December 27, 2017

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life. – Collect for St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

Today is the feast day of St. John the Evangelist, our patron saint. This is a hard feast day to celebrate coming as it does on the heels of Christmas Day and the tradition of many clergy, myself included, of taking a few days off immediately after the rush of services.

For today's Wednesday Word, I thought I would give you a little information about our patron.

Tradition says that John the Evangelist was the brother of James, son of Zebedee, and a fisherman. He was a close friend of Jesus, often portrayed as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He and his brother were ambitious, asking Jesus to sit at his right and left hand when he came into his power and glory. He was the only male disciple at the cross during the crucifixion. He was the author of the gospel that bears his name and the Revelation. Or maybe it was that he was the author of the gospel and the three letters, but not Revelation, Or maybe it was that he was the author of everything that bears his name, Church traditions are a little fuzzy. And, according to tradition, he was also the only disciple/apostle who died a natural death, ie he wasn't martyred.

As we move forward into 2018, may we, as disciples of Christ and parishioners of St. John's, work to manifest the words of today's Collect in the world around us.

May the light of Christ shine brightly through us.

May we walk in that light and truth.

May we illumine the life of those with whom we come into contact.

May we, by our word and example, reflect a life of love which was so central to John's theology.

Blessings to you on this Third Day of Christmas,

Todd+

December 20, 2017

Christmas.

Christmas is, seemingly, only hours away. And, to be honest, with all my talk of waiting and preparation, I will have to confess that I am not all that prepared.

Empty boxes of Christmas decorations still litter the house. Thanks to Joelene, at least the majority of our Christmas cards have been mailed out; but other than putting them in the blue box, I really didn't have anything to do with that. The dining room table is cluttered with any number of pieces of mail, scraps of wrapping paper, shopping lists, tape, and I-know-not-what-else. Currier and Ives we are not.

I am, however, (mostly) ready for Christmas at St. John's. I have one sermon written and two to go. Thanks to Joelene, Paul, and the J2A group, the Christmas pageant is taken care of. Thanks to Joyce and the Altar Guild, the church will be ready and look like Christmas on time. Thanks to Mark and the choir, the church will sound like Christmas. Thanks to Kristy and Chad, our acolytes have been scheduled and are ready to go. Things are coming together.

And, if you haven't noticed, this Christmas is different from other Christmases in a long time because it falls on Monday. The last time Christmas was on Monday was in 2006. I was still in Montana.

Christmas on Monday poses an interesting problem in the church because the day before is both the Fourth Sunday of Advent as well as Christmas Eve. This can be a stressful time for clergy, musicians, altar guild, parish secretaries, spouses of all the above, and any number of other people involved in the life of the church. But nobody said that being a worshiping community, let alone a Christian, would always be easy. There are times when things aren't as convenient as we would like.

With that in mind, I would encourage you to participate as fully as possible this coming weekend – both on Advent IV, Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning. We are a community that worships, and sometimes, like Holy Week or when Christmas falls on a Monday, that means we have the opportunity to worship God many times in a condensed period of time.

However you choose or are able to celebrate this Christmas, whether your home resembles a Currier and Ives photograph or not, whether you are traveling or staying home, whether you are hosting parties or have been invited as guests, may you remember to breathe these next few days and may you have a most blessed Christmas season.

In closing, I will leave you with a Christmas video of St. John's from 2011 that our own Helen Stevens put together. Some of the faces have changed and some new faces are missing, but it is a lovely visual of this place in this season that is our spiritual home:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPF8BHAx4fw

Merry Christmas,

December 13, 2017

A hermeneutic of love.

Hermeneutics is, basically, defined as “a general theory of how people interpret stuff.” This can apply to all kinds of things. For instance, if you are a chef, you may apply a hermeneutic of cooking to a travel log of Europe. If you are a historian, you may apply a hermeneutic of history to a novel about colonial America. If you are a referee, you may apply a hermeneutic of officiating to any game you happen to be watching.

Hermeneutics, however, tends to be specifically focused on biblical reading/study; because, honestly, nobody really talks about the hermeneutics of officiating.

I have a friend named Paul whom I've mentioned before. Paul and I have a standing appointment on Mondays to discuss where we are each coming from in our particular biblical interpretations and my sermons. Paul leans more conservative and evangelical than I do, and he really doesn't have any experience with liturgical churches, let alone the Episcopal church, and ever since we met he's been fascinated with my take on scripture. So we get together every Monday and talk and/or study and reflect on scripture. Our first attempt at this was the book of Ruth, and now we're tackling Colossians.

Paul is also a historian, so he tends to come at texts with a hermeneutic of history behind him – what was society like when this was written, who was it addressed to, what was the author trying to get across in that time and place, and the like.

And in our most recent session, he asked me, “What hermeneutic are you using when you read scripture and as you develop your sermon? What is your baseline that you want your people to know?”

In good Episcopal fashion I said, “That depends.”

But after sorting out and pushing to the side all of what depends, I eventually said, “I suppose I operate from a hermeneutic of love.”

That opened up a whole new can of worms. But in essence I said this:

All of scripture is trying to bring humanity and God back into a full and complete relationship. The prophets called us to return to God. God is continually searching for ways to reach us. Scripture shows our struggle to understand God. Jesus showed us what it looks like to live in complete harmony with the will of God. Jesus taught God what it is to be human. And all through the Old and New Testaments, love is at the center.

If we read scripture in a way that belittles, ostracizes, casts off, treats others as less-than, or treats ourselves as more-than or better-than, we are reading scripture incorrectly. And the only way to properly read scripture is with an eye toward the restoration of humanity and God to a full and complete relationship. That is a hermeneutic of love.

How are you reading scripture? More importantly, how are you reading life?

Blessings,

December 6, 2017

Wait.

We generally don't like that word.

