A Sacred Space

"As we sit with Christ in prayer, we enter a sacred space of solitude, love, and inner peace. In time, we may wonder how we survived without prayer. Prayer becomes the air we breathe. We need it to live in peace." From a sermon by Cynthia Leidal. To read the entire sermon, click here.

We Are ...

"... we are a group called together to rejoice in who God has made us. We are a people called to join together in praise and thanksgiving to the Giver of all good gifts. We are a people called to shine forth with the radiance of Christ. It sounds like a lofty calling, it sounds like something that doesn’t apply, but it DOES APPLY TO YOU AND ME." From Fr. Peter Swarr's sermon on the Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 20, 2008. You can read the entire sermon here.

Grace

"... is an unmerited gift from God of
himself. It's 'on the house.'
It comes free and it comes whether
or not you know you need it."
Frederick Beuchner

Read the entire interview from Grace Cathedral here.

Epiphany

The story of the Epiphany seems to be woven of mystery and possibility, destination and return; leading to and trailing from a miraculous birth to baptism to wedding feast. And in the cyclic pattern of nature it repeats, offering for as many times as we might observe it, a path that we might all follow.

The painting shown above, "Epiphany Times Three" is by Kathrin Burleson (www.kathrinburleson.com). It is part of the current ECVA (Episcopal Church and Visual Arts) exhibition "Feasts for the Eyes."

Some further insights regarding the Feast of the Epiphany can be found at Speaking to the Soul at the Episcopal Cafe.

Diocesan Council 2008

"Diocesan Council met twice since Diocesan Convention and will meet again on Tuesday, January 8, at Trinity Church, Belleville. The meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., will address the budget process for 2009. On December 1, council created a new committee called the Diocesan Program Committee that will look at the five diocesan priorities, the commitment to the eight Millennium Development Goals and how to live into the challenge of Bishop Wendell Gibbs to be 'a people of common prayer expecting uncommon results.' " Read the entire story here.

In the photo above: Bishop Wendell Gibbs flanked by Council President Dorian McGlannan and Canon to the Ordinary Lisa Gray. (Photo: Herb Gunn)