From Fr. Kenny Miller

Greetings from Key West, Florida!

Yes, I understand that this is a strange greeting from your new supply priest that lives and works in Wisconsin! My wife Tania and I are celebrating our 30 year wedding anniversary and somewhere warm, sunny, and fun was just what we needed.  

As much as I am saddened by having to leave this beautiful place, I am equally excited about our shared ministry over the next several months. I am very much looking forward to leading the services at All Saints and getting to know all of you as we embark on this new leg of our journeys together.

While we celebrate long relationships in our lives and in our communities, in the church, relationships come and go. A long time member leaves or dies, a new member becomes part of the community, a child is born, clergy come and go, and laity take on different roles. In each of these, the relationships change, lives are disrupted, and there can be uneasiness in what the future holds.  

I want to let you know a bit of what to expect of me as I enter your space for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. 

First, we will be gathering to worship. Worship for me is a gathering of the faithful to remember we are all children of God, to give praise and prayer to God for all of the gifts and challenges we have, and for guidance in how to live out our lives as God's children. In this worship, I try to fully use the ministry of the laity and clergy as best as I can. You will notice that there are more people around the altar as we celebrate communion. You will notice my presence in and amongst the congregation as we pray and sing, most especially at the homily and announcements. And, at the announcements, I will ask if anyone would like to come forward for birthday or anniversary blessings, travel mercy blessings, or healing prayers. No one must come up for a blessing or prayer, but you are always welcome to. I simply want to offer you the opportunity. 

Speaking of homilies, this is the second thing I wanted to mention. I tend to preach from the center crossing (or wherever the mics let me!) My sermons are full of stories, learnings, and, I hope, thought provoking and challenging messages. I will ask questions, offer historical context, and challenge us to address some of today's issues as we try to live out our lives. My questions are often not meant for you to answer publicly, but if you choose to answer, I welcome your involvement. There won't be tests, no prior reading is required, but I will likely push your level of comfort a bit. Please walk with me in that struggle if I push us out of our comfort zones. My homilies are meant to make us think about God, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will navigate through the scripture lessons and see how we might be God's hands, hearts, and feet in this world we live in today. Oh, and my sermons are short. I grew up in a Baptist Church where the sermons were 30 to 45 minutes long. I do my best to keep my sermons between 8 and 10 minutes...but sometimes I do go over a little.

Finally, at least for this message, I am always asked what people should call me. For me, this is all about the context in which we find ourselves. Most people in the church call me Fr. Kenny. I find it personable, yet at the same time respectful of the role I am occupying at the time. But please know, I in no way demand that be what you call me. If you don't like the title "Father", then a simple Kenny will suffice....after all, that is what all of my family calls me.

Well, it is time to leave this beautiful island and head back to the frozen tundra. I will be arriving back in Milwaukee before the end of the day (Dec 17, 2025.) I look forward to meeting each of you and I am very excited to see what is in store for us over the next few months as we journey together.

Blessings,
Kenny+

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