Arise, shine, for your light has come.
Isaiah 60:1
As of today, over 2900 people have secured their tickets for More Jesus, More Love! If you haven’t yet done so, it’s not too late – simply follow this link – but please do so today. There are only 400 seats left, and I don’t want you to miss what the Holy Spirit will do when we gather in one place to hear Presiding Bishop Curry speak to us of Jesus’ Way of Love. The service will be fully bilingual, and the Presiding Bishop Curry will be simultaneously translated into Spanish by Dinorah Padro, who is herself a wonder to behold. If you aren’t able to be physically present for the revival or convention worship, rest assured they will be available to livestream.
This is the largest diocesan-wide gathering in our history, and part of an entire weekend of events with the potential to reach every congregation and beyond with a message of God’s love, revealed in Jesus, for all people. It’s also an extraordinary opportunity for us to unapologetically and joyfully share our way, as Episcopalian Christians, of embodying Jesus’ love with our neighbors, communities, and the world.
We all spend so much energy on what we do in church and how we do it. The revival weekend is all about why.
I pray that on the revival weekend everyone in our congregations, schools, and core ministries will be inspired, encouraged and healed by a sense of God’s love in Christ, that some will make their first conscious commitment to receive and follow Jesus and that others will renew their commitment and take their next step in faith.
I pray that the Holy Spirit will move powerfully among us, and that we will experience the transformative potential of our collective witness. Come with an open and expectant heart.
As we gather in a space normally reserved for sports, entertainment, and civic functions, the More Jesus, More Love revival will also turn our focus outward, beyond ourselves–a reminder to us that we are asked to embody God’s love for the world. We’ll invite Jesus to send us where He most needs us, and ask how we might love others as He loves us. When we return to our churches the following week, I pray that we will see with new eyes – Jesus’ eyes – our neighbors, co-workers, and communities.
Presiding Bishop Curry will be with us all weekend January 24-26. It’s not too late to sign up for the specific gatherings planned for young adults, youth, and the Diocesan Convention worship service on Saturday morning. The weekend marks the official beginning of Vision 2025, our strategic plan, which I’ll write more about next week.
I close here with a word of heartfelt thanks to those who are working so hard to make More Jesus, More Love a reality and to those who have generously underwritten its cost. We wouldn’t be here without you.
