Presiding bishop celebrates small church's ministries, helps sea turtle go home

                                         "This says so much about our whole ministry of healing."

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010


A message from the presiding bishop



By Katharine Jefferts Schori



The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. —Isaiah 9:2



That's how the first lesson of Christmas Eve opens. It's familiar and comforting, as the familiar words go on to say that light has shined on those who live in deep darkness, that God has brought joy to people living under oppression, for a child has been borne to us. The name of that child is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace — and God is bringing an endless peace through an heir to the throne of David (vv 3, 4, 6, 7).



This year we're going to hear a bit we haven't heard in Episcopal churches before, in that missing verse 5. It's pretty shocking, but it helps explain why the hunger for light is so intense, and the joy so great when it comes: "For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire." The coming of this prince of peace will mean the end of all signs of war and violence. An occupied people will finally live in peace, without anxiety about who or what will confront them the next time they go out their front doors.



People in many parts of this world still live with the echo of tramping boots and the memory of bloody clothing. Many Episcopalians are living with that anxiety right now, particularly in Haiti and Sudan. Americans know it through the ongoing anxiety after September 11 and in the wounded soldiers returning to their families and communities, grievously changed by their experience of war. Remember the terror of war when you hear those words about light on Christmas Eve. Remember the hunger for peace and light when you hear the shocking promise that a poor child born in a stable will lead us all into a world without war. Remember the power of light when you go out into the darkness after hearing those words — and pray that you and those around you may become instruments of peace.



Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors! —Luke 2:14



The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori is presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.

Advent Message

Quote

"The Episcopal Church has been waiting for decades for people to come through our beautiful red doors and then we'll turn them into Episcopalians,....This (mission-based ministry) is about the reverse. It's about leaving those red doors and going out into the community to meet people.....Congregations that focus primarily on Sunday morning ministry are missing a whole lot of people who are looking for community or are looking for the opportunity to worship and study and have fellowship together, but they can't do it on Sunday morning, or they won't do it on Sunday morning."

Presiding bishop discusses courage, challenge and uncertainty of leadership at California women's empowerment conference

"Sometimes the rejection is overt," she added. She described the way she responded when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said she could not wear her miter while preaching at Southwark Cathedral in England because women bishops were not yet allowed in the Church of England.

"I was informed before I arrived that I would not be permitted to wear my miter, my hat. I thought, this is pretty ridiculous; I thought I'm not going to offend the dean [of the cathedral], but I'm going to take my miter, I'm not going to let go of this symbol of my office. So I carried it," she said as the gathering cheered and applauded.
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