We got tired of waiting, so check-out lines of 12 items or less were invented. When we got tired of waiting there, or when we got tired of dealing with people who brought 15 items to the line, self-checkout kiosks were invented. We are annoyed at having to wait at railroad crossings. We are apparently to impatient to wait at stoplights that, as long as nobody is coming from the other direction, we don't care what color the light is. We couldn't wait for dinner to be baked in the oven, so microwave ovens were created to cut cooking time to five minutes or less; and sometimes five minutes is too long.

I have to go through three stoplights in quick succession on my way to the office. I've learned that if stoplight #1 turns red at the right time, I can turn left to avoid it and come out ahead.

We have entered the Season of Advent where waiting is not only part of the process, it's the entire focus of the season. In Advent, we wait for the coming of Christ – both in the manger and at the end of days. The birth, like the end of days, will come at a time of Christ's own choosing; for nobody can tell a baby when to arrive, and nobody can tell God incarnate when to return. And so we wait. We wait, and we prepare.

Christmas decorations are going up in homes all over. For some, that means a lot; for others, it is just a few. But how many of us, when we get to the magic date on the calendar (November 1 for the holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, the day before Advent, some other time?) rush to find, unpack, decorate, and place all of our decorations as quickly as possible? I think we do this so that we can enjoy the full impact of the holiday season. Or maybe it's because we're in competition with our neighbors who have already put up their outside lights. Add to all of that the rush to remove Christmas decorations as soon after Christmas as possible and it is clear we don't like waiting.

Why the rush? Christmas will come as it always does. And, as a side note, if you want to participate in the “war on Christmas,” hold neighborhood Christmas parties and go Christmas caroling in the days between December 25 and January 6, being sure to remind people that these are the 12 Days of Christmas.

But back to Advent – why the rush? Advent is the season of waiting. It is the season of hopeful expectation. It is the season we need to take time and intentionally slow down.

This Advent, try doing things a little slower. Take some time and read Luke 1:1 – 2:20 over the next few weeks, not rushing through the story, but taking time to hear and listen what is being said there. If your tree isn't up, try decorating it in stages. If you have a nativity set, begin the practice of walking the pieces toward the manger as Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Don't be in such a rush to get to Christmas that you miss the beauty around you while you wait for his arrival.

Blessings,

November 29, 2017

Creation is not so much an event that took place at the beginning as a process initiated then and completed by the age to come – Rowan A. Greer, quoted in “Blessed Are the Image-Bearers: Gregory of Nyssa and the Beatitudes,” Rebekah Eklund, The Anglican Theological Review, Fall 2017.

We are in the last week of Ordinary Time, the Season after Pentecost. This coming Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of a new year on the Church calendar. It also marks the beginning of the season of waiting, of hopeful expectation, of looking forward to the coming of Christ while looking back to his birth.

In Bethlehem, God participated in the miracle of birth. This incarnational event was the result of God's active participation in the very human event of creating a new life.

As we look back to both the beginning and back to the first coming of Jesus we can see the hand of God at work. “In the beginning, God said, 'Let there be light.' And there was.” In the beginning there was a child born to a homeless couple in the shelter of an animal stall. Yet neither of these events were the last word of creation.

As Paul wrote in Romans, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.” All of creation is moving toward its fulfillment on the last day. In Advent, we wait expectantly and hopefully for that last day, while also participating in the ongoing movement of creation.

How would our perspective on creation – both the creation of the physical world around us and ourselves as created beings – change if we saw creation not as a one-and-done event, but as an ongoing process that leads to the ultimate fulfillment of God's purpose on the last day? How would our perspective on creation change if we saw ourselves as active participants in God's creation rather than as consumers using what God had already produced?

This Advent, may you see the world around you in a new way. This Advent, may you see the world around you as the unfinished story of creation that you are helping to write.

Blessings,

November 22, 2017

Silence is golden – ancient proverb

This old proverb was on my mind most of last week as I struggled with a bout of laryngitis. But as I struggled to talk, as I entered into a period of self-imposed silence, and as I looked for creative ways to communicate, I began to wonder if this old proverb was correct . . . was silence golden?

For those who know me well, you know that I tend to lean toward the introvert side of the scale. My motto for conversations could very well be, “Why use ten words when one will do?” And silence is less often awkward than it is a respite from trying to think of things to say.

But even I was having difficulty with the loss of my voice and the inability to speak. It seemed that during this time silence wasn't golden as much as it seemed to be a millstone around my neck.

What was it that made silence golden as opposed to annoying?

When the work crew that has been jack-hammering and digging and hauling outside your window all day suddenly stops, the overwhelming silence that follows is golden. When the neighbor's dog finally stops barking, silence is golden. When you walk into a quiet house after a long commute, silence is golden. When you sit with a good friend or your beloved without saying a word but are happy to be in their presence, silence is golden. When you spend time with God in quiet prayer, silence is golden. When you have the wherewithal to not respond in kind to verbal attacks, silence is golden.

But silence is not golden for the child placed in a timeout. Silence is not golden for people who have been shunned by their community. Silence is not golden for the person who is not allowed to voice personal concerns. Silence is not golden for abuse victims who are forced to remain silent out of fear.

As with anything, I suppose, whether silence is golden or not all depends on the context.

With Advent a week and a half away, and with its focus on slowing down and waiting, spend some time looking for the silent places in your life – when do you have silence thrust upon you and when do you intentionally become silent?

And if you don't have enough times of silence in your life, work to carve out some silent time in an otherwise hectic and noisy world. Sit, pray, think, and notice what you may have been missing. Hopefully it will be in those times that you will indeed find that silence is golden.

Blessings,

November 15, 2017

At least five women have come forward to state that they were victims of sexual misconduct by Roy Moore, Republican Senate candidate and Alabama Chief Justice, while they were teenagers and he was an adult. He was also, according to reports, well-known for trying to pick up teenage girls at an Alabama mall, from which he was apparently banned.

“Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter.” – Jim Zeigler, Alabama state auditor, in defense of Roy Moore.

