And allow that to give you strength for the continuing struggle. Keeping on is the hardest work there is. Keeping on keeping on. Not giving up, not walking away. Continuing to proclaim the good news that God's love is there for all of us, and God's love is the strongest force there is. And God's love manifested in the love between two men or two women is part of the on-going movement of the Holy Spirit in the world, breathing creation into the rich wholeness that God made it to be.

Today we' re going to commission and bless the lay volunteers in our parish. This place, St. Thomas's, is very important in the wider church's struggle for wholeness and health. We are a beacon. We stand for hope. Another parishioner also sent an e-mail around. Here is his, in part:

I believe the action of the House of Bishops gives St. Thomas' a clear mission. We MUST continue and even RAMP up our witness to the larger Church that the presence of Jesus Christ lives at St. Thomas' and that we should work harder to be that radical Episcopal Church of hospitality, mission, growth, evangelism and scriptural study for ALL. St. Thomas' will remain that place where anyone and everyone are invited to find and be found by God.

Justice and healing and wholeness and health...for gays, for janitors, for immigrants, for people of color, for women...it is all one struggle, for the fullness of creation, and truth of God.