What a joy to have Bishop Craig visit St. Luke’s last Sunday! His words, in preaching and during coffee hour, were full of wisdom, love, and invitation. If you haven’t seen it, I urge you to go check out the recording of our worship service posted on Facebook. (Coffee hour wasn’t recorded, so for that you’ll have to chat with a friend who was there.)
I also want to offer my thanks to all of you who’ve reached out to me over the past few weeks with words of support and gratitude for my preaching and leadership. Together with the vestry and other volunteer leaders, I’m doing everything I can to make our experience of worship and Christian community the best it can be given the circumstances. Sometimes—all too often, really—it seems like that effort is nowhere near enough. Given all that we’re facing and the huge challenges that just keep coming, it’s been wonderful to hear so many words of encouragement. Thank you!
In the weeks to come, I’ll continue the thread I began last week. It’s critical for us to continue thinking about the work God is calling us to. This week, however, with the presidential election just five days away, I want to highlight to opportunities to both pray for our nation and reconnect to the God who guides us always.
This Sunday, November 1, at 4:00 p.m., the Washington National Cathedral invites everyone to join them forHolding onto Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a service of prayer to shine as a beacon of hope for the nation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, racial reckoning and a hard-fought election. In the midst of pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope and a call to love God and neighbor.
On election day, Tuesday, November 3, Bishop Loya is hosting an all-day prayer vigil for all of ECMN. At 7:00 a.m., the bishop will help to frame the day and our call as followers of Jesus. Then, at the top of each hour, a different person from across ECMN will share a prayer on the ECMN Facebook page. If you’re interested, you can visit that page now, click “interested” by each post, and you’ll get a ping when it goes live. Finally, at 8:00 p.m., when the polls close, you’re invited to join Episcopalians from across ECMN (and beyond) on Zoom for a service of Compline. To find more information and get the Zoom link for Compline, click here.
Until then, I’ll be holding our country, the upcoming election, and all of you in my prayers. I invite you to do the same. And if there’s any way I can help you to walk through this strange season, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Blessings,
Justin
St. Luke's Episcopal Church 