Mine is a story about my brother, Michael. The first-born
child in our family, Michael grew up in Washington, DC. As
a youth, he was an acolyte at St. George’s Episcopal Parish.
He was a newspaper boy, a Cub/Boy Scout, and a loving son
and big brother. He enjoyed sports, attended baseball games
with our Dad, and, as a teenager, loved to sing.
On November 8, 1961, Michael, 18, joined the Army and
boarded Imperial Airline Flight 201/8 at a Maryland airport.
This aircraft was doomed to crash with only two survivors,
the pilot and co-pilot.
November 8, 2011 marked the 50th Anniversary of this
fateful flight when my brother and 76 others perished near
Richmond.
This year also begins the celebration of the 50th Anniversary
of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.
Golden Anniversaries marking two significant events: One,
the beginning of a new church in VA that positively changed
the lives of many. The other, a horrific ending of many
innocent lives that also changed the internal design of
airplane cabins. It changed the lives of many and devastated
communities.
What a contrast in the parallelisms of these events!
Psalm 75, 76; Genesis 43:16-34; 1 Corinthians 7:10-24;
Mark 5:1-20
These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.
