“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16

Dear Friends:

This week, I’ve spent a large part of the days in Washington, D.C. with about a thousand other priests/pastors as we participate in the Festival of Homiletics. Thank you for your flexibility and patience as I’ve traveled back and forth. As well, give a special thanks to Epiphany’s staff and helpers who are holding down the fort. The Festival of Homiletics, now in its 26th year, is a week long opportunity to hear and learn from a wide selection of the very best preachers and professors of homiletics (homiletics is a fancy way of saying: preaching) in the business. This year in particular, the Festival, being held literally just blocks from the White House, is entitled “Preaching and Politics”. We’ve heard from some of the greats, including contemplative Franciscan priest, teacher, and author of numerous books Richard Rohr; social justice Baptist pastor Otis Moss III; professor of New Testament Matt L. Skinner; United States Senator Elizabeth Warren; former president of Luther Seminary, David Lose; and professor, author of some sixty books, and the premier theologian in the 21st century when studying especially the Old Testament, Walter Brueggemann, to just name a few. In their teaching and preaching, they are challenging us with the question, “how can preaching not be political?”

If “political” is defined as how we are concerned with the social order, then, as Christians, as children of God, called to make God’s world known, we are political. Because, God’s world is a just world, a grace filled world, a world where preacher Otis Moss said, “where hope lives down the street from democracy and mercy is in residence next door with grace.” It seems these days evidence of God’s world emerging is more necessary than ever.

Sunday is Trinity Sunday. We’ll welcome our resident theologian John Rybicki as our preacher. John is bravely tackling the concept of God as a trinitarian God, a God in three persons. Thank you John, for helping us secure a relationship with God the creator, father God; God the friend, the healer, teacher, forgiving, most loving Son, Jesus Christ; God the Holy Spirit, our companion and sustainer along the way.

At the same time on Sunday, we’ll give thanks for those who have given their lives defending peace and freedom through the armed forces of our country with Memorial Day being celebrated on Monday. Bring family and friends to worship as a sign of our great God who comes and battles through our warfare that we may know God’s abundant, saving love who is ever present for us in this life and in life eternal.

Finally, thank you for your support and patience as we’ve moved along in the office. As many of you know John Borowski, our operations manager, is out on a period of extended leave due to illness. John is in good care. At the same time, it is not possible to be in contact with him just now. Please, keep John and his family in your prayers. We look forward to John’s return when the time is right. Should you need assistance regarding the building, please contact Lisa LeJune or me and we’ll do the best we can to help you. We can give thanks to the Buildings and Grounds Ministry team of: junior warden Elaine Perry, ministry lead David Sonnenfeld, Dave Parkerton, Bob Otten, Bernie and Roberta Hawco and others who have generously made themselves available, including Sally Campbell.

Life is full. We can be thankful for our God in three persons to be present in all that we do and all that there is. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we give thanks and praise to our great God.

Blessings upon blessings,

Hillary