Cinco de Mayo (and beyond)

On Saturday, May 5, 2007, several important things happened but I want to focus on two church services.

In Woodbridge, Virginia, at a non-denominational “Christian Event Center” called Hylton Memorial Chapel, the Nigerian Anglican Primate installed the missionary bishop for CANA, the pretentiously named Convocation of Anglicans in North America. I find it odd that this schismatic service took place in a venue whose website proclaims “Dedicated to Reconciliation” (and in lighter, less prominent letters, ‘Unity, Reconciliation.” By all accounts it was a joyous service.

In Chenango Bridge, New York, at an Episcopal Church named St. Mark’s, a Celebration of the Life of Laura Louise Brink Mellen took place. It was a joyous Rite Two Burial Office and Eucharist, attended by about 60 persons, including all but four of her two dozen descendants and their spouses.
We sang “For All the Saints,” “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God,” and “The Strife is O’er,” and we heard scripture from Isaiah 61, 2 Corinthians, and John 11. The homily was given by my mother’s brother in law who is a retired Presbyterian minister. It was a fitting goodbye to my mother.

Liz and I came home (stopping briefly at our cottage at Heart Lake) after the funeral and it has taken me this long to get organized enough to post again. It's good to be back.