As embodiments of the Christian faith, Episcopal schools are created to be communities that honor, celebrate and worship God as the center of life. They are created to be models of God’s love and grace. They are created to serve God in Christ in all persons, regardless of origin, background, ability, or religion. They are created to “strive for justice and peace among all people and [to] respect the dignity of every human being.” These principles are the basis on which identity and vocation are to be defined in Episcopal schools.
I am honored to lead an Episcopal school founded as an expression of God’s love by St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, a leading parish in the Diocese of Washington.
The joy-filled worship service this past Sunday offered countless sources of inspiration to me that will serve as fond memories from the earliest days of my headship as well as reminders of my role to ensure that the Day School continues to model God’s enduring love and grace.
I have admired the beautiful banners on each of my visits to the nave. As I listened to Lesley Riddle’s beautiful Offertory Solo, “The Light that is Felt” and Dr. Adele Lynch’s moving accompaniment, I found my gaze resting on the motto embedded on the church banner: “Gather. Serve. Grow.”
My heart began to sing as I recalled the Day School’s “five essential elements” to seeking out and living its mission.
1. Gather as a beloved community in an inclusive and loving environment
2. Listen to each other’s stories as we find the strongest expression of our identity in community
3. Think and engage in a curriculum that incorporates religious formation and an awareness of diverse beliefs and perspectives
4. Pray as we reflect on what is important to us and worship together in weekly chapel
5. Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, as we are committed to social justice and the dignity of all God’s children
Forming a deeper appreciation for how these elements are informed by the Church’s beliefs and how they are inextricably intertwined with the Church’s values has been a profound experience for me that gained significance on Sunday. With God’s help and the support and prayers of friends, family, and the St. Patrick’s community, my leadership will include the palpable presence and preservation of the commitments deeply held by the Church and the Day School.
At my former school, I loved reading the Prayers of the People in our weekly chapels. Whether I am offering these prayers or listening to them, I feel empowered by God’s unmistakable desire for us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to encourage each other, and to gather in his name as a community of faith.
I was especially inspired by the petition for the Day School included in the Church’s Prayers of the People this week:
For all who teach and learn, and especially the ministry of our Day School, that it may be a center of sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom, so that our young people will serve God’s kingdom with love and respect, we pray.
As I listened to this petition, I remembered reading about the Church’s belief that “growth happens exponentially when done in community”. I reflected on the defining characteristics of Episcopal Schools and rejoiced in the expressions of encouragement from the wider community, including the Vestry, as my work to amplify God’s love in all areas of the Day School community begins in earnest.
Another lasting inspiration was the homily offered by Seminarian Yaa Addison. As Yaa acquainted us with St. Teresa of Ávila’s lessons on how to be Christ’s hands, feet, and eyes in this world, I thanked God for the privilege to hear such an insightful message brought by a graduate of the Day School. Yaa is so clearly serving God’s kingdom with love and respect. I am humbled by the charge to forward the Church’s ministry in an educational setting that provides guidance and a stellar learning community for the next generation of Day School graduates. Sunday’s Gospel recounted Jesus’ mission to the 70 as he sent them out into the world to preach his message. This is an important reminder to educators and people of faith, as we embrace our mission to reach out to children near and far and demonstrate for them the innumerable benefits of the reciprocal nature of service and a community ethos.
On behalf of all of us at the Day School, I ask for your continued prayers as we serve as stewards of the precious community of children with which God has entrusted us. Thank you for joining our ongoing prayers that the Day School remains a thriving ministry of the Church, bolstered by God’s love.
Prayerfully,
