Artwork for podcast Listening for Clues
A Deacon's Heart with Anne Reed
Episode 19 • 16th October 2023 • Listening for Clues • On the Journey with Jon & Lauren
00:00:00 00:26:41

Share Episode

Shownotes

A Deacon's Heart with Anne Reed

We are honored to have the Rev. Anne Reed, Episcopal Deacon, who speaks with us about her varied ministries following her retirement from her secular work. In this conversation, Anne embodies what many of us call a "deacon's heart," demonstrating the joy that comes from seeking and serving Christ in others, and connecting the church and the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 A Deacon's Heart with Anne Reed

00:20 Introduction

01:21 Anne's Many Ministries as a Deacon

03:19 Serving in Multiple Churches

06:54 Habitat for Humanity

10:13 The Seamen's Church

14:50 Surprise and Joy

16:39 Music and the Spirit

20:50 Foot Care Ministry

23:09 Contact

24:13 Final Words

25:31 Thanks

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Anne's email: dcnareed@gmail.com

Seamen's Church Institute: https://seamenschurch.org/

Listening for Clues is pleased to present our new series, "Good News!" featuring weekly conversations with people who are making a difference, large or small. We want everyone to know what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how. So, our listeners and viewers can experience the good news and go out and make a difference themselves.

Listening for Clues invites you into conversations that discover clues, rather than solutions to life’s problems. Join the journey with Jon Shematek and Lauren Welch, Episcopal deacons, as we explore whatever lies ahead. Check our website Listening for Clues.

© 2023 Listening for Clues

Transcripts

Speaker:

Music

2

:

Jon: Welcome to Good News, being

brought to you by Listening for Clues.

3

:

Lauren: We are Lauren Welch and

Jon Shematek, deacons in the

4

:

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

5

:

Jon: We sure are, and today

we've got a really special guest,

6

:

a longtime friend and deacon

colleague, the Reverend Anne Reed.

7

:

Anne is currently living in Cincinnati

and serving as deacon, not in just

8

:

one, but in two congregations,

which I sure want to hear about.

9

:

Anne's also the chaplain associate

for the Seamen's Church Institute.

10

:

She's a Habitat volunteer.

11

:

She sings, I'm assuming Sweet Adeline

is a barbershop type of group, sings

12

:

with Sweet Adeline, and you are

a foot care volunteer, which also

13

:

seems like kind of a unique thing.

14

:

So, Anne, welcome.

15

:

We're so glad to have you here today.

16

:

Anne: Thank you, Jon and Lauren.

17

:

It's wonderful to be with you.

18

:

Lauren: We are delighted

to be with you, Anne.

19

:

So, tell us about your

diaconal Ministries.

20

:

You are involved in so many

in this retirement of yours.

21

:

Anne: Right.

22

:

Well as I was approaching retirement, I

wondered how I wanted to spend my time.

23

:

And I was trained at Shalem

as a Spiritual Director.

24

:

A few years ago.

25

:

I did that prior to, I guess I

did that about eight years ago.

26

:

And so I started offering spiritual

direction while I was still working full

27

:

time at the Diocese of Southern Ohio.

28

:

And then I also When I became the director

of the Transfiguration Spirituality

29

:

Center for five years, that sort of meshed

really well with my spiritual direction.

30

:

So that was my paid employment position.

31

:

And the pandemic hit and retreat

centers went offline a good bit.

32

:

And my husband Giff and I decided

that we would retire in:

33

:

So...

34

:

From our paying jobs, if you will.

35

:

We haven't retired from life.

36

:

We've just retired from

collecting a regular paycheck.

37

:

So the things that I was involved in

before I retired from full time work have

38

:

continued but they've taken on more life.

39

:

So the Seamen's Church Institute

chaplaincy really has become more

40

:

robust in my retirement days.

41

:

And serving as a deacon in two

congregations, Is a blessing.

42

:

And one is a historically black

congregation in Cincinnati.

43

:

It's about an hour, a

mile from where I live.

