Within two weeks of my move to the Columbus area nearly 12 years ago, I first learned of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The week I arrived was the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, and I attended the Eid al-Fitr festival in celebration of that at the Masjid al-Jannah Islamic Center of Columbus – my first communal worship experience in Columbus. There I met ‘Ali’ (Farhad AliFarhani), who invited me to an Interfaith Service of Remembrance at Temple Israel on the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks. My wife Toni and I attended that service, and it was there that I learned of St. Thomas’s longtime engagement and cooperation with the Muslim and Jewish communities here in Columbus. That evening I had NO doubt that St. Thomas Church would be my church home. My sincere thanks to the Muslims and Jews whose welcome and kindness brought me to you!

St. Thomas Episcopal Church is a Place of Welcome for those of us who are “a bit different” – and, of course, we ALL are! We are part of this community of faith, gathered by the loving embrace of Christ, so that we can “rub off” on one another and be transformed by one another. We are here to affirm and celebrate our own worth and the worth of all those who gather with us, and to be empowered to proclaim by word and example that Good News of God in Christ, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being – as we so frequently express and re-express in our Baptismal Covenant.

Thank you for “rubbing off” on me and allowing me to privilege to do the same on you. As always, the guiding principle of our interactions is this:

Keep what is worth keeping –
and with the breath of kindness,
Blow the rest away. (Dinah Maria Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859)

I have previously shared with some of you, during times of transition and uncertainty, one of my most favorite prayers, inspired by these words from the Book of Hebrews: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going” (11:8).

Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Lutheran Book of Worship 153)

God is with us in ALL our comings and our goings! I cannot think of anything better or moregraciously sufficient in each moment. Please stay in touch: dennyclark74@gmail.com. 

Peace and much Love!
Denny