A Message from the Rector:

All Things Come of Thee, O Lord

Dear Friends,
Greetings and blessings in the name of our gracious God who brings all things together for good! I clearly remember the very first Holy Eucharist I attended at an Episcopal Church. I came as a 30-something, unchurched spiritual seeker. At the Offertory, when the priest held aloft the plate containing the offering of the congregation, he blessed it with the words of a prayer I had never heard before and will never forget: “All things come of thee, O Lord.” Then the congregation responded: “And of thine own have we given thee.”

I caught my breath when I heard that brief prayer. In an instant, I realized that it summed up both the purpose of my spiritual quest and the truth of our lives: everything we have in this life is gift – the gift of God working in cooperation with our spiritual gifts, our natural talents, and our life circumstances. To the then rather secular, spiritual, though not particularly religious version of myself at that time, I perceived that brief prayer as God’s way of touching me and turning my life towards Him. As I was to learn, God often reaches out to us in brief moments of insight like that to teach us lasting life lessons.

My call to St. Paul’s came about in much the same way. You may remember that I “pinch-hit” for Hill Riddle at the School’s graduation service back in May. It was a hot day and the air conditioning was barely cooling a packed church. Yet, the service was beautiful, our prayer together touching and meaningful. And even though I had served at St. Paul’s on many other occasions, I felt a connection with St. Paul’s that day like never before.

Reflecting at home later that afternoon, I realized that God was reaching out to me, stirring my thoughts at a time when it happened that I was in discernment about my future work as a priest. The next day I learned that a member of the Search Committee had emailed the Bishop that same afternoon inquiring as to my availability for consideration as a candidate in the rector search process. Mere coincidence? Maybe. But this I can tell you: as I’ve walked the Christian Way since that first day I came to the Episcopal Church, I’ve come to know that God works very intentionally, seeking us out much like he did in seeking out Moses and Nicodemus, stirring our hearts and minds, always looking to give us the gift of new life and new possibilities. This story of my call also sums up my faith as a Christian.

All things really do come of God; all that God asks of us is to respond with our hearts.

But you here at St. Paul’s already know that. In these past few years, you have responded to the God of Hope and New Life stirring you to action as His servants of renewal. You are well known and admired for your inspirational example as a beacon of light and hope in the City of New Orleans. As I begin my time with you, I do so with this conviction: God is calling us forward to continue walking the way of hope and light in ways we have yet to imagine.

My wife Kathy and I are grateful and overjoyed to receive the gift of this call to be with you at St. Paul’s. I will honor it with the gifts God has given me to serve as your pastor, teacher, and spiritual friend. Together, let us walk forward in the confidence that our best days as a community of faith are ahead of us and that God will continue to gift us even as we continue to give the gift of ourselves.

May this be our prayer: All things come of thee O Lord; and of thine own have we given thee.

Amen.

Blessings,
Scott Albergate+