Hopefully you noticed the recent advertisement in the AJC (Living Section/April 7, 2007) placed by the Diocese as an invitation to Easter worship at any one of our 95 Episcopal churches in Atlanta and North Georgia.

I was especially pleased with its message: “put the focus back on Jesus”. At Saint Benedict’s that is exactly what we intend to do as we share Christ’s love in an ever changing world. The Episcopal Church has had a long, rich tradition of doing just that and we intend to make a significant contribution to this historic commitment among those who live in the Vinings area.

To focus on Jesus implies a need to focus our concern on many important personal and social issues such as our human hunger and thirst for wholeness and health, and the stewardship of our environment. We also have many ethical issues to reflect upon such as world peace, hunger, and poverty as well as stem cell research, same sex relationships, and health and human suffering. We need to learn to elucidate Holy Scripture, to think theologically, to engage in moral discourse and make moral decision. We need a caring community that can and will meet our human needs and love us in spite of our differences.

If we, as an Episcopal Church are to be faithful to Jesus and be relevant to the complexities of modern life we need a community of faith to aid us. I am proud to be the founding vicar of St. Benedict’s which intends to be focused on Jesus Christ, His Word and example, and therefore be willing to engage in healthy discourse on contemporary issues, without being reactive or defensive, as Christ unites us in a shared faith, hope, and love. I am committed to putting a renewed focus on Jesus: first through prayer and worship in the Anglican tradition, then to communal life as a sign and witness to the Gospel, and finally to proclaiming by word and example the Good News of God in Christ in a world longing for community which seeks and serves Christ in all persons, loving others as Christ has loved us and striving for justice and peace among all persons, respecting the dignity of every human being. .

Let me know what you think by emailing me at Lang@MySaintB.org. We will soon create an on-line blog to continue this and other conversations.