“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.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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Sunday, August 2, 2009
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."
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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."
"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."
Friday, July 17, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Lifting Women's Voices
This is a new book by Church Publishing which is a compilation of prayers written for and by Anglican women from all over the world. I had submitted a prayer when the editors were asking for contributions, and I am published in this book! It is such an honor to be in this wonderful book. It's special focus is on the Millennium Development Goals-which deal with women's empowerment, eliminating poverty and respecting the earth, and much more.
So what does this have to do with KJS? She wrote the forward to the book, and a beautiful forward at that. "We pray because we live in hope.", she says. It is so special to me that I am in the same book she is!
I'd like to share my prayer which is also in this book:
A Petition of Prayer for Women
For all women in our community, nation and world; we pray to you Lord God.
For all oppressed women; grant them strength to strive for equality, freedom and justice.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
For all women suffering abuse; grant them full autonomy of body and mind.
Give every woman a healthy sense of self-worth and confidence that does not cease.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Grant every woman infinite opportunity in religious and secular life.
Give them means to ascend to new heights and to break new ground.
Let their pathways be filled with peace and dignity.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
General Convention II
I Like This Quote!
"Episcopalians are like Boy Scouts – we like to be ready, with prayer book, hymnal, and bulletin in hand, and a Swiss army knife in our back pocket to open the wine bottle."
Sunday Eucharist sermon to United Thank Offering (UTO):
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