At the 2022 General Convention, Episcopal Migration Ministries created the Rainbow Initiative to spotlight forced migration of LGBTQ+ people, the issues they face and why we as people of faith should care. St. Michael’s Vestry signed on in March 2023 as one of approximately 20 Rainbow Initiative Congregations committed to highlighting this intersectional social-justice issue especially during Pride month in June. As a faith community, we felt called to do so because St. Michael’s is both a welcoming congregation to the LGBTQ+ community and an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation.

As a teacher for 40 years, my life’s rhythm has been that of the school year. The end of any school year was always bittersweet. My students and I had worked hard for months. As I said goodbye and wished them a happy, safe summer, I prayed I had given my students all they needed. I hoped they retained the skills and concepts we had worked so hard to achieve.

All are invited to a recital on Saturday, May 20, at 4:00 pm in the Nave. Choir Director Brian Fairbanks will be playing a recital of music for flute and organ by American composers. He will be joined by his good friend John Stuntebeck, the associate organist at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle. Brian will be playing “Bati l’gani,”by Meira Warshauer. It is inspired by another text from the “Song of Songs.”