April
2003
From the
Rector
My Dear Friends,
I write this letter
on the day after the President gave the 48 hour extension
to Saddam Hussein to avoid the onset of military action to
remove him from power. By the time you receive this, the matter
may have been resolved one way or the other. We may be at
war. The Iraqi government may have abdicated. There may be
another extension for prolonged negotiation. It is difficult
to know where we are headed, and that fact alone, is a source
of considerable terror and anxiety for all of us in the United
States, and particularly for those in New York who have personally
lived through the frightening onset of terrorism on our shores.
The matter of the war and the foreign policy associated with
it is open to discussion. Christians certainly disagree on
the rightness of this war, whether it can be considered a
"just war" in accordance with Christian moral theology,
and the potential timing of the international strategy. There
are people on all sides of the issue in this congregation
and I do not intend to take a position about the war. I remain
deeply concerned about the future of our country and of our
city, and, as a pastor in this city, I intend to ensure that
pastoral care is available to those who take all positions
on the issue. I also intend to ensure that the life of our
parish contain ample opportunity for prayer about these vital
issues.
To these ends, I want you to know of these decisions which
I have made, in consultation with the wardens and the other
clergy.
For the foreseeable future, we plan to used a form of the
prayers of the people at the Sunday Eucharist which, while
it guides our prayers to all areas of our common life, will
focus upon peace and justice. You will see and hear those
prayers in the coming weeks. After the beginning of Easter,
we will revisit that decision and, perhaps, continue the practice.
At weekday Eucharists, we plan to conclude each form of intercessions
with a prayer for peace. Each celebrant will offer prayer
for peace and justice and a resolution of the issues in the
Middle East as he thinks best.
We have been asked to have a liturgy for peace, and we plan
to do that. Tentatively, it is planned for Thursday, 27 March
2003,at 6:15 p.m.—which means that by the time you receive
this, it probably has already happened. On that day, in place
of the Stations of the Cross, we will celebrate the Order
of Worship for the Evening (in the prayer book on page 109)
and follow that rite with a litany for peace. Please give
me your assessment of its effectiveness. If it seems to meet
a pastoral need, we may continue to do something like this
throughout the course of this period of international tension.
If there is a war, I have consulted with the wardens and
the other clergy around here about the wisdom of having the
church open for a substantial part of the day. I know that
there are security issues involved with this practice, but
we are looking at ways to address them. At the time of the
terrorist attack in 2001, we had good experience with opening
the church and that experience suggests it might be tried
again. There are people in the neighborhood who might like
to sit for a moment in the church, pray, visit the icons,
leave requests for our prayers or join us for common worship.
We plan to give this a try and may be asking your help.
Are there other things which we might do? If so, please speak
to me about your ideas. These thoughts above listed represent
one perspective, and there certainly are others which we might
try. Join me as we pray for peace, for safety of those involved
in war, and for a just and peaceful conclusion of this very
critical time in world history.
Faithfully,
The
Rev'd Lloyd Prator
Rector
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