Bishop Baxter Writes
...
Dear Sisters & Brothers in
Christ:
Happy New Year and Blessed
Epiphany!
I want to begin this year by
thanking you for the generous ways in which you
responded to the “two Sandys”.
First, I thank you for your
continued response to victims of Hurricane Sandy.
You have done this by partnering with other
dioceses through financial contributions to
Episcopal Relief and Development; by your
continued prayers; and the recent collections of
personal hygiene resources. In addition, you
joined the effort of support for parents that
their children might have a Christmas huggable.
Our deacons have developed a partnership with the
deacons of the Diocese of New Jersey and led us in
the drive to collect the personal hygiene packs
and stuffed animals. The week before Christmas our
deacons collected boxes from congregations
throughout the diocese and delivered a tightly
packed super-van load to their New Jersey
partners. Last week the congregations of the
Lancaster Convocation completed their drive to
collect buckets filled with cleaning supplies, and
delivered them to a fire company in New Jersey.
The students of Saint Stephen’s School had a
Thanksgiving Drive to collect pet supplies, which
were taken to an animal shelter in Ocean City, NJ
that is taking care of displaced pets. The
Disaster Relief Task Force is also beginning its
partnership with affected dioceses to develop work
teams, as those regions are ready to receive them.
Thank you, Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, for
the many ways you are responding.
Then there are the Sandy Hook
murders and the societal concerns which have
arisen. I thank you for your responses to my
pastoral letter and concerns about violence in our
society. The Sandy Hook/Newtown murders have
tipped the scale for many, even while we have
previously had numerous mass murders and increased
domestic violence. We know that factors such as a
steady and increasing diet of gratuitous violent
entertainment, poor access to mental health
services and the related cultural shame, and
access to assault type weapons all seem to play
significant parts in the tragedies we are
experiencing. All of these matters must be
considered by our law makers and by us, as
citizens, as we seek the makings of a safer
culture and society. I am grateful for the many
responses received from members of our diocese and
beyond. Most all have been clear and caring and
respectful of the complexity of issues. A few felt
that guns should not be part of the conversation.
However, most Episcopalians felt that all three
issues need attention, particularly assault
weapons and better enforcement. Most all were
pleased that we are finally finding the courage to
discuss such matters, and doing so respectfully,
without intimidation or rancor. The Peace and
Justice Task Force continues its work, hoping to
provide recommendations for discussion and action
by the end of January.
Concerns for the “two Sandys”
shaped the ending of our year past and the
beginning of our New Year. Yet, our response to
both must be in the context of our larger mission
as a Christian community. That mission is to be a
diverse people of diverse views bound in a common
community of faith---faith in God’s love for the
world. As a community bonded and compelled by the
Holy Spirit, we seek to minister as Jesus
proclaimed (Luke 4:18):
“…to bring good news to the
poor….proclaim release to those in any (spiritual
or moral) captivity…to open the eyes of those
blind to hope and new possibilities…to free those
oppressed (by cultural shame or political
repression)…and to proclaim that now (not sometime
in the future) is the year of God’s favor (or the
time for God’s reign in our lives).”
May generosity, courage and
urgency guide our common life as a diocese in this
New Year.
Yours in Christ,
+Nathan
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