Youth and chaperones from the St. James, Upper Montclair attended the National Acolyte Festival on Saturday, October 8 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, retired bishop of New Hampshire, preached and presided at the morning service of re-dedication and Holy Eucharist, which included a festive procession of acolytes, clergy, and vergers. Workshops were held in the afternoon.
Below, the Rev. Audrey Hasselbrook, Assistant at St. James and one of the chaperones, and seven of the teenagers who went on the trip, share their reflections. Two more photos are in the gallery at the bottom of this page.
The Rev. Audrey Hasselbrook
When the pilgrims and their chaperones returned to Montclair yesterday evening, proud parents and other family members greeted us as our trained pulled into the stop. Jesus had a similar experience when the ten leper came to greet him, hoping for healing. It is a wonderful feeling to be so wanted. As the Gospel unfolded, we learn that only one who had been healed earlier that day came back to give thanks to God
But Jesus does not lose heart because the nine other lepers could not see how close they have come to the holy. Instead, Jesus continues his ministry sending out his disciples, instructing them to take little baggage with them so not to be distracted or weighed down in their work. Good advice if you want to move around unencumbered.
For what he sends them out to do in God’s name will change not only the people that they meet and serve, but also the disciples themselves. Any time we are out of our so-called “comfort zone” we especially have an opportunity to learn a little more about the people around us as well as ourselves and our relationship with God.
Our missioners and their chaperones Renee Blackowski, Tricia Smythe, and myself learned this truth only too well these past two days when we ventured off to Washington DC to see the city and participate in the National Acolyte Festival.
Teen One
Leaving ones comfort zone generates a mixed bag of feelings. You get scared – because you don’t know what will happen next. Much of our lives is planned for us, so not knowing what will happen next can be a little scary. So you have to trust the people with you who have a plan.
But, it is also fun and exciting to do something new. Sometimes our parents will make us go out just so that we don’t fall into our default ways of spending time. Sometimes we need a push to do something new and that new thing often ends up being exciting and fun.
Teen Two
There are a lot of monuments in DC: The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Daughters of the American Revolution Monument, the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Memorials. And more. You can add in the White House, Smithsonian, and the National Achieves to a list that goes on and on.
The word monument- makes me think of the word memory . A monument is a physical representation of a memory or event that’s important to people.
The enormous scale of the buildings dwarfed us, literally. Like the church’s bell tower many of the monuments were built to honor those who served in wars but also to honor peace and the ideals of our nation. The Lincoln Memorial was the one that was most popular with our group.
Teen Three
This monument spoke tremendous words to me in a silent world. Being in silence made me think. The world now, and even back in Abraham Lincoln’s time, was full of violence, but in the end there was a peacemaker to guide the people. Even though there is violence in today’s world peace will prevail. Sometimes we, as individuals, feel all there will ever be are negative thoughts and behaviors, but that's not true. Throughout history people thought that evil could prevail, but in the end there was always a victory in which the peacemaker prevailed.
I feel that God sometimes creates challenges for us because God knows we can handle it and he knows that in the end there will be peace in our heart. I would like to thank this church and the Lincoln memorial for helping me realize that as well.
Teen Four
On Saturday we joined acolytes from across the United States for a festival Holy Eucharist with a re-dedication of acolytes service at the National Cathedral in Washington. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is its real name. The church is called a Cathedral because it holds the seat of the Diocesan Bishop. In the case of the National Cathedral it holds the seats of both the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, and the Bishop of the Diocese of Washington. Construction began on September 29, 1907, when the foundation stone was laid when President Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House. The United States Congress as designated the Washington National Cathedral as the "National House of Prayer." During World War II, monthly services were held there "on behalf of a united people in a time of emergency." Since its conception the Cathedral has hosted other major events, both religious and secular, important to us as a nation and to the tourists.
The church is really impressive – much taller than anything I have seen before. It is the second largest Cathedral in the US; St John the Divine in NYC is larger. We went up to the 7th floor where the view over the grounds revealed how expansive it all is. Everything in the church, other than the wood trim, was made by hand. Almost everything in the church has a second meaning or stands for something.
The vaulted ceiling of the church, for example, looks like the bottom of a boat turned upside down and represents that the church is a ship in the sea of life, with the clergy at the head. (look at the ceiling over our heads!)
But as big as the Cathedral is, it is separated into smaller chapels including The Mary’s Chapel, the children’s chapel the Memorial chapel and so forth- all remembering different parts of our common lives.
The windows of the Cathedral are big, bright, and colorful. One of the most beautiful is the space window. It’s much more modern looking than the others. It has whirling stars and planets drawn using the colors orange, red, and white on a deep bluish purple background. A tiny piece of moon rock that was delivered personally by the men of the Apollo 11 crew: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins is prominently place. The window makes me think that this is how God sees the heavens and the earth.
Teen Five
Acolytes from all over the country brought their processional crosses, banners, torches, thuribles, flags, and streamers for a festive procession of acolytes, clergy, and vergers for the grand procession that included us! We couldn’t take our banner and crosses on the trains, but we were there to represent St James Church in Upper Montclair. We were a tiny part of something much bigger than just our parish. We were one of only a few churches from NJ.
Bishop Gene Robinson led the service and preached the sermon. He talked about acolytes fulfilling a support role in worship – likening the acolyte’s role to Batman’s Robin or Sam’s Frodo from the Book Lord of the Rings. Supporting roles are not insignificant. Priest, Bishops, acolytes, chalice bearers, vergers, altar guild and so on all play supportive roles to Jesus.
Bishop Robinson, who is from our Diocese, made us laugh. He said that he understands that we are encouraged by our verger, parents, and clergy to dress up when we serve in church – but he feels that Jesus does not mind our sneakers. He is glad that we are present. Our presence, even if we don’t feel like being present, is so important.
Teen Six
For a moment I God felt so close. When the choirs and congregation sang I thought that we were hearing the angels’ voices. God’s presence was so evident to me – everything around seemed clearer – just for a few moments, but a few very important moments.
And Jesus is there too, in the bread and wine that we all shared. Strengthening us in some way to continue to do the things we are called to do. And, no, we aren’t exactly the same people we were when we left on Friday. The holy has touched us.
Teen Seven
This morning’s Gospel reading is more than a lesson on good manners. The reading points us to understanding that our lives are full of Grace, and since it is Grace, it comes from God to whom we give thanks.
The reading is also about community and where we put our trust. Showing oneself to the priests was necessary in order to be recognized as clean. The nine lepers were held physically, but the tenth, the one who came back to give Jesus thanks, was spiritually healed, too.
And so, we, like the 10th leper want to give thanks for many things – to the men and women who shaped and continue to try and shape our nation to uphold the dignity of all human beings, for this church community for their support- and especially to Mrs. Smythe, Mrs. Blackowski, Rev. Audrey and Rev. Melissa – for making a commitment to be a part of our journey.
Amen.
