reverendjaneausten

A bit of heaven

2011-05-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well, this is not The Rev. Jane Austen but it more photogenically captures my delight at having a raft in the wading pool and spending a couple of after church hours drifting in the sunshine. Something about it makes me feel close to God- as though I am being carried. Thanks, Shannon, Graff and Erik for making it possible! And thanks to hillspet.com for the borrowed image.

Marriage homily

2011-05-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

How does one write a convincing homily during a week that one has not been home even a SINGE night to practice such wisdom with one's beloved spouse? Love you, MHA. Will try to do much better next week!

Maundy Thursday at Christ Church Cathedral

2011-05-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

Maundy Thursday at Christ Church Cathedral

April 21, 2011

May our work in the world be a vehicle for Your Love; May it shine and light up all darkened places. Be with us, O Lord. Amen. (Adapted from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata.)

`Where I am going, you cannot come.'
. . . . .
It must have been so hard for the Disciples. We barely understand Resurrection, we who have more than two millennia of story and song, of tradition and ritual, of the repetitive and generational cycle of the church year. How must it have been for them, that the one they loved most, the one who had filled their days and nights, their minds and hearts and their spirits for nearly three solid years would feed them, offering all of himself, and then say “Where I am going, you cannot come.”

Those are the words that have been haunting me this week as I have prepared to preach from this Gospel.

I hear the grief and the finality of this statement, and I feel empty inside. I have imagined how this must have felt to those who heard these words. I have not been in their sandals exactly, but I can draw from my own life in order to feel with them this night.
My image for this kind of grief is that of being a single mother, forced to let my child go for a visit with a biological father whom I knew would not guard him or love him or keep him in safety. I stood and watched my little fellow at the airport, as he lagged behind, his blue eyes turned back entreatingly to my own. “Can’t you change this?” they seemed to beg. I tried to keep a bright face, one of encouragement and hope and comfort. But it was hollow because all I wanted to do with every fiber of my being was follow this little person I so dearly loved. And I was not allowed.

I understood that, but the practical reasoning that I had lost the arguments in court and was compelled to follow the orders of the judge who did not comprehend the situation fully paled in the wake of my terror, my confusion and my utter and complete helplessness.
As we journey through Holy Week, we pause here at Maundy Thursday with the specific goal of understanding what it means to feel lost.

The derivation of the name "Maundy" has two separate possible meanings, with both cited as the one that “most scholars agree is correct!” One possibility is that the English word Maundy is from the Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum ("A new commandment,”) The commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved us. The other suggestion is that "Maundy Thursday" arose from "maundsor" baskets, in which on that day the king of England distributed alms to certain poor at Whitehall: "maund" is connected with the Latin mendicare, and French mendier, to beg. The name “Maundy Thursday” thus might arise from a medieval custom whereby the English royalty handed out "maundy purses" of alms to the poor before attending Mass on this day. Traditionally, Her Majesty has distributed specially minted Maundy Money; If she follows her tradition, this year she will hand them out to 85 men and 85 women (85 being the years of The Queen’s age). The Queen comes to the people and it is an act of humility by The Sovereign before God. The Tradition dates back to the 1st Century A.D. and the English Crown has observed some practice of humility (foot washing or giving) on Maundy Thursday for over 500 years.

Luckily, we are Episcopalians and the Middle Way is our comfort zone. Both possible derivations of the word Maundy have something to offer us this night. Humility is certainly where we arrive when we feel empty and lost. . In tonight’s service, the altar and the chancel will be stripped. “Can’t you change this?” we want to ask.

No.

This is to prepare for the solemnity of Good Friday, and also echoes the stripping of Christ's garments when he was arrested and brought before the soldiers. But I think that it also speaks to us on a deeper level. As we watch the church being emptied to stone, we remember what it feels like to bare our souls of all pride and to reach that point of total humility. . . when we are truly empty, we are at our best to fill our hearts with God and to truly understand what is to come.

When we are truly bare, we are ready to hear the words that come next from Jesus. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Is that love what we think it is? Is that love perhaps what we are afraid it might be?
In The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis talks about one main separation in the meaning of the word love. He establishes this as Need Love vs. Gift Love. Need love, Lewis says, is born of emptiness. As we are empty tonight it is important to understand that. It is basically inquisitive to the core. One who loves in this way sees in every beloved object or person a value that he or she covets to possess. Need love moves out greedily to grasp and to appropriate. If we were to illustrate it, need love always has the expectation of being circular, --reaching out to the beloved to transfer value back to itself. The Very Rev. Sherry Crompton puts it more graphically: “need love sucks essence out of another and into itself.”

Lewis reminds us that it does not take exceptional imagination to acknowledge that many times when we humans say to another, "I love you," what we are really meaning is, "I need you, I want you. You have a value that I very much desire to make my own, no matter what the consequence may be to you." Or more simply, “I need to hear that you love me.”

Gift love presents an alternate reality.

Instead of being born of emptiness or lack, this form of loving is born of fullness. The goal of gift love is to enrich the beloved rather than to obtain value. Gift love is like an arc, not a circle. It moves out to bless and to increase rather to acquire or to diminish. Gift love is more like those mountain waterfalls I preached about a few weeks ago. It is plentiful and abundant and unable to be contained. Lewis concludes by reminding us that God's love is gift love, not need love. That Gift-love is the foundation of the commandment that fills our open and empty hearts this night.

And although we are commanded, we can choose. What direction will we take on this night we are both empty and commanded to be filled? We can choose not to strip ourselves as the altar is stripped and thus leave our hearts too full of need and pride to be able to understand the way that God loves us. We can choose to ignore the commandment by focusing on need-love. But we are then missing the best part: “Just as I have loved you.”

It is hard to grasp, probably just as difficult now as it was for the disciples on the night that Jesus fed them in an earthly way for the last time. But there is a wonderful Native American story that helps us to understand.

One evening an Old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.” The grandson thought about it for minute and then asked, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

When we receive Communion, we choose which wolf to feed. Paul’s word’s the Corinthians are the familiar words we hear in every Eucharistic service. “The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In Eucharist, we partake of Christ himself as a sustaining force that will fill us and teach us to love—to love just as He has loved us.

But as we prepare this night for the Cross tomorrow, we pray as we sing the words of our Offering hymn; we empty ourselves and ask humbly with open and broken hearts for God to fill us:
“Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my heart it is thine own, it shall be thy royal throne.

We cannot change it. We should not want to do so.

It is only in emptying ourselves on Maundy Thursday that we can begin to understand the Cross and turn toward the empty tomb.

Amen.

A bit of color for the season...

2010-10-02T17:26:00.001-07:00

Thanks Graff and Zane for planting!

lamb's ear hydrangea

2010-09-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

Blessed rain

2010-09-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

Although it makes me want to stay home with a good book, and we are instead going forth for youth group activities, it is a beautiful cool morning. The earth was so thirsty. My lamb's ear hydrangea can lift her leaves now.

Proud family

2010-09-06T10:31:00.001-07:00

We are just back from visiting our middlest boy and his wife on the occasion of his graduation from Flight School. Much to our delight, his IP took us out to the field to view the helicopters. We were awed by how our son has chosen to serve! We love you, RT.

A change of world

2010-09-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Upon hearing that I had been blessed to find a job at the Cathedral, someone mentioned that I had "certainly paid my dues." By this they meant that I had been banished to the mountains for three years and had now arrived in Civilization. I was quick to disagree. As grateful as I am for my present circumstances, and as excited as I am to begin a new ministry, I know in my heart that my first years of ministry were also blessed, and very educational. I fell in love with the people, the communities and the small churches. I am still close to and supportive of the team that now serves those churches. (YOU GUYS ROCK!!) And I will carry the love of the small church members for me, and my love for them, in my heart always. Ministry feeds the people of God in any location where hearts are open. Nothing more and nothing less. We do not own it or have the market on it in any one spot.

Grand-dog Macey agrees with me-about ministry but probably not about food.

So. . . Partridge(s) in a pear tree?

2010-01-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

Well, ok, nondescript dark birds in maple trees. But my Gampa said never let the truth get in the way of a good story. . . .

I love snow days!

2009-12-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

I think it is God's way of forcing me to admit I need Sabbath.

Jedi Dane Tricks

2009-12-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

Freyja believes she is freezing Mittens into place with her icy stare, but the kitten is at the controls.

And then the next day. . . .

2009-12-05T14:14:00.003-08:00

We had snow dusting and made a "Night Tree" for the wildlife and the dogs loved the snow.

Confused

2009-12-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

My lilac bush is pushing Spring as the days get shorter and darker and colder. Bet that is a metaphor somehow for how I OUGHT to be living as a person of the Resurrection instead of merely yearning to hibernate. . .

Funeral Sermon for my favorite General

2009-11-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

November 14, 2009

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

We gather today to celebrate the life and faith of one who was truly “an oak of righteousness" among us. Many of you are so well acquainted with General Beach’s life that I need add nothing to the details you all know so well. Many of us will try to fill the gaps as best we can in our personal and professional and community lives, and we will be comforted by his spirit and example. He would, I think, be quite impatient with any list of his accomplishments and honors; I suspect the list is somewhat incomplete at any rate despite the heroic efforts of those who helped him stay on top of his many commitments. In this I include especially his son Charlie, and Edna and Charlotte, and the many, many police officers who allowed him to break the sound barrier over the eastern Kentucky mountain roads!

The General would want all of this work to be carried on, of course. In the best military sense, as he has laid down flags, he would want us to pick them up and march forward. But it is especially the flag of faith that I believe General Beach would want us to lift high. Just as it seems entirely appropriate somehow that Charles Beach Jr. would be born on the 4th of July and would begin his new life on Veterans Day, it feels right that we gather for a few moments here in his lifetime church to think about God’s faithful presence among us.

His dedication began early. For the last 80 years or so he has been in the habit of arriving early at church in order to ignite the furnace here at St. Thomas. [Of course the mode of energy usage has changed a bit over the years!!] As his father had before him, General Beach served this church as the center of his belief and trust in a loving God. He has inspired his church family here at St. Thomas to serve with the same kind of generous spirit.

Serving, as important and life-giving as it is, however, really blossoms best when rooted in a deep and passionate system of belief. “Believe in God,” says Jesus in John’s Gospel. “Believe also in me.”

Belief is something we understand and encounter with our minds, and it is lived out in our actions. Over the last 90 years, the General exemplified this kind of belief, as he read and prayed and studied. He passed this connection down to his son Charles and daughter Elizabeth, and through them to their children. And I suspect he discussed it enthusiastically with his friends and perhaps even his banking associates. As an evangelist, he was both determined and powerful—as I imagine many of you might have experienced!—Perhaps he has even inspired you to do the same. Even in this last year, he read four newspapers every day and worked hard through prayer and conversation to understand world events in the context of his beliefs.

But Jesus began this passage we heard from the Gospel of John with THESE words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” This is where the rubber meets the road—even if our General is driving!—and in hearing this statement of comfort, BELIEF struggles to become faith. “If it were not so,” coaxes Jesus, “Would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?. . . I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.” FAITH requires a much different level of trust, doesn’t it? . . .a much deeper encounter with the God who encourages us to open our hearts to love.

It is this deep engagement that the General began to share with me and with others in the last few months. After a life time of serving and giving, and using his strong military instincts to strategize campaigns and control outcomes, he found himself in a position of depending on the very communities he had always served, and of not being dependably able to control every outcome.

This does not come easily to any of us, but I suspect it is particularly challenging for a high level military commander. And yet, through Grace, a true gift came out of this time, and I know in my heart that it is this flag that General Beach would have us lift high and carry forward.

He had always known (head) and believed that God and his family and his friends loved him. But suddenly, he understood with his heart that such love often requires not just our generosity, but by opening ourselves to the generosity of others. Sometimes, we cannot truly understand how to depend on God until we need to depend on one another. As General Beach faced the undeniable truth of this kind of love, he knew that total confidence that Jesus loved HIM in the deeply personal and selfless way that he encountered through his family and friends and colleagues.

“I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus proclaims. As Christians, we open our hearts to this truth, and offer ourselves into the trust of a Savior who comes to us as a bridge across all of our doubts and insecurities.

It IS a Happy Morning, as we sang in the Easter hymn that gathered us into this service. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, this morning we can say, “The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything.”

It is this very Peace that our father, grandfather, brother, and friend came to know. It is this very Peace that I know he would have each one of us move toward as we gather to celebrate his new life in Jesus this day.

May HIS rest be this day in Peace, and his dwelling place in the Paradise of God.

Amen.

Stars

2009-10-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Stars take us through time in so many ways--memories of night skies past. Tonight as we tucked G in, he pointed out that since we rearranged his room, he is now aware of the "glow in the dark" stars on his ceiling--put up by his eldest brother 15 years ago (and long since painted over!)

They have bled through the paint. They are not at all visible in normal light but create a comforting glow in the darkness once more--unquenchable stars.

And back 15 years in a flash.

My first Ordination Sermon!

2009-08-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Sermon: Ordination to the Priesthood of Duane Andre Smith
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
August 19, 2009

This is a joyful occasion tonight as our Diocese and shared communities gather together in Beattyville to celebrate Duane’s Ordination to the Priesthood. It is also a joyful occasion because Duane is the very first priest to be ordained to the Small Church Ministry Consortium (or the SCMC) as a whole unit. When I was ordained at St, Mark’s in Hazard, it was to serve as the Small Church Missioner, but we were still developing the concept of the team that serves our smallest churches now. Duane’s ministry is the prototype of the future as our Diocese seeks to provide pastoral care and a sacramental life for all of its churches. It is not insignificant that Duane has selected people from each of the small churches in the Consortium to be participants in this service. His calling to this special ministry is both passionate and certain.

In fact, when I first read the Gospel passage selected for Duane’s Ordination, I thought, “Jesus in cities and villages. . .scarcity of laborers. . . asking God to send help. . ..

( ) light bulb!

We need help in our villages and God sent Duane!!! Short sermon. To the Point! That works!” Of course, that would be an eisegetical reading (--a reading where I do not do my homework but just put my own impressions onto the Gospel--) , and I would have to be pretty cheeky to pull that off in front of our Bishop, my fellow clergy and several learned professors—not to mention our Ordinand!

First impressions aside then, what can these particular lessons teach us as we surround Duane this night with our love and our support for both his ordination into the sacred order of priests and his commitment to provide the sacraments at St. Thomas and St. Mark’s and St. Alban’s and St. James ----and now at St. Mary’s in Middlesboro?

