October 27, 2021

A few weeks ago I wrote a Wednesday Word entitled, “Same Job, Different Job,” in which I talked briefly about working as a clock operator instead of being on the field during this football season. And the other day I read a tweet that basically said, “If you're on vacation, make time to go to church.”

At first it may seem like these two things have nothing in common; I mean, what could being a clock operator have to do with attending worship service while on vacation? As I'm fond of saying, “There's a lot of similarities between church and football,” and this is no different.

I have spent my officiating career on the field. I've worked every position except Umpire (those guys get run over, so I don't go there). Every position has a different point of view from the others. For instance, when I was moved to Back Judge, I quickly learned that everyone was running AT me instead of away from me. Because of that, I needed to learn how to move and position myself much differently than when working as a Referee or Line Judge. But I was still on the field.

Working as a clock operator this year has given me a totally different perspective. I have a full, overhead view of the game. I see things develop differently. I don't always see what I'm supposed to see, but then again, I'm not sure I'm supposed to see anything in particular, other than the other officials, that is. I'm a part of the crew, but I'm not part of the crew. I'm still an official, but I've been banished (so to speak) to the press box. What I've learned (or rather, what has confirmed my training) is that on-field signals are meant for the people not on the field. If an official doesn't realize this, his/her signals could get missed by the people for whom they are intended.

Attending church during our vacation, even though vacation season is over, is sort of similar. We are still part of the same team (Christian in general, Episcopalian specifically), but we are not part of that particular team (whatever church you visit). Having attended our own church for a long time, we see things differently in a new place. We have a different view of how things are done. We can pick up on different aspects of the worship experience that we may have missed in our own parish, or that the people of a different parish might miss because of its familiarity.

Things to pay attention to when visiting another church can include: Do announcements assume everyone present knows what you're talking about (Meeting at the “old Bob Evans” may not mean anything to someone who just moved to town); if there isn't a clear point of entry, is there appropriate signage directing you to the right door; are you welcomed upon entry; do others seek you out after service; are the bathrooms clean; are there indicators of outreach as well as inreach. There are probably many other things to notice that I didn't think of or don't have room to list.

The point to all this is that when we visit a church, or when one becomes a clock operator, you see things that you probably haven't seen or noticed before. We might gain a new perspective. This information can be relayed to the appropriate people in which a change may or may not be made.

I agreed to be a clock operator this year because I wanted to stay connected to my officiating group. Attending church when we are away on vacation keeps us connected to our faith.

In both instances we might find something that makes our preferred space better.

Blessings,

October 20, 2021

Make a joyful noise – Psalms 66, 95, 98, and 100

In looking up the above phrase I was actually surprised to see how few times it appears in scripture. For as often as that phrase gets used, I assumed it was more prevalent than it actually is.

Putting that aside, though, I have some good news: it is time once again for us to make a joyful noise to the Lord.

I received an email from the diocese stating that, due to “continued circumstantial evidence point[ing] to masked singing being lower risk when when a large percentage of the attendees are vaccinated,” congregational singing would be allowed once again with some cautious caveats.

First, the majority of people must be vaccinated. Based on the survey from several months ago asking about vaccination status, as well as conversations I've had with people, I am comfortable in saying that the vaccination rate at Saint John's is 90 percent or greater. This is good news that has a positive effect within our congregation and, hopefully, within our other social circles outside of the church.

Second, it is highly recommended that windows remain open to assist with airflow. As we enter the colder months this could become an issue, but maybe we could find a happy medium that allows for airflow without forcing everyone to wear mittens and earmuffs.

Third, continued physical distancing is encouraged. We do not need to return to the former days of taking reservations in order to keep Sunday attendance within accepted limits, but we do need to remember this and pay attention to where we sit. Individuals may want to consider sitting at opposite ends of a single pew. Couples may want to consider staggering the seating (so don't sit directly behind someone at the center aisle, but slide over to the outside aisle). Families may want to think about sitting in a back pew (I know . . . I know) to allow others to consider how they might effectively physically distance. And don't forget, we also have several pews in the front that are still marked off/reserved for extra spacing.

Finally, please remember that we need to continue to be vigilant about COVID and to maintain safe practices (wearing masks in public places, limiting where we go, get vaccinated if you haven't done so yet, get your booster shot when it becomes available, etc.). Masks and contact tracing are still required within Saint John's. The last chart I looked at showed Washington County with the third highest case rate and second highest positivity rate in the state. I know that we are all COVID-weary, tired of wearing masks, tired in general, but, as we begin to make small strides, we can't afford to relax now.

All of that said, however . . . we are once again allowed to make a joyful noise together, as one body, involving all who want to sing! So please join me as we once again proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy Lord!” together, and as we sing our praises to the Lord most high.

