The Bishop visited on Sunday. It was perfect timing. Bishop Seage confirmed/received/reaffirmed a wonderful group of individuals. He also provided helpful encouragement and information to follow the announcement made last week.
My husband, Peter, has been called to serve as Chaplain for students, faculty, and staff at Sewanee: the University of the South. As you can imagine, a lot of mutual discernment took place before he accepted the position. I have come to believe that Peter is being faithful to the movement of the Holy Spirit as he prepares himself for a chapter of ministry that will take him into a new role that is based in the context of the academy. He will preach regularly at the beautiful campus worship space, and assist the institution in a variety of ways as Sewanee lives into her identity in this new era as a southern, Episcopal institution of higher learning.
So many of you have asked what I will do. Thank you for asking! I have a lot of energy and joy for priestly ministry. My initial plan is to continue using my energy and joy for ministry right here where I have been planted these last 6 years until my final Sunday with you on May 17th. When the time is right (and after we get Joseph and Francesca settled in our new community at Sewanee), I will work with the Canon to the Ordinary and others in the Diocese of Tennessee to discern where it is that I may be called to use my gifts to serve.
These years at St. Stephen’s have been a blessing to me. I am glad we’ll have some more time together. We will walk through another Lent and Holy Week together, celebrate the joy of the resurrection of another Easter, and continue until the end of the program year.
I hope you’ll each be present as you can be through the Spring. Faith communities that stay close in times of transition are able to grow in faith, hope, and love, even in times of change.
While I will miss you deeply, I will be leaving you in good hands. You have a wonderful senior warden in David Allen. You have a strong vestry with many years of dedicated service to St. Stephen’s. You have a talented parish administrator in Jennifer Zepponi, and you could not ask for a more dependable housekeeper in Leunice Jernigan. Additionally, the Diocesan support staff has already made themselves very available to us to prepare St. Stephen’s for the next steps, and a number of good conversations have already taken place.
Change can be hard. But when we keep our eyes and our hearts open, and our feet walking that path of following Jesus, change is just one of curve in the road that will be bring us closer to where we need to be.
I love you, St. Stephen’s. Keep the faith. Let’s keep walking!
Giulianna+