Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
We are in the Great 50 Days from Easter to Pentecost and we carry the Easter joy forward and into the world around us… and the world around us needs peace and grace. We pray for the people of Sri Lanka in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks. We pray for an end to violence.
And this weekend, we Bless our Elders, grateful for their wisdom and witness to God’s love, grateful for the peace and grace they have shared with us. And, on Sunday we have the privilege of welcoming three children into the household of God in the sacrament of Holy Baptism. More grace. More alleluias.
And, this weekend we remember the work of the Equal Justice Institute (EJI) – recognizing 30 years of commitment to: “ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.” Founder, attorney Bryan Stevenson’s book about this work is called Just Mercy and has been made into a movie slated for release in January 2020. And, EJI opened The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, to widespread acclaim just one year ago. St. Paul’s had hoped for a pilgrimage to EJI this weekend, and while many signed up, we did not have enough to fill the bus for a four-day trip. We could not travel to Montgomery this weekend for EJI’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, but we can give thanks for the work of EJI and commit ourselves to the work of justice and peace in every circle of our lives…
So this week, offer an act of grace, of justice, of mercy and a prayer of thanksgiving. We have been called by Jesus Christ, empowered by his Resurrection and so we can change the world around us.
With Easter blessings,
Rev. Kathleen Gannon