44

:

And the other is a suburban congregation

where the priest and I were friends from

45

:

previous days and so when he came to

the diocese, we got reconnected and he

46

:

asked me to come serve as deacon there.

47

:

So that's how I ended up in two churches.

48

:

Jon: Yeah.

49

:

And so, Ann, that is kind of

a, that's a very interesting

50

:

story about the two churches.

51

:

Are they, aside from you, you're the

link between them, I guess, but is

52

:

there, is there a relationship as well

between these different populations

53

:

and congregations or not really?

54

:

Anne: Not very much.

55

:

The part of town where the larger

primarily white congregation

56

:

is located is in pretty much a

northern suburb of Cincinnati.

57

:

It has affiliations with three

other Episcopal churches.

58

:

The other historically black

church In the Cincinnati area, St.

59

:

Simon of Cyrene, and that's close

to where Christ Church Glendale

60

:

is, which is the larger church.

61

:

St.

62

:

Andrew's Evanston, which is the African

American church I serve is more in

63

:

relationship with churches that are in the

city proper rather than in the suburbs.

64

:

However, um, I am the link.

65

:

And so, there's a ministry at

Christ Church Glendale in which

66

:

women are making mats for people

who are living out on the street.

67

:

They're mats made out of knit together,

crocheted together out of plastic bags and

68

:

so these mats, they're basically bedrolls.

69

:

And and St.

70

:

Andrew's has a pantry.

71

:

Where they meet the needs of those who

are living without a roof over their

72

:

heads or those who are struggling

financially to feed their families.

73

:

And so they got the first bedroll that's,

that Christchurch made was given to

74

:

their pantry so that they could pass it

on to so they're knit together that way.

75

:

Jon: Literally.

76

:

Yeah.

77

:

Literally.

78

:

Yeah.

79

:

Yeah I've always wondered about deacons

that are serving in more than one parish.

80

:

And I'm thinking here in this diocese,

we're starting to see a little bit more

81

:

of that because we're few in number and

always have been few in, and I think

82

:

it's just like so much of the way the

church is changing . So you find it

83

:

challenging to divide your time between

the two congregations or have you

84

:

settled into a routine of some sort?

85

:

Anne: I think over the

years it's become a routine.

86

:

I've been doing it now for

about five years or more.

87

:

And St.

88

:

Andrew's was the first year.

89

:

I served St.

90

:

Andrew's first and and that was

when I was working full time.

91

:

I felt the need to have a connection.

92

:

It was very challenging because

I was on Bishop's staff.

93

:

It was very challenging to find a

congregation that would accept my

94

:

ministry as diaconal ministry rather

than as Bishop's staff ministry.

95

:

And so St.

96

:

Andrew's was.

97

:

willing and able to receive my

ministry as well as for me to

98

:

work with them in many ways.

99

:

As at the time it felt proper for

me to be there about once a month.

100

:

It has evolved into essentially

two Sundays at Christ Church

101

:

Glendale, one Sunday at St.

102

:

Andrews, and I rotate, through those.

103

:

And leadership has changed at St.

104

:

Andrews, so there's a tighter

connection now than there was before.

105

:

I don't find it difficult or challenging,

because in the Diocese of Southern

106

:

Ohio Bishop Reidenthal, who was the

bishop under whom I served when I first

107

:

came, encouraged deacons to not just

make the church their ministry, but to

108

:

also have a connection in the world.

109

:

So that was when the

Habitat ministry started.

110

:

And so I helped coordinate

with a colleague and friend

111

:

this coalition of churches.

112

:

It's called the Hope Coalition.

113

:

And when it was founded, they were both

Episcopal and non Episcopal churches.

114

:

And we came together and we provided

volunteers and lunches on Saturdays

115

:

for a habitat build, we would pick

one site and we would stick with

116

:

that for the build season, which

was generally the summer and St.

117

:

Andrew's was a part of that.

118

:

And Christchurch was a part

of that both still are.

119

:

And so, i, part of my time,

if you will, my diaconal time,

120

:

is coordinating that effort.

