PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PRESIDING BISHOP MICHAEL BRUCE CURRY
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND ELIZABETH
AND THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, JUSTIN WELBY
LONDON, ENGLAND
May 19, 2018, we could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Power of God's Love upon this dear couple and the guests and the world. When USA Presiding Bishop Michael Curry gave his sermon, he spoke of the Power of Love...the Power of God's Holy Love. This was the same theme of the ordination and consecration service of our 7th Bishop of Los Angeles, California, Bishop-Elect John Harvey Taylor, on July 8, 2017 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles at 1:30 PM.
"...for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, and I was a stranger and you welcomed Me." —Matthew 25:35
"Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers (sisters) of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." —Matthew 25:40.
The Power of the Holy Spirit's Love
Crosses were handed out at Bishop Taylor's ordination and consecration service with hearts of love in the middle, and the hymn was sung, Hymn 516 "Come down, O Love divine" which was also sung yesterday, on Pentecost Sunday, in the Episcopal/Anglican Churches world-wide and in our local church here in California. From California 2017 to New York 2017 to New York 2018 to Windsor, England 2018, God's Holy Spirit is present. Holy Love.
Episcopal Hymn #516
Yesterday, in our local Episcopal Church, we also sang Hymn 516:
"Come down, O Love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine, and visit it with Thine own ardor glowing; O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing. O let it freely burn, 'till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; and let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, and clothe me round, the while my path illumining. And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long, shall far out pass the power of human telling; for none can guess its grace, 'till Love create a place where in the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling." (1434)
The Closing Prayer
The Closing prayer of the Bishop's Ordination and Consecration, in 2017 in Los Angeles was
"We pray that John may be to us an effective example in word and action, in love and patience, and in holiness of life. Grant that we, with him, may serve You now, and always rejoice in Your glory, through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen."
Our American, now English Bride Rachel Meghan was from Los Angeles, and it was beautiful that the same Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who ordained Los Angeles Bishop John Taylor, would bless Rachel Meghan and her English Groom Harry, and bless their marriage vows, both being members of the Church of England. Holy.
Wonderful ceremony and love shone throughout. I had not really planned to watch the ceremony in the early am... but I awoke on the couch at about 3:30 am CDT and became hooked. May the happy couple continue in their love for each other and their philanthropies. God bless them... and keep paparazzi at a far distance.