071 | Holy Nudges
A really beautiful thing happened on Easter Sunday. We were fortunate to have a beautiful spring day here in our part of the world so we were able to worship in person outdoors. It was glorious to be in community on that holy day.
Since we are currently without a church home, we chose to worship with St. Michael’s because they are a grace-filled, welcoming community that actively pursues justice, equity, and inclusivity—and because of Ali.
Ali is one of the pastors. She grew up at Incarnation. She affirmed the promises of her baptism as a teenager the month I started as a new pastor at Incarnation in 2002. It has been a joy to know her all these years, to watch her life unfold, to see the extraordinary leader and gifted pastor she has become, to learn from her again and again, and now to be peers, colleagues in ministry, and friends. I was so honored to present her for ordination almost seven years ago.
Back to the beautiful thing that happened on Easter Sunday. As Ali presided at communion, Miss T asked, “Can I have some of the special bread?” She hadn’t yet received first communion. Andrew looked at her with the tenderest eyes, “Would you like to receive God’s blessing through the bread?” “Yes.” Andrew and I looked at each other, feeling the Holy Spirit moving powerfully, and we both nodded. Yes.
We made our way to the front of the worship space. When it was our turn Pastor Ali got down on Miss T’s level, offered her the bread and spoke the words “Tillie, this is the body of Christ given for you, the blood of Christ shed for you.”
I can’t even express how powerful it was for my daughter to have those words spoken to her for the first time by this woman. The blessing of promise and grace and community and lives lived alongside one another all intertwined. It was perfection—the Jesus/being made whole kind of perfection.
When we were taking photos after worship, Miss T looked to Ali for her cue of what to do. In that moment my heart prayed, “Yes Lord, let my fierce and loving daughter take her cues from Ali and other glorious, fierce and loving women like her.” Amen. Let it be so.
What holy nudge have you felt lately?
