Rushing wind, dancing flame,
Holy breath who calls by name
Gift of truth, winged dove,
Streams of grace and font of love
Come, Holy Spirit!

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, a day in which we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus. We will be celebrating at both the 8 am and 10 am services, with baptisms and festive music at the 10 am service. Don’t forget to wear red, or any  color that reminds us of the Spirit descending like “tongues of fire” upon the disciples. I am eager see the fire of God illuminating your life this Sunday as we gather to offer our praise and prayer.

Faithfully,

Tom

Dear Friends,

Today, May 10, is the Feast of the Ascension. Coming 40 days after Easter, it is the day on which the church recalls the scriptural accounts of Jesus’ ascension to heaven after numerous post-resurrection encounters with his followers. Traditionally, depictions of this event show the disciples looking upward, in both awe and astonishment. They were transfixed.

As Luke tells the story in the first chapter of Acts, two men robed in white – angels perhaps – had to then  reorient them.  “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” The disciples to leave Mt. Olivet and return to where they were staying in Jerusalem, where they would then discover the power of the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit then led them out into the world, bearing witness to God’s love for all of humanity. The focus of our Ascension gaze is not so much meant to be upward as it is outward.

We are living in times where all too many voices are encouraging us not to look up or out, but rather to look inward toward ourselves. If you consistently place your own interests first, it becomes easier to ignore the needs of others.

It seems like an especially appropriate time for the church to both hear and emulate the orientation of those disciples – to turn our gaze outward toward the world and all of its inhabitants, that we might be bearers of God’s embracing love.

Faithfully,

Tom

Dear Friends,

Over the last two months, I have made an effort to record the sermons I have preached so that they are available on our parish website. Those of you who have looked for sermons there in the past know that at best, they have been posted sporadically.  I can’t promise you that they will be there every week, but I am making a commitment to you to post either an audio or text version of my sermons on a more regular basis.  Occasionally, our other clergy may choose to post a sermon as well.  If you have not visited the website, you will see when you go there a menu of Posts on the left hand side. Click on the link to Sermons, and it will take you to those sermons that we have posted.

You can go directly to the website by clicking here, or to the Sermon page by clicking here.

Of course, making sermons available in this way is not just a means of keeping us connected with one another, but also a means by which we can spread the word of how we are hearing the Spirit, seeing God’s beauty, and acting in love. If you hear a word on a Sunday morning that inspires you, I hope you will encourage others to listen as well. Let’s get the Word out!

Faithfully,

Tom

Dear Friends,

Most of us are aware that Barbara Bush, former First Lady and husband of President George H. W. Bush, died on Tuesday. Some of you have noted that her funeral will be held at an Episcopal church in Houston – St. Martin’s Church. Barbara Bush was in fact, an active Episcopalian. While in Washington D.C, she and her husband were members of St. Columba’s Church, where she served on the Altar Guild. The Bush family also has a long connection with St. Anne’s Church near their summer compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Many people have commented on her compassion and life of service to her family and the nation, as well as her willingness to speak in frank and honest ways about matters that concerned her. Yes, that frankness created problems at times. I still remember the time during the 1984 presidential campaign, when she made a joking but disparaging comment about Geraldine Ferraro, the first ever female vice presidential candidate. What I love about Barbara Bush is that she quickly realized her mistake and offered a heartfelt apology.

Given the way so many pundits, politicians, and provocateurs have broken down the norms of civil engagement and discourse, acknowledging one’s mistake can seem almost a quaint notion. But of course, it is one of the marks of a Christian. We do it all the time when we confess our sins. To say I am sorry. To say I have made a mistake.

I am certain that Barbara Bush’s Christian faith shaped her life. She lived her life fully. She freely offered her love, many times in sacrificial ways, to her husband, her family, her church, and her nation. We will miss her, but oh, how grateful we can be for her witness.

Faithfully,

Tom