NOTES, 24 JULY 2022
It is Sunday, July 24, 2022, and time to catch up on some topics we have been following of late.
After two and a half years, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. In fact, it is on an uptick in terms of new cases. However, hospitalizations and deaths continue to be relatively low. We still need to be vigilant because the new strains are more infectious than the earlier ones.
On the political front, I watched all the sessions of the House of Representatives select committee on the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. I found them painful and sad but ultimately reassuring. The hearings have proven our worst fears about the former president. He did his best to overthrow the Constitution of the United States and replace it with a dictatorship and came very close to succeeding. The worst thing he did was to try to overthrow the government, but what was nearly as shocking was his disregard for the life of his own vice president. When he knew Pence's life was in danger ("hang Mike Pence"), he egged on the violent mob after Pence had refused to delay or deny the proceedings. What kind of a president would condone the murder of his own vice president? One who should never have been president and should never again be allowed anywhere near the White House. In fact, the committee has given us a mountain of evidence of Trump's criminal acts as president. They have proven beyond a doubt that Trump should be charged with conspiracy to disrupt an official proceeding, a felony punishable by many years in prison. There is also a vast amount of circumstantial evidence of his guilt in seditious conspiracy but the committee failed to deliver a "smoking gun" on that one. For the sake of the future security and stability of our constitutional democratic republic, Donald Trump must be held accountable for his crimes of omission and commission as president. This was what was reassuring about the hearings. The committee brilliantly clarified the wrongdoings and presented the nation with the evidence to cleanse itself of this dark stain on our history. Now, it up to the Department of Justice to act. I expect they will.
On the topic of the schism, St. John's Episcopal Church, of Johns Island, held its second Sunday of services. The Rev. Callie Walpole continues to lead the restoration of that ancient parish to its ancestral denomination. Today's service saw a large congregation, not quite as big as last week's but still sizable, putting aside critics' charge that few people would show up on the second Sunday.
Here is the passing of the peace, from the Facebook video.
There was a long line of communicants going to the altar rail.
The secessionists from St. John's continued to meet at Haut Gap Middle School. The visual and audio quality of their Facebook livestream made it difficult to tell much of what was going on there but obviously with a large crowd.
At Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, the rector reminded everyone that 28 August would be their last day in the buildings. Church of the Cross, of Bluffton, is treating the congregation to a big bar-b-que lunch that day in honor of their farewell. As we know, the Episcopal bishop has named the Rev. Furman Buchanan to lead the restoration of Christ Church to its ancestral church soon after the secessionists vacate the property. Let us hope that process follows the good model set at St. John's.
Finally, if anyone is wondering what is going on in my garden these days, here are two pictures. I must say, it has been too hot, and rainy, to do much gardening work lately although there is a great deal to do because of the long days and copious rain. Weeds are growing like Topsy.
Banana trees fruit on the second year's growth. This large tree, 15-20 feet now, did not die down to the ground last winter. It is now putting out this stalk of tiny bananas. It makes a conversation piece if nothing else.
Adjacent to the bananas, in a tropical area, is this beautiful, coral colored ginger. This specimen came from Hawaii via my county agent. Ginger is a perennial that comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors and make attractive late summer flowers. Every southern garden should have them.
We are now in high summer, but in a couple of weeks life will start to move toward autumn. Schools resume across the south, typically in early August these days. That means football is not far away. By August, daily sunlight will grow shorter and the air will gradually cool. Life goes on and, with God's grace, we go with it. Peace.
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UPDATE. 6:30 p.m. Interest in the Episcopal restoration of St. John's remains high. As of this moment, there have been 212 views on Facebook of the Episcopal service today while there have been 147 views of the "Anglican" one at Haut Gap M.S.
