New Life Everywhere
Diocesan Press Service. June 9, 1975 [75227]
The Rev. Col. William A. Komstedt, Jr.
I'm a "G. I. Gypsie " . .. an Air Force officer and a non-chaplain worker priest currently serving in Oklahoma. The Air Force has no major installation in my home diocese of West Virginia; and military assignments therefore have never provided an opportunity to serve close to my church home. During the weeks immediately following Easter, my thoughts drifted back to West Virginia. In the tree covered hills back there, springtime creates a living symbol of new resurrection life bursting forth from winter's cold tomb.
This year I was especially fortunate to be granted 15 days leave during the month of May when the West Virginia Diocesan Convention would be in session at Shepherdstown. What better way could there be to spend a leave? It's always a joy for a "G.I. Gypsie " to wander back to familiar places and renew old friendships.
American Airlines set me down at Washington National Airport where some old friends provided a little red Volkswagen for the remainder of the journey. Crossing over into West Virginia, I found everything expected, and even more. It was fresh, alive and green. Even the people seemed to have a new warmth and glow. On the way to Shepherdstown, lies Harper's Ferry, the little town of Civil War fame. A short, fun detour was made there . . . off the main highway and past Saint John's Parish. The Church seemed a little whiter and brighter and the people waved from the sidewalk a little more friendlier than I remembered. At the convention site, the greetings seemed warmer, the smiles broader, the handshakes firmer, and the hugs tighter than a year ago during my last visit. There was a perceptible difference! "What's happening in West Virginia? " I mused.
At the registration table, there were the usual cards to fill out and room assignments to be made. But again, something new . . a big red button with a white descending dove was pinned on the breast pocket of my suit jacket by a smiling lady taking registrations. It reminded me of the day many years ago upon graduation from flight training when a pair of silver wings was pinned on my Air Force blue uniform. Now the symbol of the Holy Spirit was pinned on me; in a sense, it seemed like a new set of wings for my clerical black uniform.
Suddenly, it all began to add up. The Diocese of West Virginia, in a way, had also just ended a year of flight training. A year of emphasis on evangelism was started at the last convention. The Holy Spirit was blessing the motives and efforts of the Diocese. Renewed life and fervor had come to West Virginia with this new commitment to the work of the Church.
On the floor of the convention, an enthusiastic delegate stood up and explained how he became an Episcopalian 28 years ago and discovered Jesus Christ. He had been deeply concerned all these years because our churches were not full. He felt that too many were missing the Good News which he had received. He longed to share it and was now truly excited about seeing the churches of West Virginia filling up.
A group of teenagers sitting in front of me were serving as pages for the convention. One happy, effervescent young lady turned around and whispered, "We've found out that the Holy Spirit is alive and well among us. Things are really happening here."
While my excitement and joy was growing over the obvious contrast in spirit between last year and now, I began to regret not having been present to witness the progress. Suddenly, this gap was filled in for me by an extremely well prepared documentary covering the events. Professional quality 35mm color slides were projected on a screen and a recorded narrative explained all the wonderful things that were being accomplished in so many of the parishes and missions around the state. I became aware of the total ministry being made available throughout the entire diocese. Congregations were quietly discovering the healing ministry of the Church. Churchmen have been sharing food and clothing with less fortunate people. Christians were expressing love and friendship for others in as simple a way as making and distributing submarine sandwiches. Priests had been traveling on foot and motorcycle to make pastoral calls and to bless homes and families. Clergy were discovering new dynamic methods for teaching the great truths of the Church. Laity were involving themselves in marriage enrichment programs. Church school teachers have been making classrooms come alive for children with a renewed understanding of God's grace. The ladies of an Altar Guild held an open house in their church to explain the significance of vestments and altar vessels to those who have not yet discovered the beauty and symbolism in Anglican forms of worship.
Many other imaginative ways of making Our Lord Jesus Christ known to the world were also shown in this documentary. This multi-media presentation on Messengers for Mission cannot adequately be described; one must see it to grasp its full impact. Immediately after this first presentation, a convention delegate offered $500. 00 for the purpose of producing copies so that many can share this information about the exciting ministries which are taking place.
The last worship service of the convention was a Eucharist. After making my communion, I returned to the pew to offer thanksgiving for the blessings of that moment and the brief visit to my canonical residence. Time was getting short; and I had to slip out a little early to drive back to Washington where I needed to catch an airplane back to Oklahoma. Walking away from the Church toward the borrowed Volkswagen, I could hear the worshipers singing "Halleluia, Halleluia, Halleluia, Halleluia" as a communion hymn. That fully expressed my feelings of the moment and I offered up a silent prayer, "Lord, let this new life and fervor flow over these hills to other parts of our country and use the Messengers for Missions presentation for your glory and the blessing of your people. AMEN!"