November 23, 2008

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

It was another week overflowing with ministry opportunities - each bringing rich blessings.

Tuesday's highlight included a Communion Service at the Steuben Jail. Six inmates attended including four Mexican undocumented migrant workers whose crime was working for $5 per hour to help upstate farmers pick the Fall harvest. Most have been in jail for months awaiting trial and deportation. What a mess we created and there doesn't appear to be a just solution. Perhaps the economy will get so bad that American workers will want to do this backbreaking work in order to live in sub-standard housing and make sub minimum wages. But, somehow, I doubt it. Rumor has it that some migrants are avoiding church because their visibility within the community might lead to arrest by aggressive INS agents. "When I was a stranger - you welcomed me. A prisoner, you visited me."

On Wednesday and Thursday, Fr. Jim and I visited two homebound parishioners - both remarkably hospitable and faith filled individuals. Both, lovingly cared for by exceptionally caring spouses.

Friday turned out to be an exceptional day:

We bid farewell to long time parishioner Bob Denno. For many years, Bob and his wife Rita led our "Resurrection Assembly" which assumes the liturgical ministries at all parish funerals. Their legacy lives on in those who now serve faithfully in this ministry.

Later that day, I visited with the residents of an ARC group home which had just experienced the sudden death of one of its residents. We discussed the mystery of death and the promise of new life - then I brought out my guitar and we shared some singing.

Next, a return visit to the jail to reconnect with a female inmate that for a short time attended St Mary's.

Finally, a Rotary Club sponsored dinner and concert featuring the extraordinary talents of my friend Bass-Baritone Kenneth Anderson. The event took place at our O'Malley Hall which (thanks to some extensive renovations paid for by our parishioners very generous response to the diocesan "Partners in Faith" Capital Campaign back in 2005) has become a wonderful venue for numerous parish and community events.

The week ended and this week began with a full schedule of Masses and preaching and an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service that we hosted at St. Mary's. Our preacher was the new Bishop Prince Singh, the new Episcopal Bishop of Rochester.

All that, and some movie and TV watching time (The Amazing Race)with Pat.

On Wednesday, our daughter Monica will arrive from Chicago and Pat, Chris, his friend Audrey, Annie and Jack and I will enjoy "Thanksmas" - a new holiday we've created because Annie, Jack and Monica will be away on Christmas.

As you can tell, there is much to be grateful for.

Apologies and Thanks
Last weekend I thanked those who wrote to say that they enjoy these weekly emails. This week, I want to apologize to those who wrote this week that I have not as yet responded to. Within hours of the posting, I heard from readers and friends from quite literally around the world. I managed to reply to only a few before I found myself swimming upstream. If you wrote, and I have not responded, your email is preserved in my in basket waiting for me to have an hour or two to personally respond. In the interim, know that this Thanksgiving and (every day)I thank God for your friendship.

This week's column
The election of our new president gives me now hope and by God's providence - a new vision for the future. It is a column that spans about 50 years of memories and, I expect is sure to again fill up my in-box.

May your week be filled with gratefulness.

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2009
Pat and I invite you to join us on a "Lands of the Bible Cruise" that we've scheduled for November 11, 2009. Follow the link below to download our itinerary. Then, if you are interested, drop me an email and I'll send you a brochures and registration form. (http://www.deaconray.com/travel.htm)

This Week's Column: November 23, 2008

A New Hope. A New Vision

Two weeks ago our country elected a new president. In doing so, Americans did something that as few as twenty years ago, many, perhaps most people would have thought possible. Americans, white, black, young, old elected an African American man to the presidency of the United States. In doing so, voters opened as never before the American Dream to millions of children and people of color throughout the world. On election day, November 4, I was 65 years old. As I watched on TV the election night celebration from Grant Park in Chicago, memories flooded my mind and I became acutely aware that during my 65 years of life, I’d witnessed and been part of an evolution of heart and mind that made the once unthinkable - possible.

During my life, I have visited the segregated South, seen the white only colored only signs on restaurant and rest room doors, on benches and drinking fountains - and my vision was never again the same.

During my life, I’ve watched on television as police dogs were unleashed on civil rights marchers and the assassinations of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy, three young civil rights workers in Louisiana and four little black girls who died when the KKK blew up their classroom while they attended Sunday School in Birmingham. My eyes and ears witnessed these events - and my vision was never again the same.

During my life, I’ve volunteered as a “Big Brother” to children living in Rochester’s black ghetto, reported as a radio announcer the destruction of that same ghetto during the Rochester race riots, and later taught sixth grade in Rochester’s inner city schools. My eyes and ears witnessed poverty, racial despair and the struggle of black children to imagine a successful future - and my vision was never again the same.

During my life, I’ve seen our country, the “home of the free and the brave,” torn apart by unpopular wars and generational upheavals, and the sexual revolution. I’ve seen our country segmented into black and white, liberal and conservative, straight and gay. I’ve witnessed (on TV at least) Apartheid in South Africa, genocide in Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur and on September 11, 2001 a horrific terrorist attack occur inside our country. My vision has never again been the same.

But that’s not the full story of what I’ve witnessed over my 65 years.

During my life, I’ve also witnessed God’s love reaching out through people of faith. I’ve seen courageous young men and women risking their lives so that others might be free. I’ve seen miracles of resurrection take place in the lives of people who overcome addictions, personal tragedies and seemingly impossible disabilities. I’ve witnessed ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things - putting their faith into action and using their time, talent and treasure to change the world. And, I’ve seen the Church I love recognize God’s presence in the “Modern World”.

Yes, during my life, I’ve witness some very horrific and some very sacred events. I’ve witnessed human behavior at its worst and at its best. And now I’ve seen an extremely gifted African American man elected president of the United States. And, in my heart I know that this was possible in part because my generation, the generation that witnessed bigotry and prejudice, unpopular wars and unfathomable atrocities - decided that “enough is enough.” We decided to teach our children to see the world differently. By word and example we’ve raised our children to be color-blind.

Yes, we still have a long ways to go, and I among many in our Church laments that our new president doesn’t fully pass the litmus test on some major life issues. But, Rome wasn’t built in a day or even in a generation. Change is happening and with our prayers and persistence in personally respecting life in all its diversity - hope lives. The Holy Spirit is still at work through people of faith that envision not only financial security for themselves but a fair shake for all people. When the number of families living in poverty is reduced - just perhaps families will become more stable. And, when families are more stable - the number of abortion will decline.

That’s my new dream. A dream that - like an end to racial bigotry - likely cannot be legislated - but never-the-less is possible.

That’s my new hope, Can you envision it?

Have a good week. Serve each other well.

Deacon Ray

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Bulletin: November 23rd, 2008