Sunday, November 15, 2020 What is the Ministry of a Curate? by Dcn. Wesley Owens, 2020/2021 Curate

When I was five years old, I aspired to become a heart surgeon. Thinking back, I can still visualize my plastic doctor’s kit, complete with stethoscope and toy instruments of various shapes and sizes: a toy scalpel, a pair of scissors, bandages, a blood-pressure cuff. In hindsight, the Lord had other plans for my life, but I cannot deny that there was a true intuition underlying my early prediction. For the past few weeks, our St. Peter’s family has come to know me as “the new curate.” But, for some newcomers, this phrase is something of an enigma; it lacks currency in most contemporary church traditions outside of our Anglican circle. The English word ‘curate’ has assumed a variety of uses over the centuries. Today, it is most commonly used to describe a junior member of the parish clergy like myself — a kind of apprentice in ministry who is typically young and recently ordained. A curate must be available and teachable. He must be ready to assist the older, more experienced clergy of his parish and habitually eager to learn from their example in everything. This understanding is helpful, but it is considerably narrower than the etymology of the term suggests. In point of fact, curate (Latin: curatus) is related to our word cure, and it was once used in a more general sense to describe the essential work of any ordained minister. Just as a doctor is entrusted with the cure of bodies, a curate is entrusted with the cure of souls. What is the ministry of a curate? It is not at all unlike the medical profession, though it pertains to a different object. Doctors tend to the physical health of their patients; curates to the spiritual health of theirs. Like cardiology, spiritual care involves attending to certain conditions of the heart. And, just as doctors can contract the same illnesses that they treat, there exists a similar tension in ministry. A curate is at once a ‘doctor’ and a ‘patient’ — the one bestowing a cure and receiving the same cure from others. This reciprocal relationship animates every Gospel encounter, every conversation, and every act of service. So often, I have set out with the intention of ministering to others only to realize, more accurately, that through the very men and women I have served, the Lord has been ministering to me. It is self-evident to most of us that patients are not equipped to be their own doctors. We do not know ourselves as well as we suppose. Jeremiah 17 reminds us that God alone knows our hearts well enough to give a true diagnosis: “The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse – who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.” Similarly, in Matthew 15:18-20, we are told: “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.” Our justification is by faith and is secure, but our sanctification

... continued on the Discipleship “Community and Education” section of The Keys Discipleship COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION

....KEYS ARTICLE CONTINUED 1 PETER: PERSISTENCE THROUGH DIFFICULTY is a slow and painful process that stings like heart surgery Wednesdays at 6:15pm | Join us on YouTube as Fr. Petty without an anesthetic. If we want to fight the disease, we walks us through the book of 1 Peter. Visit StPetersFL. need a skilled surgeon who can remove every malignancy com/fall-2020-classes/1peter to learn more. that distorts the image of God in us – and because no human heart is healthy, no ordinary doctor will suffice. ARTWORK FUNDRAISER FOR THE Jesus Christ is the great Physician, the Curate of HOSPITALITY CENTER curates, the Doctor with an antidote to every sin, every The Mary and Martha Guild is selling tickets through misaligned affection that infects our tired and wayward mid-December for a chance to win an original painting hearts. With the precision of a skilled surgeon, Jesus or a print. Find them in the Narthex to check out the sees past the outer layer of action to the deeper core of paintings donated by artists Nina Freeman, Rosemary intention, affection, and desire. By his healing power, Ferguson, and Mary Alma Lang. the heart which once burned with desire for sin is set Enter for a chance to win the art! The cost is $5.00 per afire with love for God to the point that it becomes an chance, $20.00 for 5 chances, or $50 for 12 chances. active participant in the divine love rather than a mere Your ticket purchase gives you an opportunity to win an beneficiary of it. amazing work of art AND helps build the Hospitality Every minister of the Gospel is called to be a vessel of Center to offer refreshments on the lawn! the divine cure, a living extension of our Lord’s healing reach. Broadly speaking, this is true not only of priests ADVENT QUIET MORNING and deacons, but of all Christians. As your curate, I Saturday, December 5, 9:00am–12:00pm | Feeling want nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of rushed and stressed? Slow down with the Advent Jesus – to be his apprentice, his vessel of mercy for the Quiet Morning! The morning will be led by Fr. sake of others. The renovation of our fallen nature David Trautman, rector of Trinity Anglican Church requires nothing less than an unparalleled divine act of in Thomasville. Fr. David will offer a series of resuscitation. We need spiritual heart surgery. Please reflections on Advent and after each reflection, there pray that I would be strengthened by the healing touch will be time for prayer and meditation. Childcare of our Lord and speak with his same precision into the will be available. hearts of those around me. Register at StPetersFL.com/Register. NURSERY NOW AVAILABLE Nursery is open for morning services and Sunday School POINSETTIAS AND MUSIC DEDICATIONS for children age 4 & under. If no children are present Our lovely Christmas services will be even prettier by 11:30am, it will be closed. For more information, with donations for brilliant poinsettias and special please contact [email protected]. instruments to accompany our glorious choir! Look for the special envelopes in your pew or complete your WEDNESDAY NIGHT PICNICS dedication online at StPetersFL.com/Give. Come join us our last Picnic on the Lawn of the fall! Send your submission on or before Wednesday, Bring your own picnic and blanket, and we’ll have a December 16. Suggested minimum donations are $15 socially distanced picnic together! The playground for poinsettias and $25 for music. Please print your will also be open. dedication legibly. STEWARDSHIP REPORT We have reached the conclusion of our stewardship program When The Lord is My Shepherd. As of today, 75.7% of the St. Peter’s 2020-2021 budget has been pledged. Our new budget is based upon pledges received. Pledges are valid only for a year. All pledges from the 2019/2020 budget year that were set on auto draft will not auto renew. You must complete a new pledge card for the 2020/2021 budget year or you can email [email protected], our Finance Administrator. If you have not yet made your commitment, please complete a pledge card located in the pew and return it as soon as possible, or you can complete your pledge online at StPetersFL.com/Give. As Fr. Marcus begins his ministry among us, it is important that the budget be fully funded so that St. Peter’s can continue to move forward.

