Category Archives: Parish News

Our Thoughts and Prayers

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Dear Friends,

Among the many words I’ve read in response to the latest school shooting were those written by a friend and colleague, the Rt. Rev. Scott Barker. Scott is is the Bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska, and he offered these thoughts on Thursday, the day after Ash Wednesday:

“It’s poignant that Lent commences this year in the shadow of yet another mass shooting of school children. I’m certain that many of you are already praying for the repose of the souls of those innocents, as well as the adults lost in this latest atrocity. Yesterday, Episcopalians confessed our, “blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty.” It seems to me that these sins become incarnate at the nexus where untreated mental illness meets the virtually unchecked availability of high powered ammunition and assault weapons. When our prayers inspire us to action in the days to come, let us not lose the courage, focus and faith that will be required for our Church to appropriately follow the Prince of Peace as we respond to the epidemic of gun violence in America.”

Bishop Barker’s words made me consider again that phrase, “our thoughts and prayers are with them.” I realize that my prayers need to be focused not only on others, but on me as well. I need to be praying about my own response to, and engagement with, the hurts of the world. Prayer is not about changing God’s heart, but about letting God change mine. This Lent,  I will pray for courage, focus, faith, and the wisdom to make choices that help effect change and heal broken hearts. I hope you will too.

Faithfully,

Tom

BREAKING!

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from Priest Associate, the Rev. Lyn G. Brakeman

BREAKING!
Now aren’t you sick of that word every single day in the news? Some news breaks your heart; some fills your heart to bursting with joy; and some you need to take a break from.

THIS news made me jump for joy (and I didn’t break a single bone): The General Convention of our Episcopal Church USA, will consider—for the first time—changes in our liturgical language about God.

 At their triennial meeting this summer the convention will deliberate the value of another prayer book revision—a renewed effort at making everyone feel included in our liturgical language. Our present policy is to make everyone feel welcome and not excluded. BUT, what about God? Is the divine identity/image limited by our gendered language—too many almighty’s and too much transcendence, not to mention all those masculine pronouns?

The convention of the diocese of Washington D.C. passed a resolution requesting the SCLM (Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music) to consider language about God as part of the effort to make BCP language more inclusive. Here is the substance of their resolution to the House of Deputies, with concurrence of the House of Bishops:

Resolved, the House of ____________ concurring, that the 79th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, if revision of the Book of Common Prayer is authorized, to utilize expansive language for God from the rich sources of feminine, masculine, and non-binary imagery for God found in Scripture and tradition and, when possible, to avoid the use of gendered pronouns for God.

This idea is not mine alone; nor it this simply a women’s issue; nor is it new. See my blog post:www. spirituallemons.blogspot.com for details. This issue is theological. It’s about the image and understanding of God x 3 we love and worship. I know that this will take time, and that this news will cause some people to cringe. BUT we are Anglicans! There WILL be options and options for the options.

Pronouns of course figure heavily in this debate. I’ve always said that pronouns are NOT, after all, sacred. Consider how fluid pronouns are in our world today. I and you (singular and plural) are the only safe and sure ones. It’s quite hilarious. A good friend of mine simply can not refer to her beloved grandson, now a granddaughter, as they. They understands, because they know the love is there—no matter what the pronoun.

“God is neither male nor female. Both women and men are equally loved and included by God and should be valued and shown respect in the church’s language.” Official position of ECUSA.

IS GOD GODSELF NOT ALSO TO BE SHOWN THE SAME RESPECT

ebate. I’ve always said that pronouns are NOT, after all, sacred. Consider how fluid pronouns are in our world today. I and you (singular and plural) are the only safe and sure ones. It’s quite hilarious. A good friend of mine simply can not refer to her beloved grandson, now a granddaughter, as they. They understands, because they know the love is there—no matter what the pronoun.

“God is neither male nor female. Both women and men are equally loved and included by God and should be valued and shown respect in the church’s language.” Official position of ECUSA.

IS GOD GODSELF NOT ALSO TO BE SHOWN THE SAME RESPECT

Stamp of Approval

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Matt Hast took some time Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea to look over the Annual Report, and is glad to report that their cat, Mikko, approves of the church budget. Thank you, Matt and George, for getting these paws of approval. Matt also expressed his thanks  to the wardens and the rector for their leadership at the meeting and in the life of the parish.  As for gratitude, we are grateful for all that Matt and George Born do to enrich our common life!

It Helps Me Remember

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Dear Friends,

One of the joys of the last couple of months has been meeting with our Godly Play class to discuss the meaning of Holy Communion. Some of our children were preparing to receive communion for the first time, and this past Sunday, as they came to the altar to receive, the eagerness, and yes, joy, on their faces was palpable.  As I explain to adults, while very young children do not fully understand the meaning of communion, who among us as adults can claim that we fully do.

After one conversation that I had with them, Rachel Pfost asked a question always asked at Godly Play: “I wonder what part of what you heard is most important.” Young Selah Heim replied with one of the meanings of communion: “The bread and wine are most important, because they help me remember Jesus inside of me.”  And so they do. Communion helps us remember, not just a past event, but also to experience the presence of the living Christ in our midst.

The results of a recent study of Episcopal churches across the country indicated that “the transforming power of the Eucharist” was one of four elements in parish life that foster spiritual growth in congregations (the three others were engagement with scripture, a deeper prayer life, and the heart of the congregation’s leader.

I’m curious about what communion means to you. How have you been transformed by the weekly gathering at the altar? What is the most important part of the Eucharist for you?  I would love to publish some of your experiences with the sacrament central to our life together. Please send me an email if you have some reflections you are willing to share at:

rector@stjohns02129.org

None of us fully understands the meaning of this sacrament. But together, each of us can bear witness to the truth of its power in our lives.

Faithfully,

Tom

PS: for more information on the above mentioned congregational study, click here.

 

 

It’s Flu Season: Be a Good Neighbor

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Dear Friends,

“Be a good neighbor.” Those were words offered by a physician being interviewed this week about this year’s flu. What does it mean to be a good neighbor?

First and foremost, if you are sick, or feeling sick, stay home if you can. It is ok to miss a Sunday at church if you have any reason to believe that you might be catching the flu or  are capable of spreading it.

When at church, remember that when we exchange the peace of Christ, it is perfectly appropriate to offer signs and gestures without shaking hands. Simply placing your hands in front of you and nodding as you speak words of peace is fine, and will keep cold and flu germs from spreading.

At communion, sipping from the chalice is the healthier option when receiving wine. And, since we understand that Christ is fully present in both the bread and wine, you may choose to refrain from receiving the wine until the flu season has passed. If you choose to refrain, simply cross your arms across your chest after taking the bread. The chalice bearer will still say the words of invitation for the cup, and you may simply respond by saying, “Amen.”

Wash hands often, smile rather than shake hands as needed, and avoid crowds when not feeling well yourself – all are ways of being a good neighbor.  Of course, we should also be checking in on each other as we learn of another’s illness. Finally, if you haven’t yet done so, DO get a flu shot. Although reports indicate it may not be as effective this year in preventing the flu, the data indicate that having the vaccine can lessen the severity of the illness.

Hoping for a relatively flu free season for us all,

Tom