Gratitude

Message from Rev. Anthony Gaboton

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that I have already been at St. John’s for a little over a month now. As Rev. Amelie recently preached, I feel interspersed somewhere between chronos and kairos time. I anticipate becoming more involved with the ministerial life of St. John’s, while simultaneously preparing for it, by getting to know protocol, parishioners, and the rhythm of my professional and personal life. This is all undergirded by a profound gratitude towards God.

Speaking of ‘gratitude’, I recently had a conversation with some of the parishioners at Calvary Episcopal Church in Hanover (the congregation I am serving on the 2nd and 4th Sundays), that gave me much to be grateful for. That particular evening was cold, and we were talking about the surrounding area close to the church.

“Well, you know Rev.,” one parishioner shared, “there are some folks that don’t live too far from the church who don’t have any heat.”

“Oh, wow. Are they homeless?” I curiously asked.

“No, they have a house,” he replied, “they just have to use a stove or fireplace to keep it warm.”

“Yeah, and a couple of them still use outhouses,” another parishioner added. 

Outhouses?! I couldn’t believe there are Americans in the 21st century who are still using outhouses, especially considering the country’s wealth. I also thought about how miserable it would be to go outside in the cold to use the bathroom.

As we draw nearer to Christmas and face the inevitable pull of shopping and festivities, I am reminded of the plight of others, the abundance of blessings I have, for which I am very grateful, and the work ahead to help share Christ’s love in deeds and actions.

In Christ,

Anthony+