If you’re a bishop, I have a suggestion, which is that you to want avoid being the preacher the day a church is welcoming its new vicar. But with the Rev. Tim Black and his spouse, Patricia, just in from Georgia, sitting nearby, that was my lot on Sunday at St. Michael’s Community Church in Isla Vista. The visitation was planned months ago. The Blacks’ arrival was serendipitous, and while they and the 80 gathered for worship were exceedingly gracious, I resolved to be expeditious.
Besides, we had a lot more work to do. It was All Saints Sunday. We reassured one another about Tuesday’s election, remembering that all manner of things will be well (Julian), since they all work together for God’s purposes of love, peace, and justice for them who are in faith (Paul). A standout moment was Iris, a UCSB undergraduate, and Rachel, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, coming to be confirmed. Raised in Christian post-denominational heartland contexts, they came before God’s altar on Sunday because of The Episcopal Church’s commitment to inclusion for all God’s people. More and more young people insist on this in their faith lives. Our rainbow flags are active evangelism tools.
Then Tim said a word of welcome, presided genially at Holy Eucharist, and took up his banjo to join music director Preston Towers and the St. Mike’s players for the post-communion anthem. As always, the music had a timeless, “Brother Where Art Thou” feel. Tim’s guitar and mandolin will also be sweet treats as this new relationship blossoms.
A fifth-generation northeast Georgian, Tim and his family left the Southern Baptist church in in 1980 or so as its perspective narrowed. Our denomination bagged him on his first Sunday visiting at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. The Blacks’ three grown children live and work in California, an additional incentive besides St. Mike’s’ service- and justice-driven spirit and the butterscotch sunshine.
The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Moore, the mission deacon, is also a UCSB professor on sabbatical, a boon to St. Mike’s, where she has looked after countless details between vicars, including the sadness of a troubled young person killing four church chickens. Her next book is on Islamophobia in the 2016 election.
St. Mike’s was founded as a campus ministry in 1954, the same year as the university. A campus-based a cappella group led us in “As I Went Down To the River to Pray.” Although he’s been in town less than a week, Tim has already visited campus, hung out with students, and cadged some email addresses for the mission newsletter. Our diocesan campus chaplains have learned recently that undergraduates are experiencing high rates of social isolation and anxiety, and the election isn’t helping. Though someone crowded him out of his pulpit on his first Sunday, Tim’s arrived just in time.
