tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105371462621592511.post3752781025741993348..comments2023-09-24T15:01:46.609-04:00Comments on Fiat Lux: Tommy Parker 1947-2008The Rev. James Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484680361356703398noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105371462621592511.post-16734597574924523362008-10-30T20:42:00.000-04:002008-10-30T20:42:00.000-04:00Tommy will be missed and the most wonderful memori...Tommy will be missed and the most wonderful memorial we can offer is to continue to challenge ourselves to be more welcoming to everyone. Thank you Jim for joining us on this journey.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10129006018301287477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105371462621592511.post-28969163183919862632008-10-30T00:25:00.000-04:002008-10-30T00:25:00.000-04:00I visit Philly often. I stopped at for Saturday m...I visit Philly often. I stopped at for Saturday morning mass at my favorite Anglo-Catholic Church. They had just served 200 people at their soup kitchen that morning. The priest told how many of the people on the street are mentally ill. He encourage everyone to come on a Saturday morning and just be with these souls. He related how often he would see the face of God in their faces (and I'm doing a terrible job of telling this). I teach special education and I know that some of my students will one day be homeless. The services just aren't there. It's something society closes it's eyes to or says "it's they're own fault." That's a mind set we have to change. There but by the grace of God go I ! <BR/><BR/>I remember a sermon from the vicar at Trinity Wallstreet where she talked about people dying alone and that no one should die alone. There's a lot of work to be done.<BR/><BR/>Good to know Tommy had people who cared about him and saw the person. Wonderful story.Robert Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15078194319420454758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105371462621592511.post-13018178390057999272008-10-28T14:32:00.000-04:002008-10-28T14:32:00.000-04:00This is an incredibly powerful post. Why did only...This is an incredibly powerful post. Why did only the St. Paul's employees know Tommy? I've been attending St. Paul's regularly, either at the evening or morning service for three years, and I don't even recognize his face. I'm ashamed to say it. What can we do to bring these people into our parish community? What can we do to give these people faces? How can we learn to interact with them, offering respect, dignity, and help instead of uncomfortably turning our eyes the other way?Janice Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10695322937457654338noreply@blogger.com