God-incidence
I am grateful to Mother Sarah Phelps for her leadership and her confidence in inviting me to fill this role of Associate Rector. When I finished my seminary education, I was torn which direction to go — as a parish priest or into campus ministry. Fortunately, an opportunity came to do both part-time. After two years, I migrated exclusively to campus ministry and wondered if and when I’d get to return to parish ministry. Well, that day came over a decade later when I stepped into St. John’s in the first year of my curacy in 2020.
My grandfather, who is now 101 years old, is a retired Anglican (Episcopalian) priest. He has been a beacon to me all these years as I went from a young man rejecting colonial/apartheid religion to accepting the compelling call of priesthood. He served for many years in a parish called St. John’s and St. Chad’s in Eastern Cape, South Africa. He adored that parish! I wonder whether it is a “God-incidence” that I, too, started and have returned to a parish called St. John’s! I am truly grateful to have these connections with my grandfather in his priestly ministry.
Likewise, I am energized about the idea of connecting generations at St. John’s! I see a tapestry of God’s work from one generation to another and am excited to see what God will do in this community. My grandfather passed down the faith and lived it out in front of us. He did it in his own way and in his generation. As the third generation, I, at first, struggled to embrace that kind of faith until I questioned and wrestled with it. Until it made sense to me and my generation, I was not embracing it. Therefore, I am always passionate about the relevancy of Christ’s message in the current generation.
Faith is a uniting and bonding experience across generations. It is what holds us together in the midst of constant change. Though my grandfather has dementia now and does not remember me and many of the grandchildren, he always remembers the liturgy of the church and prayers. What a profound thing to witness! The lips that utter jumbled words with irrelevant calls towards places only present in HIS mind are the same lips jump right into step when the liturgy begins. He may not remember my name, but he remembers who he belongs to. He is able to articulate his identity through his faith. I am so grateful to have a faith that transcended generation and geography. My faith is the universal faith of the church, and I am excited to be part of St. John’s Wake Forest as a parish priest. I hope you know how much joy I anticipate as I partner with you to pass faith down the generations.
Peace,
Mawethu