Hello Friends,

So, there is no sermon this week, because I took a Sunday off (gasp!) to go out of state for a wedding.  Fr. Kenny came along too.  We traveled from Long Island to Massachusetts for the wedding of a beloved childhood friend, and it was great!

First, we took to ferry from Port Jefferson, NY to Bridgeport, CT.  This is not a money saving endeavor, but it was pleasant.

Land Ho!

Fr. Kenny was practicing the safe procedures….

Only 25 cents, but it was a little dark.

We also spotted this sign at the Charlton, MA rest area….I like how they differentiate between all the different types of wipes you can’t flush…..but grease?  hair?  hmmmmm

Since we were back on home turf, and going to a wedding, we HAD to get our hair done by the fabulous Fred, the best master hair dresser in the world.

Fred is also a neighbor of my parents!

The wedding was at St. Rose of Lima, Roman Catholic Church in Topsfield, MA, bringing Fr. Kenny back to his boyhood roots in the RC Church.

The lovely bride showing some love for Fr. Kenny.

It was a lovely service, a beautiful church, and an even more beautiful couple.  It was such a moving service, and of course, as priests, Fr. Kenny and I are very critical of other priests (we can’t help it).  But the biggest problem I anticipated was the Holy Eucharist.  You see, in the Episcopal Church, we welcome all baptized people to take part in communion (the body and blood of Christ).  As long as you are baptized in a Christian church, you are welcome, and really we don’t check your Baptismal certificate at the door, we trust you.  Well, at the Roman church (“catholic” just means “Christian” so we are all technically catholic-the proper differentiation is “Roman Catholic”), only baptized RC people in good standing can participate (they don’t check ID either, btw).  So, whenever I go to an RC Church I debate in my mind what I should do.  I like to respect other people’s traditions, even if I disagree and think it is unfair, so I should not take communion.  Or I could be a rebel and show my disagreement by taking communion.  Either way I would feel uncomfortable.  Luckily though, they changed the service and didn’t have communion, so I didn’t have to make a choice…..this time…..but it is something I do wrestle with sometimes.

Enough seriousness, on to the party!!!

wave the red banner for the happy couple!

G, Kenny, and I dance the night away!

Showing off his moves…..

Until next time…..

-Mo. Lauren