It has been quite awhile since I posted on our Deputy Blog so I thought I had better get to it. What has struck me the most so far is how different it feels from when we were in Columbus three years ago. The mood seems lighter this time--not that we don't appreciate the seriousness of what we have to do, but for most part there is not the same degree of rancor.

Yesterday, we had the Sunday Eucharist/UTO Ingathering and it was wonderful. There were drummer, liturgical dancers (Richard Lief would have been in dancing heaven) with streamers, and great music. Andrew Green and I both helped with the distribution of communion which was really moving. The other things I loved about it was that we were sitting behind the rows reserved for people who need sign language translating and watching them "sign" to the hymns was quite beautiful.

Later in the afternoon, the House of Deputies passed DO25, a resolution affirming our commitment to the Anglican Communion, the listening process, and declaring Gay and Lesbian people in committed relationships can be, and are, called to all levels of ministry in the Episcopal Church. We also passed a resolution with strategic plan for Hispanic Ministry. All in all, a good day.

However I also realized today that I no longer know what day of the week it is, what the date is or what is going on in the world outside of our little piece of Anaheim. We went out to lunch and Target yesterday to pick up a few things and it felt like a major outing! It is 90 degrees outside and below freezing inside the Convention Center. But God is helping us all to find humor, spirit, hope, and anticipation for what is to come.