Ecumenical Prayer Service In New Orleans

First, I commend the bishops' choice of New Orleans for the House of Bishops meeting. The theme for the ecumenical prayer service was "Humainity Renewed, Restored, Re-centered in God". The use of the Morial Convention Center as the site of the ecumenical service was symbolic of the partial recovery of the city, because the Center, along with the Superdome were the two largest shelters of misery for those seeking to escape the flood waters. No help came for 4 days. I'm sure you remember the scenes from TV. I have never yet figured out how the press could be there filming the misery, but help was so long in coming.

To make certain that we were there on time, we arrived early at the Convention Center. While we waited for the service to start, we were entertained by a choir singing Gospel music. The white folks in the choir were grooving right along with the black folks. I give them points for keeping up.

As the bishops processed into the auditorium, I had to suppress a desire to stand up and cheer when Bishop Katharine passed. She has presence - a quiet dignity and grace about her - that comes through, literally, in passing.

Bishop Duncan Gray of Mississippi read the first lesson, Zechariah (8:3-13), and Bishop Katharine read the Gospel reading, Matthew (25:34-40).

The invocation and the pastoral prayer were given by Bishop Douglas Wiley and Elder John Pierce, neither of whom were Episcopalians. Black preachers often have a way of praying that draws God and his people into an intimate circle. Bishop Wiley's invocation of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and Elder Pierce's prayer did just that. Both were beautiful, and I experienced the powerful presence of God.

When Bishop Charles Jenkins introduced Archbishop Rowan Williams, he reminded us that Archbishop Williams was the 104th archbishop of Canterbury, whereas Bishop Jenkins was the 10th bishop of Louisiana. A tad more history on the side of the archbishop, no?

Archbishop Williams had toured the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, and thus was aware of the desolation which still remains, for only a very few brave souls have had the courage to rebuild in that area. The archbishop spoke of what we owe to one another. "The bottom line is that what we owe to one another most deeply of all is gratitude - not even respect, not even the recognition of dignity so much as gratitude," he said. "We are indebted to one another. I am indebted to your existence because I would not be myself without you. A community, a society, that can get to that level of recognition is one that lives from a deeper place." He went on, "If the church does not live by thanksgiving, I don't what it lives by." We owe each other, but most of all we owe Jesus Christ - for life, hope, strength, and joy. As Williams said, "We owe Christ big time, as they say."

He said the help to the city was to buy time for renewal, reconstruction, and restoration of the city of New Orleans, to help it once again to become "a place for the people". He quoted from the passage from Zechariah:

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets."

He said, "What makes a great, godly city is that it is a safe place for older people to sit and children to play in the streets."

After his speech, the bishops went forward with their donations to Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi.

The finale was a musical presentation by the Irvin Mayfield Quartet of a slow "Just a Closer Walk", "I'll Fly Away", and a rousing "When The Saints Go Marching In", which brought out the white handkerchiefs waving in the air and drew folks into the aisles in a second line, marching and waving their white handkerchiefs. I caught a glimpse of a couple of purple shirts in the marching group. I'll wager that this conclusion was unique for a House of Bishops prayer service.

I have tried my best with the quotes that I included, but I do not have a transcript of Archbishop Williams' speech, therefore the quotes may not be exact.

An account of the service and of the news bishop's meeting thus far is in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Jim Naughton at the Episcopal Café was kind enough to post this on their website.

A Bit Of Poetry

Off to see
The ABC.

Genius, or what?

To TheMeThatIsMe And His Beloved

Happy Anniversary to TheMeThatIsMe and his better half. They've been together for 21 years. Like Grandpère and me, TheMe and his wife are two very different types. As I told him at his site, Conscientisation, the differences can serve to add spice to a relationship. (Some folks love to make it difficult for the rest of us with their handles and blog names that are so difficult to spell - especially with those weird English spellings.)

If you'd like, you can go wish them a Happy Anniversary. I pray for God's blessings upon them and wish them many more years of wedded bliss.

Man Arrested For Murder Of Priest

From the Daily Comet:

John DeSantis
Senior Staff Writer

THIBODAUX - In this sleepy Southern town where murders are as rare as snow, the hallowed grounds of an antebellum Episcopal church are haunted by questions from a 15-year-old mystery.

Who bludgeoned a popular young priest to death on a summer night in 1992, and for what reason?

