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So Our Priest Was Canonized?? by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy On December 13, 2003, the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno was our guest speaker at a stewardship dinner held in Pierson Hall. Bishop Bruno has fond affection for St. A's from the time his former wife, Linda, served here as an associate priest. And for that reason, that night was a sort of homecoming for him and for us. So generous is Jon's spirit that he even filled out and submitted a pledge card to St. A's. At the end of his presentation on stewardship, the Bishop invited me forward for a "surprise." At that time, he presented me with a certificate that reads: "Be it known to all faithful that in recognition of devoted service to our Lord and the mission of the Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev. Hartshorn Murphy is an honorary canon of the Cathedral Center of St Paul. Given under my hand and seal on the 13th day of December in the year our Lord 2003." It is signed by Bishop Bruno and Ernesto Medina, Provost of the Cathedral, attesting. In addition, I was given a stunning pectoral cross inscribed "Canon of the Cathedral Center of St. Paul." What does it mean to be a "canon?" The Episcopal Dictionary of the Church by Don Armentrout defines it this way: "Canon. The word is derived from the Greek kanon, a 'measuring rod or rule.' It has several different meanings in the church: Ecclesiastical Title. A canon may be a member of the clergy on the staff of a cathedral or diocese. A canon on a cathedral staff assists the dean, and a canon on a diocesan staff assists the bishop. Members of the clergy and laity have at times been made honorary canons of a cathedral in recognition of significant service or achievement. Historically, canons were secular clergy who were connected to a cathedral or collegiate church, sharing the revenues and a common rule of life at the church." The Oxford Dictionary of the Church adds this: "...Residentiary canons form the permanent salaried staff of a cathedral and are responsible for the maintenance of its services, fabric etc. A "non-residentiary canon" (often 'honorary canon') is one who holds an unsalaried post, which may entail certain privileges and responsibilities." Perhaps it sounds simplistic to say it this way, but I think it fair to say that Bishop Bruno chose to honor me in this way because I have hung in there in this Diocese for these 23 years. I served as Rector of St. Philip the Evangelist for eight wonderful but difficult years as we underwent a transition to begin Hispanic ministry in South Central Los Angeles. Following that, I worked eight compelling years as Archdeacon for Congregational Development as we tried to work to be faithful to a vision of beginning new initiatives under a new Bishop while reinvigorating old commitments, especially among mission congregations. Twice I served as diocesan deployment officer and for a year, I worked as interim pastor at St. Francis Church in Simi Valley. And now, for 7 years, I have been your Senior Pastor at St. Augustine's; a position I love and treasure. But, I have hung in there. Another way to say that, of course, is: faithfulness. But we are all called to be faithful to the gospel and to our vocations in which we each exercise ministry. Each of you is empowered by the Holy Spirit to "hang in there" day by day in your call to be faithful to the values of the Gospel in the vineyards in which you have been called to serve. The yearning of God's heart is that you be fruitful in being the "body of Christ" to those among whom you work or play or live; and by your faithfulness, enable the revealing of the hidden kingdom of God amongst us. "Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide; for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you.'" Luke 10:7-9 It is perhaps a little thing not signifying much. A bit of parchment and a few ounces of metal but it means the world to me. We all need to be appreciated and to be encouraged. And we all need to be thanked from time to time. The Bishop's affirmation and affection means much precisely because it was given from his great heart and this grateful heart was pleased to receive it.
And may faith -- trusting and being open to God -- lead us all in this unfolding year of 2004, to be light and life in this our generation.
Copyright © 2004 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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