Openly Episcopal in Albany

Memorializing 9/11

This September 11 will be the tenth anniversary of the worst act of foreign terrorism on United States soil.  Many denominations will hold special services in remembrance of 9/11, including Episcopal churches.  Executive Council of The Episcopal Church adopted the following resolution at its June meeting:

RESOLVED, That the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, from June 15-17, 2011, invites Episcopal communities of all kinds to open the doors of their institutions the weekend of September 10 and 11, 2011 to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the attacks with acts of prayer and remembrance, service, creativity, inter-faith cooperation, education, community building, and fellowship, offering our institutions as active, accessible sites of healing for our local communities.

(signed)
The Rev. Canon Dr. Gregory S. Straub
Secretary of the Executive Council and
The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America

There are many Episcopal resources for crafting an effective liturgy.  A poster on the House of Bishops/Deputies Listserv noted that there is a collect and suggested readings for, "On the Anniversary of a Disaster" on p. 734 of Holy Women, Holy Men.  Another person commented on the appropriateness of the lectionary readings for the day: 

The Gospel lesson is the one about "how many times must I forgive?” Yes, I find it something more than coincidental and have no other explanation except divine mystery.  The Genesis track is Joseph forgiving his brothers.  The Exodus track is the Red Sea story, and the Epistle is Romans 14: 1-12, which includes not passing judgment on others and us belonging to God whether we live or die.  It all seems to fit!

Regarding music, another poster to the listserv reported that:

Hymns are likely to include "O day of peace that dimly shines", and "Love divine all loves excelling".  We are looking at a couple of choir anthems, including John Rutter's  "The Lord is my Shepherd" from Requiem.  Barber's "Adagio for Strings" will be in the service, probably as the prelude.

The Episcopal Café noted that many Episcopal parishes, especially in New York City and Washington, D.C. are busy planning special commemorative services on Sunday, September 11.  It would be very appropriate for parishes here in Albany, the capital of the state that was hardest hit by the effects of the attacks ten years ago, to host our own services of remembrance.  As the Episcopal Café article asks:

What will your church be doing?

Marriage Bells for Joseph and Ralph

As reported in the Albany Times Union, Dr. Joseph Eppink, choir director and organist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and his partner, Ralph Panelli, who is also the sexton at St. Andrew’s, are planning their wedding on September 17.

Joseph and Ralph have been together  for eight years, now.  Their union was blessed by an Episcopal priest, but the new Marriage Equality law in the State of New York allows them to finally have the wedding ceremony that they wanted.  Their ceremony will be conducted by a Lutheran minister at First Lutheran Church in Albany.  They would have preferred to be married at St. Andrew’s, but the discriminatory policy of Bishop Love and punishing canons of the diocese prevent not only an Episcopal priest from presiding, but for any clergy in the diocese from even attending the wedding.

This has not prevented the congregation of St. Andrews from supporting the joyful couple in their decision to wed.  As Joseph recounted to the Times Union reporter, on the Sunday after Marriage Equality became law “We had a coffee hour in front of the church, and there was this huge cheer from people. The church, the parish, they're all very excited."  Ralph sees their step together as not only a blessing for them, as a celebration to be shared.  "We can give this to the world now," he says.

Episcopalians in attendance at the wedding will have the opportunity to join in a congregational blessing of the marriage taken from Scripture and the Episcopal prayer book.

Please join me in wishing Joseph and Ralph a perfect wedding and a long and happy life together!