William J. Freeman

William J. Freeman

Roman Catholic

William J. Freeman, a Catholic deacon, participated in the ordination of Rev. Dr. June Goudey, December 9, 1979 at the United Church of Christ in Lynnfield, MA. His gift to her that day was this stole, which he could no longer wear, as he was leaving the church. He wrote the following Call to Worship for that
service of ordination:

We live in confusing and threatening times. We hear the voices of those who speak of a world in which deceit, injustice, and exploitation are as constant as the darkness of night. We hear the voices of those who profess a bleak perspective – empowered by political systems – where people are defined as: at the very least dispensable, often worthless, and at the worst inconsequential. We hear within ourselves voices that tempt us to believe that we are imprisoned by an inner world of personal insecurities, biting loneliness, and a thousand unnamed anxieties.

But what we do today is an act of defiance.

We say “no” to these voices. For we assemble, as a community of faith, to acknowledge and remind each other that the message of hope does lives and grow in our times.

We say “no” to these voices as we proclaim the Light which chases away all shadows. We trust in the One who bursts open the shackles of pain, ambiguity, limitation, and even death.

We say “yes” to God’s continued presence in our lives – presence which reigns victorious over deceit, injustice, and exploitation.

We say “yes” as we give witness to the Ordination of you, June, that you may be enabled to bind the broken, encourage the weak, and heal those in pain.

We pray that the One who shines eternal will empower you with the brilliance of a New England Lighthouse that beacons weary sailors to the safety of her shores and guides refreshed navigators along uncharted courses.