To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under
the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to
pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance...Ecclesiastes 3

Dear Faithful of All Saints'

It seems as if just a short time ago you and I entered into the cold and dark days of our winter Lenten journey. The sky seemed to be perpetually overcast and the sun, when visible at all, quickly descended beneath the horizon. If we do as we are supposed to do, the days of Lent are at best difficult. It is as if we have corporately dropped into a cold and dark night. There are no flowers upon the altar; the penitential color of purple cloaks all of the things of the church that bring us joy; the liturgy is somber. Often times, I think that Lent is less of a journey and more of a slog through a thick mire. While it is not the highest mountain in Africa, a title which belongs to Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya is certainly the most difficult climb. To even approach the mountain, the potential climber must first trudge through an equatorial boggy marsh. There are no shortcuts for the serious climber. There is no easy way to reach the best mountain routes so as to avoid carrying all of the necessary and heavy equipment through this difficult and dramatically unappealing area. The climbers don't seem to mind. The ones with whom I have
spoken admit that while packing gear through this area is tedious and many people turn back before reaching the mountain it is worth the effort. Most of them don't even mention the arduous journey through the bog until specifically asked. All they speak of is the glory of the
mountain. So it is is with us, dear people of All Saints'. You can take the metaphor as far back in our corporate life as you wish, but I will just apply it to Lent. We have made the long and dreary trek through Lent in a mire of our own creation but at long last the glory of the
mountain is in sight. Now is not the time to fade or falter.

Now is not the time for the faint of heart. Now is the time to begin the hard work of Christ's call to his people. The cold and dark night is nearly over and a new day is breaking over
the horizon, Let us join together, you and I, to welcome the glorious dawn.

God's Peace and Blessings,

Don +

You might at this point begin to wonder what the difference is between Ron and me, your humble vicar.  Ron is a permanent deacon while I am a transitional deacon.  Although both of us are deacons, Ron's call to ministry is to the deaconate while my call to ministry is to the priesthood.  All ordained ministers in the direct Catholic lineage are first deacons and servant leaders.  The transitional aspect of my primary ordination does not mean that when I am ordained to the priesthood that I will graduating to the priesthood or getting a promotion in any way.  The deaconate is a full and equal ministry to the priesthood.  The difference between the two lies in the specific focus and sacramental nature of each order.

Rev. Ron Goldfarb, Deacon