Friends,

The 2024 session of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference is fast approaching!  It’ll be a blessing and privilege to celebrate the ministry God’s accomplished through us in the last year, and to look ahead to the possibilities our Maker’s unfolding before us as we seek to be messengers of the Gospel wherever we are.

Part of our celebration is our Service of Commissioning & Ordination on Tuesday, June 18 at 7 PM.  Always a pinnacle of our shared life and work, we’re grateful for the opportunity to recognize and give thanks for the siblings in Christ who are offering their “yes” to God’s leading.  

The reaffirmation of our baptismal covenant is an integral component of the liturgy, as it gives us opportunity to express gratitude for being received as God’s own and being gifted with a call to serve.  As in the last two years, we’re adding a layer to this reaffirmation by how we dress for worship.

We request that all clergy (including candidates) who participate in any way in the Service of Commissioning & Ordination wear a white or off-white alb.  This piece of attire is modeled after a first-century tunic with which people were clothed after baptism, and it remains a symbol of the sacrament to this day.  The alb therefore reminds us that our primary identity is those who are beloved by God—and that this identity unites us all.

Recognizing that perhaps not everyone who wishes to participate owns an alb, conference leadership welcomes you to wear whatever attire you have that’s appropriate to the occasion.

If, however, you wish to procure an alb, you might seek to borrow from a colleague.  Moreover, there are several reasonably priced options that you can peruse, including those found at:

https://www.cokesbury.com/search?q=alb&pagenumber=1 

https://almy.com/Category/AlbsForMen/parent/ChurchVestments
https://almy.com/Category/AlbsForWomen/parent/ClergyApparel-Woman 

https://www.autom.com/category/apparel-albs-monastic 

https://www.autom.com/category/apparel-albs-priest 

https://www.gaspardinc.com/clergy-essentials/albs.html

https://www.gaspardinc.com/women-s-clergy-apparel/albs.html

Ordained clergy who are participating in this service should also wear a red stole indicative of their order.

Vesting for this service will begin at 6:15 PM, in spaces that’ll be designated in the final Annual Conference schedule.  Bishops and district superintendents will have their own spaces for vesting.  All clergy who are participating must be dressed and ready to line up by 6:45 PM.  Any questions may be directed to Rev. Jason W. Jones at jason.jones@springfieldfumc.org.

We look forward to celebrating this evening and worshiping our God together!