The first thing is that this Matthean summary of the words and deeds of Jesus give us both the example of Jesus’ ministry and the precedent for Duane’s. It is how we both look back in amazement at the ministry of Jesus and look forward to the ministry Duane will do in these mountains: teaching, proclaiming the Good News, and healing. It is how in the present, we understand the ongoing and omnipresent context of that ministry- the fact that God sends those who will, in compassion, be laborers in the Harvest.

Although the work of ministry is shared by all of us through the Baptismal Covenant, some laborers are sent to take on ordained ministry. The second piece of enlightenment from these lessons exhorts the elders—perhaps presbyters or priests, to tend to the flock of God as God would have them do—not for gain, but eagerly. Now on one hand, as Duane has reverently accepted a non-stipendiary call, the “gain” admonition in the First Letter of Peter may be a non issue! But God asks more of us than our treasure; God demands our hearts. In this mountain ministry especially, that means listening as well as preaching, and learning as well as teaching. Good leadership is important, and appreciated, but the remarkable wisdom in our mountain churches cannot be denied! As Duane has learned, flock tending in the small churches is very circular. The long-timers in these congregations have experience that is of great benefit to new priests and deacons, even as the new clergy have education and ideas and energy of great benefit to the churches. It is in listening to each other- the mutual submission that the letter of I Peter recommends—that we can go forward in the teaching, preaching and healing. It is in only in working together that we can help these jewels in our diocese to strengthen and sparkle with renewed vitality as they do their work in the kingdom of God.

But there is a third lesson that these readings teach us: in order to be really successful, to have that vitality, being sent requires actual willingness on the part of those called to go. That applies to all of us of course, not just Duane. The reading from Isaiah reminds us that for God’s plan to spread the Good News to succeed, it really helps if there is a call toward the ministry which God intends!
I have had the privilege of knowing Duane for many years at Berea College. [This is the part where Duane gets nervous!] Our boys were born about the same time, and we both taught the (now extinct!) “General Studies” course at the college called Western Traditions. We had a collegial friendship as I set up the library instruction classes for his course sections and turned to him as an expert for the Biblical content in mine. As Duane moved toward choosing the Episcopal Church for his community of faith, I felt honored to be included in his thought process. I had no idea in those early days that we would someday be working together again on a different team. When we first met more than a year ago to talk about his assignment to the SCMC it was clear that Duane’s excitement and commitment to the small churches was the driving force in his willingness to answer this call. He was energized about the ministry of the consortium and immediately connected with each of the congregations in which he led in Morning Prayer. I would often get a phone call on Sunday afternoon [as we were both driving on various mountain roads!] so that he could relate his joys or concerns about his ministry that Sunday, and also so that he could prepare me for the pastoral needs of the week ahead in that particular community. It was soon clear to me that the churches returned this affection, as they praised him for his interest, his very competent preaching and most of all his sense of commitment.

Even more transparent than Duane’s own
willingness, however, was the sense of Divine Presence embodied in such a call, and that too is a significant piece of this passage from Isaiah. Although we did not see six winged seraphs or fiery coals at the Black Feather café in Berea where we met to work on schedules or plan for the next quarter, we did notice that we had a real team forming in Berea and working together in this ministry. And it became obvious that this geographic center--- with no intended assault on the wisdom of our Bishop—had a Divine origin. We could not deny that we were living out something much bigger than our individual calls to ministry.
When, in a few moments, we sing “Come thou Holy Spirit bright,” and Bishop Sauls’ apostolic hands are laid on Duane as he is surrounded by those who affirm and support his call, I have no doubt that the undeniable existence of that same Divine Presence, will infuse and sustain his priesthood. It is a sacred moment and we are all privileged to be witnesses.

And so, Duane…..(motion) you are here tonight after a long journey—much longer, perhaps, than you expected when you began, . . . but not longer than you needed. This journey has brought confusion, heartache and loss; it has also brought clarity, joy and fulfillment. If there is one thing the work of ministry teaches us, it is this: it is the journey that makes us ready to be laborers in the harvest. It is the journey that tempers in us the compassion that Jesus showed against a harassed and helpless crowd. And it is the journey that gives us the courage in the face of God’s call to reply
‘Here
am
I;
send me!’

We do our best to faithfully answer the call, but we must remember that we are absolutely not the power that makes it work. It is through Jesus that all things are being brought to their perfection. When you remember that you are not that power, remember also that you have a built in support network. The Diocese is more than the people with whom—and for whom—you work. It is a network of familial support in terms of prayer, resource and much needed humor. Just as the people of St. Hubert’s prepared you with love and support to take these steps, the people of the SCMC have much to offer you now in terms of love, appreciation and wisdom. Above all, remember the words the Bishop spoke in the Collect tonight: the whole church is a wonderful and sacred mystery!

The ministry that Jesus lived and taught his disciples to continue through the ages has called you to this place in this time. And we are grateful! Although I promise not to develop lazy scholarly habits, perhaps my eisegetical opening was not so far off the mark after all!

Duane, you are here because you have so much to bring to this ministry: Your passion for teaching, your experience and understanding of parish ministry and your work in the missional community of Berea College will all be helpful in your work as a priest. Even more importantly, your family, friends and colleagues surround you this night and will continue to do so in prayer. Go now in compassion to the villages; teach in their churches, heal those in need, and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.
Amen.

2009-05-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

Sermon: Easter 4 St. Mark’s May 3, 2009

I think today that I want to preach on the bad shepherd—or at least the hired hand. I want to rail against that hired hand, the one who is not the shepherd and who does not own the sheep, the one who sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—so that the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. Of course, we all remember that I am the Border Collie and --I’m just sayin’---I am in full nipping-the-heels mode this week.

You see, this week, I have had several dear friends who were fired; the reasons were financial of course, but they were treated like criminals after decades of loyal service to their employer. They were told to shut down their computers and leave immediately without speaking to anyone, most especially not to those that they supervised and mentored. Those still working for this company are horrified and angry and devastated. They are also living in fear. No one will stand up because they are afraid that they will be next. They do not seem to understand that their not saying anything gives assent to this terrible behavior. I am not judging them, but as an outsider, I am concerned about what this fear will do. And I am grieving for the situation and the people who were made to leave in such a fashion and the people who are still left, numb and anxious.

Then there is H1N1. It is too late to not call it Swine Flu, even though I heard a pork farmer lament this week that elephant flu would have been more helpful to our economy. People are grasping at the negative [panic] and not hearing the positive pieces:

· Not severe. . .
· Not nearly in the same range of numbers as seasonal influenza. . .

It is good to be informed. It is important to understand how we can protect ourselves and each other. It is not helpful to panic. But that does not make good news copy.

Fear is all around us.

In the church, we speak of living from the perspective of Scarcity vs. that of Abundance—what is the difference? Not just optimism against pessimism, but something more.

Trust

These lessons this morning show us trust and the courage that comes from a trusting faith.
Think of Ps. 23: We all know this by heart. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
Fear itself is evil and not of God. Fear cannot really abide where God is present and recognized.

Fearing the Lord is a phrase we read but it does not really mean what we think. John Mallon writes that the "fear of the Lord" is often misinterpreted as "servile fear" (the fear of getting in trouble) when it should be understood as "filial fear" (the fear of offending someone whom one loves.) That kind of fear is really better understood as respect, as reverence.

Not trusting seems like a primary way to offend God, to me. Think of how we feel when we are not trusted by those we love despite believing that we ARE trustworthy. I can remember my mother not trusting me (even though in that instance (now, never mind the times I did not get caught- I have righteous indignation on my side this time!) but in THAT instance, I had not committed the offense that caused her to lose trust in me. I was both offended and devastated.
But we have no cause to mistrust. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.” This is a choice. We are shown by the action that we can safely trust.
In the letter of first John, it is just this kind of action we are to be known by: “How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
Let us walk the talk.

Peter spoke out in action in the Book of Acts when love and trust enabled him to speak despite fear of going against the crowd and sounding unbelievable. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” That is trust. That is confidence. That is fear being replaced by love.
Reading Camp had a similar challenge this last year. We were not really in a position to pay for a director but we knew that we would potentially raise more if a director were in place. It was a leap of faith. It was fear being replaced by a love for the children we were trying to help. And we know that our fear should also not control our decisions about our membership in the Small Church Ministry Consortium. Whatever we (you!) decide, it is important to remember that I am not your Shepherd and neither is the Bishop. There is one Shepherd, a good Shepherd, and in him we place all our trust. We will need to decide how that trust shows forth in our decisions.

We spoke this morning during our Christian Formation time about love and fear in the context of the Eucharist. We spoke of the Community of the Baptized and how Eucharist is not an individual act, but a communal one. We know that the alcohol content in the wine kills most of the germs, we are pretty sure that we will not come ill to church and we know that when I ceremonially wash my hands I will also use Purell. We talked about the way my sacramental theology- my feelings about one bread and one chalice—is being challenged by the fear some folks are feeling about this flu.

But ultimately, for me at least, it comes down to trust. As or Bishop says, disease is not of God; I add that neither is fear.

We come to this table in love. We come to this table because WE are loved. Our belief must make a difference in the world and we have the chance, just as Peter did, to proclaim our love and trust. For some, that may take the form of evangelism in a difficult time in our history. For some, it may be the words in 1John that inform how we use our resources to help those who have less. But for others of us, it may mean remaining calm and trusting and serene in the face of fear. We can walk the talk. ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *for you are with me,’

In our trust, when we sing the Sanctus at Eucharist, both heaven AND Earth are full of God’s Glory. The Holy Spirit that infused Paul with courage is the same Holy Spirit that has infused the bread and wine with the essence of Christ’s body and blood transforms us as we gather together to partake of God’s love for us. When we consume the Eucharist, we turn that love into action: action that is only possible because we know that Jesus has willingly taken the most loving action of all: that of laying down his life for us sheep.
Amen.

Sermon for St. George's Day 4-25-09 Cathedral Domain

2009-04-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Lessons assigned to St. George:

Revelation 12: 7-12
Michael Defeats the Dragon
7 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, 8but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,*
for the accuser of our comrades* has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our God.
11But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.
12Rejoice then, you heavens
and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,
because he knows that his time is short!’

Psalm 126
A Harvest of Joy
A Song of Ascents.
1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,*
we were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
3The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.

4Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
6Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.

2 Timothy 2:3-13
3Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. 5And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. 6It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.

John. 15:18-21
The World’s Hatred
18 ‘If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19If you belonged to the world,* the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, “Servants* are not greater than their master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

Sermon: St. George’s Day April 24, 2009
May our work in the world be a vehicle for Your Love; May it shine and light up all darkened places. Be with us, O Lord. Amen. (Adapted from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata.)

We have a lot going on here this weekend! In various groups and sub-groups, we have our Executive Council Retreat, a Youth Rally, and the Bishop’s Visitation to the Small Church Ministry Consortium with Baptisms, Confirmations, and Receptions. It is also of course the Spring Festival gathering and the Patronal Feast for this cathedral named for St. George the Martyr. With all of these occasions meeting in one service, [not to mention some pretty challenging lessons!] it is hard to know where to begin to focus. I think our Bishop is very brave to invite me to preach for this service. [*]

St. George and the Dragon indeed!

I mention St. George so that those of you who are attending for the first time might better understand the dragon references in the Scripture readings. These are the lessons assigned for the day we honor St. George, which was really this past Wednesday. As much fun as St. George is, however, those of you being baptized, confirmed and received probably have other concerns after listening to these particular lessons.

It may seem odd at first, hearing Scripture about the world hating Christians on a day where we prepare to joyfully welcome new members into our midst. It might make us all a bit uneasy about being glad for those entering into a deeper relationship with God and God’s church in this context. But surely to think that would imply that Stad and Eric and Jay and Brandon and Sr. Judy had never experienced this odd enmity between the world and followers of Jesus Christ, and I would be very surprised if that were true. I know that each of you has come to this day thoughtfully and with gladness; I believe that such a decision cannot help but change your perspective.

That is where John comes out, at least. This passage is part of the farewell discourse in John’s Gospel; Jesus is preparing his disciples for the day when he will not be right beside them to teach. He wants them to know that he understands the persecution that can come with allegiance to him and to God. John gives three reasons given for this:

1. The Disciples are not of the world Jesus describes.
2. This world has hated and persecuted Jesus.
3. The world lacks knowledge and understanding of Jesus and God.

The price of discipleship is high, Jesus warns. It has not been all sweetness and light for him, and it will not be so for us as we transit this world. But it is not all dark either. Warm fuzzies really do exist - you can find them all over this place and if you do not know where to look, I invite you to ask one of our youth! Another bright spot is the gift of this place. God invites us to the Cathedral Domain to be removed from the world-- and having been here, even for a day, we feel the difference keenly as we drive back to our regular lives.

John’s own community was perhaps a bit like this one here this weekend. For him, community in Christ was defined by inter-relationship, and mutuality and understanding. The passage immediately before this troubling concept of hate really sets the context for this reading. Jesus has just explained to them that he is the True Vine and they are the branches, and that although they have not chosen HIM, HE has chosen THEM. He has further explained that they are to go and bear fruit; these commands are all about the main goal of loving one another as he has loved them.

So it is not in the mere following of Jesus that this persecution occurs, but in doing the hard work of love that they will take up after his death and Resurrection. We still struggle with this, particularly in the West, where our individuality and the celebration of our own gifts and achievements are in direct opposition to the kind of community John envisions. This is also a new direction for John in the Farewell Discourse; it is a look outside of the Johannine community. Comparably for us, it is a look at what waits beyond this mountain where we celebrate today.

But I must tell you –just in case you were worried-- that Jesus is not this frank with them in order to scare them! After all, if he were here preaching in my place he would absolutely NOT be saying, “Oh sure! Welcome to the vineyard. Don’t worry about the fact that nobody is gonna like you once you’ve been in here. Don’t be in a bother over the fact that some days are going to be just plain icky. Yesiree, now, sign right here and start your lifetime as a Christian . . . it will be just swell!” No, instead, he took great care to prepare them, so that they could remain strong and faithful in the face of conflict.

That is why the dragon is so very angry. Jesus was the real deal, not an illusion. Michael would not have had to fight that ancient battle with Satan written about in the Book of Revelation if Jesus had been just another oily telemarketer!
On the contrary, what makes Satan so angry is that the battle has already been lost at the cross. What is left is basically a big temper tantrum, “because he knows that his time is short,” and that is what the disciples will encounter in the world. Because they cannot be true to the singular commandment in the Gospel of John, to love one another as Jesus has loved them, and not meet resistance in a world that neither knows or understands that kind of love.
So, what if we all just move up here and put up a big gate and never go home? Surely a community that understands and practices this kind of love is a better place to live? We can keep the world out and watch the stars and sing around the campfire. . . .except for the fact that not being of this world is not the same thing as choosing not to live. There is also the matter of what Jesus asks us to do as Christians. Our job is to not to avoid living in the world, it is to make the world a better place to be by living in it.

