Pentecost

Up and out of my office encampment around 0700. Devotions and MP in the cathedral. Chicken biscuit from Hardee's, then south on I-55 and Illinois 140 to St Paul's, Alton, Celebrated and preached with a skeleton crew of six people in the (relatively large) church, but with many others watching via Facebook Live. Then, successive groups of eight parishioners were welcomed into the church, assuming marked distanced locations in the front of the nave. After a collect and an Our Father, I administered Holy Communion (one kind) to them. I am not normally given to tears, but this experience completely got to me. It's a good thing I was wearing a disposable face mask, because it got a little wet. I hadn't anticipated being so utterly moved, but after nearly three months ... well, it was overwhelming ... for me, certainly, and also for many who attended. We then enjoyed a distanced and masked (and coffee-less!) coffee hour in the garden on a beautiful morning. It was all pure gold, and pure gift of grace. Arrived back home a few minutes before 6:00, having gotten thoroughly absorbed by a new audio book.

Comments

  1. Online Book Keeping ServicesMay 14, 2021 at 9:27 AM

    Well Done.. I admire the value you have provided through the web.. This will for sure going to be helpflul for all..If you are small firm lookking for the accounting and bookkeeping services , here are my services listed below:


    online bookkeeping services in Chicago
    best bookkeeping services in Chicago
    hire bookkeeping services in Chicago
    Accounting and bookkeeping services in Chicago


    ReplyDelete

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