Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 160 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Today's Service


It was good to have Bishop Gibbs here at St. John's today for our Triennial Diocesan Visit, and for Confirmations as well. As I said at announcements, Bishop Gibbs and I certainly have theological disagreements, but God is still in charge and we both are striving and praying to advance His Kingdom as our Lord sorts it out for us. There are not many bishops left that will respect our theological traditions and use the 1928 Prayer Book service, but Bishop Gibbs was certainly more than willing and able - and for that we are grateful as well.

I had shared with the Vestry two weeks ago that I planned on having us pray for the Bishop at Coffee Hour to send him off to The House of Bishops, but it became apparent to me that it should be done right there in the Sanctuary at announcement time, and I was glad to have so many people come up and lay hands on him and pray for him. May God use him at the House of Bishop's meeting this week as a reconciler, and to open Him and all the bishops to the powerful indwelling and direction of The Holy Spirit.

The parish made a very favorable impression on him and his wife Karlah, and he will take that with him this week to the House of Bishop's meeting! Let us continue to pray for him, and for The Episcopal Church in the coming week.

Congrats and Blessings on our Confirmands
B. Webster Burton
Douglas Cooke
Aaron DiGuilio
Christopher DiGuilio
Kimberly DiGuilio
Jennifer Koutsimbas
Ian Reilly
G. Samuel Sells
Andre Smith