The fruit of loving one another can only be borne through the hard work of watering, weeding, giving shade, nurturing and fertilizing.

Sometimes, it takes a lot of fertilizing. . .

We have to go into the world that neither knows nor comprehends the way God works and we have to be the living examples of that love. We have to remind ourselves-- and teach others --that signing up for the love that the world provides is to renounce the love which Jesus has shown to us. We have to remind ourselves and teach other that renouncing the world view for the Christian one will be a task which requires great faith. You see, for John, hate and love are not abstract concepts; they are real and concrete; they embody our relationship with the world and with Jesus.

And the biggest challenge of all? Before the Bishop pours the baptismal water and places confirming and receiving hands on you, let me enlighten you. The toughest thing of all is to embody this love in a world marked by hatred ---and yet not give in to that hatred ourselves. Let me say that again: The toughest thing of all is to embody this love in a world marked by hatred ---and yet not give in to that hatred ourselves.

That is our most fantastic challenge as followers of Jesus.

We can do it though, especially if we remember how unlovable we are and how dearly we are loved despite that fact. And we can do it if we remember that we do not do it alone. In a few minutes the Bishop will read these words from Eucharistic Prayer B: “Unite us to your son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him.” In Eucharist, we are given the strength and the presence to bear the fruit of loving especially those who do not know or understand about God’s love.

Not only that, we will make a commitment to bear that fruit of loving. Stad will not make his baptismal promises alone; each of us will renew our own vow with God’s help to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. Each of us will also promise to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being.

Yes, the world will resist. Minor dragons may appear in difficult moments. It is good to be prepared so that we can stand strong and faithful. But “we have the technology,” As followers of Jesus we are invited into the knowledge and understanding of the One who created us in love. When we leave here today singing, “I too will praise him with a new song,” we will be free with grateful hearts to re-enter the world and take our own place in the Vineyard.

Amen.

Let the sunshine come in!

2009-03-31T07:04:00.001-07:00

Erik and Case worked all weekend on a great project which made an awesome difference in our house. You can see it here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/EWil83/RemodelCopy?authkey=Gv1sRgCPT1yOzMjtan7AE&feat=email#

In your face?

2009-03-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about Facebook. I love being able to keep up with my very busy seminary friends. I miss them very much and love to know what is going on in their lives without bothering them. It helps me miss our friendships a bit less. But it is not a real relationship, and for me I am thinking the drawbacks are more obvious.

For one thing, communication is reduced to an elementary-aged emotionalism. People get mad if you post things about them (and sometimes they should? What were you thinking?) Feelings are hurt if a friend request is sent and not answered. How do you "un-befriend" someone if you have second thoughts? How can you slip online to check on your friends and yet not LOOK like you are online so that when people who are really acquaintances (How did Facebook send to people I did not check on the list?) jump into your screen wanting to chat? Some I love chatting with but I am too low tech to choose! And of course, sometimes it is just the timing and my own foibles about being rude--"Oh, you caught me. . .but I do not want to talk to ANYONE right now! So I am going to get offline and skulk away." Perhaps I am moving toward "I" on that MB scale. . .

And in some cases, people who have been a part of the past you really are trying to get beyond reach out to people you love most, ruining their day and bringing back all sorts of things you would rather not think about.

Gosh, what about the things you discern about people that you would rather NOT know! TMI, that so and so had dinner with someone else--and that it might be a train wreck waiting to happen. . . I have enough of that in my head that I DO need to know--I do not need to know what is none of my business.

I know some people who have taken down their page, saying they are tired of virtual relationships that are shallow and public, and that they long for fewer relationships of a deeper nature. I know others who feel it is intrusive and gossipy.

I agreed to do it partially because some of the college aged folks at one of my churches communicate largely in that way, and I do cherish their friendships. They email and text too, so is it worth keeping for that? Suddenly, this is the main way I am finding out that folks at another church may need pastoral care. I wish they would just call me!

And of course, although I am only on it for about ten minutes at any given time, and have ignored the many generous gifts of hatching dragons and exquisite vestments due to time constraints, it is time I could more productively spend working on the relationships with the two fellows who live with me. Let's finally finish that game of Risk!

Well, enough ranting. I will pray about it. But what if I only really communicated with God on the Holy Facebook Page? Truthfully, I think God might be relieved, but our communication would feel very superficial and unsatisfying on my end.

Erik's Delayed Birthday-Freudian from Becca!

2009-02-08T18:14:00.001-08:00

Yes, the small slippers were a joke from Granny Lee!

And a few more photographs

2009-02-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

kentucky Ice Storm 0f 2009

2009-02-06T16:33:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a girl's gotta do. . .

2009-01-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

what a girl's gotta do!

My Kind of Sunrise

2009-01-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

Not too early, gorgeous and even little pink clouds all the way in the West. Wow.

You can take the boy away from the electronics. . .

2009-01-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Graff had no problem being at the Domain without phone, computer or PlayStation, but once we got back he was High King of Simultaneous Electronics. . .

Christmas Gift!

2008-12-25T16:04:00.000-08:00

A wonderful day with family even if we could not all be here. But here are some shots of our lovely tree and some opening present times with Erik and Ann and Shannon and Graff.

Advent 2

2008-12-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

With apologies to my amazing cousins for preaching about their childhoods without their permission. . . no names mentioned, but they know who they are! ;-)

Sermon: Advent Two (Year B) St. Mark's Hazard,
December 7, 2007
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

May our work in the world be a vehicle for Your Love; May it shine and light up all darkened places. Be with us, O Lord. Amen. (Adapted from Marianne Williamson's Illuminata.)

Do you have cousins or other relatives that are just a little out there? When I was growing up, my first cousins were exotic and interesting and always seemed to my spoiled eyes to get the lion's share of attention. (For example, we could only eat ONE Heath Bar, but they could have several since they never got to eat them in their regular lives!)

That was a fair reason for this double standard, even though I was pretty jealous. My uncle was a geologist working for oil companies in some of the most amazing places in the world- places like Bolivia, Turkey, Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco- (not in that order!)- and so, when they did get to travel home it was a huge occasion for celebration. These children were fascinating and unusual for several reasons. For one thing, all of my first cousins were frighteningly intelligent, and between accents that were more British than anything else, and vocabularies that were far removed from a small Midwestern town, they did not sound like anyone we knew. My whole family had a huge vocabulary (My Grandfather referred to my mother and aunt as "peripatetic sesquipedalians," for example, because they walked around and used large words, but our side of the family did not always use such a verbal range, and my cousins did it effortlessly!!) Their world view was so wide open and it gave them an appearance of sophistication and authority. I expect their rural Iowa cousins seemed so limited and terribly provincial to them! Nonetheless, they were always so kind to us—and to this day I love to talk to them because familial bonds traverse the differences between us—but I always knew they were wildly and wonderfully DIFFERENT from anyone else I would every encounter. A part of me yearned often to BE my cousins, but at the same time, I knew they would never be typical American kids. I wondered if I would ever possess that kind of courage or opportunity.

Jesus and John were cousins too, and as different (and similar!) as I was from my cousins. Although Jesus would challenge the status quo, John was visibly immune to societal conventions and expectations. John was true to who he was and determined to be God's servant. He was arguably a bit exotic and interesting, even compared to Jesus who would define his ministry by doing the unexpected. But although the approach of Jesus and John to God looked radically different from the outside, it was absolutely the same. Both men put the message and work of God at the center of their every breath.

Still, given the wilderness, the locusts and wild honey, and the unusual message, how could John know that anyone—much less Jesus himself—would come there to find him? The answer is that he knew that at least in part because of the Scripture that framed his life and ministry.

For the people of both Testaments, the wilderness was a special place. The Israelites were led into it by Moses, freed by their God, and also kept there for 40 years by that same God. They would not be ready to face the world until the relationship between God and God's people had been given dedicated time to grow and flourish. Jesus would seek the same after his Baptism.

The words that Mark cites as from Isaiah are actually a composite of words from Malachi, Exodus and Isaiah. But that matters less because the purpose is made plain: John is deliberately put by Mark into a role that exists only to point to Jesus as Savior. He is referenced as an Elijah-figure because Scripture had said it was the Prophet Elijah who was expected to come before the final day of the Lord.

By Lectionary tradition, however, we read today just the passage referenced from Isaiah= because it does connect, and because it is especially appropriate for Advent.

A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed. . .

Like those familiar with the tradition of a desert wilderness and its purposes, we find ourselves in such a place in Advent. Our desert is noisier, of course. It is laden with commercialism, and greed. It is marked by shoppers more interested in obtaining the best deal on a flat screen TV than in holding a human life sacred. It is also marked by fear of scarcity instead of thankfulness for abundance. People seem to have either indifference or inability to listen for God's voice across that wilderness.

But we who celebrate Advent have the special opportunity to pause and encounter the wilderness in the way that the Israelites did. With time and dedication, we have the opportunity to use this Wilderness in order to strengthen and enhance our relationship to God.

How do we go about it? I have a new appreciation for valleys and mountains after my weekend at the Domain a couple of weeks ago. Graff took us up the mountain to the place called "Wind Tunnel." For him of course it was an effortless jaunt, but for his ancient mother it was filled with physical challenge and a fair degree of both frustration and amusement. I became fast friends with every supportive tree on the journey. Not only did I struggle on the steep slopes to get up paths covered by snowy leaves, but I could only come down the hill via one method. My red coat has to go to the cleaners because it was not intended to be a toboggan! Not only that, when I was going up or coming down, I could not really focus on the beauty of the walk or the signs of the spring to come, even in the midst of winter. But when we had a rare flat place to walk, I could see the mountain outlines against a deep Autumn- blue sky. I could appreciate a bank of rhododendrons which still have leaves and will bring a glorious color to the steep mountainside in a few months. I could breathe in the fresh air and feel the sunshine on my hair. God could come to me easily because I was not distracted or working harder than I needed to. I was able to make a straight highway for God across the momentarily level ground of my heart.

I believe this is what both Jesus and John were able to do in order to meet God in the wilderness and hear what God intended for their lives. They became a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit in such a way that they could block out the mountains and valleys of being marked as typical and become wildly and wonderfully different for God. Because they had prepared the way, John could understand his ministry as not important in itself, but as a sign in the desert for the Incarnation of God's presence in the world. Jesus could find his way to the Wilderness in order to be Baptized and spend time really listening to God and working on that relationship in order to be strengthened for the mountains and valleys that would materialize in front of him. With the relationship right, the challenges become much easier to navigate.

We have all been baptized. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own forever. We have within us both the courage and the opportunity to be wildly and wonderfully different than the wilderness around us. But it takes effort. It means coming together for worship, spending time with God's word and finding ways of being quiet in order to really listen. It will mean the 'conditioning' of a right relationship with God and each other in order to get up and down the hills more easily. The Christian formation and midweek worship and outreach opportunities here at St. Mark's are a good way to start that conditioning. And when we take the time to prepare, the Glory of God can be revealed—for us, to us, and through us. Paul says, "Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation."

Several years ago, I took part in an Advent Musical. One of the pieces of that which has stayed in my head was a round. It went like this:

Prepare the way of the Lord!
Prepare the way of the Lord!
And all people on earth shall seek
Salvation under God!

Isaiah's vision of a Shepherd God feeding us like sheep, and gathering us like lambs into in his arms in a place without barrier mountains and valleys comes to mind. If everyone were seeking God in this way, the wilderness would transform into a wildly and wonderfully different existence for all people on earth.
Amen.

A midweek sermon on Zacchaeus--for a change

2008-11-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

SERMON WEDS. WEEK OF PROPER 29-LAST PENTECOST YEAR 2 11.26.08

I am sure most of us know the children's song that goes with this Gospel. I will not sing it! But it has always made me happy---at least until I really unpack it.
To unpack it, I have to remember another time someone came to my house. When my husband and I bought Pine Gables, where we live now, our eldest two boys were 8 and 11. Their main attraction to the small ranch house was the creek down below. You might imagine what fodder that provided for our washer and dryer. One early Fall Saturday, I had just had it. I told them the whole family was going to get this laundry done by staying on top of it all day. Their rooms were at one end of the house and the laundry closet at the other, outside of our room. I told them to do the big sort and to line up the piles of laundry across the library (our front room.) I think there were at least ten small mountains in various shadings. Since I would not let them go outside until the laundry was finished, the back room became Lego-land, with a bright carpet of tiny colored blocks on every conceivable surface. I felt empowered and virtuous. We had a rare unscheduled day and we were going to get this done.

At about 10:00 the doorbell rang. I thought it might be one of the neighbors or perhaps a Jehovah's Witness team. I cheerfully flung open the door. We have no foyer, the front door opens right into the library. Standing on the stoop with one of her best friends was my incomparable mother in law. I know my teeth hit the steps. "Hello dear. We just happened to be in Berea," [FROM FRANKFORT? MY MIND DID NOT COMPUTE THIS] "and Ann wanted to see your new house!" [DO I EVEN KNOW ANN? I THINK WE HAVE MET TWICE?? SHE WANTS TO SEE IT TODAY?? THIS HOUSE?? WITHOUT CALLING??]

There was no help for it but to let them in of course and stammer an explanation about the process of the day. I think we tried to find a coffee cup and pretend hospitality and tried to tour the house around the laundry and the Legos. I am sure my mother-in-law was even more mortified than I was. She has never carried a cell phone and it was before they were really prevalent at any rate. I am sure she simply did not stop to think that two working parents and two busy middle school boys might not be ready for visitors- she is endlessly kind and helpful to all of us, and beyond thoughtful. I think she just wanted to share in the joy of our house and her connection to us. I have always worried that I let HER down by not being more company ready. I have always been ashamed that I could not use my rich sense of humor to be hospitable and sweep a couch free and make them feel truly welcome. They stayed a bare 15 minutes before exiting in great relief. We have rarely spoken of it since. {AFTERNOTE- SHE READ THE SERMON AND LOVED IT BUT DOES NOT REMEMBER THE MESS AT ALL!}

So when I become Zaccheus in the tree, I have to stop and think: If Jesus told me he was coming to my house today, what would he find?
I mean of course, my spiritual house. I am afraid there is little hope for the physical house. Fast forwarding fifteen years still finds us with overflowing laundry and on-going battles of little men in the front room and back. Shannon and Graff are both still joyous in their hobbies, and I would not have it any other way. . . .
Mostly.

But what is my spiritual house like on this eve of Advent? Am I ready to go into a time that should be based in alert and quiet wakefulness? Do I wait for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning?

