Celebration of a "Common Mission"

Three parishes join for the third time to celebrate the life and legacy
of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Sunday, January 20, more than fifty people from St. Philip’s in St. Paul and St. Thomas in Minneapolis traveled by bus to join the people of St. Luke’s in Rochester for their third annual joint parish celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a cold and crisp day — brightened by the sun as well as the smiles of brothers and sisters from all three congregations, gathering to celebrate the “common mission” to let our lives be lights to the nations after the manner of Dr. King.

The Rev. James Nyebe Wilson, who serves as Priest in Charge of St. Philip’s and St. Thomas, preached powerfully of our call to find “common ground for mission…the mission God has called us through Baptism!"

The people of St. Philip’s and St. Thomas had been in a process of discernment for more than a year. This trip to St. Luke’s in Rochester provided each congregation with a kind of “retreat” to consider the important questions each of them would face at their upcoming Annual Meeting [at those meetings, which occurred the week after the January 20 celebration, the two congregations voted to merge; click here to read more]. By God’s providence, the people of St. Luke’s and St. Peter’s in Kasson would be considering just as important a question regarding shared ministry at their Annual Meetings as well.

There were more than 175 people present for worship that included the celebration of Holy Baptism. Charlotte Nicole O’Connor was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Douglas Sparks, the rector of St. Luke’s, and chrismated by the Rev. James Wilson. Quoting a parishioner and member of the Chancel Choir of St. Luke’s, “wasn’t that the most wonderful rendition of "Precious Lord" you have ever heard?”

Worship was followed by a luncheon. The food and fellowship were great! Our hope and prayer is that God, who has begun this good work in each of us, may bring it to fruition. Our hope and intention is that in January 2009, members of St. Luke’s Rochester and St. Peter’s Kasson may travel to celebrate with our sisters and brothers of St. Philip’s and St. Thomas.

Article and photos submitted by the Rev. Douglas Sparks,
Rector of St. Luke's, Rochester