Odd question: Does anyone know any descendents of Newton M. Fitch or Aley W. Hutchings Fitch?  I have a old document of theirs that may have some sentimental value to their family.  Contact Nicole at 816.268.6514 if you have any leads for us.  Thank you.

My final Sunday has arrived.

I started my journey toward ordained ministry in 1977.  In a less formal way, I struggled with discernment of a call to ministry for years prior to that.  Nothing in my life prepared me for the idea of becoming an Episcopal priest.  Looking back however, there were many signs along the way.

In Fontainebleu, France, asking for communion when I was in the 4th grade.  The Army "Protestant" chaplain, who happened to be Episcopalian, talked to me about the sacrament.  I was intrigued by what he told me and thought a lot about the idea of sacrament.  

After touring the buildings of Dachau and seeing the remnants of the inhumanity of humanity, I stood under the gates as I left and read the ironic words, "Arbeit macht Frei" (Work sets you free).  How, I wondered, could God allow this?  For years after, even to this very day, I hear the voice of God, "How can you allow this?"  That experience at Dachau was very important in my life and continues to inform my Christian ethic and interpretation of the challenge of God to the Church to always be prophetic and living the faith sacramentally.  The question for me has never been, "Are you saved?"; rather, it is "Am I serving God by serving the people of God, especially the most vulnerable, marginalized, powerless?"   Returning to the US and the O ld South, my eyes were more open and I became painfully aware of the wicked irony I witnessed in Jim Crow and white violence.  

For much of my life, I turned toward the sciences as a refuge from more challenging questions of society and ethics, but mother science was always for me more avocational than vocational. Once, while a grad student in biomedical research, I was driving a conference speaker,  Ingegerd Hellstrom, a very famous cancer researcher then and now, to the airport for her flight back to Seattle.  She asked me about my work.  Without thinking, I revealed I was struggling with a call to holy orders.  As I recall, she said something like, "you can always follow immunology, but you must follow your heart for your true vocation."  I was shocked at this prestigious scientist allowing me to wonder about my "true" vocation.  Not only that but she encouraged me in my religious struggles.  It was not long after I walked out of the labs and never went back. 

My life unfolded much as I expect God intended.  There were bumps before and I am sure there will be bumps yet to come, but I arrive at this ending confident there is yet a Way calling me.  

I began as a curate at St. Paul's, Meridian, Ms and I end as rector of St. Paul's, Kansas City, Mo.  Along with the stops in between, it has been an amazing journey.  I thank you all for being a part of my faith journey and for allowing me to be part of yours.  

Bishop Barbara Harris, the first woman (who happened to be African American too) to serve as a bishop in the Episcopal Church (Bishop Suffragan of Massachusetts), once served as editor of a religious journal called The Witness.  She wrote compelling and powerful editorials in that journal.  Her signature sign-off for each editorial was "a luta continua," a Portuguese phrase that means "the struggle continues."  I claim this as my motto for retirement.  Lived faith is a lifetime's challenge, and I embrace it.  A luta continua!           rsr+

1940's Vintage drinks, finger foods, popcorn and movie refreshments will be served.   The Fosters have lived here and been involved at St. Paul's for the last 31 years. Don't miss this rare behind the scenes tour of  Blandings' closet, and basement theatre; looking for St. Paul's artifacts in every room and win the Scavenger Hunt prize!

Admission:  A donation for the St. Paul's Food Pantry  
canned ham , chicken or tuna.