Stations and Benediction
14 March 2008 - 8 אדר ב' 5768 by Huw
I’ve just returned from a most awesome service: stations of the cross and benediction. I’ve not done either in maybe 20 years - the last time I can *remember* doing them was at the Church of St Mary the Virgin and that would have been in 1987 or 88, before I left the Church. And so, here we are, Passion Week, 2008.
First we had guests: a sermon was given by the Rev’d James A Lewis, who is involved heavily in AIDS work, here in Buffalo, especially in the African American community. He is pastor of an AME Zion church, here in Buffalo. And boy, can he preach fierce! (A couple of times he nearly blew the sound system - it went a little static hiss, especially at the end.) And some of his congregation was there, as well. We got a sermon (with some “AMENS!” from the crowd) and they got two Catholic traditions all at once. I’m not sure how we all left, but it was all a Blessing for me.
And in the midst of it all was our Bishop, Michael Garrison. For 5 years in Orthodoxy, I heard about how important our Bishops are yet, apart from one July 4th Liturgy at a State park, I never met my own Bishop in my own parish in the entire five years. I’m sure the reasons vary from Fr V and Fr J and even Fr G, but after 20 Episcopal Years where the (relatively unimportant) Bishop showed up once a year, every year, this was all kind of shocking. Tonight, Bishop Michael showed up and set in a pew, walking around (singing) for the Stations and kneeling down for Benediction. And people came up to him and hugged him good. And he came over to me after the service and had a little chat with me - whom he didn’t know out of all his flock… and it was wonderful to meet a Bishop that involved, that present to even this tiny parish in his far-flung flock.
And so I knew then that what I’d told Fr Brent (I wasn’t yet ready) was now past: and I told the Bishop that “I think Mother Sara wants me to come see you on May First, to be recieved back into the Episcopal Church.” And so it was agreed.
And there was much rejoicing tonight. And we did singing and praying and walking and kneeling (and a little weeping) and a lot of preaching (and some shouting) and all was good. Very good. Very good.
Buffalo gets better and better.
(Can I get an…)
Amen.
AMEN!