Pentecost C* May 19, 2013 St. Augustine’s Church
Rev’d Jennifer Phillips Acts 2:1-21;Rom.8:14-17;Jn.14:8-27

When Bishop Barbara Harris was elected in Boston September 29, 1988, to be the Anglican Worldwide Communion’s and that diocese’s first woman bishop, and an African American, and a priest who came up through management in a corporation rather than in churches (since there weren’t church jobs for women back then) – the winds of change reached gale force. Every one of us in that electing convention packed into our cathedral felt the Spirit moving. Some were elated, some shocked and terrified. Right away she began receiving death threats, and was assigned a police bodyguard and given a bullet-proof vest to wear in public, just as was Gene Robinson, the first partnered gay man to be elected Bishop, in the diocese of NH June 7, 2003. What stirred joy and hope for some, led others to withdraw in fear. As I walked home down the same street in which some unknown man had passed me in my collar a few years before and spat in my face and called me Jezebel, coming from Bishop Harris’ consecration two Jewish women ran up to me and grabbed my hand, beaming, and said, “we are so excited for you- a woman bishop! – this means hope for us as well. Thank you!” Indeed, on each occasion a whole great crowd of people felt transformed, knew in their guts that they, too, were truly children of God and no longer strangers and outsiders- their belonging was made incarnate before their own eyes.

Parish Yard sale – this Saturday, May 18- starts at 9 am. Donations and afternoon help are still needed.

Misc 2013 - 05
Please note 2 service schedule changes! – May 19, in place of our 10 am service, we’ll meet in the parking lot 10-10:15 and carpool to the Cathedral of St. John, 318 Silver Street SW in ABQ for the 11 am service there at which The Episcopal Church’s and Anglican Communion’s first woman bishop Barbara Harris will preach. Please come- you may not get another chance to hear this wise and feisty elder of our church!
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May 12, 2013 Ascension Sunday, Easter 7C - Stewardship sermon St. Francis Church Rev. J.Phillips
Acts 16:16-34; Ps. 97; Rev.22:12-14,16-17,20-21; Jn 17:20-26

“Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift!” – an amazing, astounding gift of our life, of the life of the planet that sustains us, of all life! Freely given! And the life that is given to us is given to share the love of Christ, for that is given to us in order that we may share it freely in turn, says John’s Gospel.