Update on June 16 Worship Plans Regarding the Presiding Bishop

Dear Saint Stephen’s,

Last week, you received an email about the events planned on June 16, 2023. You can read that email here. I look forward to gathering next Friday night with many of you to commemorate the Martyrs of Saint Stephen’s. I ask your prayers for our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, as he continues to heal. Yesterday evening, our diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Glenda Curry, called to share that she had spoken with Bishop Michael, and his travel is being suspended through the end of the month. He also shared with her that he personally wants to visit before the end of his tenure next summer.

We will still have our service and all other activities as scheduled on Friday, June 16. The Rt. Rev. Glenda Curry will be the officiant, and I will preach. The beautiful altar set created by Liz Edge will be used for the first time and we will have copies of A Light Shines in the Darkness for sale. We will even pray and give thanks over our Labyrinth after the service. 

In the Episcopal tradition, we have a collection of people called A Great Cloud of Witnesses. Some of these people are martyrs like our own, but all have lived their faith in a way that shapes our faith for eternity. You can find a calendar here that outlines which witnesses we remember each day. I commend our own martyrs to this list, and this tradition of remembering the faithful is the inspiration for our service this week. Our faith is forever changed because of the Great Cloud of Witnesses that have gone before us, including Sharon, Bart, and Jane. 

Please join us on Friday, June 16th at 6:30 p.m. either in person or online as we commemorate the Martyrs of Saint Stephen’s. 

Faithfully,

The Rev. John B. Burruss, Rector