Fresh from her visit to the peace conference in Korea (coverage here), Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visited Guam, which is estimated to have about 250 Episcopalians, according to the Pacific Daily News. Yesterday, she visited St. John’s School and delivered a sermon to the more than 500 students there:
“The basic reason you and I have come to a place like this is to say, ‘Thank you,'” she said. “Thank you for our blessings from God. Thank you for the abundance of life, … for our family, friends and neighbors.”
While children know the history of Thanksgiving as a civil holiday, the religious roots of its teachings run deep, she said. “Our faith is learning to say thank you in all times, places and circumstances,” she said. During the sermon, St. John’s students donated more than 100 items of canned goods to the Salvation Army to give away during its Thanksgiving feast today.
Before Jefferts Schori’s sermon, Ben Helmer, archdeacon of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia, was giddy. He said he didn’t think a presiding bishop had visited Guam since 1977.
“Most Episcopalians never get to meet the presiding bishop. It’s really very exciting,” he said. “There are a lot of people who never thought they’d meet anyone this important.”
The article is here, and we’ll follow up in this space when more information about the Guam visit becomes available.
In the meantime, the editors of the Lead would like to extend our thanks to you, our readers, and our hopes that you are enjoying a wonderful and safe holiday. We invite your prayers of thanksgiving.