On Being a Deacon "Over a deacon, then, let the bishop speak thus: ‘O God, who have created all things and have set them in order through your Word; Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you sent to minister to your will and to make clear to us your desires, grant the Holy Spirit of grace and care and diligence to this your servant, whom you have chosen to serve the Church and to offer in your holy places the gifts which are offered to you by your chosen high priests, so that he may serve with a pure heart and without blame, and that, ever giving praise to you, he may be accounted by your good will as worthy of this high office: through your Son Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and honor to you, to the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and through the ages of ages. Amen’" ~Hippolytus(The Apostolic Tradition 9 [A.D. 215]). "It belongs to the Office of Deacon, to assist the Priest in public worship, especially in the administration of Holy Communion; to lead in public prayer; to read the Gospel, and to instruct both young and old in the Catechism; and at the direction of the Priest, to baptize and preach. Furthermore, it is the Deacon's office to work with the laity in searching for the sick, the poor, and the helpless, that they may be relieved. Will you do this gladly and willingly?" ~The Ordinal of the Anglican Church in North America I will do so, the Lord being my helper. That will be my response tomorrow evening as Bishop Francis Lyons, Assistant Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh prepares to ordain me as a deacon in Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I am already aware of the Spirit's moving in this place as we are preparing for the arrival of the bishop and the ordination service. I wait expectantly, with both excitement and fear and trembling, as the hour draws near. The years of study, discernment and preparation have been leading to this moment. I believe that since before I was conceived this is what God has had in store for me. I pray that I will be found worthy of this calling.