Written by Mother Rebecca Tankersley

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ!

For many years, I’ve met with a spiritual director, a counselor for the soul. A spiritual director listens to spiritual struggles, offers insights and disciplines to address them, and, if they happen to be ordained as mine has been, hears confessions. My first director taught me so much about the spiritual life of a disciple – how to offer my suffering to God just as I offer my time, talent, and treasure. Through our time together, I learned to orient and offer my whole life to God.

The most enduring take away from my time with my first director came not from her teachings on faith but from sharing time with her and letting a little of her, well (pardon the expression in this, our time of Covid), rub off on me. Every time we met, she used the phrase: “I am grateful.”

  • “I am grateful for your ministry.”
  • “I am grateful for the faithful support I’m hearing about from Scott and the boys.”
  • “I recommend this book; I’m grateful for the insight it offers.”
  • And, always, when we’d finished talking, “I’m grateful for this time together and God’s presence with us.”

Gratitude is a powerful act of faith.

This Sunday is Recognition Sunday at Transfiguration. A time when we, as a Formation staff, recognize and express our gratitude for those who have served us as teachers, chaperones, companions, and volunteers. Ordinarily, we would gather in Roper Hall to read each name aloud and offer our thanks through applause and warm hugs. Oh how we wish we were able to do so this year! Instead, we’ve prepared a special offering of thanksgiving for all of these dedicated ministers among us to air on Sunday morning at the conclusion of our worship.

In advance of this, please accept my deepest thanks to everyone who has taught a class, welcomed students at a door, facilitated a book group or other learning opportunity, assisted with Vacation Bible School, served as a Companion on the Way, or otherwise found a way to share their knowledge and love of Christ with someone else at Transfiguration this past year.

I am grateful for you!

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: We come to you with grateful hearts

for all those who teach and guide us in our faith,

for their knowledge and love of you and

for the gifts you have given them to equip them to share that

knowledge and love with us;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the

Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I’ll see you on Sunday!

Rebecca+