Gathered Tuesday in front of the church hall that bears the slain priest’s name - where his blood spilled on its floors - a number of the faithful, family members and clerics were told by police officials that answers had finally emerged.

The arrest of a 28-year-old habitual criminal named Derrick Raynard Odomes on charges that he robbed and killed the Rev. Hunter Horgan III at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Aug. 13, 1992, some said, begins a sense of closure for a crime that has remained an open wound.

Back in August, I wrote a post in memory of Hunter Horgan. I said this:

Have you guessed that this is my church? I was not a member when the murder occurred, but since mine is a small town, everyone in the vicinity was shocked and grieved. I can only imagine what it was like for the church members and for the family of Hunter Horgan.
....

I had met Fr. Horgan a few times, and he seemed like a kindly man. The unsolved crime does leave an open wound.

I was shocked when I got the phone call about the arrest. I was there on the church grounds when the announcement was made. Afterwards, the folks there milled around a bit and spoke quietly . It's hard for me to take in that after this long a period of time the case has allegedly been solved.

Beneath a stand of moss-draped oaks, parishioners traded memories of the priest they lost 15 years ago, and of their attempts to cope since his death. Some say they still speak to him when visiting the church hall.

I like the way John DeSantis writes. He tells the story well.

Lord, may Hunter rest in peace and rise in glory, and may your peace that passes understanding keep the minds and hearts of those who loved him and miss him.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Where Am I?

Hi, everyone. I died and went to heaven. This post is being written from the great beyond. Who knew that we would have heaven to earth internet access?

Not really. My internet access died. I am typing this at my son's house. Someone who knows more than I do is coming this afternoon to help this technically challenged granny out.

THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVELY BIRTHDAY WISHES! What an "Alice in Wonderland" birthday present to lose my internet access. I really am dying.

Miss Hippo Reads My Blog

I am "made" as a blogger. Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love reads my blog. Yay!

You may ask, "Who is Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love?" Miss Hippo is one of the stars of Padre Mickey's regular Friday (sometimes Saturday, when El Padre is lazy on Friday) entertainments.

If you are not a regular at Padre Mickey's Friday entertainments, then you should be. The proof that Miss Hippo reads Wounded Bird is here. Miss Hippo is smiling, because she liked what she read at my blog. Scroll down past the wine bottles, and you will find the picture at the head of this post. El Padre blogs at Padre Mickey's Dance Party.

Idea stolen from Caminante.

The Trip Blog - By Dennis

OK, folks, here is the web address for the Trip Blog or gathering of fans of OCICBW in New York. All RSVP notices, questions, information, etc. may be posted there. Henceforth, we shall be known as OCICBINY.

I'd like to make one thing clear. I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan of the MadPriest. That's a bit too strong. In fact, now that we have the numbers, we might want to ditch him. He's served his purpose. That Kaeton woman has suggested that we place an effigy of the mad one at the bar. When we're done having our drinks, I have an idea about what we might do with the effigy, but now is not the time to speak of that.

UPDATE: I have put a link to the NY Trip Blog at the top, on the right, above the painting.

Bush - "I Am Right"

Rep. John Murtha at The Huffington Post:

A week ago on a Sunday talk show, a reporter expounded on a personal moment with the president in the White House when she asked him, "Mr. President, how do you continue to press forward when the war is so unpopular and things seem to be going so wrong in Iraq?" The president responded, "Because I am right."

Right about what, Mr. President?

Right about weapons of mass destruction?

Right about Saddam's involvement in 9-11?

Right about mission accomplished?

Right about thinking he could fight this war on the cheap?

Right at the ease at which Iraq could be transformed into a pillar of democracy?

We've heard the rhetoric, now let me talk about the facts.

To date, there have been more than 3,700 Americans killed in Iraq. For every American soldier that dies, nine are wounded, many with catastrophic trauma with long term effects. This translates into an additional expenditure of $350 to $700 billion in medical and disability costs to veterans, not to mention the countless suffering of thousands of American families for years to come.

The title of the article is "Nothing Petraeus Said Will Change How Americans View the War." Rep. Murtha is right. It's time for the Congress to go on record for withdrawing our troops from Iraq. Bush may veto whatever measures the Congress passes, and there may not be enough votes for an override of the veto, but I say to the Democratic members of Congress, especially, but to all members of Congress, "Do it anyway. Remember. You work for us. We pay your salaries. We have expressed our views on this misbegotten war. Please do as we ask. Go on record for ending the occupation of Iraq."

