Easter Sunday: I am the Bread of Life

I AM the Bread of Life,

All who eat this Bread will never die.

I AM God's love revealed,

I AM broken that you might be healed.

All who eat of this heavenly Bread,

All who drink this cup of the covenant

You will live forever, for I will raise you up.

I AM the Bread of Life,

All who eat this Bread will never die

I AM God's love revealed,

I AM broken that you might be healed.

No one who comes to Me shall ever hunger again,

No one who believed shall ever thirst.

All whom the Father draws shall come to Me,

And I shall give them rest.

I AM the Bread of Life,

All who eat this Bread shall never die.

I AM God's love revealed,

I AM broken that you might be healed.

As arranged by John Michael Talbot.

Every day miracles from a servant's perspective...

No one can say that our Presiding Bishop shies away from being a servant of God. She's in the Holy land this Holy Week. It has already been Maundy Thursday there, where like her predecessors back to Christ himself, washed the feet of the disciples with a servant's heart and mind.It is time to come out of the attic as Lisa Fox so aptly put it after reading a Daily eMo from Barbara Cawthorne Crafton+. A month ago yesterday I lost my best friend, a furry feedbag named Dragon, the least fierce dog on the planet. It wasn't ok then, and its still not ok but he is healed and that is all I care about. I will always miss him but God has reminded me that there are more shelter dogs out there, and that when the time is right, I will find another little friend to share my life with. Until then I count my blessings and the carefree bunnies that visit my yard and bask in the sun there, and frolic in the rain.

Speaking of rabbits, discourage your friends and neighbors from buying rabbits or baby chicks as an Easter novelty. Rabbit, and chicks, are delicate creatures and very sensitive. Often they die of neglect after the excitement dies down and reality sets in about the responsibility of caring for these or any other pet or animal. Rabbits can die of shock or fright if you are not careful, and chicks, well, they grow up and become chickens, people. If you know of someone who is getting tired of their furry or feathered friend, the county shelter will NOT take them in. Instead consider giving them away via free posted ad at your local farm store or an ad in the animal section of the newspaper, where someone in the country will have a place for them and will care for them properly. If you want to give a rabbit or chick as an Easter gift, do so through Best Friends Animal Rescue in Utah. They have a unique sponsorship program that allows you to financially sponsor and consequently, take care of, a real live critter. I have sponsored a mini-Lop-ear rabbit called Tumbleweed [see adorable picture]. Trust me, its the next best thing to the real thing.

A lot has been happening in the Episcopal Church of late. Much could be said and commented upon regarding each new bit of news or issue, but illness and death can really put a clear perspective on life, that all the "spin" in the world can not change. In my own diocese of Oregon, the CFO and his wife--executive assistant to my soon departing bishop--have both resigned, and today I learned that our Canon to the Ordinary has resigned his post as well. Cleaning house before one leaves is always a fine courtesy for the new folks "moving in" eventually. It's always better when you know you should clean house as it makes those leaving less uncomfortable as opposed to if the new bishop would have to do it his or herself. Makes things neat and smoother for all concerned.

Two renegade bishops have been deposed from the House of Bishops. More house cleaning but necessary to preserve the true church Episcopal. After all it was their choice to rebel and hurt others in the process. Granted it is a sad result however now, at least for the new Diocese of San Joaquin, women can be ordained and serve as priests, congregations will be inclusive to include all of the baptized, and my former priest, +Jerry Lamb, will be their new bishop.

The seat of the diocese will no longer be in Fresno, but will set up shop in Stockton.A new HQ for a new diocese. On March 29th, this new diocese will meet in their first convention to carry out the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church USA. ++Katharine will preside and Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies will also participate as will all the new delegates who will help chart the course for a new future full of possibilities and Christ's mercy.

There is difficulty brewing in our sister church in Canada. Three parishes in the Diocese of Niagara have decided to secede from the Anglican Church of Canada and align themselves with the Southern Cone. Sound familiar? Yeah. You can read the story at The Morningstar Chronicles. Please keep them in prayer as lawsuits are being filed by the rebel churches to seize property and cause the usual heartache...

However, New Zealand will get a new bishop, and a woman no less: The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews. I encourage you to read the story about her and what this new era will bring to the Church in Kiwi Land.




Well, that is a variety of newsy bits and pieces. May you all have a special Holy Week and a glorious and comforting Easter. I know mine will be special...its all about resurrection and eternal life, and every day miracles. God bless you all as you experience our risen Lord moment by moment.

Catherine+

Resurrection of Spirit: A personal reflection

Most bloggers that I read have posted either prayers, comments or observations on the Virginia Tech tragedy. I have posted reflections by both Barbara Crafton+ and my bishop, +Johncy Itty on the matter.

