Take thou authority, he said through the phone.  I was nervous.  I called my friend and colleague because I’d been asked to celebrate Communion at a large gathering of other clergy.  As a commissioned but not yet ordained clergyperson (United Methodists have a long and confusing process), I still looked for a lot of help, clarification, and feedback.  I was the new kid, still practicing, and yet to have hands placed on my head by the bishop… 

Click here for the rest of the story at the catapult magazine website.  Thanks for reading!

Holy Spirit red stoles. I’m laying hands on a former student, kneeling at his ordination.

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Photo credit:  © 2012 Aaron Stiles, Used with permission.