Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church held its first official service as a mission of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota on Sunday, June 27, 2010. About 50 people celebrated liturgy, music, and communion together at the Maple Hill Church where it meets at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday.
TheMaple Hill Church was filled with sunshine, music, and about 50 happy faces on June 27, 2010 as the Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church officially became a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, its first mission in over 20 years. This is the first Episcopal church ever in Cook County, leaving only one other county in Minnesota without one.
Leading the celebration was Bishop Brian Prior, who recently became the leader of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota. He was dressed in full regalia with a long vestment made especially for him. It was a white robe with red symbolizing the blood of Christ, gold symbolizing the wheat fields of southern Minnesota, green symbolizing the forests of northern Minnesota, and blue symbolizing the beautiful Minnesota sky.
The bishop explained that the small children would be allowed to move freely around the sanctuary during the service and entreated the congregation to be prepared for a little noise here and there. The children were included in the service, leading the processional and assisting with the offering.
Bishop Brian Prior, head of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, officiated at the first official service of Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church in its new role as a mission of the larger Episcopal Church. His vestments had been made for him to symbolize elements of both Christianity and Minnesota.
The Episcopal service is filled with liturgy and song, and is led as much by its congregants as by its priest, the Reverend Mary Ellen Ashcroft. This one started with the following prayer: Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all
desires known, and from you
no secrets are hid; cleanse the
thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy
name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
One of the songs sung at the service reflects a belief in God’s call to joy in ministry:
Sisters and brothers, with
one voice confirm your calling
and rejoice: each is God’s child
and each God’s choice. Alleluia!
Strangers no more, but
cherished friends, live as the
body God intends, sharing the
light the Spirit lends. Alleluia!
Then follow him through
every day. Fear not what
crowds or critics say: those on
the move stir those who stay.
Alleluia!
Seeking and serving with
one voice, confirm your calling
and rejoice: each is God’s child
and each God’s choice. Alleluia!
In beginning the prayers of the people, Bishop Prior prayed about the mission of the church: “God of all that is good, in Scripture you give us your vision for the world. In love you give us your grace. In wisdom you give us each other. Your very hope is that we be your presence, your power and your body in the world.”
The people then prayed for the community of faith throughout the world and prayed that they would see the sacred in each of their individual lives, believing that they can make a difference.
They prayed for nations and people far away, for “those who weep and those who dance,” and for this nation, “that we may learn your vision of freedom.” To the “God who makes power of powerlessness,” they prayed for the courage to boldly speak the truth in love to those in positions of power.
To the “God who enfolds us in your own wounds,” they prayed for those who suffer, asking for the gift of being companions with them that they might bless those in their midst who are tired or hurting. “God of forever and from before time,” they prayed, “we praise you for the wonder of eternal life.”
Before communion, the congregation sang, All who
hunger gather gladly; holy
manna is our bread. Come
from wilderness and wand’ring.
Here in truth we will be fed.
You that yearn for days of fullness,
all around us is our food.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.
The recessional hymn spoke of eagerness to accept God’s favor and His mission:
We rejoice to be God’s
chosen, not through virtue,
work or skill, but because God’s
love is generous, unconformed
to human will. And because
God’s love is restless, like the
surging of the sea, we are pulled
by heaven’s dynamic to become,
not just to be.
We rejoice to be God’s
chosen, to align with heaven’s
intent, to await where we are
summoned and accept where
we are sent. We rejoice to be
God’s chosen and, amidst all
that we see, to anticipate with
wonder that the best is yet to be.
The mood was jubilant at the end of the service as people danced and sang their way down the aisles accompanied by guitar, mandolin, and drum. Spirit of the Wilderness’s slogan captures it all: Inviting mystery, embracing compassion, encountering Christ.
After the service, at the home of Howard and Bonnie Gay Hedstrom, the congregation continued to enjoy the day together with a potluck and time for discussion – two other things they enjoy so much they are becoming a tradition with this new church.
In the June 30 church newsletter, Mary Ellen Ashcroft thanked those who have worked hard to bring this congregation together: “Thanks to Layne and Rolf [Lindquist] for having the faith to put that ad in the newspaper three years ago! … Thanks to everyone who has so faithfully prayed, worshipped, discerned, preached, led over these last three years. … Especially, thanks to God who has made all this possible.”
Services are held at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at the Maple Hill Church on County Road 54 just off the Gunflint Trail across from Gunflint Hills Golf Course. More information can be found at www. spiritofthewilderness.org or by calling (218)387-2590 or (218)663-7702.
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