Leaving Virgniia Seminary and Arriving at National Cathedral

• Don Hamer is on professional development leave until May 15. He is writing occasional posts to this blog to share some of his experiences.
  
  This week is a transition week for me. On Sunday morning Katie and I worshipped with Luke and Ian Markham at Ian's church, St. Paul's in Alexandria, VA. After a delightful brunch with Ian and Luke, Katie and I explored the Old Torpedo Factory, an artist's emporium housed in a former WWII torpedo factory that had sat idle for many years -- a model which we are trying to reproduce in Hartford's old Colt Factory. While there, and admiring the work of one of the artists, we fell into conversation with him and it turns out he is one of the founding members of the place, and has been consulting with those developing the Hartford location. If Hartford can pull this off, it will be a major tourist attraction, as it is in Alexandria. Later Sunday brought a few hours of library research and dinner with the Markhams.

Monday morning after morning prayer I did some more library research followed by coffee with the Rev. Narcis Sebekwekwe, the priest from Tanzania whom I had met on Friday evening. We had a wonderful chat about colonialism in Tanzania -- and its legacy -- and the state of Anglican relations between Tanzania and other members of the communion. He is looking forward to visiting Trinity while he is here in the United States. I then had lunch with Mr. Andrew White, a postulant for Holy Orders from St. James's in West Hartford, for whom I have been named a mentor in the ordination process by the Diocese. These meetings are always enjoyable as I get to journey along with the postulant in their spiritual and vocational formation process.

Monday afternoon I arrived at the College of Preachers and Cathedral College, which sits on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral. National Cathedral and the College hold many important memories for me as they have been the scene of important events in my spiritual journey. The Cathedral provided an early introduction to the Episcopal Church for me nearly 40 years ago when I attended a Palm Sunday service here. Right next door is St. Alban's Episcopal Church -- the first Episcopal church that Debbie and I attended. I also attended a week long preaching seminar here in 2003 that was quite powerful in understanding the sermon as story. But my time here is marked by a more important event in my life: It was while I was attending that seminar that I received a telephone call from the Trinity Calling Committee extending a call to become Trinity's 12th Rector. I will never forget sitting on one of the park benches in front of the cathedral on the evening when the call came. Along with my study here, the beautiful cathedral setting here is a perfect place to continue to reflect on my life, my relationships, my vocation and my ministry among you.

Today, after morning prayer at 8:45 in St. Joseph's chapel at the cathedral and a morning of study, I am meeting Katie and a dear friend from our Washington days, Liz Joyce for lunch. Following that, Katie has arranged for tickets at the Newseum, the newly-opened museum of journalism here in Washington. Journalism was one of the three vocations I considered as a younger man (and the only one I didn't eventually pursue, although I did work for a year at U.S. News and World Report), so I have been looking forward to seeing history unfold before my eyes at the Newseum.

Have a blessed day! Your brother in Christ, Don+