From the Rector: March 2023

Dear Parish Family,

Shrove Tuesday this year began for me with a very early text message from a friend. Her beloved husband had died peacefully during the night, with her by his side. He had lived an extraordinary life of almost 93 years. I was so honored to receive that text, and to later witness a beautiful sense of earthly closure and peace with his death, despite the normal grief of those who love him so dearly.

The very same morning, only a few hours later, Day School Director Ansley Trask came to the office to share unimaginable news: a precious two year old child in our day school had also died in her home overnight. From that moment forward, Parish and Day School staff and families rallied with numerous ways to embrace and rightfully support a deeply grieving family. To show with our steadfast presence and voices and hearts that we bear the love and sadness of their family in Christ.

The very next day was Ash Wednesday. This is the day when we begin the season of Lent. This is the day when we pause to acknowledge our earthly mortality - and place ashes on our foreheads to remember God’s holy words, “Remember that your dust, and to dust you shall return.” We held three services in our Church, and a fourth in our Children’s Chapel with our day school students. I will confess that our earthly mortality felt especially tender to me that day. I don't imagine I was alone with those thoughts and feelings.

The season of Lent calls us to be more intentional about both the joys and the challenges of mortality. To note the many blessings of our lives that are so easily overlooked. To remember that each one of us is gifted, and to give freely of those gifts. To refocus on the tangible power of our relationships with one another. To simply remember that we don’t live forever here on this earth, and that we are in desperate need of God’s love and grace. Rather than taking on this season of Lent as onerous or task-driven, we look forward and stay on the path toward the great celebration to follow on Easter Sunday.

Thanks be to Christ that through his death and resurrection a greater kingdom awaits us, whether our lives have spanned two years or ninety-two years.

Blessings,

The Rev. C. Phillip Craig, Jr.

[email protected]

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP 504