121

:

There's a lot of help I have

a friend, Christina, who helps

122

:

with communication and so forth.

123

:

So we're, there's a lot of us

out there pulling together.

124

:

As folks have aged, we're now mostly

doing lunches on Saturdays during the

125

:

build season so my efforts are like being

somewhere liturgically on Sunday, but

126

:

then expanding that and trying to connect

the congregations to the ministry in the

127

:

world that the bishop had encouraged us to

128

:

Jon: do.

129

:

Well, that sounds very true

to our vows as deacons.

130

:

That's right there

131

:

Lauren: anne, can you tell us a

little bit more about the lunches

132

:

that you provide for the hapithal?

133

:

I found, I find that really interesting.

134

:

Anne: Well, you know pre pandemic,

we had People making lunches.

135

:

wE had a, every congregation that was

part of the coalition would have a crew

136

:

of volunteers, individuals or volunteers,

who would make lunches for the workers.

137

:

And pre pandemic they were

making 20 lunches a day.

138

:

Saturday and they folks from the church

would deliver the lunches and it provides

139

:

an opportunity for the volunteers to

eat well and not have to leave the site.

140

:

So it keeps the workday more efficient.

141

:

And so we provided lunches for up

to 20 people prior to the pandemic.

142

:

After the pandemic rules have changed

and so forth, but we have congregations

143

:

providing 10 to 12 lunches a day, a

Saturday and they're on a rotation.

144

:

So of the five churches, each church

takes a Saturday and they give two or

145

:

three times, during the summer months.

146

:

It depends on how long the build is.

147

:

Lauren: So this is a way for people

to be involved in habitat, but not

148

:

have to be building and there all day.

149

:

Anne: Well, I, I'm one of the few

people who still goes and builds.

150

:

Yes.

151

:

Of, of that crowd.

152

:

I'm one of the few that

still goes and builds.

153

:

We do have a few but as the

congregations are aging, and I

154

:

think the heat makes it hard.

155

:

You know, this global warming situation

we're in makes it hard for folks.

156

:

of a certain age to feel comfortable

working in, you know, 85 degree,

157

:

90 degree weather, hammering and

sweating like a crazy person is,

158

:

it's not necessarily the wisest

decision for people of a certain age.

159

:

So but they can make lunch and they

can deliver lunches and they do.

160

:

That's great.

161

:

Jon: That's great.

162

:

There's something, something

for everyone, you know, whatever

163

:

your skills and energy lies.

164

:

So, and one of the other things

that you're doing, which really

165

:

interests me is the let's see, I

want to get the name of it right.

166

:

The Seamen's Church.

167

:

Institute and I'm thinking now my

geography is pretty bad since you're

168

:

in Cincinnati That's on the Ohio River.

169

:

I think good.

170

:

That's good, Jon What what whether

these seamen where do they come from and

171

:

what are you doing with that Institute?

172

:

Anne: Well you know, I knew about

the Seamen's Church Institute from

173

:

living in Baltimore, and Baltimore

has the Chesapeake Bay, of course, and

174

:

blue water, which is what the oceans

and the large bodies of water are

175

:

called, blue water are referred to,

and, oh, Cincinnati has brown water.

176

:

We have the Ohio River, and I'm

looking at it right now out my

177

:

window, and, Doesn't look brown.

178

:

It looks a little grayish

green, but it looks healthy.

179

:

So that's good the Mississippi River

tributaries and inland waterways

180

:

that are navigable are in fact

some of the largest commercial

181

:

transportation pathways in our country.

182

:

I watch towboats and barges go

up and down the river every day.

183

:

I have a little log that I keep

just as my little hobby when I see

184

:

a towboat go by, I write it down.

185

:

I write down what time it goes

by and, um, the name of the

186

:

towboat and what the cargo is.

187

:

And so I see coal and gravel and

petroleum and asphalt go by my

188

:

balcony, uh, pretty much every day.

189

:

So, yeah, so, so we are a

commercial roadway, if you will.