What does THAT mean in Psalm 130-- to watch for the morning? In this case I think it is not hitting the snooze on the alarm clock 16 times (brought to you by the woman whose first words almost every morning are "make it stop" --if there are even words!!) and I think it also is not the kind of fearful "It is 1:42—I have to get up in 5 hours" kind of waiting. This is a real hope-based vigil—like in the old movies and the new hospital rooms when the doctor says, "we will know more when morning comes. If we get through the night, it is a good sign."

THAT kind of vigil is hushed. It is expectant. It is incredibly alert for every possible nuance that signals change. It takes energy, dedication and focus. It takes hope.

As we stand poised at the brink of Advent, the last of these ordinary days pass away. With them, let us drop our fevered activity and our falsely important frenzy. Let us drop all of our pretenses that we actually are in control and that we can actually make things happen as we choose. Let us shed all of our amnesia about the coming of God into this world.

The current state of our house may not really matter. That does not mean that we should not attempt to make it ready, it is just a realistic assessment of human inabilities.

AND--Jesus knows it –and us--anyway; it is why we need for him to come.

Jesus came to the house of a known sinner.
We are that known sinner.

So let us instead really be like Zacchaeus. Luke tells us that he made haste and came down and welcomed him joyfully. Furthermore, he was transformed by the visit and gave freely to the poor, and made restitution to those he had harmed, leading Jesus to proclaim that Salvation had come to his house. That is the preparation that we can make—we can be ready to be joyful and be ready to come down from our trees in order to welcome Salvation in. We can be hopeful for the arrival and ready to spring when asked. We can be vigilant about opening our hearts in joy to the Christ Child who comes as an infant and the Risen Christ who comes to save. We can dedicate ourselves to actually living as Paul says, as those marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.

"Come down! I am coming to your house today!"

"Lord, you are joyfully welcome!"

Amen.

Stewardship- brief sermon for November 23

2008-11-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

This will actually go out as a letter later this week but I thought I would post it here as well since most of the recipients are not blog readers!

SERMON FOR LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST- CHRIST THE KING

Since the Small Church Ministry Consortium priests are off on Sunday November 23rd, the Feast of Christ the King, I wanted to reflect with you about the lessons for that day. Rather than reproduce them here, I will give you the References, and encourage you to spend some prayerful time with these readings. They are: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 100, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46.

Where Shannon, Graff and I live in Berea, we are privileged to have as neighbors a small farm. There are a few cattle, about 6 horses, cats, dogs and two goats. We have watched these goats since they were adopted as orphans, bottle fed and raised in the pasture that is nearest to the road. We walk our Border Collie, Seabury, there, and she is always so concerned that they need herding!

One day recently when we were walking, the brown goat had escaped. Our neighbors were away for the afternoon, and he was stomping back and forth on the bridge between their house and the pasture and letting everyone know that he was king of the bridge. (Yes, “Gruff” is apparently based in reality!) Although I have seen the farmer and his wife herd them into the pen with no trouble, it took three neighbors and a zealous Border Collie to get the brown goat back where he belonged. It took all of us to get him back and not let the white goat escape in the process.

I thought about that adventure when reading the lessons for the 23rd. When we read of the separation of sheep and goats, we usually think [whew!] we are the sheep and THEY {that mythical they who are not ‘we,’} are the goats. This time, however, it came to me with startling clarity that at least at times, I am absolutely a goat. I stand and crow on the bridge, I do not obey, and I think that I am better than the others—even the sheep who are blessed.

We goats are a pain- we do not come when we are called, we do not meekly obey the rules and we do not go where we are supposed to do. We do not feed the hungry and the weak. We do not always notice the sick. But I also believe with all my heart that even the goats do know the shepherd. I have seen that watching my farmer neighbors. They have fed the goats and the goats love them utterly. When they are with their Shepherds, they do not misbehave, and they are happy and content. They begin to resemble sheep.

Ezekiel is also comforting in this regard, telling us that the Lord says: “As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.”

I am pretty sure that if we goats know our Shepherd, this means that we too will be sought, fed, strengthened and taught.

Church is not the, only place in which that happens, of course. But the world does not make it very easy in those other pastures. When we come to church regularly to pray, hear the Scripture, seek renewal and help one another, we become a community that is stronger and more ready to listen for our Shepherd. We become a community with the desire and the power to seek Christ in all persons, most especially the weak, the sick and the poor. As we do these things, we also come to hear God more clearly in our lives. We are less anxious about the news of a shaky economy or an uncertain world situation. Those things still exist of course, but they are in a better perspective for us to understand and respond to prayerfully.

With this in mind, I beseech you to do two things as we move in to Advent. First, please put new books in the Story Book Christmas basket in the back of the church. The R*** County Ministerial Association is determined that all children in R*** County can have a new book for Christmas this year. I would like to think that we at St. A's are absolutely ready to support such a venture. Secondly, please pray over the attached pledge form to determine what you can do to enable God’s work through St. A’s. We pledge in 2008 for the 2009 year. This is a new pledge sheet, and it will help us to budget and to seek assistance for specific missions in the life of our community of faith.

I must tell you in all honesty, however, that those things are not the purpose of pledging. Giving graciously from what we have been given is transformative for us. It helps us to be spiritually open to God’s love for us and through us. It helps us to understand what abundance really means. It also helps us to project a tangible reflection of our spiritual selves. That is as true of our talent as it is of our money, which is why the form also has spaces for time commitments and interests.

Please be generous with both.

Psalm 100 has it right. We must serve with gladness. God has made us and we are the sheep (and goats, I would argue!) in God’s pasture. God’s mercy is everlasting and God’s faithfulness endures forever. We must come before God’s presence with a song that is body and soul, not just on Sunday morning at 11:00-ish, but every breathing moment of this life. Giving out of the abundance which we have been given is the most joyous song that we can offer. Please sing gratefully whatever song comes into your heart.

Sermon for November 9th

2008-11-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

I know. Amazing. Probably will never happen again! ;-))

Sermon Proper 27 Year A, St. Mark’s Hazard
November 9, 2008

May our work in the world be a vehicle for Your Love; May it shine and light up all darkened places. Be with us, O Lord, Amen. (Adapted from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata.)

As soon as the results of the presidential race were looking definite last Tuesday evening, comments on blogs, news sites and Facebook came alive with words from both those who were ecstatic and grateful, and those who were bitter and determined to continue the fight. Responses from “Glory Hallelujah” to “He will never be my president,” made it clear that even such a definitive settling of the vote does not begin to unite the two camps that have existed in conflict for so many months. Do you think anyone noticed that we have been so much about the race that we have forgotten what the race is actually supposed to accomplish?

Neither candidate, (arguably more embroiled in the divisiveness than any of the rest of us Americans,) forgot what this was really about. Both men were incredibly graceful in their words to the nation. Senator John McCain began his remarks by reminding his listeners of what the two candidates share. “A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama — to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.” He continued by urging, “Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship...” Most powerfully, he led by example. “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”

For his part, President-Elect Obama echoed this shared dedication to country with equally eloquent words describing his opponent’s sacrificial service to this nation and voicing his eagerness to work with Senator McCain in order to solve the problems America faces. Despite the Herald Leader Headline which hollered “Yes, He Can,” Barack Obama put his victory at the feet of those who had supported him. “This is your victory. I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime . . .”

Words, we might say to ourselves.

Expected words.

This is the etiquette of winning and losing the highest office in the land.

Perhaps.

But I think it also speaks volumes for the future of our country, because if we have learned one thing from watching BOTH candidates over this long haul, I believe we have learned of their fierce love of this nation and their track record of bipartisan work. I want to believe that they will continue to lead by this example, both from the Senate and from the White House. I want to believe that Americans will pull together as they witness that example to support the working government, the President and their country.

If these are the words and actions expected of former rivals for the Presidency of the United States, what are the words and actions expected of those of us who put our hopes in a future that is not of this world? Jesus describes in this morning’s Gospel what we may expect from the Kingdom of Heaven, and it is pretty clear how we are expected to speak and act as we respond to that vision.

If we are wise, we will be vigilant and prepared. We will not wait for someone else to fix it and we will not be careless when it comes to something as important as the return of the Bridegroom. This parable works because ancient travel and bridal customs –as well as a lack of internet and satellite communications—meant that it was impossible to really know when the Bridegroom would come. It was the task of the Bridesmaids to be ready to make him welcome. They were not to fall asleep or be caught without light because they had not set aside enough oil. There was no 24 hour Wal-Mart five minutes away. There was no one to take your place if you did slip off to re-stock, and you might miss the whole arrival while you were with the dealer. Borrowing from someone else was not an option because their light might then go out.

This seems a little harsh, I think to myself. In a world where what we share is increasingly more important than what divides us, I want this to work out in a different way. I hear Austen's Elizabeth Bennett in my ear saying, "No Jane. This will not do. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one." What about the loaves and fishes, I fret to myself? There was enough to go around there!! But whether you read that story as a miracle of sharing, or just a plain miracle, the point is that people had brought something to begin with. Jesus had something from the people with which to work.

In the passage we read from the Wisdom of Solomon, the opening words shed some . . . well . . . light on this problem. “Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her and is found by those who seek her.” Breaking News: 'Fed-Ex' will not deliver oil to the door without our asking for it. The passage continues, “One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty.” We must begin our days with the courage and deliberation of meeting God in ourselves and in others.

It is not enough to just get up and go about our lives.

That is what Israel was doing in the time of Amos. Everything had become routine. Amos is harshly criticizing the sacrificial system and the festivals in Israel because they separate God’s people from God instead of bringing them together. Instead of being offered with a right heart, they are offered superficially. In that context, we can better comprehend the unprepared bridesmaids.

Amos begs, “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” “Truly I tell you, I do not know you,” says Jesus. Jesus cannot know us if we are not even seeking Him.

A seeking heart.

Planning.

Effort.

Personal responsibility.

This presidential election is not the end of anything (except maybe attack advertisements.) It is the beginning. There is much work to be done, and it will require all of us together to change the place in which many Americans now struggle. Likewise, as we set our sights on the world to come, we find that it is only in working individually and together that we can be ready. God is not elusive. God is not fickle or random. But God cannot meet us on the darkened road if we are not waiting with our well fueled lights. And while we perhaps cannot give up our own oil, there is much to be gained in encouraging others, by word and example, to ready their own lamps.

Hope is not a magic wand. Neither is it a distant falling star, streaking across a darkened sky laden with the wishes of all who see it. Hope—real, substantive hope-- requires vigilance, effort and presence. To paraphrase Warren Carter, it requires the light that is our mission and the oil that is our faithful discipleship. I believe it also requires not gloating because we actually brought our oil.

*I* still want to believe that it requires my not excluding those who misread the call to be prepared. That is God’s task and I gratefully leave it there. This is no time to continue the bitter partisan efforts that have marked the last decades. We must embrace the need for unity and move forward together for the future which is marked by uncertainty and strife. William Sloane Coffin has said “the world is too dangerous for anything but the truth and too small for anything but love.”

In the alternate response to Psalm 70, The Wisdom of Solomon tells us that “The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction . . . and love of [wisdom] in keeping with her laws.” The need for our wise and ready lamps has never been more clearly displayed.

The focus of this election has been on the change that we all wish to see in the world, and in some cases on the recognition that the power for that change begins with us.

But change is not enough; we must have a higher goal.

In order for our lamps to be properly fueled and maintained, we must also embody the love we wish to see in the world.

Amen.

Even a less spectacular autumn. . .

2008-11-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

is still breathtaking. I love where we live! These are just scenes from the windows and the first one is from the street looking at Pine Gables (our house.)

Graff's Sarcophagus

2008-10-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Well, not HIS, thank goodness! I wanted to share these photos. The hieroglyphics on the large box spell out "Graff's Sarcophagus" and those on the smallest box spell out "I am not dead yet." The "body" is the smallest of a set of failed clay sarcophagi- the only surviving specimen. We had a great time over several nights of work. The lack of smile is the new braces.

Preaching mystery

2008-10-03T19:03:00.001-07:00

Does it happen to anyone else that some weeks what comes forth in a sermon is also what *I* most need to hear? Not every week, but rather more often than I would ever have predicted. . .

Relaxing pursuits

2008-09-22T07:40:00.001-07:00

late Summer memories

2008-09-22T07:34:00.001-07:00

Here are a few vacation shots from SC.

Where has the summer gone!

2008-08-01T18:33:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the long gap. Ministry has kept me pretty busy, as did a wonderful week of being clergy at the Cathedral Domain. I promise to write more soon! In the meantime, I am going to take the next ten days and really focus on my husband and youngest son!

More wedding shots

2008-06-29T17:01:00.001-07:00

Graff and Aunt Barb, and Shannon helping to set up for the Rehearsal Dinner.

Hilton Head Wedding shots

2008-06-29T16:36:00.001-07:00

These come courtesy of my brother Robert. Top to bottom: Case and Hillary walking out after the ceremony, My niece Becca and husband Paul, and our eldest son Erik and his wife Ann. Thanks Rob!!!

Weddings!

2008-06-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

June has been consumed with weddings. Two weeks ago our son Case married Hillary at the Beach in Hilton Head during a storm. Last night was my first official beginning to end wedding (counselling included.) There was a storm last night too! They chose as their Gospel the wise man building his house on rock. For those of you who occasionally read this blog, they are the wonderful couple who adopted the dog we found last January. Happy Endings all around!!
Here is that sermon- photos in the next post from the lovely Hilton Head wedding!

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I was not surprised that Katie and Kent chose this as their wedding Gospel. Their foundation is something they have given a lot of time and energy to building. Consider the example of Raleigh the dog. You may have noticed him in your bulletin. In case you have not heard this story, Katie and Kent knew they wanted Raleigh back in February, but left him with a foster family until they were ready. During that time, they visited often, took him for outings and play dates, and also took him to the Veterinarian. Many an afternoon, Raleigh sat glumly in his foster parents’ front yard, as though staring at the driveway would force his real parents to magically appear. They had built a real foundation with him.
And on June 4th, when Raleigh finally moved to Northern KY, he entered the perfect apartment with an ideal niche for the crate and a big bag of dog food waiting for him. The Apartment is next to a park and only a block from the dog park. The windows in the apartment are grated so that Raleigh can observe his urban environment without fear of accidentally becoming “Under Dog.” The automobile has been equipped with a canine seat belt. And, wisely for an urban locale, Raleigh has been micro-chipped to keep him safe and traceable. Because of this thoughtful preparation, having Raleigh has turned out to be not only easy, but joyful. It is a wonderful story, and though I tell it tongue in cheek, it is a good example of what Jesus is talking about in the Gospel lesson.
Now Jesus prefaces his story by saying, “Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house upon rock.” Hmmmmmm. That is just too tempting for a priest invited to give a homily. But never fear—I promise to keep it entertaining and as brief as possible.
So here it is, Katie and Kent, from the priest who has been with you for a very special part of your journey together. In apparent random order, hence not beginning with number ten, Here are JANEY’S TOP TEN FOR A JOYFUL AND SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE:
#1. Laugh. You know how to push each other’s buttons better than anyone else, even though you bend over backwards not to do it. But never forget that you also know how to make each other laugh. Choose laughter. Not only is it more important in the long run than whatever is bothering you, it creates a wonderful and intimate connection that foils sniping or nagging or fretting. Those things all melt away under the power of a shared smile.

