I am no longer Mike’s Senior Warden… that hat passed with the new year to a beautiful young lady with beautiful gifts, from whom I expect beautiful things in building up the church in service to both God and our fellow brothers and sisters. I may not be a Warden of the Church by title this year, but remain one in my heart.

I just wanted to thank you for seeing past the “shock” of what we did last year, and to be willing to try to understand that we were in no way attempting to turn the love of God into a mockery of the Gospel by presenting something in a VERY outside-the-box way… not knowing that it would ever go so far.

I STILL think this has been a gift, even if one person out there that comes to mind was terribly offended by the effort. I DO regret anyone feeling upset by Mike’s creative muse and Fr. Marc’s blessing to let it out on the Internet to see what would happen… but I am NOT sorry for so many people both within the Church ( all denominations) and without having been drawn into the discussion.

Christians, as I see it, have a sacred duty to reach outside the doors of the Church-Proper, to try to make contact with those who do not yet know of God’s great love. Christ broke rules in reaching out to those who were not already accepted in the understanding of the day as being a part of the Family of God. I’m sure there was some “shock value” associated with him back then.

Getting people to step over the boundaries they have drawn for themselves, either to extend or accept God’s great love and mercy in fuller measure can be a difficult thing to figure out how to do in today’s society… yet it is still part of the charge ( responsibility, not attack).

I give thanks to you, not in a personal sense for “building up my ego”… that you have kind words to offer where I am concerned, but that your interpretation of what Mike and I have had to say is intended to ask two things ( I think I can speak for Mike on this): to ask our brothers and sisters in Christ who are already a part of the church, no matter which part, to extend Christ’s welcome to even some you may not have already believed to be “acceptable,” and to encourage those who are not yet of a mind to have a favorable view of the Church… for whatever reason… that there ARE people who wear the name of “Christian” who are NOT wanting to BEAT them with the Bible… but to seek to have others share in the journey that this Sacred collection of texts is calling us to follow.

The texts speak of far more than the wrath of God and the numberless ( in truth) demands of the Law… Christ’s take on it gets the intent far better in my mind… love God first… and each other. If we can all learn to do that, most of the details are not primary.

Again, thank you for keeping the discussion alive… that is a GOOD thing, whether all agree or not with the “majority view” at St. Andrew’s, as I see it.

Harold