190

:

The folks that work that

waterway are under represented.

191

:

They are unknown.

192

:

They're hidden as a culture

and as a workforce.

193

:

It's unknown to probably 80 percent of

the population in the United States.

194

:

So Seamen's Church Institute has a

has an office in Paducah, Kentucky,

195

:

which is very close to where the

Ohio River joins the Mississippi.

196

:

They have a training center there to

help train their boat staff, there are

197

:

captains and pilots and deckhands and so

forth in this training center every year.

198

:

And so my job as a chaplain

associate is to be available.

199

:

I'm a volunteer

200

:

the port of Cincinnati is a misnomer

because there isn't really a port per se.

201

:

There's not like a central location,

but there are five companies that staff

202

:

towboats up and down the Ohio river

that are within the Cincinnati area.

203

:

And so one of the main ways

I connect with them is.

204

:

through our Christmas on the

River or Christmas at Sea

205

:

program that we do every year.

206

:

So but if there's a crisis I can get a

phone call and I have gotten phone calls

207

:

from the chaplain, the paid chaplain

in Paducah because I can get there.

208

:

Paducah's five hours from here.

209

:

So if there's an incident where a A

towboat is going to be closer to me.

210

:

They'll call me and ask me to respond.

211

:

Lauren: What inspired you

to get involved in this?

212

:

I mean, you were doing so much with

the congregations and I'm, I also want

213

:

to hear about the foot care volunteer,

but what inspired you to get involved

214

:

in the Seamen's Church Institute?

215

:

Anne: I've always had an affinity for

water, even though I'm not a good swimmer.

216

:

I love to be on it, not in it.

217

:

I'm an on the water girl,

not an in the water girl.

218

:

And I love, I love being on the water.

219

:

And water is just so life giving for me.

220

:

My dad at one time after, while I was in

college, actually, my father got a boat

221

:

and I lived near the Delaware River.

222

:

So I've always lived sort of near water.

223

:

And...

224

:

I just feel like, I don't know,

I, it's hard to explain because

225

:

it's just like, it's a gut

feeling more than anything else.

226

:

It's just, I need to do this.

227

:

I want to do this.

228

:

I want to be part of that community.

229

:

I've never worked in that industry.

230

:

But I have so much respect for the

people who do and I and I'm a support

231

:

person and I felt like this was a way

that I could support and encourage

232

:

people who work in that industry.

233

:

Lauren: What has surprised you about

the Seamen's Institute or any of

234

:

the work that you've been doing?

235

:

What what what has brought

you the greatest joy?

236

:

Anne: Well, Mark Nesselhut, who's the

president developed a relationship with

237

:

this SUNY Maritime College, which is State

University of New York Maritime College

238

:

in Fort Schuyler, New York, which is

just on the east side of New York City.

239

:

And so, In this relationship, the

school asked Seamen's Church to provide

240

:

chaplains for their summer cruise, which

is a requirement of all of the cadets

241

:

at some time during their schooling.

242

:

They have to do this

eight week summer cruise.

243

:

And they asked the Seamen's Church

if they would provide chaplains.

244

:

So I had the privilege last year

of being a chaplain on their

245

:

summer cruise for two weeks.

246

:

And so, although the cruise itself

went from New York to Philadelphia

247

:

to Spain and then to Belfast,

Ireland, and then back again.

248

:

In the first two weeks, which

was sort of the shakedown cruise,

249

:

I basically did donuts in the

Atlantic ocean, which was just fine.

250

:

And I went from New York to Philadelphia

in two weeks, if you can imagine.

251

:

Wow.

252

:

You can walk it faster so so my

surprise and I think my delight

253

:

really was discovering how much

I loved that chaplaincy work.

254

:

I had never really thought of myself

in those terms as a chaplain before.

255

:

And so being able to do that was.

256

:

A real life giving experience for me.

257

:

And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

258

:

Jon: Yeah.

259

:

Wow.

260

:

So Ann you and Lauren and I all were

ordained after many years it feels like

261

:

of it was a long time in preparation.

