This month we wish to share an article about Father Robert Hedges.  When we spoke with him he shared many funny stories about his years as a priest.  He has so much energy for ministry and for serving God's children.  We know you will enjoy learning more about him. 

My name is the Rev. Robert B. Hedges, but I have always been known as Fr. Bob.

I was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 1955, so this past December I celebrated 56 years as a priest.

I have served only in the Dioceses of Iowa and Northwest Texas, though I did interims in the Diocese of Chicago and the Diocese of West Texas.  The cities/towns are Des Moines and West Des Moines IA,

San Angelo and Brady TX, and Naperville IL.

My greatest joy in the priesthood is in the administering of the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. I also especially liked instructing for confirmation (in my 25 years and 5 months as founding vicar and later rector of St. Timothy's in West Des Moines, I presented 999 persons for confirmation/reception.)

The 21 years I spent as a chaplain in the Iowa Army National Guard were particularly rewarding as they enabled me to enjoy military life (I have always treasured my active military service in WW II as a belly gunner on a B-17 flying missions with the 8th US Air Force and as an artillery intelligence officer with IX Corps Artillery in the Korean conflict).  In other words, I had a military career in conjunction with my civilian ministry in West Des Moines, Iowa as the rector of St. Timothy's.  Not only was I the pastor to a host of men and women in the National Guard, but I found it a very fertile area for welcoming the unchurched into the Episcopal fold.

My hope for the future of the Episcopal Church is that we will be in the center of communicating God's love in Christ Jesus to an increasingly secular world.

I haven't any special needs or wants as a retired priest from our diocese, though I do think it strange that when I priest retires, he loses his vote in the Diocesan Convention.  I don't think this is the situation in most dioceses of the church.

My favorite liturgy in the BCP is Eucharistic Prayer C, and my favorite prayer is the Collect for Aid against Perils in Evening Prayer.

My advice to a young priest is to go and reach out, especially when asked to meet the needs of the bereaved, whether members of the parish or not.

I have particularly enjoyed my ecumenical involvement in pulpit exchanges (a couple in Des Moines with St. Ambrose Cathedral and First Methodist), and even more in San Angelo, where for many years I was in an ecumenical clergy lectionary Bible study group.  I also have done pulpit supply in Lutheran, Disciples of Christ, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.  Most rewarding has been my celebrating the Eucharist for both Lutheran (ELCA) congregations in San Angelo. Some of my closest friends have been pastors from other denominations.

My greatest joy in ministering to children has been in the annual Vacation Church School during the 37 years I was a parish rector.  I usually did the religious instruction, and I found it particularly rewarding.

Three activities outside the parish have occupied my time during my active ministry as well as in retirement.  Locally, I have been on the San Angelo Symphony for 28 years, and I have received great pleasure in being a part of bringing beautiful classical music to our community.  Another activity is my involvement with my college social fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, as an alumnus volunteer, working in the alcohol awareness area particularly as well as serving on the faculty of our annual leadership school.  I have traveled throughout our nation conducting workshops and doing motivational speaking.  A particular privilege has been my being able to travel to many interesting places to perform the marriage ceremonies of fraternity brothers.  My computer has enabled me to have a ministry with fraternity brothers of all ages from all parts of the US.  A third interest, emerging in retirement, has been my involvement as an AIDS volunteer.  At the General Convention in Detroit in 1988, our then Presiding Bishop Browning challenged all of us there to go home and get involved in significant ministry to the burgeoning AIDS population.  After I retired, now nearly 20 years ago, I took AIDS volunteer training, and was channeled into the buddy program, a commitment to spend an hour a week with an active AIDS person.  I was assigned two immediately--one died a few years later and the other is still alive, and I have frequent contact with him, primarily via email.  This too has been extremely rewarding. 

Retirement has brought me many joys, as well.  I have been able to spend quality time with friends plus I never tire of being a worshipper in the pew on Sundays and week-days as well.  I am also free to travel to my huge family, scattered all over the nation.  I have four children, five step children, 30 grandchildren (14 of them married) and 23 great-grandchildren.  I have been a widower for ten years. 

Fifty-six years is a long time in any person's life, and what a profoundly rewarding experience this has been. I have been truly blessed with good health, rich vocational fulfillment, and I am so happy to be living in Texas.

Father Bob, thank you for sharing your story with us.  We are grateful for the many ways you share God's love.