All are welcome to attend Carson’s ordination in-person or to watch the livestream. Congrats, Carson!
Dr Cari Jackson will be preaching, the First Church Band will lead us in music, and Gil and Brendan will be providing a delicious meal. It is an honor to celebrate Carson’s calling to ministry and participate with the Southwest Conference in the ordination liturgy.
Carson was an integral part of hospitality at First Church and welcomed many of us into membership. Her gentle and trauma informed approach created a safe space for many to join. We are grateful for her leadership at First Church and pray for the people and the places she will serve in ministry.
If you didn’t have an opportunity to learn about her story, Carson shares her story below:
Religious doctrine, religious leaders, churches, and religious family members have been the sources of a great deal of trauma for me during my lifetime. For some Divinely inspired reason, I wound up in seminary at Pacific School of Religion (PSR) in 2010 after living nearly three decades of my life thinking that God hated me. Since I was a teenager, I have felt called to ordained ministry. Yet, being a woman and being a lesbian has prevented me from living into that call in most places.
During my years at PSR, I was entrenched in the deep work that it takes to heal from spiritual trauma. During those years, I worked through severe PTSD connected to walking into sanctuaries, sitting in pews, attending worship services, and partaking in communion. Yet, I still couldn’t see how I would ever find a church that felt like home and would accept me for exactly who I am. So, I had to set the call to ordination aside yet again.
But then, in mid-November 2016, I “stumbled upon” First Church. Immediately, this church drew me in - in ways I could have never imagined. I even felt parts of my body healing during that first worship service. Everything about First Church has been life-giving for me – the people, the services, the classes, the Pastor, the love, the welcome, and the ministries. I never thought I would find such a church in my lifetime. First Church has been such a tremendous gift that I didn’t see coming.
Additionally, First Church has given me opportunities to give back in ways that have been not only life-giving for me, but also for those I have had the honor of serving. First Church has loved me into ministry. It has been such an amazing, loving place that I have been able to do things and try things that I thought were not going to be possible for me. First Church invited me and empowered me to serve in ways that felt right for me and matched my interests and gifts. I was Welcome Coordinator for a while and led/co-led spiritual formation classes. I participated in worship in a variety of ways. In fact, all ways except for singing – you don’t really want to hear me sing! With the love and support of First Church, I have been able to pursue Ordination once again. This beloved community has forever changed the depth and breadth of what my call and Ordination looks like.
Although I have moved away to the Seattle/Tacoma area of Washington State, First Church will always be family to me and the right place to have my Ordination Service. Yes! It is finally happening! I have been called by Magnolia UCC in Seattle as Minister of Spiritual Growth and Healing and will be coming back to First Church to be Ordained on July 24. I hope that you will join me for this sacred event and celebration!
Much love and peace to you all,
Carson Hawks