relieved.

In this I have always found deep joy.

This weekend I am participating in the ordination of another vocational deacon. It is filling me with joy.

There is a place I have found in the Body of Christ that serves his Body and fills me with joy. I am grateful to look at my vows every year and remember this calling.