February 27, 2025

Last week our Vestry voted unanimously to send a letter to Bishop Mariane Budde of the Diocese of Washington commending her for gracefully speaking truth to power in calling President Trump to have mercy on our LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and others who are frightened. A copy of the letter is posted on the back wall of the church if you would like to read it yourself. Bishop Budde had a remarkable opportunity, one that many of us wish that we had, to bravely look the President in the eye and call him to follow the way of love and mercy. We seldom get such opportunities to speak directly, forthrightly, and publicly to the powers and dominions of the world, and it can be frustrating to feel unheard and powerless. 

In a way, though, we do have that opportunity almost every day. We are blessed in the USA to be a democracy. That means that, while the President has enormous power and while wealth carries enormous power, it is still the votes of the people around us that elect the president, whoever it might be, and the lives and decisions of the people around us that shape our society. Bishop Budde had the bravery and opportunity to speak love directly to someone who could change the world. Each of us has that chance every time we speak with another. 

Part of our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ is to speak truth to power. That power is the people around us, our families, friends, and neighbors. I would love to have had Bishop Budde’s opportunity, and I would like to believe that I would be brave enough, grace-filled enough, and gentle enough to do as she did. The truth, though, is that I have that opportunity all the time and too often I lack her bravery to call for love and mercy even from friends, let alone the President. The powers and authorities, rulers are principalities are walk among us and they are us. Our calling as Followers of the Way is to speak truth to one another, building ourselves and our society up in love.

Love each other, support each other, and help each other to be brave.

Course Canceled
Unfortunately, because of health issues, our Lenten series, Dry Bones: Lent in the Valley of Shadow, has been canceled. I hope that next Lent we will be able to offer the experience again. For this Lent, however, I am organizing one or more alternative series, to be announced on Sunday.