FROM THE DEACON’S DESK

By Deacon Mike Hackbarth

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in his shadow for life,

Say to the Lord: “My refuge, My Rock in whom I trust.”

I was asked by Fr. Rob Clarke (Priest-in-Charge, Holy Apostles – Oneida) to be the deacon at a funeral mass for Mariah Danforth-Moore on December 1^st. Mariah was the granddaughter of my friend and classmate The Reverend Deacon Debbie Heckel.

Most of us have attended services at other churches either within our denomination or outside our denomination. The liturgical constructs are generally the same, sometimes there are local customs that are followed, yet we can follow the service. It was at this funeral mass that I observed a few things that showed a blending of cultures into a single harmonious service.

The Oneida Singers sang prior to and during the service in their native language. It was during the service just prior to the Gospel reading that the Oneida Singers sang what sounded to me as “Jesus Loves Me – This I know”— yet it was done in the Oneida tongue. As the song went on I tried to “transpose” the words to English but I gave up and listened attentively.

During the mass, Fr. Clarke used a “smudge” to cense the altar and ourselves. The “smudge” is White Sage tied in a bundle that resembles a thick cigar. The smudge is kept lit by fanning the tip with a large feather. According to Native American custom White Sage is used to purify the person and or object of intent. I admit that the fragrance of this herb is enjoyable, better than some blends of incense that I am acquainted with. As the service came to the commendation, the smudge was again lit and brought forward to “cense” the coffin.

I was entrusted with the smudge and told to keep it lit. Perhaps you have observed someone that smokes cigars. The person is obliged to keep drawing on it to keep it lit. The same holds true for the White Sage smudge, one needs to keep fanning the tip to keep it “alive.”

As we processed out the door of the church, I stood at the entrance and the people stopped to wave their hands through the smoke in the act of bringing the smoke to their face and clothing. They too purified themselves with the smoke as they left the church.

Later at the luncheon, I learned of the “Oneida Firekeepers.” When I asked the significance of the term, I was told that when an Oneida dies, a fire is started and it is not allowed to go out until ten (10) days have passed. The “Firekeepers” is a group of people that volunteer to keep this fire alive. It is a time for the family members, the entire community, to get together to reflect on the person’s life. When I thought of the weather (heavy rain) that we all experienced in the last week of November, I commented on the difficulty. I was told that regardless of the weather the fire must remain lit.

I am happy to have been a servant to my friend and her family during their time of need. I am privileged to have been a participant in a blending of cultures (Oneida and English) that respected the values of both and gave due worship to God the creator of all.

Blessings,

Deacon Mike