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RateEpiscopal bishop makes rare visit to Cairo church
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| Pastor John E. Miller, left, welcomed Bishop William Love from the Episcopal Archdiocese of Albany to Calvary Episcopal Church for Sunday worship services. (Melanie Lekocevic/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers) |
By Melanie Lekocevic
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
CAIRO — It’s a rare occurrence for Bishop William Love to lead a service at a local church — it happens only once every three years. On Sunday, the bishop of the Episcopal Archdiocese of Albany visited Calvary Episcopal Church in Cairo, and spoke of the importance of giving.
“Not just giving a little bit, but giving everything,” Love said. “That is something most of us shudder about, but it is important to trust and believe in the Lord, and follow him in obedience.”
To illustrate the importance of giving of oneself, Love recounted the Biblical story of Elijah, and the poverty-stricken widow who helped him in his time of need. When a small portion of food would be just enough as a final meal for the widow and her son, she shared the meal with Elijah, and miraculously it lasted for days for all of them.
“In faithfulness, obedience and trust, she did as Elijah asked, and the Lord provided,” Love said. “In the coming weeks, the jar of food did not grow empty. The widow essentially gave everything she had in obedience to God, trusting and believing that He would provide for her needs.”
The message is one that transcends religion, and can carry through the ages. Years later, Love said, a poor woman in the time of Jesus donated a meager two copper coins, compared to wealthy patrons who contributed a great deal more to the cause. But those two coins were of greater value, Jesus said, than all the rest of the money because it came from a position of need, not abundance.
“The Lord doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have, but to share what we do have,” Love counseled. “That woman had nothing, but she gave everything. It is often the people who have so little in the way of worldly possessions who give so much - so much of their time, and of their worldly goods.”
And that, Love said, is something we should all do in our own lives. He shared a personal experience, too, which showed the importance of sharing what you have.
Bishop Love said he and his wife focused their efforts on tithing — sharing a portion of their own money with the church. But when their son was applying to college, they considered cutting back on their donations to pay for his education. They decided, instead, to trust in God, and their son was the recipient of a rare scholarship that paid the entire cost of his education.
“That is the way the Lord works when we trust and believe in Him,” Love said.
According to Pastor John Miller, it was an honor having the bishop visit Calvary Episcopal Church. “The bishop is the chief pastor of the Diocese, and we are honored to have him here with us today,” Miller said.
After the service, parishioners held a brunch in honor of Bishop Love. “We are glad he could be here today, and that he can share brunch with us,” said Marion Montross. “It gives us a chance to get to know him better.”
Parishioner Robert Uzzilia said the message of the special service was important to us all. “Bishop Love is a great man of God, but he is also very approachable and easy to talk to,” Uzzilia said. “His message was very relevant in relation to the readings, and is an important reminder for us to focus on the gifts we get from God daily, and the importance of giving back on a regular basis.”
“Not just giving a little bit, but giving everything,” Love said. “That is something most of us shudder about, but it is important to trust and believe in the Lord, and follow him in obedience.”
To illustrate the importance of giving of oneself, Love recounted the Biblical story of Elijah, and the poverty-stricken widow who helped him in his time of need. When a small portion of food would be just enough as a final meal for the widow and her son, she shared the meal with Elijah, and miraculously it lasted for days for all of them.
“In faithfulness, obedience and trust, she did as Elijah asked, and the Lord provided,” Love said. “In the coming weeks, the jar of food did not grow empty. The widow essentially gave everything she had in obedience to God, trusting and believing that He would provide for her needs.”
The message is one that transcends religion, and can carry through the ages. Years later, Love said, a poor woman in the time of Jesus donated a meager two copper coins, compared to wealthy patrons who contributed a great deal more to the cause. But those two coins were of greater value, Jesus said, than all the rest of the money because it came from a position of need, not abundance.
“The Lord doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have, but to share what we do have,” Love counseled. “That woman had nothing, but she gave everything. It is often the people who have so little in the way of worldly possessions who give so much - so much of their time, and of their worldly goods.”
And that, Love said, is something we should all do in our own lives. He shared a personal experience, too, which showed the importance of sharing what you have.
Bishop Love said he and his wife focused their efforts on tithing — sharing a portion of their own money with the church. But when their son was applying to college, they considered cutting back on their donations to pay for his education. They decided, instead, to trust in God, and their son was the recipient of a rare scholarship that paid the entire cost of his education.
“That is the way the Lord works when we trust and believe in Him,” Love said.
According to Pastor John Miller, it was an honor having the bishop visit Calvary Episcopal Church. “The bishop is the chief pastor of the Diocese, and we are honored to have him here with us today,” Miller said.
After the service, parishioners held a brunch in honor of Bishop Love. “We are glad he could be here today, and that he can share brunch with us,” said Marion Montross. “It gives us a chance to get to know him better.”
Parishioner Robert Uzzilia said the message of the special service was important to us all. “Bishop Love is a great man of God, but he is also very approachable and easy to talk to,” Uzzilia said. “His message was very relevant in relation to the readings, and is an important reminder for us to focus on the gifts we get from God daily, and the importance of giving back on a regular basis.”
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