Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Renewal of Vows Day

[Liturgy design by Nick Cuccia]

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Much like the fabled swallows who return to Capistrano every year, today was the annual flocking of clergy to the Cathedral for the Holy Week "Chrism Mass & Renewal of Vows" -- what one clergy colleague from another diocese called "going into the shop to get your oil changed!"

Whatever you call it, it's an annual opportunity to see friends from around the diocese, to trot out our red stoles (along with cassock and surplice -- how Anglican is that?) and to enjoy the company of our clergy colleagues in the oasis of a liturgy we didn't have to plan. It is also a moving opportunity to remind us what a privilege it is to serve God in this church ... and, for me, how deeply grateful I am to be part of this diocese of my birth & baptism.
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This was the second year we've had the Los Angeles Diocesan service at St. John's on Adams ... last year it was just "St. John's Episcopal Church" ... this year it was "St. John's Cathedral" for, as readers of this blog might recall, last month St. John's was dedicated as the "pro-cathedral" of the Diocese of Los Angeles ("pro" because it will serve as both the Cathedral for the Diocese and the Church for the congregation of St. John's).
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It was another "beautiful day in the neighborhood" and I left not only "renewed" but "refreshed" ... and ready to keep on rocking and rolling through Holy Week to Easter and Beyond.
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And then it was back to the details of life ... which for me today was proofing the Easter Vigil liturgy, getting my "welcome to All Saints" letters out to the 33 new members being registered Saturday night at the Vigil and giving two interviews (on newspaper, one local TV) on Barack Obama's speech this morning. (Never a dull moment, eh?) And now it is getting my meditation for noon Eucharist tomorrow together before getting back to church to do the 7:30 tonight.
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Onward to Easter!

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