On Saturday February 25^th I met via Zoom with the Province 8 Black and African Ministries group. The meeting featured a presentation on the life and work of Rev. Pauli Murray, the first African American woman ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. Rosita Stevens-Holsey, who is a niece of Rev. Murray, was the featured speaker. She is the driving force behind Preserving Pauli Murray, an organization that is working to preserve the legacy of Pauli Murray. For more information on this amazing woman, please visit the website for the Pauli Murray Center for history and Social Justice at https://www.paulimurraycenter.com/. Many thanks to the Province 8 Black and African Ministries group for making that presentation possible.

On Sunday it was Holy Cross to preach. That first Sunday in Lent liturgy opened, as is traditional in many congregations, with The Great Litany. The slow, meditative, somber tone of the litany creates a very prayerful and self-reflective setting for worship. However, because the Great Litany is a corporate act, it draws one into thinking not only of MY Lenten journey but of OUR Lenten journey—Lent as a communal experience.

Fittingly on that Sunday Holy Cross began its work around “Becoming Beloved Community” with a Lenten study on this topic. Becoming Beloved Community is the framework around which the Episcopal Church is doing its long-term work toward racial reconciliation, healing and justice. This work is organized around four main themes:

Truth-telling: Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Race

Proclamation: Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community

Formation: Practicing Jesus’ Way of Healing Love

Justice: Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions

Out of this has come an on-going spring of documents, conversations, resources, communities, curricula and events to aid us in our work of becoming what God is calling us to be: Beloved Community. For more information, please visit https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community/.

After a day off on Monday the next few Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were full up. Tuesday was the monthly meeting of the Bishop’s staff. Later that day I sat with two groups who represent some of the intersectional work that our office does. Those groups being the Creation Care Advisory Committee and the Trans and Non-binary Clergy Retreat Planning team.

On Wednesday I had meetings with the Allies Circle leaders and with Bishop Melissa. The Full Circle met in the afternoon. We spend a good bit of time reviewing, discussing and editing the answer to the Bishop’s question regarding what the diocese should focus on over the next 24 months. I have shared that feedback with Bishop Skelton. I will be sharing that same document with the Circles.

Thursday was another busy day. The staff had a lunch at D-House (as our office is affectionate known) for Rev. Allissa Newton our Canon for Congregational Development. She is preparing to go to the Meet and Greet sessions for the four candidates that are on the slate for Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland.

In afternoon and evening of Thursday the Clergy of Color Circle gathered. The support and the honesty in this circle is encouraging and continues to build a truly collegial community. The day ended with me spending time with Sacred Ground Action Group of St John the Baptist. This group is coming off of two Sacred Ground circles and they have moved into actions, particularly with the Duwamish People. They are working on relationship building and trust building through listening and serving. As I told them last night, that is the secret sauce.

Friday is usually a day when I do my weekly wrap up. I gather the notes from meetings and begin to look at what next week’s work is. My Friday ended, as it usually does with my weekly planning meeting with Adrienne.