#2. Open your hearts. Open them to one another and let that love spill out into the world around you. The prayers in this service today speak to the exemplary function of a good marriage, a model of Christ’s love for the church. As an old married couple now, you will have the obligation to show others what love is all about. Let me be clear that I am not advocating PDA’s that will make your friends and relatives roll their eyes! I am speaking of modeling a relationship where others can glance in from the outside and say, “Wow. Those two really love each other.” When you have that, you are required to share it. This is clear in both the feeling of the Song of Solomon reading, and the advice of Paul to the Colossians. “Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in your hearts.” Live with open hearts.

#3. Vacation. Now this might seem an odd choice for this list, and no, it is not just a way to work in my obsession with the beach! Vacation here refers to regularly leaving the flurry of life to focus on each other. It might be a walk in the park without Raleigh. It might be dinner out or a drive to where you can view the sunset together. It might be turning off the video game or the phone or closing down the work –from- home- computer. It is capturing, in some way-- every day-- the feeling of being away from the demands of your lives and deciding to be utterly present to each other. We often remember on vacation what really matters in our lives. Vacation every day.

#4. Everything is better in the morning. People who are gifted at foundation building need to know when to just let go and catch a few zzzz’s. There are really amazingly few things that have to be solved on the first pass or in the first discussion. Sleeping on it (see rule number 3) can actually make the decision easier and less full of strife. At the end of the day everything seems urgent; at the beginning of the day, everything is full of promise. And that leads [conveniently] to the next rule!

#5. Abundance, not scarcity. As Paul says, “You are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.” Do not live as though you never have enough, live as though you have everything. After all, in your love for God and each other, you do! Be generous and optimistic, for that is of God. Sing as the Psalmist sings, “God, our God, has blessed us.” Live that knowledge a hundred times a day. It will change not only your lives but the lives of others around you.

#6. Listen. You listen well to what each other says already. But never forget to listen to what is not being said. What is the reason behind what is being said? Forget the words—what is the tone of voice telling you? What are the eyes saying? What do the tears really mean? And answer with your own hearts. In this way, you will know that “Deep waters cannot quench love.”

#7. Watch out for each other. Well Duuh! On the surface this is coals to Newcastle. I have never seen two people who each work so hard to make sure that the other has the advantage. But this rule has less to do with understanding that it is “all my fault that the other one is aggravated,” and more to do with just simple kindness. You will divide the labor of living together and each of you will have many responsibilities. Like the Pirate says, those are not rules, they are guidelines! In fact, forget the guidelines once in a while! Just be very aware of which one of you needs more care and balance in any given moment. In the image of warriors with your backs to each other, the world will have no chance to conquer.
#8. Affection. Plants need water. Dogs need to play. Humans need love. Never be too busy for the hug in passing, or too distracted for the kiss before rushing in separate directions. Savor the occasional email only the two of you can understand. Tuck love notes into each other’s lunches. Fold each other’s laundry. You get the drift. Make it an addictive habit! These indeed are “wise words to put into practice.”

#9. Yes. Yes should be easy to remember! You said yes to God’s love for you by wanting Holy Eucharist as part of your wedding, and yes ‘I will’ to your love for each other. You said yes to wanting a covenant marriage. And everyone here said ‘yes we will’ to supporting you in that endeavor. Embrace the concept of yes.
#10. Spirituality. Well, you probably guessed I would not leave this one out!! I have nurtured you over the beginning of a shared spiritual life, and have observed joyfully your work in that direction. I have watched you grow closer as you have considered the place God holds in your life and your marriage. Geography will prevent my further supervision in this regard, though I leave you in good hands. Paul says it better than I ever could anyway: “Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs. Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him.” (Just so you know. . .these are not guidelines—these are rules!!)

So have you figured it out yet? Laugh, Open hearts, vacation, everything is better in the morning, abundance, listen, watch out for each other, affection, yes and spirituality? The first letter of all of these in the not so random order given spell out :
“Love Always.”
Love always.
That is the rock. It is the bedrock of God’s love for you through Christ, of your love for God and of your love for one another. It is the absolute foundation of the presence of each person here with you today as you say your vows to one another.
And, Katie and Kent, you have been wise indeed. Because when the rainy seasons come –and they will---and the wind buffets your house—and it will—your house will not collapse. You have chosen to set it solidly on rock.
Amen.

flurried schedule and Holy Spirit respite

2008-06-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

Just back from our son's wedding at Hilton Head Island. . . the storm during the wedding was such a blessing and even romantic to hear the rain on the pavillion roof and feel the breeze. It was great to be with family and remember what is important in the midst of our busy lives! [And great to dance with my beloved, too.]

I went to do a healing Eucharist Wednesday at one of the churches I serve, and no one appeared. I had brought a cd with Beati Quorum Via on it so I cranked that up while I put Eucharist away and straightened things up. There are few windows in this church, and a storm was coming in. After I put out the candles and had carried most of my stuff to the car, I put out the lights and moved toward the altar in the dusky dark to get the cd player. The smoke was hanging in a flat plane over the altar and suddenly began moving toward me in perfect time to the choral anthem. As I stood transfixed, it enveloped me with such a sense of powerful and comforting Presence. I was by myself, but not alone.

Boys

2008-06-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

I am surrounded. There are 6 twelve year olds here to celebrate Graff's birthday. So far, despite the 93 degree humid temperature, they have played thether ball, basketball, soccer and four square. Their cell phones are in a basket in the house, so we keep hearing odd tunes every now and then. This is a 24 hour party. Not sure what I will have left at the end of that, but it is what he really wanted and he worked hard to get ready.

Somehow I get to this point every week and you could spread me on toast.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I know why. . .

2008-05-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have got the lilies and birds all figured out (if you are following the lectionary.) Of course they are not worried. THEY do not have to deal with Computers, and since they are made by human kind, it seems God must not care about them either. These are [no surprise there] the birds of the air I chose for the cover:

http://frank.itlab.us/Plant_City_2004/small/flying_birds.jpg

The Bishop is coming tomorrow and the bulletin was complex--ok,ok. The TRUTH is that I was too pressed to get the relevant info to the wonderful angel who usually does the bulletins and I wanted them to be more full than usual because we have non-Episcopal visitors coming in for a variety of reasons. So I said, foolishly, "I will do it."

I had the ENTIRE service in the bulletin and had saved repeatedly. I was checking for errors before printing when I noticed that enormous chunks of it had just departed. Left. Vanished. Some of it was the cobbled together from several sources garden blessing and some of it was Book of Common Prayer stuff.

My esteemed spouse, worn out with dealing with my suicidal hysterics, gently suggested I just let them experience the BCP and just put the page numbers in the bulletin.

Some days, I am just not worthy to have such a husband!

But I am awfully grateful for his care and keeping.

Still Svenless

2008-05-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

That means (if you saw the earlier post,) that all of the photographs I have taken to post here are locked in the camera because the dock which uploads photos to the computer is present but the cord is AWOL. So typical. So photographs soon. Maybe.

At least we LOOK tidy. Our every two week Saint Yvonne, who used to clean and now is too busy picking up after us and doing laundry to get to the cleaning part, has been here and made all things new. A temporary sanctuary! Hoorah.

Two girls strolled down from up the street to visit Graff.

I think life as we know it may have just shifted.

First Sunday in Morehead

2008-05-01T13:07:00.001-07:00

I will begin serving St. Alban's, Morehead, in late May. I visited April 20th to preside at Eucharist and preach. Here is the sermon--if you dare!
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Sermon: Easter Five St. Alban’s
April 20, 2008
May our work in the world be a vehicle for Your Love; May it shine and light up all darkened places. Be with us, O Lord. Amen. (Adapted from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata.)

Eighteen years ago, when I was trying to decide where to attend library school, I packed up our two oldest boys and headed to South Carolina for a visit. I was trying to choose between Clarion University of Pennsylvania, which is set in a rural area not unlike Morehead (but much smaller!) or the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Clarion had offered me a lovely assistantship, and USC could not promise a dime, so this ought to have been a futile field trip. But the proximity of magnolias, warmer temperatures, and the all important possibility of day trips to the beach were all calling me with undeniable power. So I went south for the interview.
Erik was 7 and Case was 4. I had not yet met my husband Shannon, so the boys were still only mine. I promised them that we would interview, tour, and then take a weekend at the beach, just the three of us. After two days of trying to navigate the confusing streets of Columbia, we settled into the atrium of a Holiday Inn downtown for a glass of orange juice and a serious conference about the future. We spoke of finances, of academic opportunities and of quality of living. Erik, who even at age 7 knew me very well, cut the decision down to size with this pithy observation: “You had better go to Clarion, Mom. They only have one stoplight, and you cannot possibly get lost.”

Geography, in its reality, challenges me. I can read a map pretty well now, and although I was certain I would not be able to return to St. Mark’s Hazard by myself after my initial visit, you should know that the Small Church Missioner can get to most places in her territory with an intrepid use of Google Map. Moreover, I am unashamedly grateful for the clear directions and faultless landmarks given to me for finding St. Alban’s. Nonetheless, when Jesus says to Thomas, “You know the way to the place where I am going,” and Thomas returns with an almost terrified “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How CAN we know the way?” this resonates very clearly with me. Perhaps at this intersection in the ‘History of St. Alban’s,’ it does with you as well.
Although the Small Church Ministerial Consortium has helped with the larger stress issues, it is not easy to listen to this first part of John’s “Farewell Discourse” in the context of Joyce’s imminent departure from St. Alban’s. In this narrative, time seems to stop as Jesus tries to prepare them for the future. He hopes that their faith will help them to interpret the events in their correct context and not sink into despair. It is hard to miss the parallels as we make ready to release Joyce so that she can answer God’s call for her next ministry assignment. Where is she going? How can we know the way? We thought our paths were together, but now they are not to be. That is our emotional response, perhaps, even while we accept that we are parting ways and we hope and believe that it really will be alright.
You should know that Joyce has prepared this transition very carefully out of her great love for you. That preparation included inviting me on this past Wednesday night into a service that she could have shared just with you and the Bishop. That preparation has included her spending time with you and with me in ways that help us to know one another better before we even begin to set off together. That preparation has allowed you to see this transition through eyes of faith, just as Jesus hoped it would do for his disciples.
Now please understand me clearly: I am not comparing Jesus and Joyce! That would hardly be fair to either one of them and it would place me in an impossible position! It will be difficult enough to fill these shoes without that!! Nor am I offering a comparison between the kinds of separation that you will have from Joyce and that Jesus and his disciples faced. After all, Joyce and I are seminary mates—you will hear about her as the news comes in,--- I promise!
What I am suggesting is that this “emotional intersection” in the life of St. Alban’s in 2008 gives us the emotional resources to understand the dynamics of the last days that Jesus and his followers shared. I also believe that the comfort that Jesus offers—the assurance that the relationship will change but not end—can bring us comfort in this instance as well.
Because you see, despite my humorous opening about geography, Thomas is completely mistaken when he tries to interpret the words of Jesus through a geographic paradigm. Jesus isn’t talking about a place at all—there is no Google Map for Thomas to click on to find those many dwelling places. There is no location called Jesus; there is only relationship.
“If you know me,” Jesus patiently explains, “You will know my Father also.” Jesus is the way, and the truth and the life. Undeniably comforting, both to Thomas and to us, but not as clear as a map we can put our finger on. For all of us who are not so easily convinced, Thomas will later ask for that as well.
Perhaps that is why the next part of this Gospel has been so often misinterpreted. We have to be able to put our finger on it directly—or we think we do. For centuries, Christians have chosen to misinterpret the words “No one comes to the Father except through me” as a means of exclusion. These words have been used to attack our Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu brothers and sisters instead of to celebrate what Jesus is really telling us. The language in this passage about the Father and the Son is all about relationship—the relationship between them and our relationship with them. In knowing Jesus as the Son, we come to know the Father in a new way. We come to know the Father as Jesus knows the Father: as Abba-- as Daddy. As the beloved parent who cherishes us. John is not worried about condemning other religions here. John is concerned about helping Christians recognize and name their God in wonderful and unique words of faith.
For Jesus, recognizing and naming God in this way has the power to change the relationships between God and each of God’s people, and also to direct the relationships that we humans have with one another.
Wednesday night, as the festivities were winding down, a small group of us sitting with the Bishop got very excited about the possibilities for extending Hispanic Ministry into Morehead through St. Alban’s. We are not sure yet what form that might take or how we might all start, but stay tuned for a time and place we can all talk about that together. We have a lot to share about “knowing the Father” and the Father’s love through Jesus.
There is an old saying that the ministry of a priest is never truly known until that priest departs and what remains in the community as the legacy and gifts of that priest blossom into fruition. We will all be blessed by the many gifts that Joyce has shared here in her time at St. Alban’s, and we will all be blessed by what her ministry has prepared for us to do when the time comes.
What is really important to remember though is that our home is not a geographic home, but a relational one. Our home is not with one priest or one church. Our home is with God. The relationships we share, both here at St. Alban’s and outward into our community, are an outpouring of the love we find in that relationship with God. We do not need a map, Jesus tells us. Out of His great love, he has prepared a place for us, and also prepared us to do his work in the world. Where He is, we will be also.

We cannot possibly get lost.
Amen.

Fell off the earth!

2008-04-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Well, not really. But I have been pretty busy for the last little bit and will be pretty busy again for at least another week. I wanted to write a word about Happening though. For those of you who do not know, it is an intense retreat weekend for 10-12th graders. I got to be the clergy and it was my first Healing service and my first Reconciliation services too--albeit altered for the setting! It was amazing and inspiring and although I got no sleep and am just dopey, I am also flying high on the way it felt to be a priest among all of those fabulous young people. I finished thinking, "THIS is why I am a priest!" I got to preside at the closing too, in our Cathedral there at the top of the mountain. It is about 3-4 stories tall and the altar sits in front of a full height glass window with a built in cross as part of the framing. It was raining softly and the fresh new greens were just beginning to be evident. The red bud trees were blooming all the way down the hill. It was spectacular! It was a weekend full of joyous tears and gratitude and the Holy Spirit was just so present. Stay tuned for a photograph or two later on!

