Lutherpalian??? What's up with that?

I allude, in my bio, to being, in fact, a "Lutherpalian". It is a contraction of the words Lutheran and Episcopalian, not original with me. It reflects a couple of things but most importantly, my faith journey.
Growing up, my family wasn't exactly churchgoers. My mother is Greek Orthodox and, while her father had been responsible for helping develop a couple of GO parishes, the only time we went to that church was for special occasions- my baptism, some weddings, and some funerals. For the latter, I think my sister and I waited in the car with our father. He was a disaffected Roman Catholic who, whenever the priest said something silly in a homily, would trot down to the Episcopal congregation. So, when I was in the fifth grade, he took me to Sunday School. Most of the year. Then, that was it until I started attending the local Lutheran church. On one hand, it was the church of my German ancestors. OTOH, it was basically the only place for teens to hang out and it was a block or so from the girl I was dating. Regardless, it took me in and my journey took off.
About the time that the Lutherans (my ELCA ones) and the Episcopal Church finally worked out the details of our "Call to Common Mission," I learned that the Washington National Cathedral (aka The Cathedral Church of Sts. Peter and Paul) was in need of daily chaplains. I had been taking my acolyte corps there each October for the annual Acolyte Festival and was in awe of the place. I soon became the sole Lutheran chaplain in that House of God for all Peoples. Initially, I was commissioned(?) by Bp Jane Holmes Dixon. So, on the second Tuesday of each month, I drove down and took my turn. What a wonderful experience it was!
The chaplain du jour had several responsibilities. One was to be present. Not hard, I really liked being present in the bookstore/gift shop! Second, was to preside over the noon mass and I thankfully had several helpful vergers (Dr. Judith Greene, to mention one, is a retired MD and, to the uninitiated, a mighty stern woman. Though I knew otherwise!) to get me through the Book of Common Prayer. Regardless, it was an inspiring opportunity, preaching in the same room as Dr King, and so many others. Thirdly, we offered the Intercessions of the visitors in one of the chapels at about 2:00. If you have never been there, there is a place where you can make your prayer request known on paper and it is offered that day. I've saved several of those requests and look at them each day. One was sought by a young girl named Becca W. who wrote "My DAD kieth he is in the war PRay that he will not die." I do, Becca, I do, every day. Another youth wrote "For all those who died before their voices could be heard." Another "I hope no wun gets sik." And there were the prayers written in Korean, Japanese, and Arabic. I believe God knew what they had written even if I was clueless.
One September, I got in my car around 9 and headed down to DC. It was the 11th. As I always have the radio on in the car, I heard the news from NY and as I approached Washington, I could see the smoke in the distance, coming from the Pentagon. When I drove onto the grounds of the cathedral, it was eerily quiet. I parked the car and saw Judy and Bp Dixon confering in front of the Diocesan office. We decided to close the cathedral that day because there had been a joint Christian/Muslim conference scheduled that day and they didn't want to be a target. Made some sense I guess but, in my heart of hearts, I thought we should be open for business, as usual. Since that day, the cathedral pauses at each three-quarter hour and a prayer for peace is offered.
As I was preparing to leave the congregation in Baltimore, I contacted Bp John Rabb at the Diocese of Maryland and had my credentials accepted for ministry in the Episcopal Church. And that, my friends, is how I became a "Lutherpalian."
Aren't you glad you asked?!