Weekly thoughts from the Rector of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, where these words remind us that Jesus’ peace goes with us into the world.

Today’s guest speaker at the Rector’s Forum at 10:15 a.m. in St. Bede’s Chapel is Mr. Justin Normand from Irving, Texas. Last fall this Presbyterian who wears a cowboy hat and boots and has a fancy white beard stood on a public sidewalk outside the nearest mosque to his home with a sign. He had become increasingly bothered by hate crimes that seemed to be targeting people because of their religious beliefs. So he stood there on the sidewalk with his sign that read:

Author Charles Finch happened to pass by and took a photo of Mr. Normand holding that sign. He posted it on Reddit and Twitter:

The image quickly went viral and spread across social media platforms as most people reacted warmly and emotionally to this small act of love. Mr. Normand later wrote a post on Facebook in which he identified himself as the man who held the “You Belong” sign. He expressed a desire to live in peace with his neighbors, especially his Muslim neighbors. What stood out to me, however, was his clear explanation that he didn’t do this small act of love because he agrees with everything about their religion or to express his outrage at those who were the source of the hatred and prejudice. About those filled with hate, he wrote:

It’s not about them. Not this time, and not here. This was about binding up the wounded. About showing compassion and empathy for the hurting and fearful among us. Or, in some Christian traditions, this was about washing my brother’s feet. This was about my religion, not theirs. . . . My own religious tradition ascribes these words to my deity: I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.

— The Rev. Neil Alan Willard, Rector

Weekly thoughts from the Rector of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, where these words remind us that Jesus’ peace goes with us into the world.

Next Sunday, April 9, is Palm Sunday, when we will carry our palm fronds and sing our hosannas, following Jesus Christ and proclaiming him as King of kings. It will also be our first celebration of Palm Sunday as the feast day for Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. Palmer is not only a family name, which is how this church came into existence, but also has referred historically to someone who had returned from the Holy Land with a palm frond or leaf as an outward sign of having undertaken a pilgrimage. It’s a wonderful metaphor for our life as Christians, and that’s why the image that represents Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church is a cross with a palm frond and why we will reflect on our identity as the people of God on Palm Sunday.

Many of you have seen the photographs down the hallway near the church offices that are snapshots in time of our congregation gathered on Easter Day through the years. We are reviving that tradition this year, assembling for a group photograph not on Easter Day but on Palm Sunday — Palmers together on the feast day that reminds us of who and whose we are. Our congregational photograph will be taken on Palm Sunday, April 9, at 10:15 a.m. on the side lawn between Autry House and Cambridge Street. For those coming to the 9:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist, we will simply process out of the church together during our final hymn and walk there. For those coming to a different liturgy that morning, plan to meet us there at 10:15 a.m. We want as many people as possible to be present for this family portrait, including friends, neighbors, and first-time guests — all God’s children. Hosanna!

— The Rev. Neil Alan Willard, Rector