262

:

It was.

263

:

Well, it was, it was like we

we're slightly over 34 years now.

264

:

Yes we are of our ordained life.

265

:

But you know, whenever I think of you,

I think back to those days when we

266

:

were in Deacon formation, and one of

my deepest and strongest memories is

267

:

your love of music, and particularly

when you would lead us or even do solo

268

:

chanting of so much of the Taizé music.

269

:

And it just warms my heart to

even recall that right now.

270

:

I can hear your voice so clearly.

271

:

So, music, I know you're at the Sweet

Adelines now, but what it's a little

272

:

different than Taizé, but music obviously

has meant something to you and is part

273

:

of your connection with the spirit.

274

:

Could you just talk

about that a little bit?

275

:

Anne: Sure.

276

:

Thanks, Jon.

277

:

And thank you for that

memory those memories.

278

:

I I pray through hymnody It's

interesting because I feel like when

279

:

I'm singing a hymn, I'm saying a prayer.

280

:

I've had the privilege of singing

the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil

281

:

for almost 40 years, because I did

it before I was a deacon, when we

282

:

had a very small Easter Vigil at St.

283

:

Mark's on the Hill in Pikesville.

284

:

There were probably five of us that

showed up and I got to sing the Exsultet.

285

:

So but, but somebody said to me, uh, after

they heard me sing it for the first time,

286

:

that they sort of, with a slight surprise.

287

:

in her voice.

288

:

You really prayed that.

289

:

That was really a prayer.

290

:

And, you know, my response was, yeah.

291

:

And that's surprised, you know,

because I don't know how, it's kind

292

:

of part of the fabric of my being.

293

:

I don't know how to do it any other way.

294

:

And in truth, it's been a little bit of a

struggle for me in singing Sweet Adelines.

295

:

I got into Sweet Adelines because

everything was churchy in my life.

296

:

At that 10 years ago, I was doing

everything related, was related to church

297

:

and I felt like I was going to lose my

mind if I didn't do something not church.

298

:

So I decided to use music as my outlet

and joined the Sweet Adelines group.

299

:

And it has been a struggle for me because

so much of what we sing is not necessarily

300

:

spiritual or religious or anything else.

301

:

In fact, some of it's a little you know,

could be suggestive of other things.

302

:

And so I've, I've had to find ways

to access, and reshape the way

303

:

I look at that music in my head.

304

:

To try and help be a joyful experience

because when I'm singing church music,

305

:

when I'm singing hymns, when I'm singing

Bach or Beethoven or any of that, it, the

306

:

joy naturally wells up within me, but when

I'm singing secular music, it doesn't.

307

:

And so I have to try and help

that joy find its way out.

308

:

In secular music.

309

:

It's interesting.

310

:

And I thank you for

asking me that question.

311

:

Yeah.

312

:

Jon: Thanks.

313

:

Thanks for the response.

314

:

Lauren: It sounds like

a lot of fun too, and

315

:

so tell, tell us how has all of you,

316

:

all that you've done and are doing

changed or enhanced your spiritual life?

317

:

Anne: I think that the ministries that

I've stuck with have been since I left

318

:

my full time employment in the church.

319

:

have been the things that have been

touchstones for me in my spiritual

320

:

life so for example Lauren, you asked

me about the foot care thing earlier.

321

:

There's a ministry that existed long

before I came here in Cincinnati of, of

322

:

offering foot care for homeless people.

323

:

And it's gone through several iterations.

324

:

And now it's housed at a ministry

center that's run by the Franciscans

325

:

we offer foot care twice twice a week.

326

:

And so it is a literal hands on ministry.

327

:

And so every time I engage in

that ministry, I revisit Jesus

328

:

washing the feet of his disciples.

329

:

And I think, and I pray with

these folks and pray with their

330

:

feet, pray with their hands.

331

:

If they want a prayer, I can offer that.

332

:

I'm not proselytizing, but I'm listening.

333

:

And if prayer seems appropriate

out loud, I'll do that.

