“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12
The Rev. Edward Thornley kneels before Bishop Whitworth Nov. 19 as he is instituted as the ninth Rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham.
On Tuesday, many in our community gathered at our parish church for my official Service of Institution with The Rt. Rev. Julia Whitworth, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Members of our parish, wardens, vestry, staff, search committee, transition committee, friends and family, and clergy from the deanery and diocese all came together to pray with me as we “officially” began this new chapter of St. John’s life together. It was wonderful to welcome so many new and familiar faces, and to have my dear friend Fr. Sammy Wood, from The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square, preach at our service. Although Devon and I have been here since July, this was the formal moment at which point we now begin our time in this community. It was also very special to have the Bishop here for what was her first parish visitation and her first installation service as a Bishop.
I am extremely grateful (here come the “thank yous” again …) to everyone who took part; which means all of the people mentioned above! And I want to offer a particular thanks to the transition committee: Sara Taylor, Elizabeth Moulds, and Jenn GaySmith, for all their work in orchestrating the whole event, the food, and the beer … I cannot begin to tell you how much Devon and I, and our families appreciated not only the evening itself, but are thrilled at the sheer fact that you, the parish, called us to this new journey with you.
During the service, one of the most poignant moments for me was where members of our community presented a series of gifts: objects which represent aspects of our life together which are significant for our shared ministry. As well as being grateful to those who took part in this moment, it was a gift in itself to be reminded in that moment of something which shapes our life as a parish. And that is the very fact that this is a shared ministry. Everything we do here we do together. And even though this was the institution of a rector, it is just as much, if not more so, the institution and celebration of what it means for our whole community to be what it is, and for us to be who we are with one another.
When each person held up their gift—from a Bible to a Prayer Book, from a stole to a Godly Play parable, to Eucharistic vessels—I was helpfully reminded that, in the end, a priest is no more special, holy, or important than anyone else. We’re a pretty useless bunch, really, because the whole point of a priest’s role (as far as I see it, anyway) is simply to be a person who is asked by a community to remind them that they already have all the gifts they need to be the church. While I may have spent some time reading the Bible, learning how to preach, hanging around an altar, and praying in public, these are obviously forms of spiritual engagement that we all share in. As with any other vocation, there are specific gifts however they are always that which inspire others in their own gifts. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
Thank you for a wonderful celebration. And, on this eve of the twenty-fourth annual Holiday Boutique, remember what you, as a parish, are already capable of. This is all because of you, because God has already given you the gifts with which to build his kingdom. Thanks be to God for you.
The Rev. Edward Thornley
Rector of The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist