Welcoming Randy Nelson

Dear Friends,

Did you ever have an internship? I was a sales intern for Wrangler Jeanswear one summer. Though I learned a lot about the Western wear industry, that internship obviously didn’t blossom into a career. And the years I spent doing editorial work on a scholarly edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls essentially comprised one long internship. That too didn’t end up leading to career.

The internships that were most directly connected with my serving the Church as a priest were those I had in seminary. They are called “field education” placements — and like summer clerks for law firms and hospital rotations for medical students, field placements are designed to help those preparing for ministry experience some of the variation and breadth of Christian ministry, gain new skills, and identify their gifts and particular callings.

I mention this today because, beginning Sunday, we are welcoming Randy Nelson to St. Andrew’s as he completes his field education placement this fall and spring. Randy is member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Dallas and has discerned a call to be a deacon. He is presently in his final year of coursework at the Iona School of Ministry in the Diocese of Texas. He will be with us on Sunday mornings and occasionally during the weeks. He will be a help and gift to us, even as we help him by being a part of his discernment and preparation for ordination. I trust you will warmly welcome him on Sunday and in the months to come.

In Christ,
Fr. Andrew