In a ceremony combining her ordination to the vocational diaconate and the celebration of her new ministry, the Rev. Angela Lopez became the newest deacon for the Diocese of Central Florida and Church of the Messiah, Winter Garden, where the Sept. 27 event was held. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, bishop, officiated, and the Rev. Tom Rutherford, parish rector, delivered the sermon. Hurricane Idalia caused the postponement of the service by one month.
For the past 9 1/2 years, Lopez has been the children’s minister at Church of the Messiah, but she didn’t sense her call to ministry right away. “At my confirmation in 2016, I began sensing God calling me into more and nudging me to view my vocation with more of a pastoral mindset,” she said. “I was not an eager listener then and often challenged the Lord by trying to follow my plans. It was not until 2019 that I fully surrendered to the call and began to explore the diaconate.”
Deacon Lopez and family | Photo: Katherine Reusch
Lopez and her husband, Raul, who were high school sweethearts, have been married for 24 years. “Raul introduced me to The Episcopal Church,” Lopez said. They have two sons, Joshua, 21, and Joel, 19.
She was presented as a candidate for ordination by her husband; the Ven. Julie Altenbach, archdeacon for the diocese who also serves at Church of the Messiah; and the Rev. Lo Cook, associate rector, All Saints, Winter Park, who grew up at the church.
In addition to the Bible that Holcomb presents to all new deacons, Lopez received additional gifts that represent her ministry. Each was presented by someone from her church who challenged and supported her through the process and had a connection to the item they presented. The Rev. Soner Alexandre, associate priest and facilities minister, presented the stole. The Rev. Tim Wetherington, deacon, gave the Gospel book; Marsha Dymond of Daughters of the King, the oil stock; Terri Wetherington of the children’s ministry team, the basin and towel; Sandy Sparks, the Communion kit; and Steve Borst, representing the vestry, the newspaper.
In his sermon, Rutherford cited the qualities of a deacon that the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:8-12. “We have seen all of the qualities in Angela as she’s been our children’s minister and a parishioner,” he said. “We can say, ‘Yes, that’s Angela.'”
Father Tom Rutherford (L) and Bishop Justin Holcomb (R) with Deacon Angela Lopez | Photo: Katherine Reusch
Additionally, Rutherford cited the expectations of a deacon from page 543 of The Book of Common Prayer. “She does these things already, and that’s why we can say, ‘Yes, that’s Angela,'” he reiterated.
Before his examination of the candidate, Holcomb charged Lopez to “make Christ and His redemptive love known. That is at the heart of what a deacon is called to do. Hundreds of people in your life will know God and be known by God differently because of what God empowers you to do. That is amazing. That is staggering. That is humbling.”
It was an emotional night for Lopez. “I felt sadness that my grandmother was not there physically as she went home to be with the Lord one month ago,” she explained. “I was surrounded by so many people who loved and supported me. I was so grateful to be able to include some very special people in the ceremony. Seeing them feel how much I love and value them gave me great joy. I was humbled and honored by the number of people who gave up their time to share the evening with me. I am truly grateful, blessed and excited that God called me and my church affirmed me to serve as a deacon in God’s church. I am incredibly grateful to Bishop Holcomb for allowing me to be at ‘home’ for my ordination.”
The diocese’s newest deacon is also relieved that the process is over and excited to begin the next chapter of loving and serving Jesus. “God called me to do this,” Lopez said. “I have felt his joy and presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit through it all. God willing, I can help change the world with Jesus and for Jesus!”