Hello from the Vicar 1/14/2011

Last Sunday I preached on the shootings in Tucson, when 19 were shot and six died, including nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green. In my sermon, I said I'm concerned for the soul of our nation, and I hope that as a nation we will strive for a more civil discourse and less blaming, name-calling and demonization.

Today President Obama spoke at the memorial service for the victims of the shooting. Near the end of his remarks, he said:

 "Christina Taylor Green believed. Imagine: here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy; just beginning to understand the obligations of citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that someday she too might play a part in shaping her nation's future. She had been elected to her student council; she saw public service as something exciting, something hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman, someone she was sure was good and important and might be a role model. She saw all this through the eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol that we adults all too often just take for granted.

I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it. All of us - we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations."

I think President Obama captured the spirit of this young girl, who should inspire us to attempt and accomplish greater things. May we never forget her!