Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. – Deuteronomy 34:9
Saturday afternoon I shot my first photography gig in a long time. Professionally, my skillset is “writer.” But I also enjoy photography and I use it to help tell stories and to get my message across. Then sometimes, because people tend to like my photos, I will be asked to shoot a portrait, or an event.
Saturday’s event was the installation service for Rev. Katie Cashwell, who has been called to the position of Associate Presbyter for Small Churches & Technology for The Presbytery of New Hope, the 111 PC(USA) congregations serving our region.
Our church, Howard Memorial, hosted and everything went beautifully.
For me, the most powerful element of occasions such as this is always when the person being ordained or installed kneels for prayer. They are surrounded by other clergy and elders and the commission – the authority – of their position is conferred by the “laying on of hands.”
A hand resting on a head, a shoulder, an arm. Sometimes dozens of people focused not just in prayer but also the weight of tradition, the hands that blessed them in prayer connected, in turn, through the centuries and all of history to Jesus.
The energy felt, and shared, and generated in this setting is palpable. There is a sense of the beauty of holiness and the very specific blessing of God.
But you don’t just have to read about it. If you are in Tarboro this morning we are installing a new class of elders here at Howard Memorial. Also, for a brief moment stepping out of her retirement to the choir loft, Rebekah will be preaching.
God is good, and the community that follows Jesus is a beautiful place to be – DEREK
- Stay tuned for more photos in a couple of days!
