Confession of St Peter

Back now from a six day sojourn in Charleston, South Carolina. Over the weekend, I had a chance to spend quality time with the clergy, vestry, and people of the Church of the Holy Communion there. Holy Communion has for more than a century been the Angl0-Catholic shrine parish of the Low Country (and probably the entire state). They are in the uncomfortable position is holding great affection for and being largely in sympathy with Bishop Mark Lawrence and the majority of the diocese, which has severed its ties to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, but not being inclined to follow their friends in that move. It was a privilege to be able to offer them some pastoral care and encouragement. 

While in the area, Brenda and I took the opportunity to indulge in a three day mini-vacation Monday through Wednesday. The weather was unseasonably lovely (70s every day), and it turned out we were there for Restaurant Week, so there were tasty deals to be had throughout that city's culinary establishments. And we did lots and lots of walking--several miles a day--which hopefully balances out some of the eating we did! We made it out to Fort Sumter, toured historic churches both downtown and out on the Ashley River road, and spent some fascinating time at the gardens and natural areas at Magnolia Plantation, which has been in the same family for 350 years. 
So yesterday was a travel day and today was back to something resembling normal. 
  • Processed lots and lots of emails that has accumulated in my absence.
  • Morning Prayer in the car on the way in to the office.
  • Since the Archdeacon and I have both been traveling and have not seen one another yet this year, we spent a good bit of time debriefing over various things.
  • Conferred with the Archdeacon and the Treasurer when the latter popped in over a rather bizarrely unusual situation.
  • Processed more emails.
  • Lunch from TG, eaten at home.
  • Made a first pass at the readings for the First Sunday in Lent, in initial preparation to preach at St Paul's Cathedral on that day.
  • Took care of some administrivia, which included creating an email for someone else to process!
  • Revised and refreshed the text of a sermon that I will deliver at St Luke's, Springfield on Epiphany III (27 January).
  • Spoke by phone at some length with a potential candidate for one of the upcoming clergy vacancies we will have.
  • More administrivia.
  • Friday prayers: Ignatian-style meditation on the daily office gospel reading for today's feast--the risen Christ asking Peter, "Do you love me?".
  • Evening Prayer in the office.

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