A Message from the Dean
Dear Cathedral Family and Friends,
Under “normal” circumstances, this Sunday would be our 15th annual Cathedral Celebration. We would give thanks for the ministry entrusted to us by our diocese for the last fifteen years, and we would celebrate that ministry through the presence of our bishop, who would baptize, confirm and receive people into the Church. Then we would enjoy a meal and fellowship together, ideally outside in our courtyard.
Obviously, this year we won’t be able to do all of those things this Sunday, but we will do a couple of them. Bishop Russell will be at Christ Church Cathedral this Sunday to preach and celebrate, although he will be baptizing, confirming and receiving at a later date. (It’s hard to do those things “virtually”!) We will still give thanks in our prayers for the cathedral ministry we enjoy, although we won’t be celebrating together after the service. We will be together, just not in the same place.
As we continue to discover our way forward into our new life together while apart, Bishop Russell’s presence with us is an important reminder that we are part of a much larger Body of Christ in the Church. We know that we love each other in our parish family and that we care for each other. Days like this Sunday remind us that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” whose prayers and hopes and witness strengthen us. We serve God and our neighbor on a much larger stage than the one we usually imagine.
I hope that you are continuing to be nourished by the Word every day and that you are finding peace and hope in a regular time of prayer. I miss being with you, and I continue to pray for the day we will be together again, in the same place.
Faithfully,
Beverly+
The Holy Gospel Luke 24:13-35
Now on that same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Comments