Hope in Harmony

By The Rev. Karla Woggon, Clergy Alternate Deputy

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon
you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Yesterday in the House of Deputies an Episcopal priest, a Jewish cantor, and a Muslim prayer leader called us to pray by chanting in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. They each prayed in their own language and with prayers from their own tradition, and then ended by chanting together the blessing of Abraham from the Book of Numbers. The blessing ended as the three languages and three voices came together and ended on a single note.

Holy silence filled the cavernous House of Deputies as the blessing came to an end. In that moment I felt truly blessed and also filled with hope. Filled with hope for the world, for people of faith around the world, and for the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion----hopeful that we can find a way to sing out of the truth of who we are while accepting and embracing the truth of our neighbor --- hopeful that we can find a way to sing in harmony the mission that we are all called to. A mission that is shaped by what I perceive to be a common desire to find ways to be God’s salt and love and light to a world in desperate need of God’s loving embrace.