by Valerie Matthews
on Blair’s last service, January 2, 2022
I am very humbled and honored to reflect on Blair’s sixteen plus years as rector of St. Matthew’s. It is a challenge to condense over sixteen years of service in a few minutes. I learned recently that saying goodbye is a spiritual practice and like many spiritual practices it does not pretend to be easy. Life is full of hellos and goodbyes. In the last 24 hours we said goodbye to “2021” and hello to “2022”. We said hello to Blair on September 5,2005. She delivered her first sermon on September 11 seven days later. Today after sixteen plus years of her faithful spiritual leadership we are saying goodbye as she delivered her last sermon/reflection. When we hired Blair as our Rector/Senior Pastor we got two for one, her husband Dwight also an ordained clergy/minister. How was that! Dwight has graced us with many sermons and teachings of God’s word. We had the best of both worlds! That’s not all their son Luke arrived here as a toddler, we had the pleasure of watching him grow up and nurtured in the Christian faith. Luke served as acolyte, lector and we witnessed his confirmation, and now a young adult, a freshman at Northwestern University. What a family! What a gift to this faith community! We are grateful for you both.
Blair the preacher, teacher. mentor, spiritual director, counselor, parent, friend and the list go on. Blair, you have brought so much to St. Matthews over these sixteen plus years. You have changed the trajectory of this faith community through prayer and discernment in following the “Way of Jesus” through spiritual practices some of which include simplicity, hospitality, generosity, prayer……. as we live into our faith. Through your spiritual guidance we learned to dwell in scriptures like never before in Faith Forums, small group discussions, Annual Meetings, Vestry Meetings and more. During my tenure as Senior Warden I had the opportunity of working closely with you and greatly admired your leadership skills, and how you prayerfully considered decisions to be made in discerning God’s will for the church.
St Matts. is a “Neighborhood church with a Worldwide Community” and you have embodied that through your leadership in embracing the many cultures and Anglican tradition represented at St. Matts.by celebrating the Liturgies from Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nigeria, and the list goes on. We had the opportunity to fellowship and teach our brothers and sisters in Christ about our cultures and traditions. I am forever grateful to you for the opportunity to celebrate my culture during Epiphany. Your invitation to the holy communion speaks to us in a new way. This open invitation speaks to my heart and to our hearts collectively as we come forward each week to meet Christ at His table regardless of where we are on our faith’s journey. All are welcome!
Blair, you have graciously blessed us in your Pastoral Care over sixteen years of spiritual direction, the many bedsides, living room visits, moments of celebrations, many moments of sorrow and hurt, moments of laughter and rejoicing have shaped each of our many experiences together. Thank you for being an empathetic listener! Thank you for the many lifegiving sermons which echoes in this church. Thank you for the many stories you have shared time and time again. You have fed us with God’s holy word, led by the Holy Spirit, and you are a true witness and advocate for Christ. Your humility, integrity, and generosity are an inspiration to us.
Social Justice is one of the many hallmarks of your ministry at St Matts. Through your sermons, small group discussions, journeying on a pilgrimage to Philando Castile’s memorial site on Larpenteur Avenue over 3.5 miles. In so many ways you allude to a better world for all God’s children. You welcome everyone into the household of God. Thank you for your warmth and gracious spirit. Your spiritual guidance and the work you have done in this faith community has truly been a blessing. We have shared in partnership with Holy Trinity a predominantly African American church in St. Paul. This has brought much joy to both congregations. Your actions inspired others to dream more, learn more, and do more. You have raised up and mentored many spiritual leaders over the years. Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader. They set out to make a difference- Blair you have made a difference. J.C. Maxwell said and I quote “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way with confidence, integrity and gratitude” Blair you have shown us the way!
We will miss you, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota (ECMN) will be greatly blessed by you and your God given gifts. As Canon of Vitality and Innovation we send you to God’s greater calling, with love, understanding, great joy and much gratitude. With appreciation and much love for all you have done in our parish. May God continue to bless you for your faithful ministry!
Farewell!! My sister!!
