By Matt Horan
It took about 40 seconds.
"Almighty God," the Bishop prayed, "pour upon Matthew Paul Horan the Holy Spirit, for the office and work of an elder in Christ's holy church. Amen."
"Matthew Paul Horan, take authority as an elder to preach the Word of God, to administer the Holy Sacraments, and to order the life of the Church in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
It was 8:34pm, Wednesday, June 1, 2011, and it was done. I was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church--something I'd been thinking about pursuing since 1997, and actively, officially pursuing since 2003. It was over in 40 seconds, but those turned out to be 40 of the most celebrated seconds of my life.
I will never be able to explain what it was like to experience what I experienced this week. There was an outpouring of love and pride unlike any I've ever seen. Four busloads of members from Hyde Park United Methodist came to be there for those 40 seconds. The chancel choir from Hyde Park came to sing for the ordination service. Many friends from our time in Tallahassee and Orlando were in attendance. My mom and dad came across the state to be there, and some friends even watched it on the internet. There were countless kind notes and thoughtful gifts and a hundred people to hug and thank after it was all over. It has been a month leading up and a week since of feeling overwhelmed with love from every corner, leaving me humbled and thankful. Who on earth deserves so much love and attention and acclaim?
Perhaps the best part was that my little girl was up there with me, serving as an acolyte. When I was on stage waiting for my turn, I looked back where she was sitting and winked at her, and got a huge smile in return. I was sure I wouldn't cry during the service, as I rarely cry at anything. But my little girl serving the church and supporting her daddy in this important way pushed me over the edge.
As if that wasn't enough, hundreds of our church friends packed into a reception for me Sunday morning to line up and congratulate me on finally getting to these 40 seconds. They stood in line to shake my hand and hug me and tell me they were proud of me.
The whole experience has gotten me thinking about the contrast between what I'm being called to do and the response I've been getting for doing it. The call to ordained ministry is a sobering thing. One feels inadequate and unqualified and underprepared for such service--wholly dependent on God to survive, let alone succeed. (If you don't feel that way, you're probably not doing it right.) In comparing my experience to others who were ordained in recent years, it turns out that none have come close to the outpouring I have received. I wondered--maybe I shouldn't have received so much fuss. I also wondered, however--maybe they should have received this much as well.
It is a long journey to get to those 40 seconds, because by them we complete both complete one journey and embark on a new one full of promise and possibility. There is relief at the job done, and thanksgiving to offer to those who have helped along the way, such as my wife, Susan, and daughters Jenna and Ashley. (I've gotten so much credit, but they have worked and struggled and suffered to get this far perhaps as much or more than I have!)
More than anything, my joy in this moment comes from what those 40 seconds represent. Many years ago I felt a call to ordained ministry. As with all moments when a believer senses that they have heard a word from the Holy Spirit, the path then is to have this calling confirmed by others in the church. So this has been a journey of confirmation. I have been led through a season of education, an intense season of internship, and a four-year season of on-the-job training. All along that journey, I faced groups of fellow disciples whose job it is to seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and either question or confirm the calling professed by a candidate for ordained ministry.
All along the way, to group after group, I repeatedly claimed my call to ordained ministry. In those beautiful, life-altering 40 seconds, the church responded:
"We agree."
It was a moment I will never forget for so many reasons--my friends, my family, my little acolyte, my fellow candidates for ordination, etc. It was a moment that made me feel like celebrating. I've been humbled and thankful recently to discover that when the church agrees with a candidate's sense of call to ordained ministry, it feels like celebrating too.
I offer a million thanks for all of the love that I have experienced from my friends, my family, my church, and now my fellow elders. I will never forget it, and I hope and pray that some day when my years of service as an elder are complete, those 40 seconds will seem worth the fuss.
Matt:
We at Hyde Park are blessed to be a part of your journey. Thank you for your ministry!
Jim Lake
Posted by: Jim Lake | June 12, 2011 at 12:59 PM