Mission

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES ARE DUE! Due today, November 15 | If you picked up an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, today is the day to return them! Please also include the $9 shipping cost. The easiest and best way to pay for the shipping is to do it online so you can “follow your box”! You can also write a check payable to Samaritans Purse with “Operation Christmas Child” in the memo line. Thank you to everyone who filled a box!

GRACE MISSION HOLIDAY MEAL NEEDS For Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, Grace will be providing holiday “takeout dinners” as well as complete holiday dinner boxes for families and children of the Grace Mission S.O.A.R. program. Grace is in need of food donations to make these holiday meals wonderful for those that do not have too much ‘wonderful’ in their lives. Donations can be dropped off Tuesday - Friday, 10:00am to 2:00pm at 303 W. Brevard Street at the side door. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. Food items that are needed: • whole raw turkey • large #10 cans of corn or green beans • cranberry sauce • instant stuffing mix • instant potatoes • pies • butter (1 lb) • cans/jars of turkey gravy Contact Jason White at [email protected] or 850-566-7702 with any questions. Worship

When you enter a St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral worship service/event, you will be entering an area where photography, video, and audio recording may occur.

THANKSGIVING BREAK SCHEDULE The Cathedral Office will be closed Wednesday, November 25 – Friday, November 27. Morning and Evening Prayer will be offered every week day during the week of Thanksgiving except for Thanksgiving Day, November 26. There will be a Thanksgiving Eucharist on Thanksgiving Day at 8:30am.

SOUND IN THE TRANSEPTS We’ve been working very hard to fix the sound issues in the Transepts. The speakers and amp that were destroyed during a storm over the summer are off being repaired. We expect to have them back and working in 3–4 weeks. We understand this has been frustrating. We are thankful the issue has finally been identified and in the process of being repaired. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

STEWARDSHIP DEVOTIONAL Our stewardship season devotional book When the Lord is my Shepherd is now available at Cathedral Books and Gifts for $6 each. Stop by and pick up your copy today! Pledge cards are available in the pews or you can visit StPetersFL.com/Give to complete your pledge online.

PASTORAL CARE AND OUR CATHEDRAL PRAYER LIST: During this trying time filled with uncertainty and challenge, we want you to know that our clergy are available to provide pastoral care as you have need. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. Please call the Cathedral Office at 701-0664 or email [email protected] to be added to the cathedral prayer list. Please pray for our military, relatives, and friends. Military: Gabriel Melendez (82nd Airborne), SFC Dewey Spence, PFC David Jagoe, 1st Lt. Griffin Jax, 2nd Lt. Parker Jax, 2nd Lt. Carson Jax, Maj. Gen. John Richardson, Lt. Col. David Chichetti, Lt. Cmdr. Chris Smith, Capt. James Dilworth, Kurt Spitzer Jr., 1st Lt. Parry Thomas, Airman Drew Edwards, Lt. Cmdr Blake Van Brunt Jr., Sgt., Capt. Oliver Rushing, Lance Corp Robert Johnston, Capt. John Easterbrook, Jr., NCC Ryan Blackmer, Lucas Bell, Lt. Col. Robert Johnston, LTC Burt Newman, FR Lee VanLandingham, SSG Corey Daws, Lt. Patrick Swain Parishioners, Relatives, and Friends: For privacy reasons, names have been omitted for the electronic “paper version” of The Keys. Please email [email protected] if you would like a list of the names