April Thoughts

I feel that Palm Sunday/Holy Week/Easter went very well.  It is always an extremely busy time, but also so much fun especially working with the other churches in Albion and in the diocese.  I am thankful that I took Lent V off with sick leave or I don’t think I would have made it.  Thank you to Jocelyn and Pastor David Habicht for covering for me. 
 
Several items in the news have me thinking.  I did not grow up with separation of church and state, but I hardly think that the city hiring a Christian waste disposal company is a separation of church and state issue.  It probably is poor judgment on the part of the company to include scripture on their invoices, but we are a multi-faith country and we have to expect to see it.  Several of my doctors have been Jewish and probably Hindu.  I think it is a wise choice to choose one company to cover the waste for Albion.  St. Joseph does not do that and we have had three different companies coming down our streets for waste, yard waste and recycling which means nine large trucks.  No wonder the streets wear out.  They finally said they all had to come on the same day but we still have six trucks coming through on Thursdays.  I wish we only had one company in St. Joseph.
 
In a resolution signed Feb. 18, the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan implored Snyder to use his executive power to protect the "integrity of creation." This was in reference to Enbridge's Line 5 Oil Pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac.  Bishop Hougland also joined a coalition of two dozen bishops and more opposing a March 28 executive order signed by President Donald Trump rolling back Obama administration regulations on carbon emissions and other regulations designed to combat global warming.  I am very glad to see our Bishop taking this stand.  It is fascinating to read the comments supporting and opposing these actions.  Some are quite frustrating.  I wish I understood why people think that the church and clergy should not be interested or active in the public affairs of a country.  Issues regarding the earth, the environment, our fresh water supply and all of creation are church issues.  I believe that in Genesis humankind’s role assigned by God was and is stewardship of God’s creation.  It is our responsibility as the church and as Christians to speak up on behalf of creation, the environment, the survival of other creatures and our fresh water supply.  Big business does not have the right to destroy these for their own gain.  We have a responsibility to act on our beliefs and our faith.  We are not just Sunday morning believers but Christians 24 X 7.
 
While I am at it I might as well say that I am glad the Affordable Care Act has not been dismantled.  The Affordable Care Act can be improved, but I think a lot of people have benefited from it.  Jesus Christ was a great healer and I believe we are called to support the medical care of everyone including the poor, the elderly and the disabled.  I hope that “Meals on Wheels” will not be dismantled.  Many of our seniors and shut-ins rely on this service.  Ask Glenda and others who deliver for “Meals on Wheels” about their experiences.
 
The next month is going to be very busy preparing for the Albion Reading Camp and the Albion Community Garden.  I look forward to working with you.  Mother Darlene+