I come today not to preach, but tell a story of your history. A little story.
A young 3rd grade teacher came to Gt. Barrington, and while at a New Year’s Eve Party,
She met a priest, dressed in a bright red jacket, Pierce Middleton, shooting craps.
After traveling many miles to church, she visited nearby St. James. While she found the people friendly and the priest welcoming, The Book of Common Prayer was a mystery— The order of service didn’t make any sense and there were no pictures in the book. The priest would say prayers that weren’t there so even after she was directed to the correct place, she would immediately get lost again.
This young teacher held a bible club after school where 30 or so children came each Wednesday to learn simple bible stories, sing simple songs and to work on crafts. They would learn stories such as Mary Magdalene, Moses, Gideon, even Jesus.
Since there were so many children and her apartment was too small, Pierce welcomed the teacher and the 30 children into St. James where for months they enjoyed the great room. Additionally Pierce gave money for the teacher to purchase bibles and snacks for the children.
After a few weeks of attending St. James, and still bewildered by the Book of Common Prayer-it wasn’t so common for her, Pierce invited her to meet the newly elected Diocesan Bishop, Alexander Stewart at Trinity Church in Lenox. He was holding a preaching mission.
The teacher was traveling with friends from AIER and members of St. James, and they headed off to Lenox on Feb 16th. There she was the first person out to shake the Bishop’s hand and exclaimed, “Wow, an Evangelical sermon in an Episcopal Church.”
The bishop, with his bushy eyebrows, intensely asked, “Who are you?”
After hearing she was a teacher and had graduated from a nearby college, He immediately responded with “I am sending young people traveling…are you interested?”
Not only was she interested, she was willing. She had visions of traveling around the country, visiting various churches, perhaps even singing in a traveling singing group….
But he actually meant traveling for Vacation Bible Schools and only in the Diocese of Western Mass.
It wasn’t as extensive as she had hoped, but it was traveling…..
Bishop Stewart asked her to wait to get her information. He had a very full congregation to greet. So she and her hosts waited….. And waited….. And waited…..
Eventually, it was decided the bishop, while well meaning, wasn’t going to get to her. As they walked out of the parish hall, she literally bumped into the bishop. There he got her name and address.
However, she heard nothing for several months. But was convinced he would hire her during that summer, so she passed on summer school teaching job. Just before the close of school, she got a phone call to meet at the Lenox School for boys.
Over Cold Duck as the team for the summer Vacation Bible School was assembled. They toasted. It was then, the bishop said to the young teacher. You will be my first woman priest. This was in 1970 when women priests didn’t exist. We all laughed.
Your congregation, St. James, was instrumental in the first woman in Western Mass to be ordained. Your congregation opened the door for a young teacher, not only to be fed by the Eucharist, to find a spiritual home, to have a place of intellectual growth and spiritual nurture.
It was also a place for service.
I tell this story, because your congregation welcomed this young teacher into the Episcopal Church. Your congregation started this young teacher on a meaningful spiritual journey. I tell you this story because this young teacher, now a retired priest, comes to say thank you.
Thank you for being God’s instrument to propel the woman to become the Bishop’s first woman he ordained; To become the first woman to serve as the President of the Episcopal Clergy Association;
First woman to serve as a Church Pension Fund trustee, and finally as Vice Chair.
After 36 or so years, this priest, comes to you, St. James, to Say with a grateful heart
Thank you.
Thank you.
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