The Lenten side of the chasuble featured a design from the ancient Adrinkra tradition of Ghana symbolizing forgiveness, a design repeated 40 times to recall the forty days of Lent. The Advent border on the reverse side contained 400 stripes in various shades of purple and blue signifying the many diverse congregations in the Detroit Annual Conference. The chasuble was designed by liturgical artist Carol Riffe, member of Brighton First UMC, who also created the conference backdrop in 1989 and chasubles for Bishops Craig and Ott. We are here in this place to worship the Lord. Assistant to the Bishop Molly Turner invited the Detroit Conference offering for the Haiti Hot Lunch program and for the Bishop Craig Home in Liberia, reporting that 195,000 meals were served in Haiti through last year's offering.
Medical advances bring ethical dilemmas, and the poor still suffer injustice.
It is a spiritual crisis. We, like the disciples, need a deeper level of belief. The congregation broke into applause. I see people's lives being transformed. I see us finding out how to settle differences with love.