In this week’s newsletter, the rector remembers her first encounter with the music of Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942–2024), a cofounder of the Freedom Singers in the 1960s and, later, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and considers the role of music in the work of justice, liberation and wholeness.

In this week’s newsletter, the rector reflects on Sunday’s Gospel lesson from Mark: “As he went ashore, Jesus saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.” When have you been moved to compassion? When have you experienced compassion from another?

This week, Mother Liz lets us know about her and parishioner Elizabeth Adams’s participation in the College for Congregational Development conference being held this past week at the Franciscan Center in Garrison, NY. The Sunday Eucharist service is at 10 am; the evening’s Meditation & Sacrament service at 6 pm. Join us!

In this week’s newsletter: a poem from Joy Harjo, the first Native American named U.S. Poet Laureate; an updated note about the passing of our 11^th rector, the Rev. Andrew Foster; and the start of our summer schedule, with a single Sunday morning service at 10 am. (Our evening service continues at 6 pm.) See you in church!

This Sunday: Happy Pride! Our guest preacher will be Nick Gordon, who has served most recently as director of special projects for the Diocese of New York; in the fall he will be a student at Yale Divinity School as a postulant for the priesthood. Following the 11 am service, volunteers for our annual water table will serve water to the marchers in the Pride March. Note: There will be no 6 pm Meditation & Sacrament Service this Sunday, due to the high traffic volume.