Priests talking of pride in their parish should proceed with caution:  Of the seven deadly sins, theologians and philosophers reserve a special place for pride.  And so my pride in Grace & St. Peter’s is not meant to suggest an excessive belief in our abilities that could interfere in our recognition of the grace of God.  Rather, I am proud of this parish’s openness to God’s grace, which has made this church special through the years:  In the early 1920s, we opened our doors to Cantonese immigrants who had started a new life in Baltimore, just down Park Avenue in Chinatown.  In the late 1940s, we opened our parochial school, which was the first integrated school – public or private – in the city of Baltimore.  In the 1970s and 80s, we were a place of refuge and welcome for gay people looking for a place where they could be themselves while being valued members of a church family.  These days, Grace & St. Peter’s retains all these essential component parts in what is among the most diverse parishes in the diocese.  What everyone here has in common is this:  a desire to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  We offer our best to God here, week in and week out, with music from the middle ages to the 21st century ringing from the rafters; with incense lifting our prayers to heaven; and a reliance on the Gospel in our preaching.  I invite you to come and see – to experience this place for yourself.  You are very welcome!