334

:

But, What it does for me is it keeps

me grounded in what my faith is about.

335

:

That that really being present to

the, to folks who don't have the

336

:

wherewithal to have comfortable shoes.

337

:

Or, you know, folks who don't have

a place to regularly lay their head.

338

:

It's, it's biblical, really, and it

keeps me connected with those Bible

339

:

stories, and in a way, that's what the

ministry with the Seamen's Church does

340

:

that too, because Jesus, you know, he

called fishermen to be his disciples, so

341

:

it's all connected with discipleship to

me, and how, how I can be a better and

342

:

a more a more honest disciple of Jesus.

343

:

That's why I make the choices I make.

344

:

I have the privilege of being able to do

that, of being able to say, I use this

345

:

because it makes me more honest as a

human being and as a disciple of Jesus.

346

:

Jon: Wow.

347

:

No, that's that's so beautifully put in.

348

:

Thank you so much.

349

:

I, I'm just wondering, There's

such a breadth of things that

350

:

you've been involved in and so on.

351

:

What if somebody.

352

:

Wanted to learn more about any of these

organizations or get in touch with you.

353

:

Is there a way Or are there

ways that they can do that?

354

:

Anne: Sure.

355

:

I'm happy to share my email

with you the Siemens Church

356

:

Institute has a website, so.

357

:

Jon: Okay.

358

:

So what we can do, Anne, is we'll

put your email address with your

359

:

permission in our show notes.

360

:

that people can see if they're

listening or, or watching this,

361

:

as well as the Seamen's Church

Institute website that'd be great.

362

:

I think that there may be some people

that are in discernment around the

363

:

diaconate and listening to you today and

how you've kind of found ways to balance

364

:

Your life and all the different rich

ministries you've had over the years

365

:

and continue to have is, is something

people may say, Hey, I need to talk to

366

:

this person because maybe she can help

me decide, is diaconate right for me?

367

:

So, thanks.

368

:

We'll go ahead and make sure we put

those put those in the show notes, Anne.

369

:

Anne: Right.

370

:

That's great.

371

:

Thank you.

372

:

Lauren: Before we go, though, Ann,

is there anything else that you would

373

:

like to share about the diaconate?

374

:

and your diaconal work or any wisdom

that you want to leave us with?

375

:

Anne: Well, the wisdom

doesn't come from me.

376

:

It comes from the community, I

think., it's been such a delight

377

:

to be with you two my colleagues

and friends for, for so many years.

378

:

I think that for, I'll say a final word

about the diaconate maybe, and that is

379

:

that it, it is shaped by who we are.

380

:

And I think as individuals,

but also by the communities

381

:

in which we find ourselves.

382

:

And I have, had the privilege

of being in many, many

383

:

wonderful and unique situations.

384

:

And, and I think that The whole

purpose of my journey has been

385

:

to keep me honest as a Christian.

386

:

And and if, and that, if that's what

our lives are about, whether we're

387

:

deacons, priests, bishops, whatever,

lay people I think our lives.

388

:

Need to be a reflection of that.

389

:

Thank you.

390

:

Jon: Yeah, thank Anne thanks so much.

391

:

Thanks for taking the

time to be with us today.

392

:

I certainly have enjoyed reconnecting

with you after way too long.

393

:

Way too long.

394

:

This has been, this has been great.

395

:

And Once again, thank you very much.

396

:

Anne: Thank you.

397

:

Lauren: Jon and I also want

to thank all who are listening

398

:

and watching with us today.

399

:

We can't do this without you, so please

take a moment to comment, like, or

400

:

share on all your social media sites.

401

:

This will help us spread the

good news to even more people.

402

:

And again, thank you for the

gift of your time with us today.

403

:

Until next time, peace and blessings.

404

:

Jon: Good news is being brought

to you by Listening for Clues.

405

:

You can find us on our

website, listeningforclues.

406

:

com, our YouTube channel, our

Vimeo channel, and just about every

407

:

podcast platform that there is.

408

:

Hope to see you soon.

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube