May - A Month in the Life of a Seminarian

[Philip Mayer]

There I knelt before the dean of the seminary, the faculty and
hundreds of guests including the archbishop of Kenya and the
archbishop of the West Indies. The chapel was packed full of people
who had come to witness and participate in the 2008 graduation from
Nashotah House Theological Seminary. As the faculty stood surrounding
me in a half circle, the dean who sat in the center asked, “Sirs, do
you approve?” “We approve,” they responded. And then the dean
ceremonially tapped me on the head with a Greek New Testament and
said, “I admit you to the degree Master of Divinity.” A hood was hung
around my neck, I shook the Dean’s hand and then stood. This was the
culmination of three years of study and discipline. I had made it
through.

Over the next few days Melissa and I packed everything that we owned
into a little U-Haul trailer that was hitched to our 1991, Oldsmobile
(which by the way has over 260,000 miles on it) with the hope that it
would take us back to Florida where I would be ordained as a deacon
the following week. We said our goodbyes to the friends we had made--
people we're going to dearly miss--and then began the two day drive.
Unfortunately the drive was frought with stalls and difficulties
including an over-heating car. Somehow or another, with much fear and
trembling and prayer, we arrived in Florida.

A week later I found myself again in a great chapel, the Episcopal
Cathedral in Orlando—a building of immense grandeur, of stone and
gothic architecture. At the beginning of the service I and the others
involved walked down the center isle to our seats. I was then
presented to the bishop by the people of the Church to be ordained to
the sacred order of deacons. Before everyone present I solemnly
declared that I believed in the Holy Scriptures to be the Word of God,
and to contain all things necessary to salvation, and to conform to
the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church. The
bishop then laid his hands upon my head and prayed, “Therefore,
Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, give your Holy Spirit to
Philip; fill him with grace and power, and make him a deacon in your
Church.” And then all the people said, “Amen.”

And now, Melissa and I are off to follow God’s leading—the prayerful
and humbling process of seeking a parish in which to serve. Melissa
has also received her degree, Master of Arts in Religion, so we’re a
dynamic, well trained team, sure to have an energetic impact where God
calls us to be. We appreciate your prayers as we move through the
interview process.

Grace and Peace,
Philip and Melissa


The Reverend Philip Mayer
Transitional Deacon
5874 Lake Lizzie Dr., St. Cloud, FL 34771
407-409-8913 (voicemail)