Children's sermon Easter Sunday

2008-03-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

A change of pace from the sermon at Vigil for those who are interested!
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Easter Sunday St. Mark’s Hazard
March 23, 2008
Children’s Sermon
[Alexa, 8; Megan, 8; Bella, 5; Blake,4]
I want to tell you a dog story, this Easter. One day, I was driving, (I am ALWAYS driving!!) and I was going up a hill. On the other side of the road, coming down toward be was a big white truck, going very fast. Standing right in the path of the truck was a puppy. {Big eyes here!!} So I checked in my rearview mirror, and pulled over. I opened my door and called him and he landed right in my lap! So what was I supposed to do!
Of course, I took him home. Mr. Shannon was VERY PATIENT. But he did not think we could keep him. We tried to take him to the shelters; they would not take him. They all said I was not in their county, although I knew where I was!! So he has stayed with us for a while.
But we could not figure out his name. We tried puppy and Roger Dodger and Dog and even NO NO BAD DOG. He did not answer to any of those names! (He got called No No Bad Dog the most often.)
One day Mr. Shannon was telling someone at work all about him and she really wanted him but did not have a place to put him just yet. She is getting married in June and will have a place after that. So she asked if we could keep him for a few months longer. At this point, Mr. Shannon would say yes to anything to move the dog out of OUR house!! So that was what we are doing. But the really cool thing is that when this dog met his new parents, they chose a name for him. They called him Raleigh, like Sir Walter Raleigh. And do you know what? He knew his name right away when they called him Raleigh and he knew they were his parents. We could not find his name because he did not ever really belong to us.
It was like that for Mary in the Gospel lesson we just heard too. Do you remember that when she saw Jesus she did not know that it was Jesus—she thought it was the Gardener. But when he called to her, “Mary,” she knew suddenly who he was. She answered him with great joy, “Rabbouni,” Teacher. Because she belonged to him, she could recognize him when he called her name.
He told her something else important too that day, as he sent her to tell the others. He told her to tell them, “My father and your father; My God and Your God.” So Jesus, in his dying and rising again, made us all God’s beloved children.
What does that mean to be a child of God? What does it mean to be the children of your parents? {Looking at Blake} What does it mean to be Melissa’s child? Does it mean that you have to do what she asks you to do? {Vigorous nods of agreement.} And sometimes, because you love her, you want to do what she asks you to do? {Blake shook his head and said NO!!} But really, {Looking at all of them} when we are someone’s child, we do want to do the right thing, because we know they love us and we love them! {This time they all agreed.}
{I held up car keys, one with a separate remote and one with a remote in the key.} What are these? {They knew of course.} What do they do? {They unlock things, open windows, and pop the trunk.} Did you ever wonder how the keys for my car do not make your car do things? {They never wondered this.} These keys in my hand are actually for both of our cars and the keys for one do nothing to the other. Why do you think that is? {Lot’s of head shaking.} It is because there is a special signal between the remote and the car. It is like that between you and God. The messages that God gives to Blake and Summer (But wait, you are not Summer- you are Bella! I have been calling you the wrong name- your sister’s name- and you did not correct me! Well, GOD knows who you are and that is the important thing!{Bella lit up and smiled but never said a word here}) and Megan and Alexa- to all of us- match the gifts that we have. And that is also part of what it means to be a child of God. God knows each one of us in a special way. He knows us by name.
So does God only speak to us here in church? {Yes. Lots of nodding.} NO!! God speaks to us everywhere! So some of us were here last night for church; why did we have to come back today? {It is Easter!} That is right it IS Easter, and it is Sunday. This is the place we come to especially listen to that “special signal” that God has for each of us. We get busy and we forget to listen, so this day in this place is where we can come to pay attention to God.
Last night was about coming from darkness into light. We had bells and Alleluias. But look around you today. What is different? {FLOWERS!!} Yes, we have flowers EVERYWHERE. But if you look closely, you will see that they are all LIVE PLANTS. There are no cut flowers here. The Easter Lilies and the pansies and the violas are all living. We can plant them outside and keep them alive.
Today is about Jesus rising from the dead and living into his Resurrection. It is about us listening and trying to begin to live into the Resurrection too, to live the lives we are supposed to live as children of God. It is about listening to God for the special signal we each get, so that we can begin to use our gifts and our lives to make the world work as God intends.
Alleluia!
Amen.

Easter VIgil

2008-03-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

The Easter Vigil was amazing. We only had 15 but it was still a powerful experience. It was my first to plan and their first to experience, so there were some [quietly] amusing "flexibility" moments [translation: learning for next time} but the church was beautiful in candlelight. We did not have it quite as late as I would have liked but it was nearly dark when we all got inside. There were actually three little children there, so at the great Alleluia they got to ring bells, which they loved. They were SO good during the long service. One of them was a visitor so did not take Communion. The moment when God passes through me in a blessing and is acknowledged by the soul in a child's eyes has to be one of the most profound for a priest--at least this priest.

I had the A Team with me- Graff as Crucifer and Shannon as Server. Because in the flurry the elements were on the credence table and had not been put out for the children to bring up, so I let the two smallest come up before Eucharist and assist the server. They were wonderfully reverential, one holding the lavabo and one holding the towel as Shannon poured the water. They felt very included, I think. (Things you can do in a VERY small church!)

So if you are interested, here is the sermon. The Hazard Bulldogs were in the STATE Sweet 16 here in the land of Basketball so a lot of people missed the way of the Cross Friday night and were recovering Saturday night. Those are the bulldog references and the bracketed remark about Alleluia refers to the bells that were so joyously rung later by the children.
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My dear friend Janet tells an amazing story about one of her family Easter gatherings. Apparently her brother-in-law is a minister (of another denomination) and each Easter would find him leaning wearily on the table, reciting how difficult Holy Week had been for him. “We had services on Palm Sunday, a community service, then Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Then we had two on Sunday. I am so tired. I cannot believe how hard this is. I am so tired!” My friend is one of those amazing people who completes the work of four people in any given day. But she is also compassionate. So she was torn between a logical argument, (such as pointing out that everyone has some crunch time in their work flow,) or just listening for one more year. Suddenly she felt bold enough to look at him directly and say, gently, “Holy week was not much fun for Jesus either.”
Last night at St. Mark’s, we had a service that was “not much fun.” Good Friday is the darkest, most somber and most intense point in the church year. For those who had lived with and learned from Jesus, it felt like the end. It felt even more like the end for them than it did for the Israelites who felt caught between the Egytpians and a seemingly impassable body of water. It felt even more to the followers of Jesus like there was only one outcome possible, than it did for Ezekiel, staring out at a desert full of dry bones. And even for those of us who were here last night, leaving a darkened church in silence and going out into a softly darkening night, it felt like an ending. [To be fair, it likely felt like that at Rupp Arena too. The Dogs had fought so hard against Shelby and now it was all over.] We were awkward conversing with one another; the hope we had been feeling so intensely seemed absent; the night did not feel the same somehow.
But none of these scenarios really were the end of course. When Moses put his hand over the sea, God parted the water so that the Israelites could escape from bondage. In Ezekiel, we hear how God breathed life into the bones, and filled them out with flesh and sinew. The dry bones came to life. Even for the Bulldogs, with only Josh Combs graduating, the promise of next year looms brightly. And for my friend’s brother in law, the words spoken were a new beginning, a spiritual awakening that has fueled him in every Holy Week since then.
So all of these readings and situations echo for us what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary felt when they went to the tomb. They believed that Jesus was gone from them forever. Despite what Jesus had told them, despite what they had observed with Lazarus, the pain of their loss seemed insurmountable. They went to see the tomb anticipating death. They went to the tomb expecting darkness.
But instead, they found light and they found life. *
Suddenly, a great earthquake occurred, and an angel of the Lord was sitting on the stone that he had rolled back away from the tomb. The guards were terrified- the angel looked like lightning in his glaringly white garments. But he calmly told the women not to be afraid. And then, with words that would both address their fear and tell them what they most wanted to know, the angel told them that Jesus was not there. He had not been stolen; the tomb had been guarded. As amazing as it might seem, he was not there because he had been raised from the dead. And as if that were not enough, they would actually get to see him again. “Remember,” they must have said to one another excitedly, “he said he would go ahead of us to Galilee, and now the angel has told us to look for him there.”
We know the story of course. We hear the words every year. But can you FEEL it? Can you imagine their joy as they hurried to do the angel’s bidding? Can you imagine how stunned and delighted they were that just when everything had seemed to be the darkest, the sun was shining and the sky was blue and their hearts were lifted to the Lord in gratitude?
Two thousand years later, we still imagine it. It is the central point of our Christian faith, but it is enormous to comprehend. So we focus on the details. That is especially important when we have Matthew’s version tonight and John’s tomorrow morning. Some scholars focus on the differences found in these details, but they are not important. What is important about keeping all of the Gospel accounts is that we have more details, more impressions and more ways for this amazing gift to each of us from our loving God to enter into our beings and find a home.

Because like the disciples, this is the path on which we can find Jesus. In fact, as they were running in joy to tell the others, Jesus startled them with his presence and greeted them as one who knew them and expected to see them. It is important to understand their first response. The text does not tell us if the feet of Jesus were on the ground, but even if Jesus appeared to be floating above them, they had to bow down to take his feet. They felt compelled to worship first. Their joy moved aside to make room for reverence and awe.
That is what this night is about, this Easter Vigil. Together we created fire outside and lit the Paschal Candle. Together we came into the darkened church singing “The Light of Christ.” And responding with our hearts, “Thanks be to God.” From that light, we lit our own candles, each one of us responding in worshipful awe as we rejoiced in the Risen Christ we met kin one another. In a few moments, the Alleluia that has been buried in the dark will spill out uncontrollably into the light. [Trust me—you have no idea!]
We who are lucky enough to live among these mountains (OK, I only live in the foothills, but serving at St. Mark’s gives me bragging rights) have one of the very best images for this hard-to-contain Easter joy, I think. On one of my recent drives over here, I was enjoying a clear blue day, filled with sunshine and not a cloud in sight. We have had a fair amount of rain this spring, and the ground has been beyond the point of saturation. Every curve I navigated that day found me gazing in wonder at waterfall after waterfall, dancing down the rocks, sparkling in the long absent sunshine. The sound of it was so compelling that I actually slowed my speed, put down the windows and opened the sun roof. This was not just shining rocks- though they have a beauty of their own- but huge amounts of water, coming from amazing heights. Often I could not see the source. The water was so abundant and plentiful that it would not be contained.
Our Easter joy is like that. We have moved this night from the darkness of Good Friday, and the false finality of death. We have moved from softly gleaming candle light that kept most of each of us in a separate shadow. Now we stand together in the light of God’s love, so bright and so joyous, that we cannot help but be held in its embrace. We cannot help but let this exuberant love transform each of our own lives, the very lives that Jesus has saved with his own life and death and Resurrection. Indeed, we can feel it growing: the Alleluia that is almost upon us will never be able to be contained, any more than our Lord Jesus could be held within stone.
Amen.

New Kid

2008-03-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I get to preach at the Community Service. As the new priest at St. Mark's I am also the new kid to the Ministerial Association, so they all thought. . . . I do not think anyone there reads this blog, so a late night posting is probably safe in terms of it being a spoiler. So here is the sermon if you are interested!

Sermon: Community Service Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church
March 19, 2008

(Hebrews 12: 1-3; John 13: 21-32)

Somehow, when the Ministerial Association welcomed me into the fold and asked me to preach this week as the “New Kid on the Block,” the end of Lent seemed decades away. As a time of attempted self-denial, Lent usually seems to drag, but not this year. It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through Holy Week. How did six weeks pass so quickly? (Of course, time is a funny thing. I expect it does seem like 22 years since Hazard has been in the Sweet 16, but our middle son turned 22 this week and that seems like a blur.)
In real time, as opposed to perceived time, Lent was not always six weeks, although it has been that way for centuries now. In the very early church, Lent was only three weeks long. In the 5th century, they changed the time to be 40 days of fasting. There was some discussion about Sundays, though, and late in the 5th century, 4 days were added just to make sure that there were still 40 full days in which to fast. That is when Ash Wednesday came into being. The scriptural models for that length of time make sense to us of course, so it has been that way ever since.
In the passage from Hebrews that is part of the Daily Office Lectionary today, Paul compares life to a race. Do we perhaps see Lent in that way? Maybe we decide to eat no meat for six weeks, or avoid fatty food. Perhaps we set goals of spiritual reading for ourselves or promise to take better care of this physical temple that houses our spirits. It is just something to get through, right? It is like a race—it has a beginning and an end. We can distract ourselves for that long.
One of my favorite distractions is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. KET has been running lots of Austen in Lent—maybe they thought we needed something other than self denial on which to focus. You may know the story—5 daughters, entailed estate, heroes, villains, mistaken impressions and of course pride. At one point Mr. Bennett, the father of all of those girls, tells his two eldest daughters about the timely rescue of their youngest sisters (and thus nearly their own) scandalized reputation. Mr. Darcy has secretly bailed out the situation, thrusting Mr. Bennett into a state of both relief and shame. His second daughter, Elizabeth, is worried, and he reassures her by saying, “I am heartily ashamed of myself, Lizzie. But don't despair; it'll pass, and no doubt more quickly than it should.”
If we do see Lent as just something that will pass, (and perhaps more quickly than it should,) we are missing a very important message.
When we look at the context for the Gospel lesson for today, we realize that this passage immediately follows the foot washing, and precedes the scene where Jesus tells all of the other disciples (because Judas has departed) that they will fail to be steadfast and will even deny him. This passage tells us there is one particular traitor, but Judas will not be alone in deserting Jesus.
John begins the passage by telling us that Jesus is greatly troubled. Of course he would be! He has lived closely with these people, day in and day out for several years. Moments before today’s passage begins he had completed washing all of their feet, one by one. This was something usually relegated to the lowest servant, and their leader and teacher had knelt in front of each one, gently taken their feet, gazed into their eyes, and in a moment of incredible intimacy, let each one of them—even Judas—know that they were loved not only in that moment, but for always.
Jesus knew what was coming, and loved them without reservation. When they would later remember their own inability to have “run the race,” in that instance, they would also remember that Jesus had loved them even with that troubling knowledge.
I do not know about you, but with my Lenten track record, I find that incredibly comforting.
Of course, some of us may NOT have failed “Lent 101.” But it is human nature that if we pull in the sails in one direction, then it is not surprising that our boat then tips in another direction. For example, we may have been able to restrict our food intake. How did our ability to be kind to others work without chocolate? Or if we were able to put away our selfish and greedy desires after Mardi Gras, have we been counting the hours until we could indulge again?
I might as well confess at this point that at the end of Lent, by most standards, I have largely failed in the goals I have set. The extreme denials gave way weeks ago to logically rationalized exceptions. But where Lent may really matter, I wonder if there actually is total system failure?
You see, every choice I made, even the bad ones, were made with more thought, care and focus. I did not give up all of the bad food as I had hoped to do. I did not walk four miles every day as I had hoped to do. I have not completed one extra book each week in an effort to study, contemplate and pray about my relationship with God.
[Yes, you might say that on Ash Wednesday, my ‘inner Martha’ was in overdrive.]
But I have eaten less, and I have thought more about others who always have only that option. I have walked more often and farther distances than I did before Lent. And while I have not completed even one volume, I have spent some time nearly every day with Scripture, Commentaries, spiritual literature or prayer books. I have often had walks with the wind around me in a comforting and challenging Presence, and I have chosen to drive for long amounts of time in silence, at one with these mountains and their Creator.
Perhaps I needed all six weeks just to begin to open my heart in these ways. And that seems just fine when I remember that the race I am running is not Lent, but Life as a Christian.
It will take many Lenten seasons before my gait is improved and my time is honed to a more competitive standard. But what I have learned in this Lent, my first as an ordained person, is that I will continue to try --and will no doubt continue to fail. And through it all, I will have the love of the Savior who has always loved me and always will, even given my failings.
Lent cannot last forever; after all, we are people of the Resurrection. But the lessons we can learn each Lent will help us build muscle and face our frailty all at the same time.
This Lenten time reawakens in each of us the magnitude of the loving sacrifice of Jesus. It creates time and space to cultivate our personal relationship with our Redeemer. This time reminds us that we are not nearly as wonderful as we thought we were, and then gives us the chance to lay aside the weight and sin that hold us back. We humbly learn anew that hanging on to the baggage of sin and worthlessness in the face of such an extraordinary love becomes impossible.
Amen.

