"In fact, I would suggest that people of faith who are leaders in the business world have a theological imperative to recognize that the world is not as it was created and intended to be, to identify the changes needed to bring about healing and wholeness, and to work without ceasing for change that transforms lives."
"In a world of hatred and mistrust, only the world's religions can help."
In his column, Bill references an interfaith group of clergy that have been meeting and making plans for the establishment of a Faith Forum in Richmond, to help bring together people of all faiths and to help deepen understanding and a sense of shared community. That group of clergy met today, as a matter of fact; and we are looking at this fall, with the 10th anniversary of September 11th, as a natural and fitting time to hold the first annual Faith Forum. While we are still in the early stages of planning, I am a strong sense that we're working on something that will be important for the Richmond community. Please join me in praying for God's guidance and blessing as we continue in our planning.
May God lead us, his children; may God help us to love one another; and may God help our community become more fully the community that he would have us be.
Pictured: Flag at Ground Zero, photo by "snickup" at stock.xchng.
As Wallace+ often remarks, St. Paul's partnership with Homeward to help address, reduce, and end homelessness is central to our mission of proclaiming Christ in the heart of the city.
Just before Christmas, on December 21, Homeward organized a Memorial Vigil at St. Paul's to remember those who died without homes in Richmond in 2010. The service was one of hundreds that took place nationwide as part of National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. Wallace+ offered an opening homily, followed by a reading of the names of the deceased with The Rev. Tyrone Nelson, pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, Richmond's cold weather emergency overflow shelter.
In her closing remarks, Kelly King Horne, Homeward's Executive Director, urged those present to recommit themselves to helping prevent and end homelessness in 2011. With the New Year comes a new opportunity to get involved. Homeward is currently recruiting volunteers for the 13th Winter Point-in-Time Count at St. Paul's later this month on Thursday, January 27 (9 am - 1:30 pm).
Click on "read more" to jump to additional information about the vigil and this volunteer opportunity.
Photos courtesy of Mark Gormus, Richmond Times-Dispatch
If you haven't already read it, or even if you have, I commend to you a 2001 sermon delivered by the Reverend Peter Gomes, Pastor of Harvard University's Memorial Chapel. The Richmond Times Dispatch reprinted the sermon this past Sunday, in honor of the ninth anniversary of September 11, 2001.
From the sermon "Outer Turmoil, Inner Strength
"If you are looking for something to read in these troublesome times, do not turn to books of cheap inspiration and handy-dandy aphorisms; do not look for feel-good and no-stress and gain-and-no-pain kinds of books. They're out there, and you will be sorely tempted, but if you want to read something useful during these times, read the letters of Paul. Read them and weep! Read them and rejoice! Read them and understand that neither you nor I are the first people in the world ever to face sorrow, death, frustration, or terror.
There is a record here, not only of coping but of overcoming. If you do not wish to succumb to the tidal wave of despair and temptation and angst that surrounds us, you will go back to the roots of our faith, which are stronger than any form of patriotism. Don't misunderstand me -- I don't despise patriotism -- but there is no salvation in love of country. There is salvation only in love of Jesus Christ, and if you confuse the two, the greatest defeat will have been achieved."
The RTD's editorial yesterday said it well: plans at the Dove World Outreach Church, in Florida, to burn Qurans on the anniversary of 9/11 is simply unacceptable.
Those plans are also un-American and un-Christian. Surely this is clear to most anyone.
Meanwhile, let us pray for a miracle; let us pray for a change of heart.
And, of course, this Christmas, tonight, and tomorrow, new memories are being made; a Carol sung, pure and exquisite; an old friend; warm, endearing words exchanged; a first Christmas for a new grandbaby; a candle lit, a face aglow, eyes agleam.
More than fifty times, in his published writings, Barth refers to the Grunewald image; and, indeed, usually, it is precisely in reference to John, and John’s relation to the figure of Christ; as he points.
Barth (and Grunewald before him) understood John’s sole purpose to be to serve as a pointer to Christ, a reference to Christ, a witness to Christ.
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I hope you saw 
As Wallace+ often remarks, St. Paul's partnership with Homeward to help address, reduce, and end homelessness is central to our mission of proclaiming Christ in the heart of the city.
If you haven't already read it, or even if you have, I commend to you 