As Rep. Murtha says:

This administration has again given the American people a false choice: EITHER we stay in Iraq indefinitely OR, they say we face chaos, genocide, and an Iraq whose biggest export is terror not oil. There are many other choices that haven't been tried, such as concerted regional diplomacy coupled with strategic redeployment of troops. I believe redeployment is the way forward. They say, 'what happens if we leave?' and I say 'what happens if we stay?'

So-Called MadPriest Fan Club Party

From Dennis:

OK, here are the details for the proposed MadPriest fan club meeting for the northeast:

Monday October 22nd.

New York City, Chelsea, near General Theological Seminary (because Fr Jake is taking a Monday night class there and I would like to talk him into joining us) we meet for coffee at a place to be announced, go to evensong at General Theological (which starts at 5.30 so we would need to meet about 4 or 4.30), then go out for a drink or dinner and then whoever needs to go elsewhere (home, clubs, whatever!) can get there.

I know it is a work night BUT you are getting 5 weeks notice. What do you think?

I don't have Counterlight's email - can anyone forward it to him? It would be good to tell Clumber and Elizabeth Keaton and anyone else in the general area. If you have their emails or know of any other OCICBW... readers who need to see this please send it on to them.

You can contact Dennis through THIS LINK.

If MadPriest thinks this gathering will be ABOUT HIM, then he's delusional.

Feast Day Of Hildegard Of Bingen

From Kristina Lerman at Fordham University:

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a remarkable woman, a "first" in many fields. At a time when few women wrote, Hildegard, known as "Sybil of the Rhine", produced major works of theology and visionary writings. When few women were accorded respect, she was consulted by and advised bishops, popes, and kings. She used the curative powers of natural objects for healing, and wrote treatises about natural history and medicinal uses of plants, animals, trees and stones. She is the first composer whose biography is known. She founded a vibrant convent, where her musical plays were performed. Although not yet canonized, Hildegard has been beatified, and is frequently referred to as St. Hildegard. Revival of interest in this extraordinary woman of the middle ages was initiated by musicologists and historians of science and religion. Less fortunately, Hildegard's visions and music had been hijacked by the New Age movement, whose music bears some resemblance to Hildegard's ethereal airs. Her story is important to all students of medieval history and culture and an inspirational account of an irresistible spirit and vibrant intellect overcoming social, physical, cultural, gender barriers to achieve timeless transcendence.

From James Kiefer at the Lectionary:

Her use of parable and metaphor, of symbols, visual imagery, and non-verbal means to communicate makes her work reach out to many who are totally deaf to more standard approaches. In particular, non-Western peoples are often accustomed to expressing their views of the world in visionary language, and find that Hildegard's use of similar language to express a Christian view of reality produces instant rapport, if not necessarily instant agreement.

Hildegard wrote and spoke extensively about social justice, about freeing the downtrodden, about the duty of seeing to it that every human being, made in the image of God, has the opportunity to develop and use the talents that God has given him, and to realize his God-given potential. This strikes a chord today.

Oliver Sacks, a Professor of Clinical Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat and Migraine

...views the pictures in Hildegard's books of what she saw in her visions, and says, "The style of the pictures is a clear indication that the seer suffered regularly from migraine attacks. Migraine sufferers tend to see things in this manner." And indeed, it is true that Hildegard suffered throughout her life from painful attacks of what may have been migraine. Professor Sacks hastens to add that this has nothing to do with whether her visions are authentic insights into the nature of God and His relation to the Universe.

A little story in Hildegard's own words:

"Listen: there was once a king sitting on his throne. Around him stood great and wonderfully beautiful columns ornamented with ivory, bearing the banners of the king with great honor. Then it pleased the king to raise a small feather from the ground, and he commanded it to fly. The feather flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along. Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God."

READINGS:

Psalm 104:25-34
Sirach 43:1-2,6-7,9-12,27-28
John 3:16-21

PRAYER
O God, by whose grace your servant Hildegard, kindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

UPDATE: The reading from Ecclesiasticus or Sirach speaks of the glories of the works of God in the heavens - the sun, the moon, and the stars - and concludes with these wonderful words:

We could say more but could never say enough;
let the final word be: ‘He is the all.’
Where can we find the strength to praise him?
For he is greater than all his works.