Rector's Note: Final Thoughts from Alex Firman

Dear All Saints,

Thank you so much to you all for welcoming me in and making me a part of the community. Over the past month, it’s been great to be a part of life and worship in an Episcopal church. Two things have stood out during my time here. It’s been great to see the passion within All Saints for going out into the local community and being a space to bring together so many diverse groups. It is also one of the happiest churches that I’ve ever been a part of!

To say thank you for all your warmth and generosity, I’ve left behind a couple of thank you gifts. As one part of my internship was morning and evening prayer, I am leaving you with a reminder of daily prayer and having an English intern.

One is the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the main prayer book for the Church of England. We have a modern language prayer book as well (thanks be to God), so this is the equivalent of Rite I for us. It’s great if anyone is a fan of Ye Olde Englishe or would like to pray for the Queen in the liturgy.

The second is a book of Celtic Daily Prayer compiled by David Adam. He’s a favourite author of mine who has written a lot on Celtic Christian spirituality and history. He was also a priest on the island of Lindisfarne, an ancient holy site in Northern England and still a place of pilgrimage today. This book is always a reminder that daily prayer can be short, simple but still provides that time to be still before God.

Leaving a community like All Saints is sad but I will take the happy memories, the experiences and the friendships I’ve made with me back to seminary. I’ll keep in touch about my progress towards ordination. I hope as well in the next few years to be able to bring news about a move to Oregon. You don’t get rid of me that easily!

God bless,

Alex