This past Sunday I got to do a pulpit swap with a good friend of mine. He preached at Capitol Hill, the 1/2 time traditional church I serve while we lay the ground work for the new community at Sellwood. I preached at his church, which was a much larger crowd in a more formal setting. It was fun to change things up a bit, to write a sermon instead of an outline. And the best part was I got to wear my robe and my stole for the first time since being ordained!
Another friend who serves a small church a lot like Capitol Hill was astounded that I don’t wear my robe and stole every week. For me it doesn’t fit with the laid back, conversational style of worship at Capitol Hill. I feel like if I wore my robe it would be an off note in the experience of worship.
I think a lot about what I’m communicating to people through all the unspoken ways we as humans convey information. What I wear is part of that. Can you imagine if I showed up at pick-up after school in my robe and stole? Or what if I ran my errands at New Seasons Market like that? I think that a lot of people would notice and that I would be set apart by my clothes. That is not a bad thing, if that is what I believe God is calling me to do, but my ministry is one of solidarity, not separation. My goal is to create safe space in which to connect and to share light and love with others.
This may seem silly and vain, but to me it’s just another part of what it means to really be part of a community. To be here and now means thinking about how I communicate who I am and what I’m about. My jeans and Columbia sweatshirt do that in a way my robe never really could. I’m thankful to have been given the honor of wearing my stole through ordination. And I’m also thankful to be able to do this ministry of presence.
-Eilidh
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| My lovely stole made by my awesome mentor! |
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