This is the current abuse scandal making its way through the news cycle. A few weeks ago it was Harvey Weinstein. President Trump has openly bragged about how he has treated women in the past. President Bill Clinton was brought up on charges of sexual misconduct. President Kennedy was a womanizer. Comedian CK Louis was recently accused of sexual misconduct, as was Kevin Spacey. The list, unfortunately, goes on and on and on and on and on.

That list knows no party affiliations or boundaries. It infiltrates faith communities, crossing denominational and religious lines. It includes rich and poor alike. It doesn't discriminate by sexual orientation. And, although much lower in numbers, it also crosses gender lines where men are the victims of abuse at the hands of women.

Abuse, sexual or otherwise, is based on power – who has it and who doesn't. And the only way we can begin to curb this problem is to make victims feel safe, to make reporting it normative, to publicly call out and prosecute abusers, to stop using religion and faith as behavioral excuses, and to stop making victims feel responsible for the actions of the abuser.

Our faith tells us we are not to abuse widows or orphans. Our faith calls us to care for and protect the most vulnerable of our society. Our baptismal creed mandates – MANDATES – that we love our neighbors as ourselves and that we respect the dignity of every human being.

Abuse is neither a sign of love or of respect. Preying on vulnerable people in order to satisfy personal urges, or simply because we can, is wrong, illegal, and antichrist.

How much better would we be if our “deeply held religious beliefs” caused us to work for the safety and care of those in vulnerable positions rather than driving us to fight for the right to discriminate and abuse all while hanging the 10 Commandments on a courtroom wall?

Blessings,

November 8, 2017

In the words of Kool and the Gang . . . “Celebrate good times!”

This past Sunday was All Saints' Sunday, the day we transferred the celebration of All Saints' Day to the Sunday following (the only major feast on a fixed day that can be moved like that). And we celebrated.

We celebrated the lives of the saints who have gone before us and with whom we are knit together in the communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Christ our Lord.

We celebrated the lives of loved ones who died this past year as we remembered them by name in the opening procession.

We celebrated and renewed our baptismal vows.

We celebrated one year together as parish and priest.

And we closed out the day with the celebration of our annual Choral Evensong service.

It was a good day. It has been a good year. None of it has been perfect, but it has been good. And good is good; after all, God ended creation on a good note.

On this Wednesday, I simply want to say thank you to everyone who helped make all of those celebrations possible. Thank you to everyone who participated. Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy anniversary. Thank you to everyone who has offered prayers, support, and kindness over this past year. You have been a blessing in more ways than you can possibly know.

As I said in the sermon, I am proud to be a part of this congregation. I am grateful to be your priest. I am thankful for all you do as ministers of the church and saints of God.

It has been a good year, and I look forward to celebrating many more with you.

Blessings,

Sermon; All Saints' Sunday 2017; Year A

Today marks the one-year anniversary of my first Sunday at St. John's, of my first experience of this congregation at worship, and of your first experience of me as the incoming Rector of this parish. I say it this way intentionally because the role of rector is position-based, while the role of priest is relational-based. One year ago I did not arrive as your new priest, I arrived as your new rector. And I say it that way because any fool with a degree can be a rector, but it takes a special kind of fool to be a priest.

A rector is defined within the Constitution and Canons as a person elected to have full authority and responsibility for the conduct of worship and the spiritual jurisdiction of the Parish, subject to the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution and Canons of this Church, and the pastoral direction of the Bishop.

The Rector shall also at all times be entitled to the use and control of the Church and Parish buildings, together with all appurtenances (that means, “accessory;” I had to look it up) and furniture, and have access to all records and registers maintained by or on behalf of the congregation for the purposes of all functions and duties pertaining thereto.

In other words, it is a necessary position in this church so that we can function as a church. You don't necessarily need ME as much as you need the position.

A priest, though, is something different. A priest is one who is called to not only proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but is one who will love and serve the people among whom the priest works, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. A priest is to preach, to declare God's forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God's blessing, to share in the celebration of the Holy Mysteries, and to perform other ministrations entrusted to him or her.

During the course of 2015 and 2016 the parish and Search Team did their due diligence and decided that a guy from Oregon should be the 28^th Rector of St. John's Parish. And I'm sure they hoped that I would become your next priest. Of course, they may not have known there was a difference; but maybe they did. That search ended with an offered and accepted call, a cross country move, arriving in the office on November 1, and our first worship experience together on All Saints' Sunday.

Over this past year I have officiated at several funerals, baptized three children, led one confirmation class, and officiated at one wedding. I have tweaked the Sunday liturgy and I have added daily Evening Prayer. Which reminds me, tonight is the annual solemn Evensong service at 5 and you are all welcome to come back and worship again in that ancient service. I have made uncounted hospital visits, dropped in at homes both announced and unannounced, called people on birthdays and anniversaries, Rambled 13 or 14 times, and generated 52-ish Wednesday Words. Some of this I got right, some of it I've gotten wrong, but I've always tried to give it my best shot.

There are other things that have happened over this past year that we have shared and which we may or may not remember, but the point to all of this is that being your priest is much more than being the Rector of St. John's. As I said, it takes a special kind of fool to be a priest; and Mrs. Ref, The Kid, and I were probably more than a little foolish when we agreed to live on the other side of the country. But it has been good, there have been no regrets, and I will be happy to continue to be considered your fool.

I've touched on a few things about this past year, but it's important for you to know that the three of us have enjoyed getting to know the area, the people of this parish, and people in other walks of life. The Kid found a job, has met some people, and made a few friends along the way. Mrs. Ref also found a job and is making friends in and around church. I, as you know, got hooked up with the local officiating group and have spent the fall working games with a good bunch of guys. And, most importantly, I'm getting to know you all better every day.

