We Choose to Remember

Today we at ECOOS held a fairly traditional Memorial Day service. I mean, we heard the Collect for Memorial Day, and we did sing "My country tis of Thee..." and the roof did not fall down.

Fr. Foss gave today's sermon. After an unexpected start with the evolution controversy, (because of course we Episcopalians are beyond that)he managed to tie this in with Bishop Duvall's sermon from Thursday. Charlie focused on looking forward rather than backward (backward would be arguing about evolution and the Bible). I thought this tied in with the scripture readings where we are instructed that we shall have eternal life, but I feared we would forget that this is a Memorial Day weekend, and I am still not sure why we should dis the anti-evolution crowd.



I tried to forget last year's sermon, and fortunately Fr. Foss later remembered those who gave their lives for our freedom during the announcements. We also had the church bell to ring following the service in memory of our heroes.



I do have another bone to pick with the lectionary;
Did anyone notice the verses left out by the lectionary for today? Acts 1:18-20,

18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong,* he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 ‘For it is written in the book of Psalms,
“Let his homestead become desolate,
and let there be no one to live in it”;
and
“Let another take his position of overseer.”

I can only assume they didn't want to spoil any one's breakfast.