The Hub, Feb. 20, 2019
As my installation ended and the party began, I was presented a gift from our congregation: a beautiful new stole. Stoles have been a sign of public office since the days of the Roman Empire. As stoles became identified with worship leadership in the growing Christian faith, they grew more ornate often with symbols from scripture, the sacraments or church year. My new stole is white, a liturgical color associated with the feasts of Easter, Christmastide, and other high festivals of the church. The white stole is richly decorated with a dynamic stream of varied colors and symbols. The artist’s inspiration was “the river of life.”
Grounded in the waters of our baptism, what a marvelous and appropriate gift. Where have we come from? Where will we be led? With former church members from Mechanicsville, colleagues from my past hospice work, social ministries and seminary studies, as well as members of Christ Lutheran gathered, we represented Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic believers. It was a small but mighty subset of the “great cloud of witnesses,” each with gifts to offer. We are certainly part of something much bigger than ourselves; driving us together, pushing us on, churning us with change and renewal.
One of my favorite poets, William Wordsworth, reflected on the River Duddon, “I see what was, and is, and will abide; Still glides the Stream, and shall forever glide…” Soaked through with the love of God and one another, we are in for a great adventure. God’s grace has set us free.
Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.
© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.
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