Weekly Rector's Note: Celebrating Juneteenth, Pride and More!

Dear Saints,

We are entering into a weekend full of celebrations. This Sunday is Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and also the day of the Pride Parade in Portland.

Our parish has partnered with The Voices Project and will be the location of their Black Business Fest on Saturday from 10am to 2pm as part of a citywide celebration of Juneteenth. Additionally, the Voices Project is also putting on a Music & Arts night tonight at Portland Covenant. Anyone interested is welcome to attend (info below). We will celebrate Juneteenth in our Sunday worship as well.

If you are interested in marching in the Pride Parade with fellow Episcopalians, Trinity Cathedral is once again organizing a group. You can learn more here. As a parish we will celebrate Pride next Sunday on the last Sunday in Pride month. You are invited to wear your rainbow of colors.

With so many wonderful things to celebrate, it may feel like a lot to pack into one weekend. But even if we can’t do all of the things we might like to do, we can still lift up the many good and holy things these holidays and commemorations represent and give thanks.

Prayers for St. Stephen’s, Vestavia

Lastly, you may have hear about the shooting at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Alabama that killed three people. I commend our Bishop Diana Akiyama’s letter to you and have also posted the prayer from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and a link to his message below. As Bishop Akiyama said, “During these times in which we are feeling profound grief and helplessness, we must remind ourselves that we need to rely on sustained prayer to inform our actions.”

Please pray for this community and the families who are grieving. Please also consider signing the Lift Every Voice petition which focuses on reducing gun violence by making gun owners safer and ammunition less lethal. Deacon Linda Goertz will have this available on Saturday and Sunday.

In peace,

Andria+

A prayer from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Eternal God of love, we know that you do not willingly inflict pain upon or grieve your children, and your dream for all is life abundant.

We come to you now in sorrow and sadness at the death and violence inflicted on our siblings of St. Stephen’s Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Receive the souls of those who have died. Grant them peace in your arms of love. Be with those who are injured and suffer, those who are grieving, and those who are frightened and dispirited. Help us as a nation to find ways to bring an end to this scourge of violence, which hurts your children and our human family.

Give us the strength we need, the courage we must have, and the faith in you that will see us through. All this we pray and ask in the name of the prince of peace—your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

You can read Presiding Bishop Curry’s full message here.