Sr. Joan Brown’s Op-Ed in Gallup Independent: Love or fear – our choice

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The following piece appeared in the Gallup Independent on the weekend of April 23-24, 2022

Love or fear – our choice

By Sr. Joan Brown, OSF, Executive Director, Interfaith Power and Light New Mexico & El Paso

Special to the Independent

These are rare days. We just finished celebrating Passover on Earth Day, April 22 and we continue the Easter season and also Ramadan. The confluence of these holy days happens only about every 30 years. To add to these holy days we have a convergence with Earth Day and this is Earth Sunday.

What an important time to renew loving commitments to one another for peace and to care for our Common Home. Somedays, however, I feel there is hardly enough energy just to get through the day.

Several weeks ago presented one of those days. Amidst a sick friend, too much work and many demands, we were surprised to get irrigation water. During our dire drought the water was so very precious for our fruit trees and gardens. I was excited and then very disheartened when a problem arose with an underground pipe leading to one area limiting water to a trickle. It became dark and I could not work any longer in the night to address the problem.

Almost in tears with weariness and yet another problem, I walked to the ditch to turn off the water. There, reflected in the water was a growing white moon and stars. I was stunned by the beauty. A sense of well-being flowed through me. It was a holy moment. I just let go of so many burdens.

The beauty of God awaits us in surprising ways in these dark night times. Hope surprises us with the unexpected if our hearts are open a crack. We did get our water problem fixed with some help. But there are always more challenges. The question we are posed in the Christian scripture this week after Easter is whether I am locked in a closed room or am I a channel of love and peace of God in our troubled world.   Read Full Article

An Invitation to Join Pentecost Pilgrimage with Ecumenical friends in Ukraine

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New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity

announces:

3rd Annual Pentecost Pilgrimage-in-Place

with an emphasis on praying for and with ecumenical friends in Ukraine

PLEASE JOIN US: ALL ARE WELCOME

Activities beginning May 26, 2022, thru the fall 2022.

Attend one, some, or all.

7 days of praying in preparation
3 days of self designed pilgrimage
1 Pentecost Celebration
4 Months of Pilgrimage Community.
Zoom Opening to a week of prayer – Ascension Day, May 26
Initiation of Pilgrimage – Zoom Meeting, June 2
Pentecost Zoom Celebration – June 5
Zoom Pilgrims Gather, June – Sept. 2nd Thursdays
All Zoom gatherings at 7 pm MT, access info on website

Register Here

Learn More/Donate Institute for Ecumenical Studies, Ukrainian Catholic University

New Mexico Pilgrimage for Unity is a program of New Mexico Ecumenical Institute for Ministry

St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church Blesses New Solar Panels

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St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Albuquerque observed Earth Day by inaugurating its new solar power system  The Rt. Rev. Michael Buerkel Hunn, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande., was on hand on April 24, 2022, to bless the 6.54solar array, consisting of 20 solar panels. The system had been operational for several months now, but had not yet been officially launched.

The project was first conceived 15 years ago during the tenure of The Rev. Canon Carole McGowan,  who formed the Canterbury Advocates for Sustainable Environment (CASE). The committee was comprised of the late Don Partridge, Edwina Beard, Ginger Lawrence, Susan White and Richard Steele. “About 15 years ago, Rev. McGowan led a series of classes about we could be better servants of creation,’ said Sally Barlow, a member of the current solar team at the church. “As a result, the CASE committee was formed.”

Patridge’s wife, Susan Patrick, brought a cake to celebrate the blessing of the solar panels.  In addition to Bishop Hunn, Rev. McGowan and current Rector Edward Curtis presided over the ceremony.