From The Rev. Karen L. Pierce

One of my favorite images of a deacon is one of a sheep dog, (yes a sheep dog) who runs back and forth between the farm and countryside, linking sheep together for the health, feeding and restoration of the entire flock. The sheep dogs role is to go out into that countryside, understanding that we are all one flock, and look and sniff out the needs of the sheep that are outside the walls of the farm and bring those needs back to the flock, back at the farm; encouraging and nudging them to follow the sheep dog back into the countryside to unite with those in need.

And so it is the same with deacons in the Episcopal Church who are always looking out, and sniffing out the needs of the world that need our attention. Deacons bring the concerns of the world to the attention of the congregation. Or as Bishop Rickel likes to say, “Deacons go out in the world, find trouble and bring it back to the church.” In identifying these concerns and needs, they bridge the gifts of the congregation to the community and the world, acting as a  atalyst for the ministry of the baptized; calling them into action to serve as Jesus served. A deacon assists the congregation in becoming aware of its gifts for servanthood; the gifts are varied and wonderful and live in everyone of us. God has given us everything we need to be servants to the world; serving is a way of showing love.

It is in the margins of the world that deacons do most of their work; among the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, and those who are alone. They always have an eye and ear (or a nose) open to these needs in their community and the world—mobilizing their congregations and their communities—putting the words of the Gospel into action.

During the liturgy, deacons have several specific functions that are icons of servanthood linking them again from the church to the world. They proclaim the Gospel, as they are telling the good news of Christ the Incarnate, Christ the Servant. They serve at the altar in setting the table, preparing the bread and wine for consecration; again serving. They bid the confession and the Prayers of the People and work with lay leaders to design prayers of the people; again shining a light on the needs of the world in the midst of our worship. Deacons send out the Eucharistic Visitors to take Eucharist to those who cannot attend worship. They dismiss the congregation at the end of service, sending them out to do the good works of Christ in our daily lives. You may have noticed that when I say the dismissal I will have one foot on the door jamb and one in the church. This is one of my favorite iconic ways of making a visible sign of bridging the church and the world as it is the last thing we do at the end of our worship—we go forth into the world to love and serve God.

This is an exciting time for us at St. Paul’s, and I look forward to the work ahead of jumping back and forth across the door jamb with all of you beside me, out into the countryside, bringing all of us together in love and service of Christ. Please let me know if you have questions about the role of a deacon or want to sit down and talk about ways that you feel called in to some type of service in the community or world. I am happy to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Now let us go forth into the world, to love and serve,

Karen