A Picture and a Quote

Things that come in different sizes and colors and shapes and body forms are all part of that incredible diversity of creation that's present below the waters where we never even see them. And the Psalms tell us that God delights in that. That creation is in some sense God's way of-- loving the world.

Worth Repeating

This an interview with Bill Moyers in 2007, as a new Presiding Bishop. She touches on science and religion, schism and homosexuality and scripture. It's lovely to listen to. A lovely montage of her installation, her posing with squid as a marine biologist, and then as a pilot of her plane, and footage of her testifying to Congress about global warming lead up to the interview.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/06082007/watch2.html

“Look for the blessing in the person that drives you crazy.”: The 30 Day Experiment

“Look for the blessing in the person that drives you crazy.”
This quote from ++KJS is something that really stuck with me. Perhaps the fact that she said it when she was visiting my diocese had something to do with it. Or not. Anyway, I decided to meditate on the quote every day for 30 days, and write down what happens each day when I apply the quote to daily events and people who I encounter. I'm on my 15th day now, and so far the experiences have been challenging and enriching, and also reflective. It is kind of amazing. The diary is written into a small booklet which I will transfer onto a blog when complete. It will be a separate blog than this one, as it will be too much about me, and I want this blog to remain a KJS blog purely. I look forward to sharing this with you.

Photos VI

Bishop Katharine and the Native Americans

A story has been submitted to me from a fellow KJS admirer. Thank you so much for this story!

"Our Supply Priest today told me the most amazing ++KJS story. Apparently when Bishop Katharine visited the tiny church located on a Native American community (St Anna's in Atmore, Alabama, in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast,), the women of the congregation persented her with a handmade Native America quilt. And according to the priest who witnessed this, '++Katharine was crying tears of gratitude and joy as the ladies wrapped her in the quilt!' The priest who supplied for my parish today had been the interim priest at the parish on the Native American reservation, so she got to spend a lot of time with our PB. This is a photo from that day- she is wrapped in the quilt."

Letter to the Church after the GC

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112789_ENG_HTM.htm

"My sense is that we have been very clear that we value our relationships within and around the Communion, and seek to deepen them. My sense as well is that we cannot do that without being honest about who and where we are. We are obviously not of one mind, and likely will not be until Jesus returns in all his glory. We are called by God to continue to wrestle with the circumstances in which we live and move and have our being, and to do it as carefully and faithfully as we are able, in companionship with those who disagree vehemently and agree wholeheartedly. It is only in that wrestling that we, like Jacob, will begin to discern the leading of the Spirit and the blessing of relationship with God."

General Convention- closing comments

It was great to follow the General Convention, and especially nice to see headlines like "Episcopalians make move to be more inclusive of gays" appear on CNN and MSNBC, etc. I wondered how the Episcopal Church could get out the news that it is an inclusive church, and you can't buy better advertising than that.

In her closing sermon, Presiding Bishop Katharine says:

"We've heard lots of words these last 11 days. We've used those words to make policy, to claim our missionary heartbeat, to bind ourselves in solidarity with the least, the lost and the left out. Some of us have even had to eat our words – unexpected things have happened, we've made mistakes, and we may even have misused our words. We have eaten Word, sacramental Word becoming flesh in us, that our words might come closer to that original Word."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112704_ENG_HTM.htm


She also gave the attendees some "homework", or "marching orders", take your pick- on feeding the sheep:
"The food you have to offer has to be digestible and attractive – it needs to be good news, if you’re going to tend the sheep around you. Going home with a list of complaints, or full of anger about what you wanted that didn’t pass, is only going to generate indigestion. That is not an act of love. Sure, every flock finds a few noxious weeds in the pasture, but healthy sheep learn to how to avoid them. Tending the sheep means leading them to good pasture and caring that they might grow. What food will you take?"

May God bless Bishop Katharine and all of those who attended the Convention. Grant them all safe travel back home where hopefully they will start to make more shalom. +In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.