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A Prayer For Our Country by Robert F. Kennedy "Let no one be discouraged by the belief that there is nothing one person can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills, misery, ignorance and violence. Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. And in the total of all those acts will be written the history of a generation. It is from numberless, diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends a tiny ripple of hope. Crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples can build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." Dear Ones,
I give thanks to the Rev. Sally Carlson for reminding me of the prayer above. We are just a few hours away from one of the most important elections in our countries' history. More than that, perhaps also one of the most contentious and divided we have ever had. I will not belabor this. You all have heard, as we all have, far too many words, and so many of them not really that edifying or helpful. Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, I pray that we, our collective, our Body, will be who we are called to be, compelled to be, by the Gospel and Way of the One we follow, Jesus Christ. Let our responses, our reactions, our behaviors, our words, reflect that One. Beyond the ideas, the ideologies, the strongly held philosophies and opinions, may we be reminded of the importance of our care for one another, and that we, our bond together as humans, is far more important and must be our prime priority in the days ahead. Here you can find the text of the Presiding Bishop's Sermon from the Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness. The sermon is entitled, "Our Values Matter" You can watch it by video here. Blessings, +Greg |
AuthorThe Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel is the VIII Bishop of Olympia, the Episcopal Church in Western Washington State. He has been the bishop here since September, 2007. Archives
October 2024
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