Happy Top

2008-03-13T19:01:00.001-07:00

One of the churches I serve is in Beattyville, where the Kentucky River is formed. I had a lovely meander today on the 3/4 mile pathway that overlooks that. I needed a nice pre-Holy Week mini-Sabbath. Yes, those are cows!

Send in the Clones

2008-03-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

Rats. Ever since I left Seabury I have planned to be at the Commencement this year. Today I discovered that it is the exact same day as the LTS Graduation. I am already having a great deal of difficulty in knowing where my physical self is supposed to be at any given time. I double booked for lunch Friday. I scheduled a meeting that moves around the Diocese to be here in Berea the day we are driving back (and returning at least 8 hours after the meeting ends,) from vacation. And now this.

We need a "Sven" around here- you know, like in that amusing AT&T commercial that shows a house hold "Sven"- a Swedish organizing guru who wakes up the household, reminds them of their stocks, e-mails and appointments, and provides suitable clothing to meet the weather forecast. The end of the ad advises you to get one of the AT&T smart phones if you can't get your own Sven. I was never terribly good at this domestic aspect, (and would be terrible with a smart phone- I can barely manage a paper calendar apparently) and having a middle schooler [and yes, perhaps a job that keeps me driving 20+ hours most weeks] has not improved my ability one iota.

That or a helicopter.

Will Spring ever get here?

2008-03-09T12:00:00.003-07:00

Of course!

But at the moment, after lovely 60 degree days last week, we are plunged back into winter. One of the drawbacks to driving two hours to get to church is that such weather suspends services. Better for me and for the folks there not to traverse the hills but I miss being with them. Happening was rescheduled as well--or hopes to be. There is no set date yet. That was especially disappointing because the bread for Eucharist turned out well, all of the youth had their talks done, and the Cathedral Domain was decorated joyously. It was going to be the best ever!! It still will be. We hope to do it after Easter.

I cannot even show you what it looks like here though, because for some reason, my photograph loading gets a server error message every time. Besides, my Midwestern friends would just roll their eyes anyway, even though it is big doin's for us!!

Really????

2008-03-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

I will get back to posting with photographs as I know that is much more interesting. Perhaps tomorrow I will get a picture of the tether ball Graff and I installed today. We had to take out an apple tree that had died so the hole was just there. . .the poor child got the tether ball set LAST Christmas and it is only now in the ground. But it was such fun working together, and it will be great to come home and PLAY!

I had a wonderful guest preacher today who very kindly thanked me for the service and said that I was very elegant as a worship leader.

Have I finally achieved the graceful presence I always hoped would come in my 40's?
Whew- barely made it if so! ;-))

But it is likely an aberration, and just a kind remark to savor on days when I am much more like the 5 year old Janey who was expelled from ballet.

A halcyon day

2008-02-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those ministry days where I was starry eyed and joyful to be doing what I am doing. It was nothing particularly amazing, but somehow a really blessed day with lots of little things that went right. Just maybe, I am getting the hang of some of this!!

Graff and Mittens play X-Box

2008-02-14T13:37:00.000-08:00

Mittens the cat has complained that the blog is all dogs all the time. "What about meow?" she whined pitifully.

To correct that omission, Here is Mittens at her best, keeping Graff warm as he engineers the Bears to yet another X-Box win. You might notice that at first she is not watching the game and then she is.

Just like a cat.

Not Chicago

2008-02-13T13:36:00.001-08:00

But for here it is a pretty wintry landscape. The ice beads on the cherry trees were particularly exquisite- a diadem of sorts. No travel to Eastern Kentucky today but lots of tedious financial stuff and feeding the 'Tween every twenty minutes! (Well, he did go sledding!)

As the tail wags. . .

2008-02-08T05:19:00.001-08:00

For those of you keeping up with General / Roger/ Dodger/ Hampton, his new and final name, selected by his parents as soon as they are able, is RALEIGH. He answered to it immediately and got along with them famously. They met over pizza Tuesday night and he bonded immediately. So Seabury and Raleigh get play time until sometime this summer when Mom and Dad get married and new houseing is arranged. In the meantime, we get lots of respite care as he goes off hiking and for play dates. A happy ending to a pretty scary story for the young fellow!

Lauren's Ordination

2008-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have been remiss in rushing back to Ash Wednesday and not writing about Lauren's Ordination. I think I did not want to let go of such a wonderful experience! Shannon and I made a quick trip out thanks to Teresa and Jacob, who kept Graff and got him nicely attired to Mock Trial Competition. (His Defense team won but the School team did not.) We had an amazing time just talking to each other for the ten hour drive each way! Being back in Williamsburg and part of a service at Bruton Parish was really fun too.

Lauren's terrific family treated us like long lost cousins and took us to both dinner the night before and lunch after the Ordination. Seeing Lauren with her parents made me miss my mother even more. They were so proud of her! It was also awesome to see Court and Laurel and to have a Seabury time with all of the requisite humor.

As for Lauren, she absolutely glowed-- and the service itself was wonderfully simple despite 120 clergy in the procession. I was so glad to be there with and for Lauren. She will be a wonderful deacon and priest.

These are her photographs but I thought it would be fun to post them here too as we have different readers.

Carol's gift

2008-02-06T05:14:00.001-08:00

I have received a beautiful gift; the United Methodist Minister who made Lauren's stole made one for me of the same material. Like the two of us, you might not even know that because they are so different. I think it may need a border collie after my Ordination sermon but we know there is one lurking somewhere! I know the children of all ages at St. Mark's may enjoy seeing this. The Seabury Cross is especially beautiful. Thank you Carol! I cannot wait to be "Green" again!

One sleepy dog

2008-01-17T11:08:00.001-08:00

They do wear each other out. . .We got out of school for ice today so they are glad to have some of us home. I was glad not to drive again! Late nights in Prestonsburg on Wednesday make for sleepy Thursdays.

If you save a life. . .

2008-01-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

is it really your responsibility? Yesterday I was driving on a country highway and an enormous semi truck was bearing down the hill 'fast and furious [ly]' in the oncoming lane. This black lab mix was terrified and seemed to not understand about traffic at all. Without thinking (clearly) I checked for traffic behind me, pulled off and turned on the hazards. When I opened my door to call him out of the path of the truck he landed practically in my lap. He gets along famously with our dog and cat, and seems to be a model boarder in terms of manners, affection and even being housebroken.

But I know Shannon is right that we do NOT need more chaos than we already have. He took "Roger Dodger" today to two separate animal shelters who could not/would not take him, so tonight he is back under our roof. It is just that when he looks at me with his cognac eyes alight with the "I love you for saving me" look, I just melt. And Graff melts too.

We made flyers for the local vets. But he had no collar or tags and was pretty dirty and raggedy looking. He is clean now!!

Wet dog!

2008-01-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Poor Seabury had to have a bath and then run around in the snow to get dry. [I know- it seems as though it would not work but I guess her internal heater takes care of it!] Hanging out with Freyja (her Great Dane cousin) is somewhat detrimental to a clean coat it seems.

At any rate, she and I send loads of encouraging prayers to our friends at Seabury and Sewanee as they take the GOEs.

Christmas Gift!

2007-12-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Wow- what a whirlwind! The service at St. Mark's was so sweet, even if the music did not work out as planned--that there was any at all is a tribute to Markie's heroic efforts and his rendering of Go Tell it on the Mountain was a real highlight!

My first Children's service was so wonderful--the children made it so! There will always be smiles as I think of Alexa and Megan's earnest responses to the questions and Blake's shining eyes as he opened his hand to show me that he still had the Baby Jesus sequestered there. As a best gift, I got a hug from him--my first! I hope not my last.

Christmas Eucharist was special too, thanks to the fresh bread that Mary Jane provided. All of her love added in was so touching. Graff and Shannon were wonderful as Crucifer and Server, and Granny Lee sang "I wonder as I wander" in her wonderful way. There were things I would have wished to be different, but the important pieces were in place I think.

Then home and a few days with Shannon's delightful mother here, and Erik and Ann and their enormous dogs. No Christmas Day service so we had the whole day as family.

And today Lauren comes on her way back to the GOE's. Hooray!

But . . . UGH! I have to admit I am so grateful not to be doing THAT this year! They are a rite of passage I suppose.

And just two more

2007-12-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

They speak for themselves!

The Best Ordination Sermon EVER!!

2007-12-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

Reprinted with Permission,

Gary Hall
St. Mark’s, Hazard, KY
December 16, 2007 [Janey Wilson Ordination]

It is a great pleasure for Kathy and me to be here with you in Hazard celebrating Janey Wilson’s ordination to the priesthood. Although Janey was only at Seabury–the seminary in Evanston where I work–for a year, it was an intense year: she managed to do about two years’ work in one year’s time and emerge from the experience still married and healthy and in one spiritual and psychological piece. I have long admired her intelligence and compassion and energy, and I know she is already serving her congregations with grace and wisdom and love. I also know that about the last thing you came to her ordination for was the sermon. So I won’t say a lot, just enough to help us all focus a bit on what God might be up to in calling and ordaining Janey Wilson to the Sacred Order of Priests.
I went to seminary in the Boston area, and one year a classmate of mine decided that she would buy a free-range turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. This was the 1970s, and the idea of free-range poultry had not yet hit it big. So she called around to about a dozen butcher shops, asking if they had any free-range turkeys for sale. They all said “no”. Finally she got a butcher who was open to a bit more conversation. He asked her to explain what a free-range turkey was. She told him that a free-range turkey was a bird who had been raised outside and allowed to feed itself naturally as a bird would in the wild. After a pause, the butcher said, “Lady, I just sell ‘em. I don’t inquire about their lifestyles.”
For some reason, as I have made my way through all these readings about sheep and shepherds that Janey chose for this occasion, this long-ago incident of the free-range turkey sprang into my memory. In our Gospel for this evening, Jesus says this: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” [John 10.14-15] We have all grown up with sentimental images of shepherds and sheep, but maybe thinking about turkeys instead helps us put things in perspective. For Jesus to call himself a shepherd and us his sheep is not exactly the most flattering comparison. If you’ve ever smelled wet sheep you would not mistake them for roses. And sheep have a tendency not to act in their own best interest. They need guides–shepherds and sheepdogs–to keep them from running over cliffs or following leaders without established credentials. They are, to put it gently, kind of dumb.
And turkeys are not a lot better–I read once that because it doesn’t know to keep its mouth shut, a turkey can easily drown in the rain. Hence the high cost of free-range turkeys: relatively few of them survive to maturity living in the outdoors. And in both the cases of turkeys and sheep, there are some people who raise them humanely and some people who raise them cruelly. In Thomas Hardy’s novel, Far from the Madding Crowd, the shepherd Gabriel Oak is described bringing newborn lambs into his shed and then lovingly returning them to their mothers. And in such American classic novels as Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle we read of the Chicago stockyards and the ways in which livestock (including sheep) were regularly mistreated there. How we treat the animals we depend on may not matter much to our eating experience, but it does say a lot about the quality of people we are. So when Jesus calls himself a shepherd, he invites comparison with the hired hand who, as he says, “is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.” [John 10.12-13] To the good shepherd, the sheep are beings of value who matter. To the hired hand, the sheep are just there as means to his own ends.
Now classically sermons have three points, and here comes point number one: for you and me Christian people–for us sheep–there is only one shepherd, and that shepherd is Jesus. I know the bishop carries a staff that looks a lot like a shepherd’s crook, and I know that we often call our clergy “pastors”–the Latin word for shepherd. But as we gather to think about Janey Wilson and her call to priestly ministry, let us be clear that she is not being set apart today as a member of a different species from you. You and I already have a good shepherd, and that is Jesus. As fine and accomplished a person as Janey is, she is not your shepherd. If you want to use a barnyard analogy, you might call her your sheepdog.
It is important to remember that because otherwise we set up an impossible distance between priest and parishioner. It’s like in the intercessions when we pray “for clergy and people”, as if we ordained folk are from Mars. I’m sorry if this is news to you, but clergy are human beings; we are recruited from among you; and to think of them as shepherds in charge of sheep does a disservice to both priest and parishioner. A priest is as finite and fragile and limited as any human being. And all baptized people are called and commissioned by God to be agents of love and mercy and justice in the world. To stay in the metaphor, all of us sheep are called by God to be about God’s work in the world. We just need some guidance and direction and compassion in doing that, and that’s why the church has set aside priests and bishops to be the sheepdogs who nip at our heels and keep us all moving in the right direction. But the one shepherd, the Good Shepherd, is Jesus.
That’s the first point, and while I’m at it, here’s the second. (Hey, we’re 2/3 done!) There is not one of us sheepdog priests who got this job because we’re better or holier or smarter or more organized than anybody else. That’s not to say that there aren’t high standards for clergy, because there are. But those of us who serve the church as priests, if we’re honest with ourselves, know that God has called us to and equipped us for something that finally can only be done by and through God’s grace. That’s not theology. That’s reality. And that’s what’s going on in the first reading we heard tonight, the story of the call of the prophet Isaiah: “And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’” [Isaiah 6.5] I believe that every priest who has kneeled in front of a bishop has thought, at some point in the ceremony, “Who do I think I’m kidding? I’m just a regular human being. One of these days they’re going to find me out.” Isaiah spoke for all of us when he called himself a person of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips. Who do I think I am to presume to speak for God?
And yet that is what God has asked generations of faithful people to do, and for some reason they all have more or less lived into it. So if Jesus would enlist us priestly sheepdogs in his ministry as our Good Shepherd, Isaiah would remind us that the call to do that is ultimately mysterious and unfathomable. Why has God called Janey and not somebody else? Only God can answer that. But here, I believe, is the important second point: Janey, you are a naturally humble and self-effacing person, and I’m sure there is a part of you here tonight that is saying to yourself, “How on earth did I get here?” But my sheepdogly advice to you and to your friends and family and congregations is this: don’t overdo the humility. You are an immensely gifted, able, and accomplished person. As appropriately humble and inadequate as you no doubt feel on this occasion, let it go. It is all right. God will use you, as God uses all of us, to God’s own purposes. There is a lot of responsibility in that, for from now on you will be seen and heard to represent and speak for God. But it is all right. Neither Augustine nor Dietrich Bonhoeffer nor Mother Teresa was any more up to this than you are. It is Jesus, your Good Shepherd, whose work you will be doing. And the experience of generations of us who do this work is that the One who calls you to this work will sustain you in it. That One will see you through.
And that leads me to the third and final point. Hear again what Jesus says in tonight’s Gospel: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” What this all finally comes down to is relationship. Jesus knows and loves the One he calls his Father, and Jesus knows and loves us. Thinking about priesthood in sheep and shepherd terms doesn’t precisely get at the quality of what’s going on between Jesus and his Father, between Christ and us. Not even the greatest shepherd who ever lived cared about his sheep with the depth that Jesus and his Father love each other. And no professionalized understanding of the priest/parishioner connection can ever adequately represent the love between Jesus and the human community and its implications for you and me.
Christianity is not finally an idea. It is a set of relationships. It dares to suggest that we human beings can live together with the depth and compassion and justice which characterizes the relationship between Jesus and the One he calls his Father. And priests and deacons and bishops and lay leaders are part of that transaction not so much because of the power or authority we wield but because of the ways in which we transparently love and know ourselves to be loved. What is finally the most important thing about priesthood is this: to the extent that you know yourself to be someone whom Jesus loves just as much as he loves his Father, to the extent that you know yourself to love others to the extent that Jesus’s Father loves both Jesus and the world, to that extent will your ministry be a faithful living out of the care and compassion which Jesus exemplifies as our Good Shepherd. Before it is anything else, the job of a priest is to radiate the love which is at the center of creation, to know her own just as Jesus knows his Father.
And so, Janey: The church has plenty of free range turkeys. We don’t need another one. What we need is you. You are smart. You are able. You are accomplished. You are humble. You are also compassionate and caring and brave. All these are wonderful traits, and they will serve you well in your ministry. But here’s the deal: remember, as unclean as you may feel your lips to be, they’re no less clean than Isaiah’s. And remember, too, that of all your many gifts, the greatest one you have is your ability to love and be loved by others. Jesus is your Good Shepherd, and you are now to take your place among us as a visible sign of the kind of love which is finally at the center of the whole creation. As busy as you may get caring for others, do not forget that you, too, are loved. If you keep yourself grounded in the experience of God which got you here, your life and your ministry will be a living sign of the love which Jesus and his Father have for one another, and you will lead us all better to know and love the Good Shepherd, too. Amen.

