Thursday (St Columba)

  • On the road from the Swan residence in Eldorado around 8am--destination: Cairo, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississipi Rivers, the very southern tip of Illinois, geographically (and possibly culturally) closer to New Orleans than to Chicago.
  • Enjoyed an informative tour of the old Custom House--forrmerly a federal building, now a museum, and an excellent one at that. Our docent was Louise Ogg, a parishioner of the Church of the Redeemer for many decades, and for whom the museum is a true labor of love.
  • When I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time 20 years ago, even though I knew what it was and had seen pictures and movies of it my whole love, nothing could have prepared me for the breathtaking (literally) moment of first looking over the rim. My experience in Cairo today was of the same nature, only the dark shadow thereof. This is a town that is devestated on every conceivable level--Detroit simultaneously in miniature and on steroids. Being there was surreal, blight like I have never seen. Anywhere. I fear it has passed the tipping point, and cannot even imagine what might be done to help it.
  • The Church of the Redeemer is truly a gem. Really beautiful. Sadly, the state of the congregation reflects that of the town. I pray for wisdom and vision as we seek to discern how to be faithful stewards of the assets to which we are entrusted in this diocese.
  • We had lunch at one of the very few up-and-running business establishments in Cairo, a BBQ place. The brisket was fork tender and flavorful, really good. The sauce, however, was much more Carolina than Texas, and would have gone better with pork than with beef.
  • After a banking errand (at one of only two banks in town) in connection with Fr Swan's imminent departure from the Hale Cluster ministry, we headed 8 miles into Missouri to buy gas at 3.499/gal. Sweet.
  • Then up I-57 to Marion, where we took a look around the town, including a stop by a very handsome minor league ballpark, home of the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.
  • Next up was St Mark's, West Frankfort for a meeting with the Bishop's Committee from St James', McLeansboro. Sadly, it was an end-of-life conversation about the timing for the removal of artificial life support for a terminal patient (that is, St James'). It's really heart-breaking, because these are people of faithfulness and vision. But there are just too few of them; they are worn out, and they deserve to be relieved of their burden, with thanks. They have fought the good fight, and we now await what a generous God has in store for them and for the diocese as a result of the ministry that has gone on in that place for 130 years.
  • A happier occasion was dinner back in Marion with the clergy and spouses of the Hale Deanery. Excellent cuisine at Sao Asian Bistro.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Image
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...
Read more

Spring 2018 House of Bishops, Day 3

Image
We have new stricter social media rules now in the HOB--no photos taken during a session without the permission of those in it. So ... I'm having to be more creative about finding pics for the blog, because I'm not going to take a panoramic group shot and then contact everyone whose balding head shows in the photo! Once again, the day began with Eucharist. This time, though, I took a pass, and opted for a vigorous walk on a brisk morning. Having looked at the liturgy sheet in advance, there were enough triggers that I knew the net spiritual effect for me would be negative. #selfcare  I will say, however, that HOB worship has gotten incrementally less problematic during the tenure of the current Presiding Bishop, and I give props for that. When we convened at 10:15, there were the usual announcements, then a whirlwind set of summary reports from bishop members of the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) and the Task Force on the Study of Marriage. The full report...
Read more

Saturday

Out the door at 8:30, headed south. Arrived at St Paul's, Alton at about 10:15. Presided over the installation of the Revd Cindy Sever as Rector of Alton Parish. It was an energetic and lovely ceremony. After the post-liturgical potluck I headed further south still, arriving at St James', Marion in time for their regular Lord's Day celebration, which occurs on the eve thereof. Presided, preached, and laid hands on one person renewing her baptismal vows. Dinner for vestry and spouses at the home of St Andrew's, Carbondale parishioner Trish Guyon, which is always an elegant affair. By now she knows what I like to drink and what I like to eat, so it's pretty special.
Read more