A Funeral For a Friend

 We have reached the stage of life in which we attend more funerals than weddings, and the past month has provided a bumper crop of friends' souls to be processed through the Pearly Gates. This has given us the opportunity to visit many different churches and denominations. Unfortunately for me, I had to attend a funeral for a friend at my former Episcopal church which is now run by a "married" same-sex priest.

Does anyone really wonder why the Episcopal organization (TEO) is dying?

You can't deny the numbers which continue a decades long trend in Episcopalians' funerals (24,165) outnumbering baptisms (16,984) in 2024. Read a summary at Anglican Watch.

The futurists predict a slow death for TEO. I suspect that the larger urban parishes will hold on the longest while the smaller parishes' funerals will go largely unnoticed and unattended by their city dwelling counterparts much like these statistics will be unrealized by the average pewsitter.

May the souls of those who remained blind to the cause of death of their once faithful denomination rest in peace.

 Peace is easy when your head is buried in the sand.

[Verse 1] 

The roses in the window box have tilted to one side

Everything about this house was born to grow and die

Oh, it doesn't seem a year ago to this very day

You said, "I'm sorry, honey, if I don't change the pace

I can't face another day"

[Chorus]

And love lies bleedin' in my hands

Oh, it kills me to think of you with another man

I was playin' rock and roll, and you were just a fan

But my guitar couldn't hold you, so I split the band

Love lies bleedin' in my hands

[Verse 2]

I wonder if those changes have left a scar on you

Like all the burnin' hoops of fire that you and I passed through

You're a bluebird on a telegraph line, I hope you're happy now

Well, if the wind of change comes down your way, girl

You'll make it back somehow

 

[Chorus]

And love lies bleedin' in my hands

Oh, it kills me to think of you with another man

I was playin' rock and roll, and you were just a fan

But my guitar couldn't hold you, so I split the band

Love lies bleedin' in my hands