When plans for Ash Wednesday at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne, began to take shape, The Very Rev. Porter Taylor knew he needed help. The rector of St. David’s-by-the-Sea, Cocoa Beach, has served as the school’s interim chaplain since August 2021 and realized he alone could not impose ashes for all 600 students – plus approximately 45 faculty and staff members – in the allotted time.

So Taylor asked The Rev. Cynthia Brust, rector of Christ Church, Suntree-Viera, and The Rev. Scott Jones, priest-in-charge at St. Sebastian’s-by-the-Sea, Melbourne Beach, to assist. He did this both for practical reasons and to extend the ministries of all three churches to the students.

The Rev. Porter Taylor ministers to a Holy Trinity Academy student during the Ash Wednesday service. Photo Credit: Rebecca Allison

On March 2, Ash Wednesday, the atmosphere in the school auditorium was electric. “I thought a handful of students would choose to receive ashes, but almost every student came forward for either ashes or a blessing,” Jones said.

“It was incredibly moving to see a sea of people come forward,” Brust said. “There were so many churches represented that day between the clergy, students and faculty, many of whom are part of our diocese.”

“Partnering with Cynthia and Scott that morning reminded me that St. David’s is part of something bigger than St. David’s,” Taylor said. “We may each be called to a specific church, but we share the same gospel ministry not only in our community, but as co-ministers in the kingdom of God.”

“And that extends to the students as well,” Jones added. “They belong.”

The Rev. Cynthia Brust imposes ashes on a Holy Trinity student’s forehead. Photo Credit: Rebecca Allison

“That’s the power of multigenerational worship and ministry,” Brust said. “We are not silos but are on mission together.”

“It was a joy to see the students respond to the reminder that they are loved by their Creator and cannot save themselves,” Taylor said. “Our souls can find rest and belonging in him alone.”

Taylor’s acceptance of the interim position at the academy was an easy yes, he said. “Part of our vision at St. David’s is to foster connections in our community and serve as a resource in the diocese. This seemed like a logical implementation of our vision.”

What Taylor did not anticipate, however, was that he would find the chaplaincy so life-giving.

“In my first year at St. David’s, we had 10 deaths in the parish, and the average age was 77,” Taylor explained. “The contrast of offering last rites with a parishioner to telling ‘dad jokes’ to teenagers at chapel, sometimes in the same day, was startling. To my chapel students, I am ‘so old,’ and to my parishioners, I am ‘so young.'”

The Rev. Scott Jones serves a line of Holy Trinity students and others. Photo Credit: Rebecca Allison

Taylor soon realized just how much the seemingly opposite groups had in common. Day after day, students and members of St. David’s speak to him of their fears, depression, family rifts and joys as well as their hopes.

“Whether 13 or 90, everyone wants to know they belong, that they are needed and that they have a purpose,” Taylor said. “I find myself preaching the same messages of encouragement, consolation and mission in both environments. That’s the power of the gospel.”