Reconciliation Eucharist at the UBE
posted July 4th, 2007 at 8:45 pm by Betty
Nevermind the rain, people poured into the Cathedral today — the celebration was a Reconciliation Eucharist for the UBE (Union of Black Episcopalians) Convention being held in Houston this week. The preacher was the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church.
I was glad I had arrived early to help with the preparations. Among other tasks, I cut eight sprigs from the Cathedral garden and rounded up four water bowls, all for the baptismal sprinkling. I also made new friends. One new friend I especially remember: the Reverend Lewis Sitting Panther Power, a Deacon in the Diocese of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had flown in for the smudging.
Smudging is a sacred tradition of Native people across this land. A prayer offering of jasmine, sweetgrass, sage and cedar incense. Smudging promotes healing and unity and prepares for worship.
By the time the drums and the smudging started, the Cathedral was completely packed. Considering it was July 4, that was something.
Then Bishop Schori began to preach. She admitted it seemed an odd day to talk about repentance and reconciliation - July 4 - but ironically, she said, reconciliation and freedom go hand in hand. The word reconciliation means to call back together - to take counsel together - to make friends again - to restore what has been separated. This, the Primate declared, is our vocation: the healing of our separations and divisions - the repairing of the world, as our Jewish brothers and sisters speak of it.
It is a healed world that must be our focus. We must labor for many kinds of reconciliation. We must challenge the injustices of the world - even the ancient injustices. We must ask the hard questions. We must tell our stories, and lament.
The lament needs to be heard. But after the lament, comes the healing. And some sacrament for the healing needs to take place - some outward and visible sign of an inward healing that comes from the grace of God.
It was a prophetic voice we heard today on this day of freedom. It was a great blessing to be there. I wish we all could have been together. 
Katharine Schori
episcopal church 
Union of Black Episcopalians
