Gracious and loving God, a half-century ago today, at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., the Rev. Alison Cheek, one of the Philadelphia 11, became the first woman Episcopal priest to celebrate Holy Eucharist in an Episcopal parish. In the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles we give you thanks and praise for the presence among us this weekend of Alison’s sibling in prophecy, courage, and faith, the Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward, who presided Saturday at our convention Eucharist in Riverside. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.