More photographs

2007-12-19T07:18:00.001-08:00

Courtesy of my brother Richard who was very dedicated in getting these.

Dazzle/WOW

2007-12-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

Ordination to the Priesthood was one of the most amazing experiences in a very blessed life. After fretting and fuming in ways I usually do not (but whose idea was it to make Ordination at the end of finals week??) it was perfect, perfectly wonderful and I am still floating--in fact I missed a meeting yesterday. [oops.]

There were either 90 or 93 people there, and it was everything I wanted it to be, both for St. Mark's and for myself. It was very simple and the word people keep writing to me is sweet. They hasten to assure me that they do not mean cloying or trite, but rather that old-fashioned sweetness of Spirit. The people who made the trek through the awful weather were treated to a beautiful falling snow outside the clear windows of St. Mark's. The people of St. Mark's, used to 20 in church on a well attended Sunday, got to be surrounded by love and singing and a most powerful Presence. Everyone sang, and prayed and laughed together. Graff was a wonderful Crucifer and the fact that we had no Deacon was just swept aside (no one could come that far.) But I am particularly grateful that Case and Hillary and Erik and Ann made long drives just to be there.

The moment of Consecration is really too powerful for words on a blog--but call me and I may gush endlessly! ;-)

The Blessing at the end was almost as powerful.

There were so many blessings in the day though that it will take me a while to recount them! It was amazing to have Gary and Kathy Hall there from Seabury, and the sermon was phenomenal--all I could have hoped for and more. Lauren's safe arrival courtesy of Molly and Joyce was another great joy. (Thank you Chicago Ordinands for your sacrifice in this regard!)

And my heart is so full of the gracious love of families--both my own and St. Mark's, who made the sanctuary so beautiful, and the reception at City Hall so incredible, that the memory will be a bright and beautiful one for always. Shannon and I had time alone in the church in the afternoon as we polished the brass--such a treasured gift to have him with me on this day.

My Godmother's stole, safely arrived from England, was so beautiful. The Bishop was very gracious to the clergy that made the effort to come! I was so grateful too, because the ones who attended are such special people and brought great joy with them to lay on hands.

So now begins the rest of the learning! Two sermons and my first Holy Eucharist right around the corner. . . better sign off for now.

Perfect or perfectly wonderful

2007-12-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

I need to go for the latter. As usual, even though this cold has me slogging through a haze, I cannot stay Eeyore for too long! Enough of that. People are being wonderfully kind and supportive. My beloved has fed me today, cleaned the kitchen and done laundry so that I can do whatever I need to do. That would be tomorrow's sermon, working on the bulletin and finding and excavating the portions of our house that are rumored to exist.

This service a week from tomorrow will not be perfect--and I doubt that I would want that kind of plastic, really. There will not be many people there, but the people who are there will want to be and that is more than enough. My prayer is that all of the major bumps get smoothed before hand or kept from me until I can laugh over them later.

Oh and a lack of ice and snow for transportation purposes would be appreciated. . .

Whining, glassy-eyed and bewildered

2007-12-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here are photographs of the transformation at St. Mark's in Hazard!

I feel as though the days to Ordination are in reverse proportion to the energy, time and talent I have to prepare for the service. One of my comrades, trying to be supportive, said, "Gosh, how are you doing this without a secretary?"

You will be glad to know I did not hit him.

I have not even had time to ask all of the people I want to ask to do things; there is likely to be sparse music, and I am such a techno-idiot that the bulletin seems insurmountable at this moment. I cannot type or select music while driving. When I am home, despite living with incomparable men, there is so much home stuff that demands attention and we are literally wallowing in debris.

Anybody got an extra fairy godmother or patron saint of the incompetent to share?

Or extra kleenex? Maybe I will just sob in the shower and save another task.

Here endeth the whining. Thanks for listening!

All things Bright and Beautiful!

2007-11-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

My husband's entire family spent five days together for Thanksgiving in the Colonial History Mecca for the United States. This was a gift from Uncle Jim, which made it even more lovely! We were based in Williamsburg but got to Jamestown as well for the 400th anniversary visit. It was a perfect gathering-plenty of together time as well as time to carve out in smaller family sub groups. Our middle son's fiance and HER family (complete with Holly, their beautiful Golden Retriever) also joined us which was fun. We spent several evenings immersed in the Avalon Hill game, NAVAL WAR.

We left our dogs kenneled at a posh rural retreat where they could play in safety. They had a web cam, and when we looked in, Erik's dogs Neo (Large Police Dog) and Freyja (Larger Great Dane puppy) were being badgered by our Border Collie, Seabury. I think she barked for all five days and was not even hoarse!

Most special was worship together at Bruton Parish Church on Thanksgiving morning. It was spectacularly wonderful for this rural minister to a congregation that averages attendance of 15 to be in a large group of Episcopalians, all 'gathered together' in thankfulness. But I felt so blessed to return to St. Mark's today and see the 1970's era faux paneling transformed with several coats of "Dover White." It is such an uplifting place now! It was before in terms of the people but now the surroundings match.

The veil between realms

2007-11-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

Mountain driving is so interesting. As a mid-western/north-eastern Ohio kind of gal I have not had much experience with that. This morning I left early to get to church in time to set up Morning Prayer in the Parish Hall. Our church has been cleared out so that we can repair and paint the 1960's era faux paneling and do electrical work. Ordination is 27 days away and it looks as though there are at least 30 days of work left! Although some are "not in favor" of this change, most seem pretty excited. I think it will really open the space.

If you want to see pictures, e-mail me. When I try to load them here it becomes scripted gibberish.

The clouds and fog were often interchangeable this morning, but there were times when the clouds were just like a horizontal veil. Sometimes I would be in one realm and sometimes in another! Then at one point the sun's rays were coming through and slicing vertical lines along the vapor. At the same time the hills were a lovely bronzed orange color. Spectacular!

Ordination Plans!

2007-11-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

The church and city are being so wonderful. The Parish House is tiny, so City Hall has been offered and trolleys will be available to take people up the hill to the church! Not only that, but a Hurricane Andrew refugee, a brilliantly colored Macaw named Ms. Ed will be present at the reception. Some pieces are coming together despite my ineptitude, which seems wholly miraculous.

Veterans Day

2007-11-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

One of the towns I drive through is Manchester, KY. Manchester is a town that supports its military citizens in a big way. Several weeks ago, a deployed group returned. Two miles out of Manchester, the posters and yellow ribbons welcoming them home were blowing in a gentle wind. You could feel the joy of the entire town at their return.

East of Manchester, there is a marker with a rifle forming part of a cross. At the base is a pair of boots, and the helmet rests on the butt of the rifle. This week, flowers were added and today a large 4X6 flag flew low to the ground as part of this memorial. I think this particular remembrance might be for Sgt. Stanfill, who died in an accident on the Hal Rogers Parkway just east of Manchester a couple of years ago.

Even though Sgt. Stanfill perished on the road I drive several times a week instead of on a far away battle field, I am glad the citizens of Manchester --or perhaps his family-- honor his service in such a way.

We observed the traditional two minute pause for veterans everywhere as a part of Morning Prayer today, and said the prayer for the members of the Armed Services. It is one of my favorites.

For those in the Armed Forces of our Country

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Like the leaves

2007-11-10T10:38:00.001-08:00

This week I was about as organized as the leaves falling off of the trees. A dear friend died a week ago today. His funeral was Thursday this week; for those of you who know, it was the Deacon who gave me all of his stoles. His funeral was lovely and it was a huge honor to wear his white stole and serve at the Altar as Deacon. His wife was so touched to see that.

I have been nesting prior to hibernation I think! I have washed quilts (after the washer died and was replaced) and rearranged things for winter somewhat. That is my usual mode of procrastination when I ought to be doing other things. On the other hand, it is one of the few times the house claims my attention!

I had a better domestic week than a professional week, but I think that was perhaps overdue.

How do people balance this?

All Saint's Sunday

2007-11-04T13:47:00.000-08:00

Since we could not have Eucharist this morning we did the Liturgy of the Word today from Rite 2 instead of Morning Prayer. During the Prayers of the People, we had a candle lighting. We had a soft, nubby thick muted olive throw on a side table, and then two inexpensive 14" square chargers that were shiny black. They were positioned on an angle like diamonds. On top of them were multicolored, polished river pebbles of various sizes. Then tucked among them were 40 tea lights, 20 on each plate. In the open spaces between the tops of the two diamonds there was a plain, square crystal candle stick with a tall white pillar candle in it. All around the plates were sea shells in various colors of black, cream, white and gray. People came and lit the tea lights in the flame of the big candle and stood for a moment, taking a sea shell when they went back to their seat. The pianist played soft hymns the entire time. There has been some really hard loss this year; some people sobbed and there was a lot of sniffing- it was really moving. I am glad it was a safe place to do some grieving, but it also seemed to have a healing effect. This was off to the side in the open area to the side of the church. When they were all finished lighting candles, I stood and read all of the names slowly. Then I prayed a prayer about how the light reminded us that we were all of God, as were those we had loved that were no longer with us. The shells reminded us of the continuity of our earthly connection. They got to keep the sea shells.

Those lights stayed lit until most people had left the sanctuary. My second biggest compliment was from one of the women who is more negative usually. She sounded surprised and said, "that was really. . .nice!" The best remark was that someone told me that the 4 year old who lost his Daddy this fall was so delighted to have his Daddy's shell. I was so grateful! And we had 20 today AND I had 5 for Christian Formation!!!

We sang good hymns too, so all in all it was a good day for this grateful Deacon. The PK was his usual wonderful self in acolyte mode!

Spiritual Direction /canine mash

2007-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

Today I had Spiritual Direction with a small dog in my lap. It was delightful because the dog relaxed against me and was so glad I was there! I wish our dog did that sort of thing but she is a boy's dog--she plays football, soccer and is an energetic and companionable walker. Tonight as I was putting mashed potatoes away, they slid to the floor and splashed everywhere- the cabinets, the rugs and the jeans of the man I adore. Needless to say, the dog paid for her keep tonight! ;-)

Daylight spent time

2007-10-30T16:02:00.000-07:00

I do not think I have ever held on to summer and daylight as I have this year. I think being new clergy and not having enough hours in the day might be part of the struggle. I am selfishly grateful for the sun roof in the car since I spend so many hours on the road. Still, I would like to have a 62 hour sunny day where I have no other obligations so that I could pretend to get my world into some kind of order. (I would bask and nap for the first 8 at least.)

Walking the dog in the starlight is not without appeal of its own, however. . .

The quote that named the blog

2007-10-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

It will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation.: Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

But no pressure. . .

Taize on the Parkway

2007-10-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time on interstates and parkways these days! I am not sure a blog will really be interesting but I will try to at least keep people current with what is going on and the musings that accompany such things.
Although Taize is good for contemplation, it is also energizing. The trees seem to sing with me as I go up and down the hills; there is repetition in the road and the music. The two hour drive to Hazard seems shorter as I grow more connected to the people. I am so drawn to their courage and their desire to not just survive but thrive. I humbly hope to be worthy of such faith.