hello again...finally

Ok, well it looks like I need to go backwards now!  It’s not surprising to me that it’s Saturday afternoon and I haven’t been able to work on this blog for a couple of days!  I know that ENS is releasing lots of stories about the substance of our convention, so let me try to continue to give random thoughts….

 

We just left the largest Eucharist of the convention – the UTO ingathering.  The music was wonderful and spirit filled – including some original pieces commissioned in honor of the Presiding Bishop.  To see all the bishops process in their red robes up one aisle, all the UTO diocesan coordinators process up another aisle (Newark’s Anna Byrne did us proud!) and the altar party come up the center aisle was wonderful to see,  The preacher was (Dr.) Jenny Te Paa, from New Zealand.  I have worked with Jenny over the years and preached a wonderful sermon, in her calm, New Zealand accent.  Jenny was on the Lambeth Commission that produced the Windsor report and brings great wisdom to the dialogue and she had a wonderful message for all of us.  (I’m getting a copy, hopefully by e-mail, so I can share it with all of you.)  Now we are in recess until 2:30 when the PB nominations will be made in a joint session.  I will be leaving shortly thereafter to go to the Episcopal Peace Fellowship/Witness (Magazine) reception where there will be several award winners, including Marge Christie of our diocese.  That’s from 4 to 6, so I will miss the rest of the legislative session (Michael Rehill is taking my place on the floor today) and the tribute to retiring House of Deputies president George Werner at 5…but will return for the tribute to the Presiding Bishop at 8:00.

 

Last night was one of the Eucharists that is often one of the highlights of convention for me – the Integrity Eucharist.  Unfortunately, the church was smaller than ones we’ve had it in before, so thanks to Lindsay McHugh for saving a couple of great seats!  (She was able to leave earlier than us since Triennial ends at 5, and the House of Deputies ends at 6).  There were hundreds who were turned away.  Bishop Gene Robinson preached and was so wonderful in his message about love.  “Love them anyway.”  Whatever they say or do to you, love them anyway.  He cried, we all cried – and was a wonderful witness of the gospel and a man who is willing to stand up for it, against so many odds.  Probably a 4 or 5 minute standing ovation afterwards….And the singing! So loud, with one voice.  Again, this is what convention is about—the gathering of people trying to do the best they can to live the gospel.

 

More later –

 

Faithfully,

 

Martha Gardner