Dear friends,
I have a few things to pass on to you while I am off. First of all, our turn to host Family Promise is coming up February 14-21. As has been the case for almost a year now, hosting is different in the age of Coronatide. We don’t need people to cook or serve dinner, or to set up and take down rooms. What we do need is $25 Kroger and gas gift cards, and some snacks, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. We also still need people to spend the night. The site has changed to Roswell Presbyterian Church, which is just across the river in Roswell. They have made a video that explains how the overnight hosting works.
To see what is needed and sign up to help go to our website, www.stdunstan.net and click on the SignUp Genius button. You may mail gift cards or bring them and supplies by the church. If no one is there, please put things on the deck in the back of the church by my office. Gift cards can be pushed through Dunstan’s cat door. This way our Family Promise offerings do not get mixed up with food pantry donations (which we do still need).
Today marks the passing of the 400,000 American deaths from Covid. President-elect Biden will host a nationwide memorial for those who have died at 5:30 this afternoon. Churches with outdoor bells are asked to ring them. I suggest that if you plan to watch the memorial that you light a candle in memory of those who have died.
Finally, several weeks ago I wrote about a sculpture, “Angels Unawares” that is now on the campus of Holy Spirit Catholic Church (at the corner of Northside Drive and Mt. Paran, across from the Country Store). This is a second casting of a sculpture commissioned by Pope Francis, which is now in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The sculpture is of a 20-foot long boat packed with 140 refugees and immigrants from across time and history. The faces are actual people, many taken from photographs at Ellis Island.
The inspiration for the sculpture is a verse from Hebrews: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for in so doing some have entertained angels unawares.”
I went to see it yesterday and was deeply moved by it. I was the only person there, A picture is below. I will post more photos on Facebook. It will be at Holy Spirit through February 3. I urge you to go see it.
See you at Compline tonight.