One way this “getting to know you” manifests itself is at the Communion rail. I realize that I can now call most of you by name without seeing your name tag (that doesn't mean you can stop wearing them). But I'm also learning more about you in deeper ways. As I move down the rail I know who has been sick and or hospitalized, who is having family difficulties, who has been hit with tragedy, who is experiencing good times, who has just received a blessing, who is happy, and who is sad. I carry all of these joys, sadnesses, trials, tribulations, celebrations, and sometimes more, with me every day. And on Sunday morning I see all of this played out at the Communion rail.

It can be a burden, yes, but it is also an honor and blessing to be let into your lives in such a way. This is the role of a priest. If you want a visible symbol of that role and of the office of priest, look at the stole. The stole is used to wrap the hands of newlyweds at the marriage blessing. The stole is used to cover the sins of the penitent. The stole is worn like a yoke. So when Jesus said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” the stole is the visible symbol of what he meant.

But it is not only personal, family, or spiritual issues that identify you to me; it is also what you offer to the life of St. John's. When I move down the Communion rail I also see fellow ministers who feed the hungry, visit the sick, show hospitality, sing out joyfully, help to maintain this beautiful house of worship, and so much more. We are, all of us, the ministers of St. John's Parish and the face of God in this place.

We are all in this together, you and I. We all stand with, support, and encourage one another. We are not only the face of God in this place, but we are also the physical representation of all the saints of the faith, of those who came before and of those who will come after. As the Collect says, “We have been knit together in one fellowship in the mystical body of Christ our Lord.”

And today this brings up a question: Who are the saints of God? Well, you could look at our opening hymn – one was a doctor, one was a queen, one was a soldier, and one was slain by a fierce wild priest. You could also run down a list of them: Ambrose, Benedict, Cecilia, Francis, Hilda, Julian, Laurence, Perpetua, Polycarp, Peter, Andrew, James, John, and more. Great people of the faith who dedicated and sometimes lost their lives for the sake of Christ.

A friend of mine who is also a priest and a USAF chaplain had a quote up on his Facebook page in honor of All Saints' Day. It's a quote by Br. Robert L'Esperance, SSJE, and it gives one of the best definitions of a saint that I've seen:

Saints were men and women who understood the challenges of living the

gospel in the context of their own places and times. They are remembered

because they lived it with imagination and devotion. They used what they

had been given to live their lives into the freedom of the kingdom.

Men and women who understood the challenges of living the gospel in the context of their own places and times. I would like to think that is us.

We have particular challenges facing us today in the living out of the gospel that weren't there 25, 50, 100, or even 10 years ago. Our challenges today will not be the challenges of our children. What are some of those challenges facing us today?

In the midst of the pledge drive, Fred would want me to mention finances. But that is always the case. What other challenges do we face?

Some challenges include: How do we effectively communicate with people who live within our sphere of influence? Do we know what God wants us to do? How are we spending our time? Do we have an adequate level of outreach? Do our neighbors know we are here? Do we offer deep, meaningful worship? Do we offer worship other than Sunday morning? What is not our Average Sunday Attendance, but what is our Average Weekly Impact?

These are some of the challenges facing us today. Are we up to the task? Are we ready to live as a saint of God in today's world? To co-opt and paraphrase a lyric from Sir Paul, “I look around me and I hope that it's really so.”

Over the past year we have come to know each other a little more deeply. Over the past year I hope I have come to be seen not just as the 28^th Rector of St. John's Parish but as your priest. Over the past year I have hoped and prayed that this trend will continue for many more years.

This is a holy and good place that I'm proud to be a part of. This is a holy and good place that my family is happy to call home. This is a place that is learning to live life as a saint of God.

And really, that's what the celebration of All Saints' is all about: Remembering that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and remembering that we have been knit together in one fellowship in the mystical body of Christ our Lord.

Today we celebrate All Saints' Day. We remember those who came before and those who are among us now. We are all saints of God. Let us face our challenges together, let us live with imagination and devotion, let us live our lives into the freedom of the kingdom, and let us never forget that we all bear the image of Christ on our souls and that we are God's representatives and messengers here and now.

Amen.

November 1, 2016

Our pledge presentations continue this week as we hear from Steve A. about his experience with St. John's and why he pledges.

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Good Morning, Family.

Our journey with the Episcopal Church started 5 years ago in a rural town in Southeastern Indiana.  We were invited by a friend to attend a presentation hosted by PFlag on the LGBT community and religion.  I shared my story of being told by a church when I was 13 years old to wear a rubber band around my wrist and that every time I thought about someone of the same gender I should pull the rubber band away from my wrist as far as I could and let it snap back to help break me of this habit.  I told other stories of rejection I experienced in the church growing up as well and that I had not attended a church for over 25 years due to this rejection. 

The lady sitting in front of us was the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Madison, IN, and she turned around with tears in her eyes, handed us a business card and said, “You are welcome at our church."  This was said with such love and acceptance and genuineness that we went to church there that Sunday.  We were confirmed a year later with a group of people that included a lesbian couple and a transgendered woman who cried when the Bishop laid hands on her head.  This was rural Southeast Indiana.  The healing we experienced by being welcomed into a faith community was transformative beyond words. Being in a church as myself was something I had never experienced before and missed it more than I knew. 

When we left Madison and moved to Hagerstown, we were sure we could never have that experience again.  Kyle coined a term for this fear called, “Parish relocation anxiety” and we talked on the phone with our rector as she encouraged us to try the local Episcopal church.  Three years ago we walked though those doors and, almost as soon as our back sides hit the pew, Sara Ann and Will  appeared out of nowhere and the welcomed us with love.  They took us all over town to show us the best restaurants, Krumpe’s Donuts, and made sure we knew where to go to get what we needed.  They welcomed us to this church and to the community.  In an instant, the love we felt in Indiana was multiplied ten-fold.  What a God we have!  This was truly a place of love and kindness.  The liturgy here continues to bring me to tears at times.  The choirs and this magnificent organ are beyond beautiful and choke me up every Sunday.  We love this place.  As I look out today, I see some of the best friends we ever had.  I can’t tell you what that means to us. 

