"…if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." (Isaiah 58:10-12)

Once again we celebrate St. Margaret's Day in honor of St. Margaret of Scotland. For those of you new to the parish, the origin of the name came not from this famous woman, but from a relative of one of the parish's benefactors. The name of St. Margaret of Scotland was purely an after thought. However, I can't help but believe that the character and life of this good woman has helped to shape the parish we are today. Tom Head, in his forum between the services will talk about the history of our church, noting that much of who and what we are today was not won easily but was very hard fought!
Margaret was a remarkable woman, as you might note in the brief biography distributed with your bulletin. She transformed her husband, her household, the Scottish Church and the face of her nation. She did all this while raising eight children! Margaret didn't effect these changes through heavy-handed power or wealth, but through love, prayer and a singular focus on Holy Scripture and Jesus Christ. She was highly intelligent, deeply empathetic and understood that we are given custody or stewardship, not ownership, of all creation and of one another. Her compassion and determination made an impact on all facets of Scottish life. Above all, she was a woman of prayer and steeped in compassion and love. We are called to walk in her footsteps.
We are in the midst of great anxiety this year as well as in eager anticipation of a new beginning politically. One hopes that the latter will go well beyond politics to transform us as a people as well as a government. Living in Washington, however, we know that that won't happen without help. Politics as usual can quickly consume even the most deeply grounded hope and anticipation. With the election of president-elect Obama we may have begun to lay to rest one of the ugliest and most shameful parts of the history of the United States. It has been said that, with this election, race has become just another issue, not THE issue. As we know only too well here at St. Margaret's there is plenty of prejudice
and marginalization still to be addressed. One hopes that our young people will have a better vision of differences from that of previous generations.
I would suggest that, following in St. Margaret's footsteps, we have much to offer our community in bringing about the many changes necessary to reflect the Kingdom of God. The lessons chosen for Margaret's Feast Day are some of the richest and most beautiful in Holy Scripture. They remind us that, in response to the incredible gifts and boundless love given to us by God, we are to reach out to all those around us. We are to seek justice, to help the poor and to be a place of welcome, comfort and love for all who are afflicted in heart, body, mind or soul.
During these troubled times this will at times be very difficult and cause us to sacrifice for what we believe. With the economic realities of today one can only imagine that, in 2009 the Fannie Mae Walkathon will be a thing of the past. Coupled with increased unemployment and the plunging of the stock market, we could see double the number of clients at Charlie's Place in the year ahead with perhaps much fewer resources with which to care for them. The need for Thanksgiving meals, Christmas presents, the furnishing of transitional housing, the services of a doctor in already poverty-struck Honduras will only multiply. If one adds an ageing building that is essential to our mission and ministry we shall be called to be creative and intentional in our stewardship of our resources. A wise Warden once said to me: "Susan, do not be troubled, if we do the right thing the resources will follow." I am praying that he will once again be correct in the year ahead.
On the bright side, and there is one, St. Margaret's has never been more energetic, happy and active. Each new person who comes in our doors brings new gifts and vision to our community. It is amazing that almost all of our buildings' spaces are in use almost all the time. I am particularly struck by the growth in our youth ministry and the energy brought to learning about our faith in Education for Ministry and On the Way Bible Study. This is a parish that is intellectually curious as well as deeply committed to worship and the Gospel imperatives! Our sick and shut in parishioners are drawn close to us as we carry the bread and wine from the altar to each on a regular basis. Dignity and two prayer groups meet here infusing the sanctuary with new life and hope. Though we are not perfect, we strive to treat one another with kindness and dignity. When we slip, we apologize and promise to do better. We try to listen to views other than our own and our Vestry struggles mightily to reach consensus and understanding as it deals with property and finances. This is a parish that is energized by incredible lay leadership. The playing field is even, not hierarchal, and our changes and ministries are begun and sustained by committed Christians balancing their work here with their day jobs.
I pray that we shall continue to be a beacon in an often dark and frightening world. Who and what we are can boldly show what it means to be a parish of radical hospitality and inclusivity, one that can only be generated by deep, Christian love for one another. As Paul said to the Church at Philippi:

“Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:4-9)
May God bless the people of St. Margaret's and all those who have come before and those who will come after us. May God bless all those we serve and care for, those for whom we open our hearts, our doors and our treasure. May that blessing ultimately enable us to recognize the face of Jesus Christ in all that we meet. May we be worthy of the name of Margaret of Scotland as we praise God in joy, laughter and thanksgiving for the multitude of gifts we have received. AMEN