An Exciting Time

This is an exciting time for me.  My days as Vicar of St. Thomas are rapidly drawing to a close.  As of today, I have 54 days of active time remaining.  In the last two months I have:

• Taken part in the nomination and election of the next Bishop-elect, Fr. Dan Martins.
• Completed confirmation classes for three ladies (two for confirmation, one for reception).
• Conducted a First Communion Class for two lovely young ladies, and celebrated their First Communion.

• Begun (and am half way through) a course of instruction from the University of Illinois Extension Service that will, in about a year's time, result in my certification as an "Illinois Master Naturalist." Note photo of White Snakeroot, a wood-edge prairie wildflower. This plant killed Abraham Lincoln's mother with what was called "the Milk Sickness" after cows ate the toxic plant.
• Continued to provide pastoral care to my little flock of 60 souls.
• Continued to provide outreach and counseling to community people with either financial needs or just a person to talk with.

My "seminarian," Jeff Kozuszek, has completed all of the canonical requirements for ordination and meets with the powers-that-be this Thursday - and, hopefully and prayerfully, will find out a date in November for his ordination to the deaconate.  Then will come, I hope and pray, the congregation's agreement that he is the one God intends to send to them.  Until his ordination I am referring to him as "deaconus futurus," which means, roughly, "deacon to be."

Be at Peace.  Tom+