I look forward to hearing you this Sunday,

October 13, 2021

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness – Ps. 96:9

As with most people, I was struck by the beauty of Saint John's the very first time I saw it. One doesn't need to be a particularly religious person to appreciate the beauty of the church or (more specifically) the high altar and reredos, but I think it helps. It helps because, as religious people, we recognize that there are “thin places,” places where the presence of God is palpable. Saint John's is one of those places.

It's not just the high altar and reredos that say, “Within this place is the beauty of holiness” although those certainly grab your attention, It's also the way the morning sun shines through the Resurrection window causing the center aisle to shimmer like a glassy sea. It's the way the evening sun shines through the windows of the south transept causing light to appear like tongues of fire on the rogation altar, on the pulpit wall, and in the choir. It's the story of Christ's birth as found in the windows of the south transept. It's the story of Christ's life in the windows of the nave as taken from the Gospel of John. It's the depiction of his ascension in the window of the north transept. It's the starry expanse in the tower entrance. It's the presence of the archangels Michael, Uriel, and Raphael surrounding the high altar. It's knowing that we worship with angels, archangels, saints above, saints below, and all the company of heaven. All of these things remind us that we worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

But the beauty of holiness is not, and should not be, only the physical, holy space of the building.

John Henry Newman (high churchman and priest in the Church of England, leader of the Oxford Movement, and eventual convert to Roman Catholicism) preached a sermon entitled, “Holiness Necessary for Future Blessedness,” in which he argues that personal holiness is necessary for a right relationship with God.

“The more frequent are our prayers, the more humble, patient, and religious are our daily deeds, these holy works will be the means of making our hearts holy, and of preparing us for the future presence of God.”

We also have the ability to reflect the beauty of holiness in our lives. Our habits, our language, our attitudes, and our priorities can all reflect a life of holiness. All of these things take work and practice. As Newman points out, being contented with a measure of religion or partial holiness takes no real effort at all and will not lead us to holiness. If we want to reflect holiness, we must work to be holy.

So may we all strive first for the kingdom of God. May we strive to follow the narrow path. May we see holiness as a life-long goal of worshiping God in thought, word, and deed. And may we then intentionally worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness – both in the beauty of the Lord's house and in the beauty of a holy self.

Blessings,

October 6, 2021

“The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven.”

Those are the words of administration as (usually) a priest or (sometimes) other person places a consecrated wafer or piece of bread into the hands of those coming forward to receive Communion. For Episcopalians/Anglicans, Catholics, Orthodox, and some others, receiving Communion is probably the pinnacle of our worship. Everything that happens before Holy Communion points to that part of the liturgy, and almost immediately after receiving that blessed Sacrament we give thanks for being fed with holy food and ask for strength to go forth and do the work God has given us to do.

As we all know, COVID has played havoc with our worship and our ability to receive Holy Communion. There was a time when we were shut down and only a minimal number of people were allowed in the building as we broadcast worship services online. In the very beginning, those services were Morning Prayer. Eventually that gave way to Holy Eucharist, which eventually gave way to allowing people back in the building in limited numbers to worship and receive Communion.

And now, while masks and contact tracing are still required, and physical distancing is highly recommended, we have opened up to allowing more people into the building. Thankfully most of you have been vaccinated. But since we are still experiencing high COVID numbers due partially to a high rate of unvaccinated people in Washington County, as well as Fulton and Franklin counties in PA, and Berkeley County in WV, we continue to take precautions with how we meet and worship here at Saint John's.

We are all in different places with our own comfort levels. Some of you feel very comfortable with the precautions we have implemented and come worship together on Sunday. Others are less comfortable with being in larger groups and prefer to remain at home, worshiping with the rest of the body through our live feed. Neither of those are wrong, as they are based on personal health choices.

All that said, today's Wednesday Word is primarily geared toward those of you who are choosing to remain at home for the time being.

If you have been missing being fed with the Body of Christ, I want to remind you that you can call the church office, or myself for that matter, and ask that either the priest or a Eucharistic Visitor bring Holy Communion to your home. All people who make these home visits have been vaccinated, and all would be happy to share this heavenly meal with you.

We, as the church, are part of the body of Christ, each with our own particular gifts that we offer to God, the Church, and the wider community. But, as our physical bodies need nourishment, our spiritual bodies also need nourishment. I invite and encourage those of you who have not received the Sacrament of Holy Communion due to COVID separation to contact me and schedule a time when we can get together for a service of Holy Communion and where you once again may be fed with the Body of Christ and the Bread of Heaven.

Blessings,

Todd+