Today, December 20, 2008 is the 39th anniversary of my ordination. I have never made a big deal of the anniversary of my ordination, like some do. Scottie always remembered it with a card and a gift and that meant a lot. God how I miss her!!
All that is really important to me on this anniversary each year other than sharining it with her, is to celebrate the Eucharist on the Sunday closest to December 20 and just give thanks for my priesthood. My priesthood has defined my life; it is what I was born to be.
Just as important to me is as the anniversary of my ordination, though is thecelebration of the Christmas Eve Mass each year. EWvery Christmas Eve I approach the altar in the procession at that Mass I pause and just give thanks for my priesthood. And I always remember that first Christmas Mass in 1969. My first Mass in Aliquippa that first Christmas was special and every year as I come to the altar on Christmas Eve and pause I always remember how blessed and overwhelmed I felt that night.
It was just five days after my ordination and eight days after the birth of our first child, Christie. Scottie had just come home from the hospital on Dedcmeber 22. I was still skinny, and Scottie and I were so very young. Surely back then of we had no idea of the adventures that lie ahead. Since then Scottie's father died in '72 an we took the giant leap of faith of moving to Tucsion, Arizona in '74; we lost two children at or near birth; we had another son, Mike, in January of '82; I started law school in August of '82 and graduated in '85. I practice law for almost 20 years, and continued my priesthood during that same period as well. In 2002 I went to Good Shepherd as an interim rector and became Rector in January 2004. Shortly thereafter we discovered Scottie was dying of cancer and for four long years we fought for her life. In November of last year I lost her. After 41 years of marriage, not counting all those years we knew each other growing up, I am now alone. I have had the chane to make two mission trips to Africa and I spent 2 month on sabbitical in Ecuador this year with a 10 day side trip to Peru. I have become a photographer of some significant skill level; and now I am about to retire. It has been one hell of a trip.
Last Christmas I did not celebrate the Eucharist, since I was on my sabbatical following Scottie's death. The kids and I were all up in Estes Park that Christmas, thanks to the loving gift of our dear friends, Gini and Bob Pringle, who offered us the use of their home there to ease the pain of that Christmas. That gift eased the pain far more than we could ever have imagined. We went to church in Estes Park that Christmas Eve, but I did not celebrate. That is the only Christmas in 39 years I did not say Mass on Christmas.
I will celebrate this Christmas Mass knowing that it will be my LAST one as Rector of Good Shepherd. There will be a big lump in my throat and a tear in my eye I am sure. I have not yet announced my retirement to the parish and if anyone reads this before I make an announcement, which will be right after Christmas, please respect my need to keep this in confidence until then. Surely I will continue to have chances to celebrate Christmas Eve at other churches as I will continue to work part-time wherever the diocese might wish to send me. And I don't mean to minimize the gratitude I will have for those opportunities. But celebrating the Eucharist on Christmas Eve in your own parish has been a special blessing that only someone in my place might appreciate.
I have been blessed with the chance to have some marvelous parishes over these many years and every year on Christmas Eve when I approadch the altar in the procession I feel a special joy and gratitude for being called to be a priest among the marvelous people God has given me.
How well I remember that first Christmas Eve and arriving home after that first late Christmas Mass. Scottie had set out some snacks, because she knew how tired I would be when I got home and she knew that I can never just jump into bed after getting home late. She got out that first bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream that Bob and Grace Jones had delivered to our house that same afternoon, and we had the first of what wwas to be the first of a very special Christmas Eve tradition; snacks and a glss or two of Harvey's Bristol Creme late on Christmas Eve, really very early on Christmas Day. I will continue that tradition even this year when there will be just Mike and I alond here. Come to think of it I will ask Kevin to buy some for Christie so she, and he, can have a glass "with me" even though they cannot be here this year. I think she would like that since she has become such an important part of that tradition in recent years, especially those years when Scottie was not well.
After writing all of this I think I will resume this blog as I begin my retirement and just let anyone who is interested drop in if they wish. And if no one wishes to, that's OK too, 'cause just the writing of it will be of value to me as I start this new chapter of this adventure called "my life".
Love to you all,
Glenn+
