NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF April 23, 2014

Bishop's Reflection: "While it was still dark"

Image by Jan Cottrell

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. (John 20:1)

First of all, thank you for your many ongoing prayers and communications about our daughter Avery. These have been a source of strength and support in these tough days since her trauma on March 12. She continues a very long and slow process of recovery, and we hope to get her to Kentucky for more acute brain injury rehab in the next weeks. It promises to be a long journey.

Frankly, given all of this, I had some trouble getting my head and heart around the happy noise and promise of Easter. The ongoing crisis left me looking for some way to either feel and say anything genuine about Easter joy. As I read the Easter gospel I began to notice and to take great comfort in John's phrase, "while it was still dark".

John may be speaking about time marked the clock, but he is also talking about time marked on the spirit. It is still dark for Mary Magdalene in her grief, still dark for the disciples in their fear, still dark for the people living under the injustices of Rome.

In these days of Easter it is still dark for many of you in your lives - torn relationships, frayed finances, failing health. It is still dark in many places of our world - in the jail, in the housing project, in the warzones of our world. Darkness did not disappear because we sang Alleluia.

But while it was still dark a meeting happened in the garden. Mary heard her name - spoken by a voice that knew her. It was the same voice that had called her truest self out from among the seven demons that enslaved her (Luke 8:2). It was the same voice that entrusted her - a woman - with power in a world where this was rare. It was the voice that has recalled her name respectfully - when even the church wrongfully maligned her reputation. It was the voice of one who knows her sorrows and her strengths just as it knows ours.

She recognized that voice as her "Rabbouni", meaning my very special teacher. He taught her to have faith in face of fear, to hope when things were hopeless, to practice the power of love.

We are invited, "while it is still dark" into that dialogue. Know that Jesus knows your name, your life and your circumstances, and know that despite all the world teaches you, this one will teach you to live a life worth living, and to keep walking in faith.

Barbara Brown Taylor says that life begins in the dark - in a seed, in a womb, in a tomb. Meet Jesus, while it is still dark, and you will find life.

Counselor Training May 31st

Counselors for all summer camps at the Cathedral Domain will gather at Mission House at 10am on May 31st for a day of required training. The Cathedral Domain, certified from the American Camping Association- one of only 2500 camps out of 12,000 nationwide to receive this distinction, annually provides training in skills and regulations necessary for offering safe camping experiences for all who come to camps.

Diocesan Spring Festival/St. George's Day,
101st Anniversary of the Cathedral Domain, 51st Anniversary of the Cathedral of St. George, April 25-27, 2014

Join your Diocesan family at the Cathedral Domain to celebrate St. George's Day and the Annual Diocesan Spring Festival. Festivities and Activities begin Friday evening and continue throughout the weekend. Come for the entire weekend or just the day; there will be something for everyone!

Plan your weekend around our signature event:

Diocesan Festival Eucharist

Saturday, April 26th at 3:00 pm
Cathedral of St. George the Martyr

Featuring a Diocesan Choir, procession of congregational banners, Baptisms, Confirmations, Commissioning of summer camp Deans, and more!

What's New

Annual Diocesan Women's Weekend

The Cathedral Domain, May 16-May 18

What's Happening

A Gathering of Angels

Christ Church Cathedral, 166 Market Street, Lexington, April 25

St. George's Day
800 HWY 1746 at The Cathedral Domain, April 26

Youth Rally

800 HWY 1746 at The Cathedral Domain, April 26-April 27

Other Events

Click on headlines for more information.

Upcoming