Community. Compassion. Hope. St. James is a congregation living in to being a welcoming place, in the heart of the city of Chicago, offering community, compassion and hope. There are aspects of my spiritual journey that are similar to those things that connect many of us to our historic congregation.
To serve in community
Many of us express a desire to identify with something beyond ourselves. In my life, Community is a connection to the ancient – to those that have come before. Some years back I spent a week singing services in Westminster Abbey. At that time the experience was magical; I had never been in such a place, and to offer our gifts of music in a place where so many had before was amazing. But that was only the beginning. My willingness to join in that experience forever linked me to the many souls all over the globe who worship and praise the Creator in sacred places. I carry this with me always, and am ever grateful for its place in my spiritual life.
To serve with compassion
Often we hear that members of our congregation want to be a part of something that makes a difference. Some years ago this congregation sponsored me as a lay chaplain for training at Bishop Anderson House. I anticipated learning in the course; but didn’t anticipate the hardest work, which was learning to be present and to listen. My openness to learning from Jay Risk and others at Bishop Anderson set me on a path of understanding that to truly be present to another you often must find their fear or pain in yourself. I carry this with me always, and am ever grateful for its place in my spiritual life.
To serve in hope
Most of us want to participate in something that sets a vision for the world as a better place. For me this is defined by the word Faith. As a child I was formed in the United Methodist tradition in a tiny parish in western Iowa called Wesley Chapel; we had 35 people in the pews each Sunday. Delia Wilson, the matriarch of the place, had an unyielding belief that God is praised by our offering our very best in all we do. Maybe – at least in the beginning – it was the guilt, but my desire to learn from Delia formed in me a belief that all will be well, and that this Faith is nurtured in congregations like Wesley Chapel or St James. I carry this with me always, and am ever grateful for its place in my spiritual life.
I imagine all of us have life-changing moments similar to mine; I encourage you to reflect upon those, and to be generous in response to God's call to you.
Richard H. Kelley joined the Cathedral congregation in 2004; he has served our community in a number of leadership capacities, and is presently warden for administration.