But that welcome, love, healing, and grace shown to us these past five years was just the beginning for me.  I found quickly that what I received, beyond measure, only multiplies exponentially as it is given away.  So, quickly, my work as a psychologist had new meaning and almost limitless joy.  Working on the search committee and watching God bring Father Todd, Joelene, and Cece to be part of this grand cause was a breath-taking and joyous experience for me.  Giving time, treasure, and talent with you, together, as a family, through love, has been the most beautiful experience of my life.

Someone reached out and connected with me, with love, and that love and grace changes lives.

While we all are different and arrived here today from different places and experiences and backgrounds, we move forward together as a family by reaching out to others and working together to share this most beautiful of gifts with all.

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Thank you, Steve, for your words this past Sunday to all who were present, and thank you for allowing us to publish them to a wider audience. 

October 25, 2017

As you are probably very aware, we are in the midst of our annual pledge drive here at St. John's. By now you have received my letter, along with the letter from the Stewardship Commission that included a pledge card, a proportional giving chart, and a return envelope. The goal is to have as many pledge cards as possible returned by November 12, when we we close out the pledge drive with a Celebration Sunday and coffee hour hosted by the Vestry.

In my letter I encouraged you to be bold in Christ. Whether that was by adding St. John's to your personal budget, giving on a regular basis, or becoming a pledger or tither. Another aspect of being bold in Christ is being taken on by several people whom I have asked to present a short talk about their life at St. John's. This past Sunday, Tammy Martinez boldly stepped into the lectern and told us (briefly) about her life in the church.

Today's Wednesday Word is presented by Tammy M:

Praise the Lord, church?!!
Church responds: Praise the Lord!
(**Note: This took a couple of times, but we got it – Fr. Todd)

My name is Tamara. My husband Allan and I have been members for almost four years. My Christian background is uncommon yet interesting, and I don’t believe I’m just here by mere coincidence; so I’d like to share my story on stewardship and why it’s important for me. To illuminate on stewardship's importance I have to tell you a little about myself… I’m from Frederick. I grew up in a Pentecostal church. Yes, we believe in speaking in tongues and the HOLY GHOST. Not the just the Holy Spirit, but THE. HOLY. GHOST. My foundation was rooted in going to church and I loved it. We had the best choir and band, we could sing and we praised the Lord! It was at my little church named “Open Door Christian Community Church of God” where I truly fell in love with God. The Spirit was alive and contagious and it resonated in my soul.

My mother is a holy woman who loves the LORD and she made sure her children did too. We were the kids who were always at church: we were in the choir, we were always at the 1^st and 2^nd service, we were there when other churches visited, and we even stayed to clean up. So tithing, or in Episcopal terms “pledging,” was as common to me as singing in the choir. My mother always paid her tithes no matter what she had or what she didn’t have. I remember when I was a child I asked her why she did it, and she said that when she pledges her rewards are multiplied, and that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7). At first, I didn’t understand. I thought that it meant we would receive money back from God; but as I became older I realized it meant in all ways my rewards would be multiplied …peace, happiness, job security, wisdom, grace … And so I support all our stewardship endeavors because all my help, my happiness, my blessings, this amazing church family of St. John's are not a mere coincidence, and my foundation is the church. Amen.

Thank you, Tammy. And may you and your family continue to both bless and be blessed by the people of St. John's.

October 18, 2017

For the past two days, late Sunday afternoon through early Tuesday afternoon, I was away at the annual diocesan clergy conference which was held at the Claggett Retreat Center just outside of Buckeystown. This was my first in the Diocese of Maryland, as last year at this time, according to Facebook, I was hanging out with a group of friends in Ann Arbor, MI, four days out from our arrival in Hagerstown. It was a couple of days of fun, fellowship, learning, and relaxation.

Our keynote speaker was Bp. Andy Doyle of the Diocese of Texas and his topic, which was unnamed but if I had to title it, was, “Do we know what we are doing?”

Some questions he asked: Do I know what God wants me to do? How am I spending my time? What are our goals? What things do we cut out of church that don't fit our understanding or desires?

Some statements he made: Ferris Bueller's Day Off is really a gospel story about a guy who hangs out with the wrong people and challenges the status quo. A focus on ASA (average Sunday attendance) drives who we focus on as a parish/rector. Are we remembering to focus on people outside of our building – namely the neighborhood around the parish? Jesus' parables weren't meant to be nice morality stories, they were meant to shatter commonplace ideas. We need to constantly look for new ways to communicate with and engage people outside of our walls (Facebook, live streams, twitter). Technology isn't a tool for those under 30, it's an appendage; so stop griping about it.

I'm hoping to use some, or maybe all, of these snippets as a starting point for discussions with the Vestry and various Commissions. What are some new and creative ways we can be the Church? How else might we engage our neighborhood? Do we have a driving mission?

But it wasn't all work.

I got a chance to take a 2-1/2 hour nap on Monday, and then took a walk down to the family graveyard where at least one confirmed but unknown slave was buried. I was able to connect with some people who are becoming friends. I played a card game called Exploding Kittens. I shot some pool, winning three out of four games. And I watched as several of my colleagues sang karaoke and danced, of which both Bp. Eugene and Bp.Chilton, participated. There are photos, and at least one person has video.

And we worshiped. Compline on Sunday, Morning and Night Prayer on Monday, and Eucharist on Sunday were all times to gather and worship. It was good to be part of a community that worshiped on a regular basis, and it reminded me of why I offer Evening Prayer and Wednesday Eucharist during the week – because while Sunday Eucharist is good, it's also good to have regular daily worship.

So, what did I take away from all of this? 1) We need to do the hard work of continually questioning, challenging, and reaching out if we are to bring God's presence into the lives of those around us; 2) We need to remember that this IS hard work and it's vital to get some rest; 3) We need to remember those who have gone before; 4) We need to find ways to stay connected; 5) We need to remember to have fun; and, 6) We need to worship often.

