- Task organization and Morning Prayer at home.
- Spent yet more time trying to find the best way forward for the parish that is embroiled in rector-vestry conflict.
- Reviewed and approved a request from a priest to solemnize the marriage of divorced person.
- Researched the canonical requirements for rescinding the deposition of a priest who had voluntarily renounced his orders in the Episcopal Church, scheduled an appointment with said priest, and planned the actions necessary for making it all happen. It's fairly complicated.
- Lunch with a local Unitarian Universalist minister (at his invitation) who is active in interfaith activities in Springfield. We ate at Incredibly Delicious, a sandwich and (gourmet) pastry joint in an historic mansion over on Seventh Street.
- Spoke by phone with a former staff member of the aforementioned parish-in-conflict. Gained a great deal of insight as my view of the situation is coalescing and clarifying.
- Wrote a substantive email to the head of our Department of Communication offering kudos for the new look and format of the Springfield Current, and providing some input on the (much needed) redesign of our diocesan website.
- Responded to some detailed questions (via email) from the rector of the parish I am visiting Sunday after next.
- Took a long and careful look at the canonical ordination exams of a current postulant for Holy Orders in the diocese, and wrote a couple of email messages to key players in the person's process.
- Evening Prayer in the cathedral.
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Ten years ago, minus about six weeks, I served as the supply priest for Trinity, Lincoln six days before my consecration as Bishop of Springfield. Today I was there for the final regular scheduled canonical parish visitation of my episcopate. (I have a few more gigs on my calendar: March 7 in Mattoon, the Chrism Mass, the Triduum at the cathedral, May 30 in Cairo, and June 27 back at the cathedral--May 2 is available and not yet spoken for--but the every Sunday routine of my life for the past decade (in a larger sense, for the last 32 years) is at a major flex point.) As much as it could have been in the midst of a pandemic, this morning at Trinity was luminous. We confirmed eight adults, six of them qualifying as "young." My homily had to compete with the sounds of active young children. (I would much rather do that than have no kids in church.) Trinity is one of the exciting points of light in my ministry in the diocese. I took my time getting out of Lincoln because I wante...
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