We hosted a potluck dinner last night in celebration of Byron's upcoming ordination on November 9th and his new job as a youth pastor at Japanese Presbyterian Church here in Seattle. YAY!!!
A Blessing for Our Dear Brother Byron
and for the Ones Who Have Cheered for Him Along the Way
God, you have called, and you have kept calling—
through so many seasons of Byron’s life:
through barefoot walks,
through oceanography and through theater,
through Sunday school classes and choir,
through Bible studies and small groups,
through papers and Zoom meetings,
through podcasts and essays,
through international flights and homecomings again.
Today, the call sounds different.
It wears a stole.
It carries keys to an office in South Seattle.
It hums with a joy that has taken years to grow.
But this calling—this ministry—
was never answered alone.
Because there were friends
who stood beside you,
cheering you on along the way—
friends who knew your whole story,
and loved you through it all.
These friends—
this cloud of witnesses—
some who stand here in this very room—
were the church when the church disappointed.
They were the ones who prayed,
who texted, “You’ve got this,”
who sent love and support all along the way.
Blessed are these flying buttresses[i]—
the holy friends,
the chosen family,
the church beyond the walls.
And blessed are you, Byron—
held, surrounded, lifted up—
who now stands among us,
changed and transformed by the journey.
God, let this be the ministry:
to remember what it feels like to be carried,
and to spend a lifetime
doing the same for others.
Amen.
[i] Thank you, Kate Bowler, for this lovely image of flying buttresses from her blessing-- a blessing for friends who hold us up
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