A Call to Prayer

Dear Friends in Christ,

I write this letter to ask the members of our community to pray.

The traffic accident this weekend that resulted in the death of Thomas Palermo is such a tragedy.  And then there is the earth shattering news that it was caused by one of our bishops, the Rt. Rev. Heather Cook, who for reasons we do not yet know left the scene of the accident only later to return.

Please read Bishop Sutton’s pastoral letter to our diocese regarding this situation.  You may also want to read the statement the diocese released today that explains the search process.  Both are found on the home page of our diocesan website: www.ang-md.org.

Please consider that social media is not always an ideal platform to learn the most accurate information or for drawing conclusions.

It has been my experience when the ground under our feet gives way we want to rush to judgment, answers, and quick fixes.  It is much harder to sit with pain and sadness that we cannot fix.  But that is exactly what we are called to do as Christians who were shown God’s redemption through the life of one who walked through pain and sadness for us.

Sometimes all we can do is pray.  Pray for Thomas Palermo and his family who grieves.  Pray for Bishop Cook.  Pray for Bishop Sutton and your brothers and sisters in Christ in this diocese.  Go to church on Sunday (or before) and hear the story of God’s redemption told through the ages, pray the prayers with God’s people and remember the love made known to us through the breaking of the bread.

This Sunday we will pray these words together in our opening collect; may we remember our humanity and that each one of us is created to be a witness to the light we celebrate during Christmastide.

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In Peace,
Arianne+

The Reverend Arianne R. Weeks
Rector