Faith Journey HEARING THE CALL
The Rev. Amy Feins, The Rev. Dr. Anne Hartley, and The Rev. Sandra Rogers share their stories. compiled by Lindsey Nickel
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t the 53rd Annual Convention in 2021, the diocese held a workshop on Discerning the Call to Ordained Ministry. It was during this hour, that this editor learned the ins-and-outs of the process to ordination. During the following months, I often found myself reflecting on this and the power of the call to serve. On January 22, I attended my first Ordination liturgy. Amy Feins, Anne Hartley, and Sandra Rogers were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons by the Rt. Rev. Barry Howe at The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, St. Petersburg. Struck by the Holy Spirit and the work of the Lord in our lives, I asked the newly ordained Deacons, “What was your spiritual journey to your call to ordination?” Below are their stories.
Pictured Above (left to right top row): The Rev. Canon Richard Norman, the Rt. Rev. Michael Garrison, the Rt. Rev. Barry Howe, and the Very Rev. Dean Stephen Morris. (Bottom row): The Ven. Dr. Kathleen Moore, the Rev. Amy Feins, the Rev. Sandy Rogers, and the Rev. Dr. Anne Hartley.
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THE REV. AMY FEINS 38
have had several jobs/careers, and although they were fulfilling, I always felt that I was put here to do something else. I didn’t know what, but I figured I would know what it was when it hit me. In the spring of 2017, I was in church, and during the Holy Eucharist I heard a voice telling me that I should “do that.” Since hearing voices is a bit unusual for me, I didn’t tell anyone about my “episode,” but the voice didn’t stop, and in fact became rather insistent. Later that summer I spoke to my Rector, hoping that he would tell me that this voice I was hearing was a figment of my imagination. He did not. He told me to pray. I have had plenty of second thoughts about this path, but much stronger than any of those doubts has been this invisible force that pushes me from behind and draws me ever forward on this strange and wonderful and sometimes incredibly difficult journey of faith. My friends and family have asked me why I chose this path at this point in my life, and the only answer I can give them is that it really wasn’t a choice. It is what I am called to do. I know that God has a plan for me, and that placing one foot in front of the other and following His will is the best way for me to discover just what He has in store.
