Hi. My name is Joy and I’ll be your vicar for the year. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am the youngest of two children of loving parents. My parents live in Oregon and my sister is finishing up her PhD at Vanderbilt. When I entered seminary I told my committee that my goals were to be a pastor and have a terrier. I’m currently working on one of my two goals. I commute from Hyde Park.

             Trying to write one of these introductions always has the feel to me of trying to write a personal ad. Its goal is to create interest and a feeling of warmth, hopefully preludes to eventual love. And it always feels uncomfortable, like one is putting one’s self up for judgment. As people, that’s what we do. We judge and we withhold love. What we’re learning about in the 40 days of love is something different; abundant, unconditional love. Not love the way we sometimes practice it, but love the way that God loves and wants us to love. We learn about that love for 40 days as we ready ourselves for the ultimate display of love in Holy Week and Easter.   

           Even with such an example before us, it is hard for us to love like that. That’s also part of the reason it’s easy to get discouraged and say that we can’t do it. But we can do it, whether or not we can do it perfectly. A beautiful example is the way that St Mark’s has opened its arms and hearts to eleven interns. Every year we leave and every year you find it in your heart to open up to a new one. We come with expiration dates stamped on our foreheads, ready to spend our year making mistakes as we learn to be pastors.Yet you don’t let that stop your love. As the newest of your interns, I would like to thank everyone for their warm welcome to Worth. As a stranger in your midst, I greatly appreciate the miracle of your love. As you may know, I have prosopagnosia, which is also known as face blindness. It means that I can’t recognize familiar faces, sometimes even failing to spot my own parents and sister. Here’s how you can help me. Wear your name tag or tell me your name when we meet. It really helps me out. Even if I know who you are, telling me is a friendly gesture which is appreciated. And above all, be patient with me. It’s the kindest thing you can do as I work hard to learn to recognize everyone.