January 20, 2007

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

It is bitterly cold in New York's Southern Tier. But in spite of the winter chill, I have again this week experienced the warmth of God's love. In the Cursillo movement we speak of "moments closest to Christ" - times when we are especially aware that God is with us.

This week there were many such moments:

• a visit with a man (Joe Bouchet) shortly before he entered eternal life
• a visit with a woman recently diagnosed with cancer who expects to see God face to face within the next few weeks
• a "Healing Mass" at the parish where I was prayed over in place of these folks, their families and several people from the parish in great need of emotional healing.
• attending the Corning Museum of Glass' 2300 Degrees community party on Thursday night which included great music, seeing many Corning and Bath friends and . . .holding grandson Jack on my shoulders as we danced to the pulsating music of a drum circle and he tasted the side of a huge ice block sculpture
• a concert of Negro Spirituals by my friend Kenneth Anderson
• and of course watching as Jack began taking several confident steps with arms flailing for added balance.

Special blessings - all of which point to the joy of experiencing daily the same "Lamb of God" John the Baptist pointed to in this weekend's Gospel.

Deacon Ray

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Bulletin: January 20th, 2008