A full day, new narratives and perspectives.
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
Last Sunday was a rich and full day. Like other parishes around the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, our prayer and worship reflected the theme of racial justice, healing, and reconciliation. Last year at Annual Convention, a resolution was passed beginning a season of time when the diocese would look at this work together (you can read more about it here). If you were here on Sunday, you know that Meg preached a powerful sermon (if you missed it, you can listen to it). And then Joe Magnano facilitated an interesting and energetic conversation about his recent trip to India. And what you might not know is that in the afternoon, our Confirmands gathered at WEPCO to learn about the faith of our Muslim brothers and sisters. They had a chance to ask questions and explore the theology and culture of Islam - including the chance to sample tea, sweets, and look at a number of items related to the faith. And yesterday, our DC Mission trip took off - and already I've heard feedback from kids and chaperones about the meaningful learning that is taking place. As we commissioned the DC Missioners on Sunday, I began by saying that all of us are called by virtue of our baptism to the work of reconciliation and to acts of justice and mercy. And in the midst of all of this, what I see is the growing power of love.
As I made my way home in the evening, I was grateful for the fullness of the day, and for the many ways that our life together invites us to consider and engage with the world around us. Our faith does not invite us into closed relationships, quick assumptions, and easy judgments of others. Instead, in a culture that is often so divisive and dismissive, a world that tells us we have little in common and ought to struggle against each other - our Gospel and our experience together says otherwise. Instead, the story of Jesus and the unfolding of our life together says - we are connected, we have more to learn, and we have much more in common than we think. Love always seeks connection, understanding, healing.
I'm grateful for the growing well of faith that I see in this community and the ways in which love is seeking connection, compassion, and reconciliation both inside and beyond our walls. And I'm hopeful that as we continue on our journey together, we will continue to seek not only to understand the world around us, but tell a new story of hope and reconciliation, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, building both compassion and justice. We are responsible for each other and for all the beloved creatures of God. May your baptism remind you how much there is to learn and how great is the relentless, staggering, scrappy, absolute power of love.
I hope to see you on Sunday. Until then, God bless you.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Sunday, February 9th, 2020
Tags: Welcome from the Rector