Today’s Daily Scan, which we receive courtesy of Neva Rae Fox in the Episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs is full of news that Episcopalians can be proud of.
St. George’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Rochester has had part of its property designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
The church, which ministers to many older members, didn’t realize how strongly the community felt about preserving green space until residents began to oppose the development. But the church listened.
“We wanted to communicate non-verbally, in a very visible and environmentally respectful way, that we were keeping with their wishes,” said the Rev. Rosemary Lillis, a master gardener and former pastor at the church.
Christ Church in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, is raising money to bring water to a Kenyan village.
“People here are blessed with so much water,” the Rev. Patrick Augustine said. “We’re begging them to come share some of their blessings.”
St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is among the churches helping poor families get their children ready to return to school.
The three-day event is so popular that the first person arrived at 4:15 a.m. Saturday. By the time the door opened at 9 a.m., a line snaked around the building and into the parking lot.
Gayle Lea, a volunteer from St. George’s Episcopal Church, said 322 families came in on Saturday to outfit 801 students. That’s 55 more children than last year, and she estimated that about 1,375 students will be helped this year.
And in New Orleans’ impoverished lower ninth ward, the Rev. Lonell Wright of All Souls Episcopal Church is reaching out to families and children who need a little help to make life work for them.
Wright stepped away from early retirement from Kaiser-Permanente and moved to New Orleans to operate a McDonald’s on South Claiborne Avenue. Five restaurants later, Wright looked forward to a leisurely life of golf, fishing and time with family. Dessie Blount Wright, his wife of 47 years, and his parish priest knew better, Wright said.
“My priest came to me and said, ‘I’m not sure of many things, but this I’m absolutely certain of. You are called to the priesthood,’?” Wright said.