One hundred sixty-one years ago . . .

One hundred sixty-one years ago today, General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War. I have reason to believe - although certainly no proof - that my great-grandfather, William Scott, may have been at that meeting.

I must admit that in all my years of school I do not remember ever hearing anything good about General Grant. However, I did read today that not only did he agree to release all of the Confederate soldiers being held prisoner by the Union if they would promise not ever again to take up arms against the United States but also allowed the Confederate troops to keep all of their personal property including their horses. And upon learning that Union troops were celebrating, he said, "The war is over; the Rebels are our countrymen again, and the best sign of rejoicing after the victory will be to abstain from all demonstrations in the field." [Quotation taken from The Writer's Almanac.]

Generous and humble in victory - the mark of a great man!

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February 2

Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple in the Episcopal Church or Meeting of the Lord in the Orthodox Church. Read the whole story in the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2: 21-38). A poem for the day: Nunc dimittis Now old Simeon can sing his song! This is the baby, this is the Lord! This is the King we have been waiting for, Now old Simeon can sing his song! Now old Simeon can sing his song: A baby - every mother's ordinary light of the world, But, my Lord, this is the Lord! Now old Smeon can sing his song! Now old Simeon can sing his song, Light and glory, salvation and heart-sword: This baby here - this is the Lord! Now old Simeon can sing his song! (from Handful of Stars , © 2018) And a very Happy Birthday to St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's School, NYC And it's Ground Hog Day! Punxsutatawney Phil predicts an early Spring . . . hope you're right, Phil!

May 4th

OK all Star Wars fans - May the 4th be with you! And with that inspiration, Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, celebrating May Fete today, says May the Fete be with you! The Christ Church May Fete began long ago - 120-130 years ago to be more specific. One of the earliest iterations, in the late 1890s, included selling tamales and coffee, and was aimed at raising funds to help with building costs. And fund raising was also needed after hurricane damage in 1900, and a devastating fire in 1938. But most of all May Fete is and always has been a celebration of friendship and support among friends who worship together. May Fete is a sign of faith and hope for the Christ Church family. This year three of the Sunday services (9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.) will have one big 10 a.m. bilingual service before the party begins! Over the years, the May Fete has changed and adapted - there are still a young May Fete King and Queen and an intricate May pole dance, but the most popular food...

St. John, apostle and evangelist

And on this second day after Christmas, we celebrate St. John the Divine. For me this day is a reminder of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City, a glorious place full of beauty and history where we often worshipped when I lived in New York. Monastery Icons provides this icon and explanation of St. John's life: Our St. John the Evangelist icon illustrates, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great. Called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross when the Savior made him the guardian of His Mother. Over the past years we have often had cats named John or variations of John, such as Ian. And now we have Yanah whose name is also a variation of John. May you have a blessed and holy day!

Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

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