Centering Prayer
Saturday’s Meditation: Psalm 138:1-4
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down towards your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me,
you increased my strength of soul.
3:00 pm – Today at The George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate 1801 W. Diamond Street, Philadelphia, PA, The Rev. Renee Mckenzie-Heyward, PhD., Vicar, we will celebrate 40 Years of Women’s Ordination in the Episcopal Church. Pray our strength of soul for another 40 years and far beyond.
crustybread 
Dear Dierdre, About a year ago, Shirley Gay told me about Crusty Bread, and I’ve been reading your meditations ever since. They are aptly named: good, warm, fresh, and chewy for the mind! You may not remember me, I was Sylvia Rider, and my two children and I attended Christ Church Media in the early 2000’s when you were there. Shirley and I tought Sunday School for a year. We missed your spirit when you left. Thank you for including today’s celebration. I sing praise for it even though I cannot be there. I was in on the beginning of the process in Delaware; I was a youth deligate to the diocesan convention when they voted to accept women as clergy. In those days, so many men said they were for it but didn’t happen to like the women who were clerical candidates. My friend, Father Mayer, who was very old-fashioned in many ways, voted against it but publicly spoke against the hypocrisy of those who voted for it but refused to support the individual female candidates. He found ways of supporting the individuals and said, “Rev. ____ (a female priest) can take me out to lunch anytime.” I disagreed with him about women priests in general but agreed with his personal support of each one in our diocese. We’ve come so far in forty years that, like so many other changes in human relationships, it’s no big deal, at least to those looking at it from the outside. How is it from the inside?
[Sylvia Reid] Faith manages, Sylvia Reid [Sylvia Reid] Faith manages, Sylvia Reid [Sylvia Reid] [Sylvia Reid] rom: crustybread [mailto:comment-reply@wordpress.com] Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2014 9:06 AM To: shevra@verizon.net Subject: [New post] Centering Prayer
The Rev. Deirdre Whitfield posted: “Saturday’s Meditation: Psalm 138:1-4 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down towards your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for yo”
Dear Sylvia, Thank you so much for your comment. I’m sorry that I don’t readily remember you but give me some time. From the inside 40 years seems like a long time and yet we have so far to go in so many ways. I will be beginning a new ministry come September. If you would like to know more I will send you my email.
Peace & Blessings
Deirdre