My Curriculum Vitae, from the Latin expression 'the course of my life'.
Jared Ray Mackey
I am a concierge. The word concierge evolves from the French comte des cierges, or “the keeper of the candles”. It was a term which referred to the servant charged to welcome those arriving to a castle when the king was away. Later the role of concierge came to be known as “the keeper of the keys” in prisons, public buildings, and places of lodging. I believe my calling is to be a concierge for the Kingdom. I have the privilege of representing a kind and gracious King, and the honor of welcoming people into His Kingdom. I am a "keeper of the candles", bringing light into the world, and a “keeper of the keys” to the various doorways of connections, relationships, and trust. The Psalmist first wrote the importance of being a concierge, “It is a good thing to be a doorman in the House of God”.
I enjoy cocktails. I am from a faith tradition of teetotalers. My first drink of alcohol was at age 22. It was a bottle of Jack Daniels with two others pastors. I have come to see a glass of wine, a pint of beer, or a well made cocktail as one of life’s great gifts. The spirits lighten the head and the heart. Glasses are raised for two reasons - in consolation or in celebration. Both are sacred moments to not miss. Cocktails are my drink of choice because they’re made in the moment. They are a unique combination of time and place - bitters, spirits, citrus, sugar, mixed, shaken, and stirred. Introducing people to unique places where a proper drink is poured is one of my great joys. If we get to choose what to do in eternity, where all is made new, where nothing is broken, where there is no tear or sadness, then I’ll choose being a bartender. As I see it, in the new heavens all glasses will be raised in celebration to new life. I write on the sacred space between spirits and spirituality on Theology of Bartending.
I serve as clergy. I have worked in, for, and with local congregations for 30 years. I now serve as the Founder & Executive Director of The Sacred Grace in Denver, Colorado, helping people cultivate love for thier neighbors and neighborhood. TNL was the faith community I served for 25 years, and not what many may imagine a church to be. I have invested countless hours over the years writing sermons, reading commentaries, and reciting prayers. Now I write articles, facilitate conversations, create spreadsheets, review financial statements, and build collaborations. It’s difficult for me to state clearly all my experience of being clergy has been, but in a few words I would offer it has been: divine humor, severe mercy, and a sacred grace.