The Feast of the Transfiguration celebrated on August 6th is a most appropriate choice for the induction of a new rector. It celebrates the moment when Jesus is transfigured in dazzling light before three apostles on a mountain top, a miraculous moment when Jesus becomes the connecting point between human nature and God, heaven and earth, the finite and the infinite.
The induction of a new rector is a significant event in the life of a faith community celebrating in liturgy and ritual a new beginning for the new rector and their new parish. Through ordination the priest is also the connecting point for the faith community between the heaven and earth, the finite and the infinite.
August 6th, 2013, marked the induction of the Reverend Jessica Schaap as rector of St. Paul’s, Vancouver. This would also be the final Induction Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Michael Ingham and his final appointment of an incumbent in the almost 20 years of his episcopacy.
For the past five years, Jessica had been curate then later assistant priest at St. James’ located in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. St. Paul’s is an urban parish situated in the heart of Vancouver’s heavily populated west end. Both St. James’ and St. Paul’s have histories of deep spirituality in worship and prayer and compassionate service to the poor and marginalized. Jessica brings many gifts to St. Paul’s: training and experience as a communicator, wisdom, energy, youth and an ability to teach and interpret the Christian Faith. St. Paul’s, with its well-earned reputation for being inclusive, invitational, welcoming, spiritual and generous enthusiastically welcomed Jessica.
A good-sized congregation and an impressive turnout of clergy from all around the diocese gathered in the nave and chancel of St. Paul’s on what very well might have been the warmest evening of the summer of 2013.
The Preacher was the Reverend David Taylor, assistant priest at St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale. For the focus of his homily, David selected the second reading, 2 Peter 1:13-21. To download a pdf copy of the sermon please click the link.
He began his address saying how exciting a time it is in the west end of Vancouver. The Vancouver Pride celebrations and parade involving hundreds of thousands of participants had taken place the weekend of the beginning of Jessica’s ministry on August 1st and there was still a “0% chance of rain”. He went on to discuss the text in the context of its being a “second-hand testimony” saying:
“In Scripture, in the Bible, we have secondhand testimony of the transfiguring love of God and it is treated as important as the very first witnesses of Jesus.
Secondhand testimony as important as first-hand testimony.
It is odd.
We wouldn’t necessarily consider second-hand testimony as important as first hand testimony. Second hand testimony is hearsay, it is gossip, it is myth.
Yet even though Second Peter was likely written after the life of Peter had ended, it is misleading to call Second Peter hearsay, gossip or myth.
It is not secondhand testimony.
In our post-modern era, we understand that every eye-witness testimony is filtered through one’s own interpretive lens. No testimony is free from context or from the influences and prejudices that mark a human life.Witnesses, whether they be first hand or second hand, speak out of their own experiences and turn their experiences into myth the instant they are voiced. Humans are story-tellers. We have been since the beginning and we retell stories again and again as our contexts and our experiences change. We have done this in the Church since the Church began; Retelling the stories of Jesus in new ways and in new places with new results and new moments of transfiguration.”
Jessica and the Parish of St. Paul’s will continue that tradition and further it with new insights and revelations, telling and re-telling the stories of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit through their own experience.
After the homily, Jessica and members of the parish promised in a Covenant in Ministry to be faithful to God and to each other. Various symbols of ministry of the whole people of God were presented to Jessica by members of the parish: the Bible, the baptismal water, the healing oil, the canons of the diocese, keys to the church, the prayer books and the elements that are most integral to our faith life as a Eucharistic people, the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper.
The intercession was particularly prayerful and moving as the newly inducted rector, the Reverend Jessica Schaap took her place in the rector’s chair in the chancel and 7 members of the parish all seated together in the nave led the prayers.
Bishop Michael celebrated the Eucharist at St. Paul’s for the last time as Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster while the choir led by Paul Bunnell offered Gabrieli’s Benedictus and Hosanna.
After worship, many in attendance gathered outside in the busy neighbourhood to enjoy the cooling breezes of late evening before re-convening in the Parish Hall for a reception.
Transfiguration had taken place, a new era has come for St. Paul’s, Vancouver. Please keep the parish and their new rector in your prayers as they move forward in ministry together.
Images: Top and homepage, Bishop Michael and the congregation welcome the new rector of St. Paul's, Vancouver, the Reverend Jessica Schaap with applause. Upper right, the Preacher for the service, the Reverend David Taylor, assistant priest, St. Mary's, Kerrisdale. Middle left, Jessica prepares for the presentation of the symbols of ministry (Wayne Chose Photo). Lower right, Lurea Lansel presents Jessica with prayer books (Wayne Chose Photo). Lower left, Jessica is seen on the left with a bouquet of flowers presented by the Archdeacon of Burrard, the Venerable Dr. Ellen Clark-King applauding her wardens: Kathryn Jones, Sharon Connaughty and Rose Desrochers who also received bouquets (Wayne Chose Photo). Bottom left, Bishop Michael Ingham was also presented with flowers in recognition of this, his last Induction Eucharist as Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster and also recognizing his nearly 20 years of Episcopal servant-leadership (Wayne Chose Photo).