I was in my bed reading the latest church news on my iPhone, when I came across this grievous story.  Literally the day after the Rev. Dan Rogers spoke from our lectern about the decline in Christian faith up the hurting coast (New England) word has come that the Episcopal Cathedral in Providence is closing.  Need we say more about the need to see the Hurting Coast as a prime mission field in the United States?

Providence’s Episcopal Cathedral of St. John to close, final services April 22

By Richard C. Dujardin
February,  2012

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John — which began as King’s Church in 1722 and is the Diocese of Rhode Island’s fourth oldest church — is shutting down, with a final service set for April 22.

Parishioners of the cathedral church, the seat of Bishop Geralyn Wolf, learned the news on Sunday from the Right Rev. David Joslin, the cathedral’s interim dean, and Deacon Barbara May-Stock, during the parish’s annual meeting on North Main Street.

Parishioner Marjorie Beach says many were in tears when advised that because of declining numbers of pledging families and the cost of salaries and benefits, the parish could no longer continue — at least for now. The church closed once before — during the American Revolution.

Rectors Note:
Biblically we know from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, there needs to be death to bring new life.  My prayer (as that Cathedral dies), is that new life would follow.  Perhaps there would be a body of church planters that might come together and bring new life and Easter resurrection to the city of Providence through this church!