Loading..."It's our congregation's feast day, and we wanted to celebrate in a big way," said the Rev. Karl Lusk, rector of the Church of the Ascension, Bardstown. "We've grown remarkably in the last eight months, not only in number, about 28 people, but in the way we relate to each other as a faith community," he added.
With a baptism, a confirmation, and three receptions in the offing, Lusk and the congregation planned an outdoor service with the opportunity for a creek-side baptism at the home of parishioners Shaun and Renee Abell. The creek, with a rock bottom, small waterfalls, and lush vegetation along its shores, is easily accessible from a flat plain just off Springfield Road, at the edge of Bardstown. It is a natural setting for the occasion.
Bishop Ted Gulick was thrilled at the opportunity to make his last official visit prior to retirement on Ascension Day and to baptize in the creek.
The baptismal candidate, Mike Yaden, a recently retired middle school teacher, had the option of baptism in the creek, or at the church building at the font. "The symbols of God in my life," he noted, "are connected with the outdoors, and I've always found peace beside running waters." When the opportunities were presented, the creek was a natural choice for him.
"We came to Ascension Christmas Eve because my partner and I wanted to attend a congregation that honored all of God's creation and its diversity," Yaden said.
"Two of our friends mentioned Ascension, and we saw a big sign in front of the building encouraging people to come to a Christmas Eve Open House and stay for one of their services." Victor Ferrill, Yaden's partner, agreed, and when they came, they met Lusk, who had been chaplain to Ferrill's father when he was a hospital patient earlier in 2009. "It was amazing; everything fell into place. We knew Karl, the congregation welcomed us with open arms, and we continued attending," he said. "We received radical hospitality not experienced elsewhere."
When asked why he had not sought baptism at an earlier time in his life, Yaden responded, "the time never seemed right; there was always something missing. This time, I felt a distinct, convicted and compelling call to be baptized. I'd been active in other congregations, but never felt God calling me to take this step."
So, on Ascension Day, 2010, as the congregation sang an American folk song, "We Went Down to the River to Pray," Yaden, on crutches because of recent foot surgery, walked to the water at Abell's Creek and was baptized as a member of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church. Gulick noted that "I think everybody on that creeks¹s edge knew that Michael was God¹s beloved and that God was pleased with Michael as God had been pleased with Jesus on the Jordan. And I think every Christian was able to claim again his or her baptism that afternoon and dared to believe that all of us were at that water¹s edge were God¹s beloved. We are going to try to share that reality with the world. It was a glorious moment."
And share it; he did, as he told the story of the day to the four candidates for election as the next Bishop of Kentucky. Lusk noted that, at the walkabout in Louisville, "All four of them mentioned the story to me, and all of them said they would be glad to do this again if elected bishop!"
All present, including Victor Ferrill, who was confirmed, Debbie Corbett and Chris McConn, who were confirmed, shared the bishop's sense of the glorious. "I've been looking for a church that can experience this kind of opportunity, "Debbie Corbett explained. "I was truly touched by this service, just as I have been since I began attending Ascension." Both Yaden's and Ferrill's mothers were present to share in this moment with their sons and their new faith community. Afterwards, all enjoyed homemade BBQ and all the trimmings.
"It was a community effort," Lusk said. "We all worked to make this fall into place."
Yaden added, "This was meant to be; God hoped for this, we all hoped for this, the weather was wonderful, and it was my pleasure to participate. This sense of returning to the earth, by being at the creek was wonderful. There was a sense that we honored earth as God's creation, by connecting baptism in a natural setting with God's creation."
When asked how he felt about all of his experiences at Ascension, he said, "I wish every church had what we've found at Ascension; we really do work to honor Christ's commandment to love one another, just as he loved us."
Lusk said, "I can only end this interview by exclaiming 'Thanks be to God, Alleluia, alleluia!'"
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