Rev. Susan Russell Giving Up Anxiety FOR LENT!

Rev. Russell is a the president of Integrity the LGBT group for Episcopalians:

her message:

MESSAGE FROM INTEGRITY PRESIDENT SUSAN RUSSELL

Dear Integrity Friends and Members,

The dust is beginning to settle but the anxiety continues to swirl as we mark today the week-after-the-Tanzania Communique and continue through the wilderness of Lent to the promise of Easter. Anxiety abounds, and yet I write today to urge you to consider joining me in giving up the bread of anxiety for Lent.

And I want to share a few of my thoughts on "what nexts" as we continue that Lenten journey together:

1 - Integrity is committed to nothing less than the full inclusion of all the baptized into the Body of Christ. Nothing less is good enough for Jesus and nothing less is good enough for us. We will continue our 30+ year work of advocacy and witness toward that end. Period.

2 - We will listen carefully to our leadership in the days ahead ... to the Presiding Bishop when she offers her words to the church on Wednesday morning's webcast, to the Executive Council as it meets in Portland this coming week and to both the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop as we look forward to discussing with them directly the concerns of the LGBT faithful.

3 - We will speak clearly to our bishops that we expect this church to do nothing less than to live up to its high calling to respect the dignity of every human being and communicate in the strongest possible terms that the God who calls for the sacrifice of a contrite heart does not countenance the sacrifice of his LGBT children on the altar of Global Anglican Politics.

What I also want to share are the following words of hope, challenge and inspiration -- giving thanks for a veritable "cloud of witnesses" that have surrounded me today! May they surround ALL of us and give us strength and courage to meet the challenges of the days ahead!

http://inchatatime.blogspot.com/2007/02/cloud-of-witnesses.html

From an email today from the Bishop of New Hampshire:

As I have said before, and will continue to say: JESUS is our agenda ? the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, and the sins of the whole world, so that we might know God?s love and goodness in our lives. In the end, God will reign, and all will be well. I believe that with my whole heart.

From a new blog recommended by Jim Naughton over at Daily Episcopalian:

To be talked ABOUT instead of talked TO is an abomination that I just can't stomach. If Bps. Duncan, Epting and McPherson went to Dar Es Salaam along with Bp. Jefferts-Schori, then why on earth couldn't Bp. Robinson have gone too? Are we homosexuals just that scary? How can you give witness to what's happening with God's gay and lesbian children if NOT ONE OF THEM GETS TO SPEAK?

And from the psalm appointed for Lent 2/Year C -- Psalm 27 -- which we prayed together at our Noon Eucharist here at All Saints Church today:

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who
stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army should encamp against me, *
yet my heart shall not be afraid;

4 And though war should rise up against me, *
yet will I put my trust in him.

5 One thing have I asked of the Lord;
one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days
of my life;

6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *
and to seek him in his temple.

7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
in his shelter; *
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.

8 Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.

9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

10 Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *
have mercy on me and answer me.

11 You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *
Your face, Lord, will I seek.

12 Hide not your face from me, *
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

13 You have been my helper;
cast me not away; *
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

14 Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the Lord will sustain me.

15 Show me your way, O Lord; *
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.

16 Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.

17 What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the Lord *
in the land of the living!

18 O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the Lord

Blessings, Susan

==============================
(The Reverend) Susan Russell
President, Integrity USA
132 North Euclid Avenue
Pasadena CA 91101
626.583.2741

"Nothing we do changes the past. Everything we do changes the future." - Joan Chittister

Check out my blog at http://inchatatime.blogspot.com/

mores the pity, as things are happening NOW. The Primates meeting is over, the fur is beginning to fly.

I highly recomment Jim Naughton's Daily Episcopalian, which has excellent commentary and is linked to many other Episcopal blogs.

http://blog.edow.org/weblog/