Singing is able to touch and join human beings in ways few other arts can. Alice Parker is a wise and joyful thinker and writer on this truth, and has been a hero in the universe of choral music as a composer, conductor, and teacher for most of her 90 years.
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For those who may wish to delve into the story of how a traditionalist bishop took his diocese out of the Episcopal Church, and how the liberal parishioners who were not part of that movement re-formed new communities, and how “supply” priests helped them find a way forward.
When the history of The Episcopal Church in the twenty-first century is written, much attention will be paid to the large-scale effects of “Anglican Realignment.
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This is from the week after the election. Thankfully, no further stories have come out about vandalism at Episcopal churches, or at other “liberal Christian” houses of worship.
Content Warning: racist, antisemitic, and homophobic language used in vandalism. Episcopal churches in Maryland and Indiana were vandalized with pro-Trump, racist messages last night.
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In better news, an Islamic mosque was hit with messages of love and support.
Diana Butler Bass published a piece in the Washington Post about how this Advent feels quite blue, rather than red and green or purple and pink. And she points out that blue is a color of both night and day.
We begin Advent with our hopes high, but in hopeful blue rather than penitential purple. And perhaps we’ll begin to bring them into clearer focus as we go towards the Nativity. Keep hope burning brightly, as we journey toward the Nativity in a somewhat “blue mood.”