Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth

These words from Isaiah have always spoken to me. They remind us of God's call to bind together all of humanity as one. Like many, I have watched the news from Iran with deep sorrow. We are reminded again of the brutal way that some hold on to power.

Indeed, in San Diego, we have received refugees of violence and oppression from around the world. Our diocesan Refugee Network was founded to provide aid to those fleeing genocide in Sudan and they are now also helping those who are refugees from Burma (renamed by the military dictatorship Myanmar).

The Burmeses refugees in San Diego are a part of the Karen minority. Many are Christians and some have found their spiritual home at St. Mark's in City Heights and St. Alban's in El Cajon. On Sunday, I visited St. Alban's where I confirmed two: Baldwin, "a son from afar, and Mu Nee, "a daughter from the ends of the earth."

I am proud of St. Alban's, St. Mark's, and the refugee network for their ministry of hospitality. It is what we are called by Christ to do: welcome the stranger and the outcast.

Refugee Network Website: http://www.sudaneserefugees.com/

Thanks George!

On Sunday, I was with the people of St. John's Episcopal Church in Chula Vista as they bid farewell to their rector of fourteen year, the Rev. George Keith. Father Keith is one of those great priests who is a great pastor and preacher. He has irrepressible energy and a hearty, frequent laugh.

The church was packed with those who love George and have been touched by his ministry. I know that he will be missed but he has built a strong foundation for his successor to build upon. I pray that George and his wife, Joan, will come to know this season of retirement as a time of new beginnings. May God bless them. Well done!

Making Something New Through the Spirit

Pentecost Eve

One of the great privileges of my vocation as bishop is to ordain gifted men and women to the sacred order of deacons and to the sacred order of priests. Last night, I was in Albuquerque to ordain Patricia Riggins as transitional deacon. Patricia entered our diocesan ordination process at the request of the then Bishop of the Rio Grande, Jeffery Steenson. After three years study at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, she was graduated earlier this month.

Fittingly, her ordination was held at St. Michael and All Angels in Albuquerque where she first discerned her call to ordained ministry. As I prayed, "Therefore, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, giver your Holy Spirit to Patricia; fill her with grace and power, and make her a deacon in your Church," I felt the awesome power of the moment. God was making something new

Deacons are supposed to "serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely." Goodness knows we need deacons. Indeed, deacons are to be icons of the servant ministry that is the responsibility of every follower of Jesus Christ. And so, as the Holy Spirit descends upon the church tomorrow on Pentecost, I pray that we will feel the awesome power of that moment. For God will be making something new. With power and might, each of us can serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.

It's Great to a Bishop at Bishop's

It was my great privilege to give the Baccalaureate Address to the Class of 2009 at The Bishop's School. This annual occurrence was particularly poignant as it coincides with the retirement of Michael Teitelman, who has serviced as headmaster since 1983, and the school's Centennial.

In my address, I urged the graduates to cherish and imbue their lives with the values of the school: excellence, integrity, and compassion. I found myself wondering how these gifted men and women will contribute to our world. They have been transformed by an elegant education and molded by a gospel-centered community.

Please offer your prayers of thanksgiving for this class, Michael Teitelman, and one hundred years of ministry at The Bishop's School.

The Bishop's School Website: http://www.bishops.com

Reaching Across the Border

St. James-by-the-Sea in La Jolla has reached a helping hand across the border. As a congregation that is passionate about serving, the community has for some time been concerned about housing and our neighbors in Tijuana. They also make substantial contributions to Dorcas House, a Tijuana foster home for children whose parents are in prison.

A couple of weeks ago they sent a team to work with the La Jolla based Icology Group which focuses on building ecologically sound housing. For more information, contact the Rev. Eleanor Ellsworth at St. James-by-the-Sea: e.ellsworth@sjbts.org. Well done good and faithful servants!

Raising the Bar

A friend of mine likes to say that Jesus' first miracle kept the bar open late at a wedding.

It's an interesting take on the wedding at Cana, focusing a bit much on the partying rather than on the fact that it was a celebration of the hard work of building a family and a community. If my friend weren't such a hard worker, I could dismiss her comment as a joke. But she's a really hard worker. And she's fun. We forget how much gets done when we combine these qualities.

That's just what Episcopal Community Services is doing Wednesday, May 13th at their fundraiser, "Water to Wine: Making Miracles at ECS." With their support of battered women, the homeless, and disadvantaged children, ECS takes on some of the hardest work in our community. But this week, we'll celebrate that hard work. You can learn more about the event here: http://www.ecscalifornia.org/events/events.html

And one of our supporters will stage a minor miracle of his own. Craig Justice, a parishioner from Grace San Marcos and owner of Blue Merle Vineyards, will help us keep the bar open a little longer by giving a bottle of his best wine, signed with Bluey's paw print, no less, to anyone who donates $1,000 or more to ECS before May 14th. Craig may not be keeping the bar open, but he certainly is raising the bar!

If you can't come to the party, you can still be part of the celebration. Just go to http://www.ecscalifornia.org/howtohelp/waysofgiving.html to make your gift. Then send an email to Alyssa Osian at aosian@ecscalifornia.org with your name, address, and phone number. Those served by ECS, Craig, Bluey, and I will thank you.

Sydney the Kidney

Dame Julian of Norwich

I don't know a lot of folks who name their organs. In fact, this is really a first as far as I know. Sydney the Kidney is not some character on Sesame. Sydney is a gift of life selflessly given from one person to another.

Karny Stefan, who serves with me on the Episcopal Community Services Board, received an email broadcast from a friend whose husband was in need of a kidney. They email asked people to be tested for a match. Karny felt called by God to respond positively. She was a perfect match for Jeff.

Two weeks ago, Sydney "relocated," Karny's terminology, from Karny to Jeff. Jeff's transformation has been remarkable, and Karny has taught us all what it means to be truly good and giving.