Rector's Page

My Dear Friends in Christ, A few weeks ago, I was traveling through Westchester County. Usually it is a very pleasant drive, allowing me to observe the wildlife, the seasons, and the changes in lighting on the scenery. This particular day we had a huge downpour. I would have pulled off the road if there had been room. The rain came down so hard I couldn't see the road. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the blackest sky I had ever seen in daytime. Then the trucks came toward me splashing more water on an already impossible situation. All I could do was pray that everything would be okay.

Almost immediately I could see a lighter sky ahead of me. Before long the sun was illuminating areas of great beauty contrasted against the mostly dark landscape. The sun, spotlighting the trees, held me spellbound. It was then that I thought about people also being "Transformed by the Light". I remember singing that traditional Zulu song called Siyahamba, "Marching in the Light of God" at a diocesan event. I could see the light reflected in people's faces as they were singing.

Part of our vision statement at Caroline Church is "to live transformed lives for Christ." Are we doing that? How have we transformed ourselves with God's help? Do you offer prayers of thanksgiving and praise when you see good things happening or are awed by nature's beauty? Let us open ourselves more to the light so that we can experience the transformation.

A little parish-wide transformation has occurred on two fronts. The first, is the more formal recognition by our parish that our young people's voices need to be heard on all levels of ministry. Every church in our diocese has been encouraged to have a teen representative sit on vestries, bishop's committees and diocesan council. Putting a youth member on the vestry is an important signal to the youth of our parish, and the wider church that our young people are the Church, not just the future. With their baptism, they are expected to find and exercise their ministry. The vestry has appointed, one vestry youth representative and an alternate, to serve for the year 2012 as a conduit of communication between the vestry and our young people. Brian Hazell has accepted that position and Thomas Hull will be the youth alternate representative. I thank these fine young men for taking on this responsibility. Further details of the duties and responsibilities of the Vestry Youth Representative can be found in a separate article in this Carillon.

A second new emphasis that Caroline Church has embraced is the importance of keeping children and adult emotionally safe. Caroline Church has had a safe church policy in effect, for many years. We believe that all have a right to a safe and healthy parish environment. Jesus Christ himself has said, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). We all have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance. Caroline Church will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of anyone, children or adults. Bullying is any behavior that is repeated and intended to bring harm to another person. A person shall not intimidate or harass another through words or actions. Such behavior includes: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; and social isolation or manipulation. All teachers, church leaders, and adults will be expected to be sensitive to any form of bullying behavior, reporting it to a Sunday School teacher, the Church School Director or a member of the clergy. Do read over the new Church policy on bullying that is reprinted in this issue of the Carillon.

To be transformed by and for Christ is something we all need to embrace on a daily level.