"Every single one of our parishes is surrounded by people who are anxious, depressed, some struggling with addiction, and many incredibly lonely," says Bishop Hughes. And she believes we are called to offer the beauty of God's love to them by growing the faith, in ourselves and others. (Time: 4:17.)
As summer ends and we enter into this busier time of year, Bishop Hughes encourages us to continue to find a way to claim some Sabbath time every week for rest, gratitude and joy. (Time: 4:01.)
Bishop Hughes invites the whole diocese – clergy, staff, lay leaders, people in the pews – to partake in a "Summer of Sabbath." And since we Episcopalians sometimes don't quite know how to approach Sabbath, she offers three specific ways for us to think about it. (Time: 5:32.)
Bishop Hughes talks about how intentionally engaging in awareness months - Pride month, which is now; Black History Month in February; Asian American Pacific Islander Awareness Month in May; Hispanic Heritage Month in mid-September through mid-October; and Native American Indigenous People Awareness Month in November - can teach us how to live our Baptismal Covenant. (Time: 4:41.)
This week we learned that our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, suffered a health emergency. He was treated at a hospital, appears to be stable now, and is recovering at home.
Noting that Jesus' instructions to his disciples after his resurrection were to stay together, pray together, and wait for the Holy Spirit, Bishop Hughes reflects on how this is also good advice for us now, as we become the church that God needs us to be at this time. (Time: 3:46.)
Bishop Hughes notes that this year's Confirmands are giving different reasons for seeking confirmation than in previous years. Instead of saying they're doing it because it's expected, most are now saying it's because "I want to know God more" or "I want to take my place in the church." For those of us who've already found our place in the church, Bishop Hughes has some suggestions about how we can support our Confirmands as they find theirs. (Time: 5:19.)
Who are the people that need Christ's compassion? Who are the people that need his love? Who are the people who are looking for companionship, that need a blessing, that need to know that they are cared about? Wherever you see those people you are seeing through the mind of Christ, you are seeing through the eyes of Christ, and you are seeing Christ in another person. (Time: 2:50.)
This year we are entering Lent after learning that President Jimmy Carter, at 98 our longest-living former president, has entered hospice care. Bishop Hughes reflects on the example he has set of living one's faith out loud as an unabashed Christian and urges us to consider what this would look like for each of us.
Lent gives us the opportunity and encouragement to follow the way of Jesus into a particular kind of rest and experience of God’s presence.
