When people ask me about the transition I’ve made over the years from the life of academe to a bi-vocational ministry and now, finally to total immersion in parish life, one of the things I stress is the constantly changing nature of parish ministry. That has become clear to me as I’ve begun work at Grace Church. Yesterday, for example, I spent two hours on a tour of the facilities of Porchlight, beginning with the drop-in shelter housed here at Grace, and ending with a look at a vacant lot where they hope to put several different facilities in the near future.

Upon my return to the office, I spoke by phone with the person responsible for Hispanic Ministry at the national church; and then received an introduction to Grace’s columbarium. Later in the day, there was a meeting of the finance committee.  In between, there were brief conversations with parishioners and some time spent in the files left me by the Interim Rector. I was even able to unpack several boxes of books and other office items.