An Invitation To Pray

As we approach this Martin Luther King, Jr weekend, I find myself drawn to that preacher’s testimony about Antidotes to Fear. I commend the full sermon to you, but here are some extracts that feel timely, even after a lifetime, perhaps particularly today: 

"In these days of catastrophic change and calamitous uncertainty, is there any man who does not experience the depression and bewilderment of crippling fear, which, like a nagging hound of hell, pursues our every footstep?"

"Fear is mastered through love." The New Testament affirms, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."

"Fear is mastered through faith... God’s gonna take care of you."

"This faith transforms the whirlwind of despair into a warm and revising breeze of hope. The words of a motto that a generation ago were commonly found on the wall in the homes of devout person need to be etched on our hearts: 

Fear knocked at the door. 

Faith answered. 

There was no one there."

This evening, January 13 at 8:00 p.m. EST, all are invited to an act of communal love and faith, offered up in prayer, hosted by the Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and Minnesota Bishop Craig Loya. "The service will offer space to mourn and lament, as well as to seek grounding in Christ as the church continues to witness to and work toward God’s love and justice for the world." Register for the vigil here. 

And may you know God’s presence with you, now and always. 

Rosalind + 

Upcoming Beloved Community growth opportunities include (but are not limited to): 

Every One Beloved, a one-day anti-racism workshop from the Diocese of Ohio, will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on February 7, at St. Paul's, Medina. To join the waitlist, please email the Rev. Rosalind Hughes.

The subsequent Every One Beloved workshop will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 23, at Trinity Commons, Cleveland. Register here.

On February 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church, Shaker Heights, the Wilma Ruth Combs Northeast Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, in collaboration with the Diocese of Ohio and Christ Church, will host the annual Festal Eucharist celebrating the Rev. Absalom Jones and the Rt. Rev. Barbara Clementine Harris. Jones was the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church, and Harris the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Anglican Communion.

Following the reception after this service, Bishop Anne invites people of color from around the Diocese to join her in conversation. This conversation will take place immediately following the reception, and will last approximately one hour. This will be a closed gathering for only people of color with Bishop Anne and a staff member, and will not be recorded. Allies and others are encouraged to pray for the gathering. Please RSVP here. See Bishop Anne’s full invitation here.