Clergy Appreciation Day: Expressing Appreciation for God’s Servants

Today on Clergy Appreciation Day, I would like to express my appreciation for three special clergymen who have blessed my life at All Saints Anglican Church.

Fr. Jerry Sherbourne came to All Saints when he was still in seminary. He was ordained – first as a deacon, then as a priest – at All Saints and became the parish’s rector. Then he felt a call to a different kind of ministry and is currently serving as an Army chaplain. Fr. Jerry is a gentle, compassionate pastor to his flock.

Fr. Chip Harper enjoyed a career as a Air Force officer before the Lord called him to serve as His minister. As a member of All Saints, he completed seminary and was ordained, then he served another parish as priest. When Fr. Jerry left All Saints for the chaplaincy, Fr. Chip returned to the parish as Rector. He is a leader who always stands strong in his beliefs and tempers his strength with love.

Fr. Ed Morgan was called by God as a minister many years ago. After serving in other ministries, he was ordained as an Anglican priest last year. The Assistant Rector at All Saints, he is a practical and plain-speaking preacher and teacher.

All three of these servants of God love the Lord with all their hearts and with all their souls and with all their minds, and they love their neighbors as themselves. Though imperfect mortals, they practice in their lives what they preach in the pulpit.

And, through the years, they’ve all responded well to my nagging.

While they’ve been out saving souls and ministering to their flocks, I’ve been nagging them for information for the bulletins, for articles for the parish newsletter, for updates for the Web site. They respond with what I need – eventually! And they never nag me in return, though I need nagging right now to update the Web site.

Thanks be to God for these Godly men and for all ministers who faithfully serve the Lord.

Romans 10:14-15 (New International Version):

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Prayer for Clergy:

ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church; Mercifully behold all thy servants in all Orders of Ministers [especially Fr. Chip, Fr. Ed, and Fr. Jerry]; and so replenish them with the truth of thy Doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that, both by word and good example, they may faithfully serve thee in their Office, to the glory of thy Name, and the edification of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

[tags]Clergy Appreciation Day[/tags]