Dear Epiphany Family,
The “#Metoo” movement of the past year has been the impetus for the church to offer a word of grace and encouragement for those who have been harmed. There is no question that we are facing a major cultural shift, and that we have more to learn.
In the last several weeks, a Supreme Court Justice, a beloved actor and comedian, and scores of Roman Catholic priests are among the accused or convicted. And among us, in our own Parish community, there are scores of people with our own stories, some of us women, some of us men, but all of us figuring out ways to live, or to speak, or to respond.
If you or someone you love has been affected by sexual assault, I pray that you will be gentle to yourself, and do whatever possible to take care of yourself. If you have not before reached out for help, please know that both the Associate Rector and I stand at the ready to listen and to support. In addition to whatever spiritual care Miriam and I might provide, there are resources beyond the Parish of the Epiphany, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-4673.
In the Eucharistic liturgy for Rite I (the traditional, Elizabethan language of former prayer books), after the Confession of Sin the priest says the so-called “comfortable words” among them is a phrase from St. Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus says, “come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” One of the ways I understand these words is to make sure I don’t carry burdens that are too big for me, and to make sure I’m doing my part to help others whose burdens are heavy.
We have an opportunity to walk this way, the way of love. I bid you peace, and I call our church, especially its leaders, to courageous action and humility.
Faithfully in Christ,
