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Some days are pivotal… you look back and realize that was the point where something changed and made all the difference. January 24, 2010 was such a day for the church community of St. James.  What a powerful experience! What a sense of the Holy Spirit in our midst… What a revelation of what worship can be… What an encounter with our Savior….

It was prefaced by a week or so of intense spiritual attack, and noting the intensity of the opposition we should have been in full anticipatory mode. From illnesses, to disturbances within our families and businesses, to conflicts, to broken baptismal fonts – it seemed everything was stacking against preparations for a high point in our life as a community. Thanks to the work of some very faithful servants in our midst, we were presenting one adult candidate for baptism and confirmation, 6 of our youth and 4 adults for confirmation, and one adult to be received into the church! Does that number ring any bells? A total of 12? A rather biblical number in retrospect… Pretty awesome! And yet, we were distracted and busy and preoccupied… Still, we prayed fervently that we would be able to stand firm, equipped in the armor of God, as the saints through the ages have prayed, and we prayed that we would be worthy to receive the gifts in store for us as we gathered corporately for this wonderful celebration with Bishop Duncan in our midst. God certainly answered our prayers!

By God’s grace, the morning arrived and by His power alone, everything fell into place. As our bishop prayed with the worship team prior to the service, I had an overwhelming sense that this is a man who understands what it means to serve God and does not take on the mantle lightly, but with a deliberate and reverent awe for the One he serves. I realized what a privilege it is to have him in our midst and at the helm during this critical time in the history of our church. Not because of who he is “politically,” but because he truly is allowing himself to be an instrument of God and we have so much to learn from him about our Lord and Savior. It is clear, this is a man who knows Jesus intimately and who has spent time at His feet. Here is one who stands firmly against heresy and false teaching, and whose primary concern is sharing the gospel of Jesus without considering the cost. I could literally feel the electricity ripple through our team’s clasped hands as he asked God to help us “enthrone Him with our praises!” Yes, Lord, let it be so. I also appreciated his sensitivity to the unique needs of the worship team, reminding us of our purpose and uniting our voices to the chorus raised in praise that very morning throughout the world and the heavenlies. What a vision of our worship.

Words are inadequate to describe the service - there was such a sense of holiness and a depth of reverence filling the space… Lives were changed, new saints were gifted and equipped for service, and none of us who witnessed it will ever be the same again… I have learned to recognize that when I sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, tears begin to flow…. It is as though my heart cannot contain the Living Water with which I am filled and sustained, and it pours freely from my eyes… Jason’s baptism was incredibly moving. As Bishop Duncan commissioned Jason to service, the words he used were inspirational and motivational to us all. And the tears were flowing from many eyes... Each candidate for confirmation received a personal affirmation along with the sacramental laying on of hands, and we look forward to seeing the ways their gifts of the Spirit will be used in our community and in the world. Even the children in the congregation seemed to sense that something special was going on and were drawn to be part of it. One child had indicated that he wanted take part ahead of time, so Fr. Ed and Bishop Duncan graciously extended an invitation for all the children who wanted to receive a blessing to come forward and receive one… “Let the little children come to me…” (Matt 19:14) Those were Jesus’ words to His disciples, and they are as drawn to His Presence today as they were when He walked in Israel 2000 years ago. They came, and those of us in the worship team could see their little eyes, wide with wonder.

Throughout the service I was struck by the embodiment of “opposites” working together as only God can do… The simplicity and eloquence of Bishop Duncan’s words… The gentleness and soul-stirring power of his voice… The thirst-quenching water of baptism and the unquenchable fire of the Holy Spirit… Our individual and unique natures joined together in corporate unity as we worshiped… Fr. Ed’s eyes clouded with tears of joy as the vision he was given was clearly affirmed. This is what it looks like when we are led by a bishop who will not compromise the Word of the Lord he serves and who is a faithful and steadfast shepherd to the flock he has been given to lead. This is the kind of leader Paul described in his letter to Timothy. This is what it feels like to be supported by our diocese, and to be in agreement about the direction we should travel together. This is why we embrace the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to live out the call on each of our lives – while He may call us to do some painful things, like separate from a church family we love and step out in faith, ultimately we are promised that “All things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I believe we experienced the first fruits of the “good” God has in store for us. Let us be encouraged in future adversity, with this taste of what our life together can be if we will continue to “enthrone Him with our praises.” Let us look back on January 24, 2010 as a day that made a difference.

Ginny Barry