World AIDS Day 2008

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has released a message about World AIDS Day urging Episcopalians to get involved in the effort to reduce the tragedy that AIDS brings daily everywhere in the world.

World AIDS Day 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The first day of December is marked as World AIDS Day, and has been observed since 1988. Episcopalians join billions of people around the world to remember the devastation caused by the AIDS pandemic over the past generation, and to recommit to ensuring a future without AIDS for generations still to come. As our church year begins, it is especially appropriate to remember, pray, and work together to alleviate the suffering inflicted by this disease and its consequences.

As Episcopalians, we understand that we are part of a body that has AIDS – both the Body of Christ and the larger body of the family of God. More than half of our worldwide Anglican Communion lives in countries destabilized by epidemic rates of HIV infection, including several dioceses of The Episcopal Church. Parish communities in the United States have been responding to HIV and AIDS for more than 25 years.

Read the rest of her message and see Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' video message at Episcopal Cafe.

A healing service

There was a healing service at St Clement's last evening. They are held regularly somewhere in the area. The woman I sat with knew the people who travel to them. There were two teams, one of them rather, um, heavily clerical. Had I had the courage to go for a blessing I would have chosen the other one. It was interesting anyhow. And quite formal. I didn't photograph the actual blessings for the sake of those who were being helped. A reception followed. I need to remember to not eat pizza at 9 pm.