What a wonderful installation ceremony we had this weekend for our beloved new Assistant Minister, Rev. Corinne Crockett!
It was so special to honour her, and to recognize this new position of her leadership within our Centre. It was lovely to have her whole family there to cheer her on, and it was so great to see so many of you there, too. I know she felt touched and honoured by your presence.
I personally love the ceremony of Installation, and I know many of you shared with me that you felt the same way. Our teaching the Science of Mind doesn’t really have a lot of pomp and ceremony in it, as we recognize it’s all really an “inside job” (although I think through the years we’ve been incorporating more and more meaningful ritual to mark special transitions); however, the ceremony of Installation – the formal recognition and welcome of a Minister into their role within a community – has always been an important one.
I personally love the opportunity to very consciously mark in the ‘outside’ world a change in ‘inner’ consciousness, which is what all ceremonies and rituals are about. Rituals are powerful markers in time and space.
As somewhat of an aside, I also personally love the opportunity to don my ministerial robe (if you know me, you might not be surprised, as I do love clothes!. There is something so special to me about donning the ‘outer garment’ that signifies reverence for a special occasion. Within our organization, robes are completely optional; there’s no stigma if someone chooses not to have one. I also know some people may find them somewhat archaic and a reminder of more traditional, circumscribed religions; but for me, I love that I have a robe that is only worn on the most special of occasions within ministry. That’s typically an installation, an ordination (which is an honour bequeathed to a minister after they have enough experience in the ministerial field to pledge a lifetime commitment to ministry), or a doctoral recognition. In my career, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to have both attended and been part of many of these ceremonies. There’s never, ever a time when I don my robe that I don’t think of these sacred occasions. I am reminded of the shoulders on whom I stand; those who have come before. I am also blessed that my ministerial robe was made by Kenn’s mother, my mother-in-law, Kelly Gordon, and so it has extra special meaning for me as she was always one of my greatest supporters (and a great seamstress too)!
I’m delighted we’ve had the opportunity to witness in consciousness, and in the physical realm, Rev. Corinne’s ‘sacred yes’ to be the Assistant Minister of our spiritual community, the Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna. As I mentioned in my talk on Sunday, she truly is amazing, brilliant, dedicated, committed and wise, with such great heart and depth. We are blessed by her stepping into the deeper waters of ministry, and I am blessed to have such a wonderful person to work with as we move into our future. Thank you, Rev. Corinne.
Blessed, we are!
Dr. Deborah
If you missed yesterday’s talk by Dr. Deborah Gordon titled Celebrating Community, you can watch it and other past services on the CSLK YouTube channel.
MIND-FULL MOMENT
“Ritual is important to us as human beings. It ties us to our traditions and our histories.”
— Miller Williams
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