A Message from the Vicar
Proclaiming by word and example the Good News,
Seeking and Serving Christ in all persons, Striving for justice and peace among all people, Respecting the dignity of every human being. The words above are slightly rephrased from the baptismal covenant in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. We make these promises when we are baptized, and the community as a whole reaffirms them at each baptism and on special feast days during the year. At Grace we especially emphasize “all persons,” “all people,” and “every human being.” We welcome as friends everyone, of any race, gender, creed, denomination, political affiliation, or sexual orientation, for all of us “are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Along with inclusiveness, we emphasize Outreach, helping others, because all of us are made in God’s image and when we help another person we help Christ. We are a sacramental church, in “the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic tradition.” Each Sunday at Holy Eucharist we practice the table fellowship of Jesus and the first Christians, and we welcome everyone to receive Communion. Grace practices mutual ministry; that is all of us are ministers. We actively encourage lay ministry and leadership: non-clergy chair nearly all of our committees. We have a lay person as Pastoral Assistant in charge of the Pastoral Ministry Team and we have a lay Assistant Homilist, and parishioners preach many times during the year. As Vicar, when I preach I have four responsibilities: 1. help us better understand the Gospel; 2. help us better live out the Gospel; 3. help us see what impedes and obstructs the Gospel, whether it’s in our own lives, our parish, or our society; 4. help us to remove those obstructions and impediments. Finally, we at Grace strongly agree with this statement by Diana Butler Bass in Strength for the Journey: “The Church is called to make history and not to provide a safe haven from change for people who fear it.” At Grace we are making history through the sacraments, worship, spiritual transformation and growth, inclusiveness, outreach, mutual ministry, and social justice. Because of all of the above, I believe, Grace has grown from a start-up house church in 2008 with about a dozen people to over 150 parishioners now. Newcomers usually say how welcoming we are and how comfortable they feel. We are more than a parish; we’re family. We welcome you to join us. The Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian, Vicar Grace Episcopal Church Bakersfield, California |  |