Blessings,

October 11, 2017

But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. – Luke 5:16

Depending on how you count, there are at least seven instances where the gospels record Jesus as going away either alone or with the disciples to pray. It is generally accepted that the earthly ministry of Jesus lasted three years; so we can extrapolate that these times of prayer, either in solitude or with his companions, happened roughly twice a year.

I bring this up because life can be hectic. We get involved in work, or school, or our children's activities, or this or that, and, before you know it, it seems like we have no time for ourselves. I remember as a young child seeing visions of life in the 2000's with images of relaxation, ease, and leisure. Technology and the upward swing of society in general was supposed to make life easier and more fun. That hasn't turned out to be the case; and some might argue that we are more busy than we have ever been. Gone are the days of riding bikes or spending time in the park as long as we were home by dinner. Now it seems that every moment of every day is scheduled with some kind of activity.

I'm not necessarily calling for a return to simpler times, although that would be nice, but I am calling for us to pay attention to our lives – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Like Jesus, we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our lives; but unlike Jesus, we probably have a tendency to forget to spend time in intentional prayer.

I hope we all pray something at some point every day. Whether that is a rule of morning prayer, prayers over our meals, prayers for safe travel to and from work, or prayers at bedtime, we probably all pray something some time. But is it intentional? Do we make time to “withdraw to deserted places and pray?”

I'm guessing not.

With that in mind, I invite you to come away to a quiet place this Saturday, October 14, for the DOK-sponsored Quiet Day. Like Jesus, these happen roughly twice a year. Like Jesus, it is a time of reflection and quiet prayer as we spend some intentional time with God.

I know life is hectic. I know our schedules are busy. I know it's hard to carve out some time away from all of that to just sit and “be,” but it's also necessary. As Christians we claim to follow and try to emulate the life of Christ. Yes, this is all of the stuff about loving God, loving neighbor, bearing good fruit, and so much else; but it is also about following his example of carving out time away from the rush and crush of our everyday lives to spend time with God.

I invite you therefore, to follow the example of Jesus and withdraw to St. John's this Saturday for some intentional time with God.

Blessings,

October 4, 2017

Tucson, AZ: January 8, 2011; 6 killed, 11 wounded

Seal Beach, CA: October 12, 2011; 8 killed, 1 wounded

Oakland, CA: April 2, 2012; 7 killed, 1 wounded

Aurora, CO: July 2, 2012; 12 killed, 58 wounded

Oak Creek, WI: August 5, 2012; 6 killed, 3 wounded

Minneapolis, MN: September 28; 2012; 6 killed, 2 wounded

Brookfield, WI: October 21, 2012; 3 killed, 4 wounded

Newtown, CT: December 14, 2012; 27 killed, 1 wounded

Washington, DC: September 16, 2013; 12 killed, 3 wounded

Fort Hood, TX: April 2, 2014; 3 killed, 16 wounded

Isla Vista, CA: May 23, 2014; 6 killed, 7 wounded

Charleston, SC: June 18, 2015; 9 killed

Chattanooga, TN: July 16, 2015; 5 killed, 3 wounded

Roseburg, OR: October 1, 2015; 9 killed, 9 wounded

Colorado Springs, CO: November 29, 2015; 3 killed, 9 wounded

San Bernardino, CA: December 2, 2015; 14 killed, 22 wounded

Orlando, FL: June 12, 2016; 49 killed, 58 wounded

Las Vegas, NV: October 1, 2017; at least 58 killed, at least 515 wounded

"This is the price of freedom," Bill O'Reilly.

“My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families,” Donald Trump.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out,” Almost Everyone

“You shall not murder,” God, Exodus 20:18

“So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead,” James 2:17

“How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?” Ps. 62:3

How long will we continue to view random killings of innocent people as the price of freedom?

How long will we continue to offer nothing more than condolences, thoughts, and prayers?

How long will we continue to pray for the dead rather than protect the living?

How long will we continue to refuse to put our faith into action?

How long will we continue to assail and batter those we deem unworthy and/or expendable?

How long?

September 27, 2017

But I say to you that listen, 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.' – Jesus, Luke 6:27-28

There is no shortage of distressing news making the rounds. Not only distressing news, but news that elevates tension and anxiety. And it is not only the news that elevates tension and anxiety, but any number of responses to any number of stories regarding any number of positions.

Whether it's the debate over whether or not football players should stand for the national anthem, or whether the focus is on the president's numerous twitter posts, or whether the focus is on national healthcare, or whether the focus is on any number of other issues, comments, opinions, and replies have been . . . well . . . less than charitable.

What has been particularly distressing for me has been to hear or read any number of comments from Christians formed with invective, spiteful, derogatory, or simply hateful speech.

We live in a political world. Living together as a community – whether as a nation, municipality, parish, or family – is political. At its core, politics is nothing more than how we live together. To paraphrase Jesus, “When two or three are gathered together, you will have politics.”

And when you have two or three or more gathered together, there will be a variety of opinions. Some of which you will agree and some of which you will disagree.

We don't always have to agree with each other. I still love my wife and remain in a relationship with her despite our many disagreements over the years.

But as Christians we must do better in our disagreements. We must not allow ourselves to devolve into spewing forth the rage and hatred toward those with whom we disagree. As Christians we must continually strive to follow not only in the steps of Christ, but in how he spoke to his enemies and those who hated him. We must work to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who abuse us.

In your comments, in your tweets, in your Facebook posts, are you emulating Christ, or are you allowing rage to rule your tongue?

Blessings,

September 20, 2017

“Because of my political views, which are arguably religious, it will be impossible for me to trust two attorneys that are my political and biological enemies.” – Dylann Roof

There was a story yesterday that popped up on my news feed about Dylann Roof, the white supremacist and domestic terrorist who killed nine people in a Charleston, SC, church just over two years ago. He is apparently unhappy with his two court-appointed lawyers, one of which is Jewish and one of which is Indian, and wants them removed from his case.

