Relentlessly hopeful …

What does this mean for you today?

Each day and even each moment this may change for you as you awaken and discover today has dawned the same as yesterday or your malady has not disappeared after the afternoon nap, or the 5pm news is worse than the 9 am news.

Hope is what God in Jesus is about. Hope is having a dream for tomorrow. Hope is believing you will see your family again in person. Hope is certainty that God has a hand in bringing the state of equality and justice to this country and to the world. Hope is …

Glory to God whose power, working in us can do more than we can ask or imagine. Relentlessly hopeful and working fervently toward the dream with God.

Shalom, Donna+

Compline with Bishop Gutierrez: On Monday 1/18, as we celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it is important that we also recommit ourselves to the principles he taught. Please join our Bishop on 1/18 at 7 p.m. on Facebook as he leads a very special service of compline which will conclude with us recommitting ourselves to the vows made at our baptism. Join on Facebook

Covid vaccine update: Your diocesan staff was instrumental in getting clergy - of all denominations in this state - classified as 1B with other essential workers in line for the COVID vaccine. We are currently assembling resources to assist our clergy and essential church staff in getting signed up as soon as they are eligible. See the schedule HERE

On 1/26, the Diocese's Commission on Wellness is hosting a public town hall discussion with leaders in our diocese to get input, feedback, and concerns about several initiatives announced by the Commission at the 2020 Diocesan Convention. Details. 

Bishop Gutierrez released an update: "As we seek to navigate these challenging times it is good to be able to ground ourselves in the truth. Sometimes the most important truths are also the simplest. Perhaps the most important is this- God is love. Nothing could be more important right now. This beautiful truth lifts us and sustains us. It also reminds us of how we should treat those around us.  After consultation with the Health Committee and prayerful consideration, I have determined that we will continue with our modified Phase I restrictions through the end of this month." Read his letter HERE

Celebrating the life of Blessed Absalom Jones. Save the date: Feb 13, 10-11:30 am online. For more information click HERE

Register HERE for the link.

Here is the web site where you can register for COVID-19 vaccinations being given at the Convention Center. This is the city's first mass vaccination site but there will probably be more opening over time. It is being run by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health along with the nonprofit Philly Fighting COVID. I believe they are setting up these sites to relieve pressure on the doctors and hospitals, who are under enough strain treating existing cases.  Click this link to access the site Covidreadi

You will need to pre-register, following the instructions on the web site. When you receive your registration confirmation, you will be assigned to a priority phase (e.g., 1A, 1B, 1C) based on your age, health, and occupation. These groupings follow the state-level priority guidelines (see Vaccine (pa.gov), and these follow the CDC's national guidelines.  

POWER

What: MLK Day Preemption Press Conference & Action

Where: Facebook Live (you do not have to be a Facebook member to participate)

Over this past week I have received numerous letters and articles written by various bishops and other leaders of the Episcopal Church. Some of them stand out because of where I have served or their direct hopefulness. Here is the letter from Bishop Gutierrez of the Diocese of PA: Click HERE

Here is one from the Bishops of Province 5 which encompasses Ohio and my former Bishop Hollingsworth:  Bishops write letter urging Episcopalians to avoid inauguration-related protests amid threats of violence. Click HERE

Presiding Bishop calls country to "face painful truths," meet "abyss of anarchy" with healing love … Click HERE

A week ago I was in tears watching the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Since then I have been struggling to make sense of it, especially trying to figure out the people who carried banners and signs extolling God and Jesus. Who are these people I asked myself? What bible do they read? What Jesus do they know? I have read numerous articles that describe the people who stormed the capital last week. According to these authors many were Christian Nationalists whose understanding is that the U.S. was founded and blessed by God to be white, patriarchal and Christian. They are totally against diversity, religious pluralism and feminism. Many are racists and anti-Semitic. They are not opposed to using violence to bring about the nation they believe God has ordained. This thinking depresses me beyond measure. Then I came across another article/essay written by Diana Butler Bass: “2021 Looks A Lot Like 2020” https://progressivechristianity.org/resources/2021-looks-a-lot-like-2020/. In it she speaks up for 2020 and the challenges we faced and endured. She sees light for 2021. She gave me comfort and hope. Hope seems to be what we need right now, lots of it. Hope that there will not be any more violence. Hope that we can start rebuilding a nation worthy of God’s blessings. Here are beautiful words about hope from Henri Nouwen:

Rachel, David, Donna

Birthdays: January

Sundays: all on Zoom

9:00 a 25 - minute time of prayer, songs, story for 0-7 year old

Wednesdays 9-10:00 Morning Coffee & Prayer

Thursdays 5:30 Evening Prayer

Please pray healing and support especially for: Mark, Sarah W, Sasha, Shirley, Bill, Travis, Luca, Sallie & Jim W., Lynn, Andrea, Susan W, Richard, Ulpiano, Carmen O, Jan, Katherine

Special prayers of gratitude, especially for vaccines against Covid-19

Grace for those who have died and all who mourn; especially Linda Eppes and her family

Stamina and creativity for all essential workers, especially teachers, clerks, IT professionals, trash collectors, medical personnel, delivery, bankers, restaurant employees ...

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