In 1999 and 2000, the Synod of ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and The Episcopal Church USA agreed and ratified a Call to Common Mission. This agreement enabled our two faith-traditions to be in communion with one another. I rejoice that I have been able to live out this common vision on many levels.

I have been proud, humbled, and profoundly grateful to be the priest-in-charge of St. Francis’ Episcopal Church in Bushnell, Florida, since fall 2012. I was ordained as a priest in the Lutheran Church in America in 1972 and have served as parish pastor in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, and New York City. But I have never been as blessed in people, bishops, and diocesan staff as I have been in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. I was first licensed in this diocese in 2009 under Bishop John Howe and served as priest-in-charge at Holy Trinity Episcopal in Fruitland Park for about six months. I have supplied at Holy Faith Episcopal, Dunnellon, and St. Stephen’s Episcopal, Ocala.

I was called to St. Francis’ during a time of abrupt lay leadership change, but the time since has been a celebration of the unmysterious workings of the Lord in everyone’s life, including mine. It is ironic that the adjustments of the people to my Lutheran liturgical habits include the introduction of the use of a cope, chanting the Verba, the burning of palms as a parish event on Shrove Tuesday, the striking of “new fire” at the Easter Vigil, and the Epiphany chalking of doors.

Two different ELCA congregations have printed our Sunday worship bulletins (which contain the entire service, including hymns and lessons), one of which does so as a purely benevolent act with no charge for paper or copying. We received an Allen organ and upright piano from an ELCA congregation that closed. Other gifts from this congregation have overflowed from us to other Episcopal and Lutheran churches.

In June 2015, one of our graduating high school seniors enlisted in the United States Navy. She received an Episcopal Service Cross sent from the Rev. Canon Dr. Wollom (Wally) Jensen, executive officer and deputy endorser, on behalf of the Rt. Rev. James Magness, bishop suffragan for Armed Services and Federal Ministries. The cross is authorized to be worn with dog tags. The Rev. Jensen is also an ordained ELCA priest and a longtime friend of mine.

I am the dean of the Florida Chapter of the Society of the Holy Trinity (STS), which is a Lutheran ministerium/religious order of Lutheran priests from all the various Lutheran denominations in the United States and Canada. The Society gathers regularly for hearing the Word, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, prayer, theological reflection, and aiding one another to be faithful to the promises spoken when we were ordained. Members of St. Francis have attended Chapter retreats, as have Episcopal deacons and priests, as well as the archdeacon and canon to the ordinary.

In May 2016, my wife, Sherry, died. She was loved by the folks here, and she greatly loved them. Bishop Brewer presided at her requiem, and Archdeacon Alday preached. Sherry’s interment in St. Francis’ Memorial Garden was led by the Rev. Kenneth Blyth, STS, and assisted by Archdeacon Alday.

At the June Florida STS Chapter Retreat, another requiem for Sherry was celebrated with Canon Nunez presiding, Archdeacon Alday assisting, and the Rev. Paul Schweinler, STS, preaching. The support and ministry of the bishop, canon, and archdeacon have been vital and necessary in both my life and healing and the parish’s.

I daily thank God for the privilege of serving him in this place with these people and for the Call to Common Mission that made it possible.

Fr. Larry Recla is the priest in charge at St. Francis in Bushnell since 2012. He also serves as the Chaplain for the Wildwood Police Department and the Villages Fire and Rescue.