His hatred for non-whites runs so deep that he is repulsed at the idea of having to come under any sort of influence or contact with those he deems inferior.

Years ago I was watching an episode of “The Jeffersons,” and George mistakenly got involved with a group of white supremacists (he interpreted their talk of “cleaning up the building” to be something quite different). During the meeting, the leader had a heart attack and George was the only one who knew CPR and he saved this man's life. As he was being loaded into the ambulance, the son tells the dad it was George who saved him. “You should have let me die.”

Hatred for those not like us can run deep. And that hatred is real; not just some scripted scene playing out on a sitcom, as witnessed by the actions of Dylann Roof and others.

We are living in conflicted times when those who hold opinions and beliefs like Dylann, and those who teach and recruit others into that belief system are no longer hiding in the shadows. They are comfortable enough to come out into the open speaking out against the presence and existence of those not like them. This is bad news.

But the good news is that these people are now visible. The hatred with which these people are driven is now exposed to the world. We have the opportunity to stand up against that hatred. We have the opportunity to be counted as those who stand opposed to hatred, not only the hatred espoused by Dylann and other white supremacists, but the hatred of those opposing them.

We not only have the opportunity to do this, we have a moral, ethical, and theological obligation to stand up and speak out against hatred. We must not be silent. And we must not return violence with violence.

The hatred of Dylann Roof and those of his ilk runs deep; and that is very bad news.

Love runs deeper; and that is very good news.

Blessings,

September 6, 2017

Welcome.

That word has several different connotations. In one sense it conveys a place of generosity, hospitality, inclusion, safety, and maybe comfort. People, my wife and I included, often have “Welcome” mats at their front door. I've seen many a banner or flag hanging near a front door proclaiming the same message.

I've often wondered to myself, “What would happen if I showed up at one of those doors, knocked, and asked to come in?” And then I've wondered if my reception would be different based on how I was dressed. What would happen if I showed up in a grungy t-shirt, pants down past my backside with boxer shorts plainly visible, and my Carmel's Goosetown Mafia hat worn sideways? What would happen if I showed up with ripped jeans, torn shirt, and blood dripping down my face? What would happen if I showed up in a suit and tie carrying any number of “Jesus Loves You” brochures? Or a suitcase labeled, “Fuller Brush?” What would happen if I were black?

You can play any number of those scenarios out in your mind's eye, but until you actually try it you won't really know.

It also works the other way. “What would happen,” we can ask ourselves, “if someone actually shows up at my front door saying, 'I saw the welcome sign; may I come in?'”

In essence this is what we do every Sunday at St. John's. We hang a sign out front that says, “Welcome,” and we open our doors inviting anyone and everyone to enter this house we care for. Do we mean it? If we think we do, are we prepared for what might happen?

Are we prepared for the baggy-pantsed, backward-hat wearing young adult to come in and lounge in a pew? Are we prepared to receive the well-dressed, religiously earnest salesperson? Are we ready to cope with the beaten, bloodied, victim needing assistance? Are we willing to not shush the young families with babies who cry during sermons?

I think, hope, and pray that we are.

This Sunday we will celebrate St. John's Day and Ministry Fair. This is the day you will get to see all, or almost all, of the ministries this parish supports and participates in. This is the day you will have the opportunity to offer your time and talent to any of those ministries. This is the day when we are specifically reminded that all are welcome here at St. John's.

And this is the day when we should process what that word, Welcome, means to us both corporately and individually.

And as we move forward, it's worth contemplating how others perceive our words of welcome, and whether or not we live up to expectations.

Blessings,

August 30, 2017

“How was your day?”

“Fine.”

“What did you do?”

And so begins a typical conversation in a typical working-household on a typical night around the county after everyone has regathered at home following the work day.

What did I do today?

That can be a difficult question for me to answer because sometimes this job isn't necessarily about results or accomplishments or checking things off the to-do list. There are things that certainly have to get done . . . I have to make sure hymns have been selected; I have to make sure the bulletin is proofed; I have to make sure a sermon gets written. And those are the days when I know I'm doing something.

What did I do today?

I drove. A lot. I had four conversations. All important.

I met with the wife whose husband is dying and we discussed funeral plans. This is always good work, but it is also always hard work. It was a good conversation and I believe that she is in a place where the stress of worrying about the funeral service is now one less thing to be worried about. And we prayed.

I met with the husband. Due to timing, I wasn't able to spend very long with him, but the conversation was also good. He, too, is in a place that, for at least today, seemed to be fully aware and comfortable with this stage of life. And we prayed.

I talked with a friend of the above who has been asked to participate in the funeral. He had some good insights, for which I am appreciative. I gave him an update, for which he was appreciative. And together we will work to honor God, the husband, and care for the wife.

And I talked with the Chair of the Stewardship Commission about the upcoming pledge drive. We laid out a timeline. We set some goals. We bantered about the overall theme of the campaign. We came away feeling positive about where St. John's currently is and where we are headed.

What did I do today? Not much; just talked to a few people. But sometimes it's the conversations that make for good days.

How was your day?

Blessings

August 23, 2017

Why do we not respect the traditions of our elders?

This past Sunday's gospel was a long passage beginning with Jesus' explanation that it isn't what enters the mouth that defiles, but that it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles. It ended with the story of the Canaanite woman persisting in her quest for assistance on behalf of her daughter, and Jesus finally granting that request. In my sermon I said that what we say, how we say it, and how we treat others is more important to God than our holding up the dubious traditions of our elders.

While I covered a lot of ground, I probably could have/should have said more about that last part. I'll blame the lectionary for that oversight.

