July 23, 2025

Wednesday Word . . . Home

Last month Joelene traveled back to Maryland for the wedding of a former co-worker, to visit old friends, and to see our daughter.  While she had a good time and enjoyed catching up with people, she was also glad to be back home.

Earlier this month our friend Pol came out from Maryland for a visit.  During his weeklong stay, he saw several new birds he’d never seen before and saw a whole lot of Wyoming.  But after a week of staying in our guestroom, I’m sure he was also glad to be back home.

For the past three weeks we have been worshiping according to the 1789, 1892, and 1928 Books of Common Prayer.  It’s been interesting to see where we, the Episcopal church, came from, how things have changed, and how things have remained the same or similar.  And we’ve had some good discussions about those books, their similarities, and their differences.

But I gotta tell you . . . I’m looking forward to coming home to the 1979 BCP.  Are there some things about that book I would change?  Certainly.  But that book is home.  The services, rubrics, and cadences are familiar and well-worn roads that allow me to be fully present with you as we worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  It’s also a bit like Linus’ blanket in that the 1979 BCP provides a sense that I can sit with that book and feel secure in the presence of God.

So while the past three weeks have been an interesting little side trip in our worship, it will be good to be home again.

I hope to see you this coming Sunday for our homecoming.

Blessings,