February 5th, 10:00 -- Teens/Tweens meet with Sue Ploch
Children's Chapel in the Library
Main Service (Eucharist, Rite II) in the Church,
followed by coffee hour
February 7th, 1:00 Women's Spirituality Group in the Libarary
7:30 Vestry meets in the Library
February 12th 10:00 Children's Chapel in the Library
Main Service (Eucharist, Rite II) in the Church,
followed by coffee hour
3:30 Absalom Jones Service at the Cathedral
Pray for Peace... There's saber-rattling going on
One of my lifelong friends is a Quaker-Episcopalian, from a Massachusetts family which has given significant support both to a Friends retirement home and to the local Episcopal Church for generations. When we differ, she leaves me squirming with her critique of our willingness to resort to force and threats of force.
It's happening now. As I read the web news, I sense a ratcheting up of the language of threats in our dealings with Iran and Syria, a growing conviction that someone "should" or "will soon" attack Iran (whether Israel or the US), a demonizing of our perceived enemies. There is momentum growing for another intervention (whether by Israel or by the US) which is reminiscent of the pre-Iraq assurances of "Weapons of Mass Destruction." I remember standing on a bridge in Boston protesting this as President George W. Bush came to town.
It is estimated that the war in Iraq has cost the lives of over 100,000 Iraqis and 4482 American military, that 32,213 US military have been wounded, that over 1.5 million Iraqis are refugees, and that our running total cost has been $704.6 billion. Can our best and brightest, can Israel's best and brightest, can Iran and Syria's best and brightest, not do a better job for us all this time?
From the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, teachings on a radical way of living as God's people:
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?'Pray, dear friends, for a burst of sanity, a hint of humility, a vision of peace, and the courage to do something new, something godly in this time.
Fairbairn