Sunday's gospel began with Jesus telling the crowd it isn't what goes into the mouth but what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person. We missed the reason for that teaching. Jesus had been approached by Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem who wanted to know why his disciples didn't wash their hands before eating, thereby breaking the traditions of the elders.

This act of washing, however, was a law only for the priests (Ex. 30:17-21). At some point this law for priests became a tradition for the people and evolved into “It's always been part of our heritage.”

Today we face the same conflict over a belief in a tradition that “has always been part of our heritage” versus an understanding of how we treat people in the name of what is morally right. That conflict today is focused on, among other things, the removal of Confederate statues.

On the one hand, we have people claiming a loss of tradition and heritage. On the other hand, there are people who recognize that tradition and heritage for what it is – an attempt to remind people of color and other minorities of who is really in control.

As we engage this issue, we might want to pay attention to the words of both Christ and the prophet Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.”

We should then ask ourselves if we are more concerned with holding up the dubious traditions of our elders, or are we more concerned with holding up and living into the mandate of God as reflected in the prophets, apostles, and martyrs to do all things for all people in the manner of love?

Because, really, if we are more concerned with the dismantling of the symbols of hatred and oppression than we are with our failure to love our neighbor as ourselves, we are most likely getting it wrong.

August 16, 2017

When “All” doesn't mean all

There are churches who advertise, “Everyone welcome,” but experience has taught me that “Everyone” is often limited to, “Everyone who believes and behaves exactly as we do.” In response to this, I have often countered that when the Episcopal church (in general) and St. John's (in particular) says, “All are welcome,” we mean all – Democrats and Republicans, yellow, brown, black, and white, male and female, gay and straight, single, married, divorced, and remarried, poor and wealthy, saints and sinners, all means “All,” y'all.

However, with the recent rise and visibility of hate groups, the events this past weekend in Charlottesville, the news of the vandalism at Boston's Holocaust memorial, and the promise of these groups to become more active and visible, we should think seriously about what we mean by “All.”

Yes, all are welcome; and now, more than ever, we need to be outspoken about who is welcome. The list (or partial list if you can add to it) of who is welcome is in that first paragraph, and we should proclaim that as often as we can. I believe with my whole heart that St. John's is a special place where, as St. Paul said, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” is present and doing remarkable things.

At the same time, not all will be tolerated; and now, more than ever, we need to be just as outspoken about who will not be tolerated. We will not tolerate individuals who fight for segregation, removal, elimination, or degradation of others based on gender, skin color, sexuality, or nationality. We will not tolerate individuals who espouse a gospel of hate over the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will not tolerate individuals who believe the best place for minorities is under the boot of the majority. We will not tolerate individuals who twist the loving words of Christ and the Apostles into self-serving quotes of dominion and domination.

How might we be outspoken about this? Here are a few ideas. Refuse to accept stereotypes, name-calling, ridiculing, and belittling jokes by naming the offending acts, calling out the person saying these things, and ask pointed questions, i.e. “Is that really how you see/what you think of X?” Refuse to excuse bad behavior (“Boys will be boys”) and publicly name it for what it is – sexual harassment or abuse. Stop victim-blaming and speak up when it happens. Publicly question those who use the Bible as a club to beat others into submission.

And if you need some biblical help, here are a few places to begin:

“You shall love the alien as yourself” – Lev. 19:34

“Do justice, love kindness” – Micah 6:8

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, for all are one in Christ” – Gal. 3:28

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: care for orphans and widows” – James 1:27

“Love your neighbor as yourself” – Luke 10:27

By not bringing racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism and other hateful, sinful acts into the light, we are complicit in their spread through our silent approval.

Discipleship is hard. Speaking out against hate and bigotry is hard. But if we don't do it, who will?

August 9, 2017

I have accepted a call . . .

With those words I notified the Vestry on August 11, 2016 that I would be leaving the parish at the end of September and begin serving the parish of St. John's on November 1. On August 12, the official notice was broadly distributed to both parishes.

It was on August 2 or 3 in which I had a conversation with David Davis following up on my visit to Hagerstown. my wife and I had plenty of time to talk it over (being stuck at BWI helped), and came to the conclusion that this was the place. It was during that phone call where I accepted the offer to become the next rector of St. John's. And knowing how things happen, I asked that we keep silent and coordinate our announcement until August 12, allowing me to notify my Vestry first.

The time frame on my arrival in Hagerstown was presented as, “How soon can you get here?” But she had a diocesan D.O.K. meeting to coordinate, and I was in the middle of overseeing a somewhat major construction project that raised the chancel floor, moved the altar forward, and sent the choir behind the altar. Add to that the issue of finding a place to live and being able to see friends, family (and the Pacific Ocean) one last time before heading east – and that's how we settled on a November 1 start date.

With the help of several friends, we got packed up and planned the trip. I worked the first half of the football season before saying goodbye to that amazing group of men. Movers were selected, a car was shipped, and the great western farewell tour was underway. Stops in Seaside/Cannon Beach and Portland, OR; Olympia, Puyallup-ish, Wenatchee, and Spokane, WA; Sheridan and Bozeman, MT; Rapid City and Sioux Falls, ND; Someplace in MN; Chicago-land, IL; Detroit-area, MI; Canton, OH; and finally Hagerstown were on the itinerary. All along the way we saw friends and family and a few unexpected sights.

Many of you have heard this story before. Some have heard bits and pieces of it. I apologize if I'm repeating myself.

But the reason I'm making this the topic of today's Wednesday Word is that I looked at the calendar last week and realized that it was just about a year ago when the official announcement was made, and it seemed appropriate to recognize that.

My family and I have been here not quite a year. In that time we have felt welcomed and loved. Yes, there have been a few moments of difficulty, but there has never been a time when we think we made the wrong decision. As I look back on this past year, and as I reflect and write this edition of the Wednesday Word, the word of the day is . . . joy. That one small word expresses exactly what it means to be here. I hope you find this place to be as joy-filled as we have.

Blessings