Bp. Robinson's Prayer

Here is The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson's prayer from the Lincoln Memorial yesterday:


"O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will bless us with tears -- tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless this nation with anger -- anger at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort at the easy, simplistic answers we've preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth about ourselves and our world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be fixed anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility, open to understanding that our own needs as a nation must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance, replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.
Bless us with compassion and generosity, remembering that every religion's God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable.
And God, we give you thanks for your child, Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, inspire him with President Lincoln's reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy's ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King's dream of a nation for all people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady, calm captain.
Give him stirring words; We will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters' childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we're asking far too much of this one. We implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand, that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity, and peace. Amen."

January??!!!!

How did it get to be January? How is it that there have been no posts since November? It certainly isn't indicative of inactivity there have been headines a-go-go but apparently no time to post them. That, in itself, is a shame. So here are some highlights:

We had our 50th anniversary of our building the weekend of December 12-14. It was fantastic!

On Friday night we saw friends like the Romers, the Harleys, the Johnsons, the Rowans, and the Leafs for a quiet gathering in the lounge. There was lots of reminiscing and even a few prank phone calls to folks we thought should have joined us!

On Saturday we had a dinner for about a hundred friends. We began with snacks and wine in the Lounge and then gathered in teh Parish Hall for dinner. We were graced with Win Perry who was an architecture intern that worked on the original design of the sanctuary who told us stories not only about the design of the sanctuary but also about the building process. Former rectors Orion Davis and George Adamik joined us and commented on the life of St. Stephen's.

Than. . . Orion, George, Al J. And John R. came and talked about the ministry of two very special people -- Al Chapin and Carol McKenna. Then the current rector (me) presented these two wonderful souls with the title of Wardens Emeritus. I think for once I finally was able to suprise them both!

On Sunday Bishop Sisk came and confirmed 9 people and received one and we had a procession taht included many of our building users over the years including a giant butterfly puppet. I know the Bishop has been in many processions over the years but he did comment that this one was quite extraordinary.

Christmas Eve and Christmas were beautiful and we once again remember how very grateful we are for this special place called St. Stephen's.

Thanks be to God!