Some Dreams Do Come True

I wrote several weeks ago about having dreams and plans for the future and this weekend I had the joy of sharing the experience as a dear friend fulfilled a long time dream. After many years of training, my good friend Judy Quick was ordained as a Reverend Deacon in the Episcopal Church. The deacon is one of three distinct orders of ordained ministers (bishops, priests, deacons) in the Episcopal Church.

The ceremony took place at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, a beautiful old structure with history dating back to a small framed church built in 1873. The ceremony was special in that two bishops presided.

The weekend activities started with Judy and her husband, Gene, hosting a dinner where I was introduced to 12 other close friends that all shared a special place in her life. Some dated back to high school, others college or from different areas of the country she had lived. And the newest friend present was the deacon from Jackson Mississippi who had mentored her as she prepared for this event. It was a lively dinner as old friends became new friends.

The next day was even a larger crowd as neighbors and church friends drove into Birmingham for the occasion. One colleague flew in from Paris, where Judy occasionally teaches a course in International Marketing.

After the beautiful, but lengthy service, we had a luncheon at the old Tutwiler Hotel. It seemed appropriate that we dinned to celebrate in a historical hotel which dates back to 1914 and houses pictures from the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham from the 1960's. The Tutwiler is known as a haunted hotel, if so, the spirits had to be pleased with the group that assembled to celebrate with Judy as she begins this new chapter of her life.

A Deacon in the Episcopal church is a servant of the church. The beginning of the deacon is said to be found in The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6 where seven apostles are chosen to take over the care for the poor and the sick. Some consider this a step in becoming a priest, overs like Judy want to remain in this position.

Unlike a priest, a deacon can only be ordained by a Bishop ("God now calls you to a special ministry of servant-hood directly under your bishop.")

A priest wears a stole over both shoulders to remind him of the burdens of serving Christ. A deacon wears his stole over one shoulder as a towel, to remind him of his service to the community. Judy wears her sash as a queen.




Judy Quick