Let Peace Begin With Rotarians

T’was the week before Christmas when all through the club, smiling Rotarians were arriving and exchanging a hug.

The trees were aglow, and tables all set, and President Jeff looked bright in his colored suit and hat.  

Jim Kitz made a cheesecake, which Laurie Harrison raffled for money as Dianna Starkey shouted with glee and thought herself most lucky….

Rotary Club of Norfolk members and guests gathered on December 19 in their festive finery to celebrate the holiday at a special luncheon planned by Rotarian Linwood Beckner and the club’s social committee. 

Rotarians came adorned with seasonal bright garb, twinkling lights, shiny jingling bells and even seasonal hats. Excitement and good spirits were evident as hugs, smiles and greetings were exchanged. The atmosphere was enhanced by the smell and sight of roast turkey and stuffing, cranberries, roast beef topped with gravy and fresh rolls. The meal was crowned with a slice of delicious pecan pie.

Not to be outdone by the delicious aromas, Rotarian voices filled the room with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Grand Old Flag and Let There Be Peace on Earth. It was evident everyone was grateful to be together. 

While the food, song and camaraderie enriched the Rotary holiday gathering, it was the presence of Father Noah Van Niel who blessed the event. He shared how his life and talents merged, enriched, and created his current life as rector of Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk. 

Fr. Noah graduated from Harvard College where he played fullback on the Crimson’s Ivy League champion football team and majored in English Literature. He received his Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Before answering his call to ordained ministry, he trained and worked as an opera singer in Philadelphia.

Previously,  he served as associate rector at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, N.C. and also worked at St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass., the Church of the Good Shepherd in his hometown of Newton, Mass, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Mass., Christ Church in the City of Boston, and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia.

Peace and quiet filled the room as Fr. Noah closed his message with thoughts about how people might reconcile the hope and happiness of Christmas with the sadness and turmoil in our world today. He inspired those gathered to retain the joy of the season and hold fast to their faith in a kinder. more peaceful world. He encouraged people to feel gratitude while celebrating the joy of this Christmas season and its beautiful joyful messages. 

Fr Noah left a spiritual task for Rotarians and guests -- find the blessings each day in the life they have and the blessings that they have experienced. Focus on the good and be grateful for the path taken. Fr Noah believes waking up to the goodness of life experience leads to feeling harmony and hope in a world of turmoil. Moving step by step, day by day, with a sense of gratitude does much to nourish people’s souls and enable them to contribute toward a peaceful world in a positive, healthy hopeful way.