Dear friends,
I am no Alistair Cooke but this is a letter from America.
This is being written in Memphis, half way through a 3 week holiday.
Dave, Nat and I have visited Boston, stayed with friends in Connecticut before spending 5 days in New Orleans. We are now on our road trip, travelling to Chicago via Memphis, Nashville and St. Louis. We are visiting as many music spots as we can and yesterday were blown away touring Sun Studios, realising you were standing in space previously occupied by the likes of Elvis, Bb King and U2.
In New Orleans we were there at the same time as the ECLA Youth Gathering. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America can trace their roots to the mid 17th Century when early Lutherans came to America settling in the Virgin Islands and then New York. It was incredible seeing so many young people. Each group had their own t shirt so you could see which part of the states they came from.
The theme of their conference was “created to be” and the verse was taken from Psalm 139.14. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”
One of my favourite T-shirts had these words on the back
” We are created to be brave, authentic, transformed, disruptive and disciples”
It got me thinking as to what we would have on our T-shirts?
What are we created to be?
On the Thursday before we left New Orleans, we serendipitously got off the tram outside the episcopal cathedral of New Orleans, just before a service, we joined some locals for their service of Holy Communion and it just made me realise how special it is, this worldwide Anglican Communion, that we can be so far away and use liturgy that is so familiar. After the service, we were shown around the cathedral. There is a wooden cathedra, ( a chair used by the bishop) which was made by slaves on a local plantation. Due to its history, it would have been easy to hide it away, but Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopalian church uses it for every ordination and confirmation. He is not hiding the past nor denying that there are still issues with racism but the simple act of him sitting in it and speaking at every opportunity about loving our neighbour whoever they are, shows hope.
”Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive, here the love of Christ shall end divisions. all are welcome” he wrote.
This morning we are worshipping at Memphis Episcopalian Cathedral and you will be in our prayers.
As they say in Memphis. “ The Lord be with y’all “
Christina x