Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you. The Outline of the Faith in The Book of Common Prayer says: "Grace is God's favor towards us, unearned and undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills." (BCP 858) God shows favor towards us just because God wants to, because, God is good, because God loves us. I am more and more aware that many of us struggle to accept that about ourselves, and definitely struggle extending that acceptance to others.
I pray that we can show some grace as we tackle the hot issues of our day. May we see those who differ from us as people. We often can focus on the issues rather than the people touched by the choices we make as individuals and a society.
We can be a community that seeks to live that grace by extended unconditional acceptance. We name that in our sacraments. We receive the acceptance as we receive Christ and become that bread for the world.
Thank you for showing that grace. See more details in this email about the ways we are living out that grace. Thanks so much for helping us kick off the capital campaign. Join the fun at the picnic on July 9.
May you know God's grace. God looks on you with favor just because God chooses too.
Peace,
Fr. John Mark