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Beloved
Cathedral Community,
This Sunday
we hear the voice of John the Baptist ringing out from the
wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.”
These
are ancient words, yet they feel strikingly fresh—almost
tailor-made for a community like ours, standing in a moment of
change, hope, and holy anticipation.
In
Matthew 3:1–12, John does not call people to a frantic kind of
preparation. Instead, he invites them into clarity, honesty, and
readiness. His message is not one of fear, but one of deep trust that
God is already drawing near, and that our work is simply to make
room.
As the people of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, we find
ourselves in our own wilderness moment, not a place of desolation,
but a place of discernment. We are walking together through a season
of transition as we seek the next Dean who will help lead our
community into its next chapter. There is uncertainty in times like
this, yes, but there is also tremendous possibility. John the Baptist
reminds us that God's most transformative
work often begins in wilderness seasons, when we pause, listen, and
prepare our hearts for what God is shaping among us.
John’s
cry to “prepare” invites us to do several things:
Listening,
to God, to one another, to the Spirit’s quiet movement, helps clear
the clutter from our path. As a Cathedral, we are being asked to
listen for what God is calling us to become in this next season.
John
speaks of bearing “good fruit.” For us, that means holding fast to
the values that ground us at Saint Mark’s: our commitment to worship
that lifts the soul, service that honors the dignity of every human
being, and hospitality that opens our doors in the spirit of Christ.
Now is a time to let those commitments grow
even deeper roots.
The
search for a new Dean is holy work. It is slow, intentional, and
Spirit-led. Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that God is not absent in
seasons of waiting; God is actively shaping the way ahead.
Transitions
can sometimes stir questions or anxieties, but they can also
strengthen our bonds. John’s call to repentance is not about guilt,
it is about renewal. Renewal of relationships, renewal of faith, and
renewal of purpose. In this time, we walk together. We pray together.
We hope together.
Beloved
community, the same God who stirred hearts in the Judean wilderness
is stirring ours today. The One who called people to prepare then is
calling us now—not with fear, but with the deep assurance that Christ
is coming in ways we may not yet fully see.
Let us
enter this season with courage and tenderness.
Let us
bear fruit worthy of the Gospel.
Let us
trust that God is already preparing Saint Mark’s for a future of
vitality, faithfulness, and hope. And above all, may we continue to
love the Lord and love one another, for that is the path upon which
Christ always meets us.
Serving
as your Provost in this season of change has been, and continues to
be, one of the greatest privileges of my ministry. Walking with you
through this time of transition, holding space for your hopes,
hearing your questions, praying with you, and discerning our next
faithful steps together, has deepened my love for this Cathedral and
for each of you. Every day I am reminded that Saint Mark’s is not
defined by any single leader, but by the strength of its people, the
depth of its faith, and the steadfast presence of God who goes before
us.
Thank
you for the trust you place in me, and for the grace we share as we
journey forward.
With
steadfast hope,
Tim+
The
Rev. Timothy M. Kingsley
Provost,
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
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