I have watched some of the interviews with parents of slain students yesterday and now, today. I don't know or pretend to know how these moms and dads--as well as sisters and brothers--are holding it together at a time like this. It is amazing to hear them and see them talk about their sons and daughters, no longer living, cut down in the prime of their young adulthood; their futures burning brightly ahead of them.

But in hearing these parents speak, the light of their children is not completely out, nor will it be. These are parents ready to celebrate the lives of their fallen children and remember the best of what made these young men and women the outstanding students they were to them and their classmates.

The vigil held last night on the campus was amazing to see live on whatever network you were watching. The images so powerful in their stillness and silence. There was such strength and hope in the midst of devastation, I was moved with emotion and could feel their collective grief and disbelief all at once, as well as their determination never to forget their fallen friends and classmates.

A memorial fund has already been set up for contributions in honor of the students and professors killed. Presumably it will be used for scholarships in their names and, possibly a physical memorial at some point in the future.

We learn today that a judge in 2005 had ruled that the young man--the shooter--was a danger to himself and others. We also learned that two English professors tried to raise the alarm about this troubled young man, but no one would take them seriously or consider further action to protect the individual or the community. We ask ourselves: Why were these two women not listened to or taken seriously? Why, after it had been noted that his behavior was questionable by others, that no one else reported his disturbing behavior? So many questions, too few answers.

"...the more attention you give a thing, the more powerful it becomes..."

We need to also remember that the more attention you pay to the shooter and the circumstances surrounding his actions, the more power you give him and others like him to do the same. We have seen this already: the campus scare at the U of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Springwater High School and Willamette High School in Oregon; the first a shooting, the second, a bomb blast. Thankfully no one was hurt but again it tells us that things were not coincidental, what with all the media coverage on the VT shooter. There are many lone individuals who are hurting and needing help, this is obvious. The ones we should be paying more attention to are the victims, living and dead, and giving them the power that was taken from them instead.

The politicalization of the gun issue is disturbing. Even the President and presidential candidates knew that this was not the time to raise gun law questions or comment accordingly. This is a time of mourning and grief, of trying to support and comfort the survivors and the families. Gun laws should be the last thing on anyone's mind. Why? Because no matter what laws you pass, if someone wants to do something to harm others, they will find a way to get a weapon--regardless of what kind--and nothing can stop them if they are determined enough to carry out their plan.

Many will not agree with me, but that is the beauty of a free society. And I would not change it for the world. We live in the freest nation on the planet. It is far from perfect but I am thankful to be an American, to have gone through our public higher education system and that I survived to witness some of the most horrendous events and acts of compassion as a result, in our history, but also some of the best.

The parents of slain students want to memorialize their children in the lives they led, full of promise and example. The grief will hit them when they receive the body of their child and it will be the hardest thing they have ever had to face. We need to uphold all of them in prayer. Light a candle and remember them all, including the shooter. His parents are grieving too.

Photo One is by Sam E., Virginia Tech student, courtesy of flickr.
Photo Two is by Kevin Cupp, Virginia Tech student, courtesy of flickr.

"Now the Green Blade Rises..."

Now the green blade rises
from the buried grain,
wheat that in dark earth
many days has lain;
love lives again,
that with the dead has been:
Love is come again like wheat that springs up green.

In the grave they laid him,
Love whom hate had slain,
thinking that never
he would wake again,
laid in the earth
like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again like wheat that springs up green.

Forth he came in quiet,
like the risen grain,
he that for three days
in the grave had lain,
quick from the dead
the risen Christ is seen:
Love is come again like wheat that springs up green.

When our hearts are wintry,
grieving, or in pain,
Christ's touch can call us
back to life again,
fields of our hearts
that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springs up green.

Words: John Macleod Campbell Crum (20thC)
Music: Noel nouvelet, medieval French carol
Sequence: Dall Forsythe, Church of St. John the Evangelist


Photo One courtesy of Oregon State University Ag School.
Photo Two courtesy of Google Images.
Photo Three, "Morning Glory",
by Fred of Floyd, VA

From "The Answer" by R S Thomas

Is there no way other than thought of answering the challenge?
There is an anticipation of it to the point of dying.
There have been times
when, after long on my knees
in a cold chancel, a stone has rolled
from my mind, and I have looked
in and seen the old questions lie
folded and in place
by themselves, like the piled
graveclothes of Love’s risen body.


Ronald Stuart Thomas was born in Cardiff in 1913, the son of a sea captain. He was educated at University College of North Wales and later undertook theological training at St Michael's College in Cardiff. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1936. He died at the age of 87 on the 25th September 2000. He wrote prolifically during his lifetime and his work can be explored at OldPoetry.

Tomb stone photo from Ascension Research Organization.
Linen image from Google Images.