This is a line from our Prayer Book expressing our gratefulness and thanksgiving for God and God's life given to us.  With due respect to the Holy One and with, I believe, God's permission, I would like to use it to express my gratitude for this community during the past couple of weeks.

    As many of you know, my mother learned on the Wednesday of Holy Week that she would need bypass surgery which was scheduled for Tuesday after Easter Day.  There is no way to express how much we, my mother, my family and I, felt the prayers, care and love of this community during this time.  Notes, calls, hugs, visits and respecting the space mom also needed for surgery and recovery- these were all phenomenal.

    I mentioned Sunday that we as the clergy of this community are often invited into the most significant pastoral moments in your lives.  To be on the other side of this was a harrowing yet 'not without hope' experience.  I am not sure I can say that better- meaning, you are shaken to your bones (surgery, especially heart surgery, is only routine when someone else is having it) and yet know and experience yourself to be surrounded by a community who holds you up when you are facing those most basic of human moments.  This is one of those 'thin places'.

    It makes me that much more grateful for all that this community strives to be and how it chooses to live.

    I am also grateful that as this community has gotten to know my mother, she is less known as the Dean's mom and I am more known as Audrey's son- that is, she is known as her own person (not that I have ever lived under the dillusion it would be anything but!).  On behalf of Audrey's son, Audrey and my other siblings, thank you for your graciousness.  Oh, and continue to pray for mom's patience in recovery!

Peace,

Todd Donatelli