Giving Thanks for the Prophetic voice of
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde
On behalf of the First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg, NY we give
thanks for the prophetic voice of Bishop Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of
Washington.
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, boldly answered God’s call to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ when delivering her sermon at the national
prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, January 21, 2025.
In a time when many are preaching prosperity and judgement or avoiding
the hard work of the Gospel we are called to, Bishop Budde preached the Gospel
teachings of our Lord. In her sermon on Unity, she says, “Unity at times, is
sacrificial, in the way that love is sacrificial, a giving of ourselves for the sake of
another. Jesus of Nazareth, in his Sermon on the Mount, exhorts us to love not only
our neighbors, but to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us; to
be merciful, as our God is merciful, and to forgive others, as God forgives us. Jesus
went out of his way to welcome those whom his society deemed as outcasts…”
As she goes on, Bishop Budde reminds us we don’t all get our way and yet
some are unjustly marginalized for simply living, “It goes without saying that in a
democracy, not everyone’s particular hopes and dreams will be realized in a given
legislative session or a presidential term or even a generation. Not everyone’s
specific prayers – for those of us who are people of prayer – will be answered as
we would like. But for some, the loss of their hopes and dreams will be far more
than political defeat, but instead a loss of equality, dignity, and livelihood.” We
encourage you to read her full sermon, it is not too long and extremely faith filled.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/24/bishop-mariann-edgar-
budde-sermon-that-enraged-donald-trump
We pray that we can also fulfill our calling as followers of Christ, to serve
our Lord rejecting oppression, segregation, unjust practices that marginalize and
bring harm to any of God’s children or creation. We pray that we may be
courageously faithful in bringing God’s love, care, grace and peace to this nation
and this earth.
Yours in Grace and Love,
The Reverend Laurena M Wickham Will: Pastor
Elder Constance Martin: Clerk of Session
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde
On behalf of the First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg, NY we give
thanks for the prophetic voice of Bishop Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of
Washington.
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, boldly answered God’s call to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ when delivering her sermon at the national
prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, January 21, 2025.
In a time when many are preaching prosperity and judgement or avoiding
the hard work of the Gospel we are called to, Bishop Budde preached the Gospel
teachings of our Lord. In her sermon on Unity, she says, “Unity at times, is
sacrificial, in the way that love is sacrificial, a giving of ourselves for the sake of
another. Jesus of Nazareth, in his Sermon on the Mount, exhorts us to love not only
our neighbors, but to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us; to
be merciful, as our God is merciful, and to forgive others, as God forgives us. Jesus
went out of his way to welcome those whom his society deemed as outcasts…”
As she goes on, Bishop Budde reminds us we don’t all get our way and yet
some are unjustly marginalized for simply living, “It goes without saying that in a
democracy, not everyone’s particular hopes and dreams will be realized in a given
legislative session or a presidential term or even a generation. Not everyone’s
specific prayers – for those of us who are people of prayer – will be answered as
we would like. But for some, the loss of their hopes and dreams will be far more
than political defeat, but instead a loss of equality, dignity, and livelihood.” We
encourage you to read her full sermon, it is not too long and extremely faith filled.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/24/bishop-mariann-edgar-
budde-sermon-that-enraged-donald-trump
We pray that we can also fulfill our calling as followers of Christ, to serve
our Lord rejecting oppression, segregation, unjust practices that marginalize and
bring harm to any of God’s children or creation. We pray that we may be
courageously faithful in bringing God’s love, care, grace and peace to this nation
and this earth.
Yours in Grace and Love,
The Reverend Laurena M Wickham Will: Pastor
Elder Constance Martin: Clerk of Session
Mission Statement
We are a welcoming congregation that follows the teachings of Christ.
We: invite all people, celebrate diversity, practice God’s all-inclusive love and
accept God’s call to spiritual growth.
The LGBTQ+ community is welcome here with warmth and love. You will find with us a safe place to worship and to freely share your thoughts and fears, ideas and concerns, gifts and talents. Come join us, we’ve got your back!
