Moving forward in hope

November 9, 2016

Dear Christ Church Family,

As we settle into the day after a very long, contentious and often divisive election, many of us knew that regardless of which candidates would prevail that our nation would be in need of healing and reconciliation.  Today some of our friends and family are despondent and afraid.  Some of our friends and co-workers are exuberant and confident.  Where does this leave us?  It should leave us with the message of Christ that endures: love, welcome, acceptance, justice and compassion.

As hard as it is to interpret large lessons in the fog of late-night election returns, brokenness and fear are not new realities in our world.  As Christians, I hope that we work together to listen more deeply, reach out and act where we can and protect and empower the most vulnerable among us. We in the Episcopal Church have a long tradition of praying for our political leaders and pray we will.  

Today a few of us gathered in the Chapel to talk, listen, and pray.  We settled on the following well-known prayer which I offer to you.   

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is discord, union;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

In God’s peace,

The Rev. Mark B. Pendleton

Rector