Grace and peace,

This week I want to share with you two seemingly dissimilar events in our Church. First, in the spring of each year the diocese, in partnership with Seabury Resources for Aging, honors individuals for their service to the community. In the past we have honored Audrey Balderson, Bob Brekke, Carl Ridenour, Julie Metcalf, Mary McQueen, Glen Drew, and others.  This year we nominated, and will honor, Bill and Pam Fleming. Our nomination read:

We are pleased to nominate Captain William H. Fleming, USN Retired, and Pamela Fleming for the Seabury Celebration of Service Award. Capt. Fleming, known by many as Bill, serves St. John’s in countless capacities including vestry, senior warden, lector, and an active Prayer Partner. He has served as Outreach Chair, and a Christian Ed teacher. Equally impressive, Pam serves as a Prayer Partner, is part of the bell choir, and participates with the Women of St. John’s community. She has served on St. John’s Head of School search committee, altar guild, and taught Christian Education.

Bill and Pam have actively supported the ministries of our parish for over 22 years.

Bill and Pam recently completed a thorough history of St. John’s with a view through the lens of race and racism. Their extensive work uncovered many forgotten or overlooked pieces of our parish’s history. They identified 135 enslaved souls whose history and ownership by parish members had not been told previously. Their work is an important part of our parish’s efforts toward racial reconciliation.

We are grateful for the work of the Flemings and all their efforts as Christ’s hands and feet in this world and our community.

Please join with us in recognizing their work. The award will be given at the National Cathedral this coming Tuesday. 

The second item of note comes from our Presiding Bishop. Earlier this week Presiding Bishop Rowe announced that the Episcopal Church, and Episcopal Migration Ministries, will end its partnership with the Federal government and the State Department refugee resettlement efforts. This announcement has made the news cycle and without a full understanding of the situation, the decision may raise questions. I encourage you to take a moment to read the entire letter from Bishop Rowe, found at this link. 

In this decision, the Episcopal Church is standing strong on the principles of our Baptismal Covenant; we seek and serve Christ in all persons, we respect the dignity of every human being, and we strive for justice and peace among all people. As Jesus commanded, we are to serve those on the margins, and those truly in need and danger. As Bishop Rowe states: “It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.” Especially alarming is the neglect of the refugees who worked shoulder to shoulder with our military in Iraq and Afghanistan; they risked their lives for us, and now their lives are threatened in their own countries. This new policy turns a blind eye towards their courageous actions.   

I celebrate the Episcopal Church, and Bishop Rowe, for being strong and standing by our core principles to seek and serve all persons, not just the select few. Likewise, I celebrate Pam and Bill Fleming for also standing by their core principles and serving Christ in our parish and community.

Peace

Fr. Henry+