December 27, 2023

Wednesday Word:  Faith and Science

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible, hid from our eyes – Hymn 423

God is light and in him there is no darkness at all – 1 John 1:5

I am the light of the world – John 8:12

I AM who I AM – Ex. 3:14

On a theological note, we proclaim God to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; that is, God is all powerful, all knowing, and exists everywhere in all time and at all times.  This is one of the reasons why, when Moses asks, “Who are you?” God answers, “I AM who I AM.”  No past.  No future.  God just IS.  When we say that God knows what will happen, we aren’t saying that God is looking into the future; because, for God, all time just IS.  Everything for God exists in the NOW.

Along with all of the omnipotent stuff above, we also describe God as being light.  God as light has a long history in the Church as you can see from some of the above quotes.  We talk about the light of God overcoming darkness.  John the Baptist testified to the light.  And on and on.  God is light, and the darkness does not overcome it.

The other day I saw a short video from Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist who seems to be everywhere and knows a whole lot about everything.  He was answering the question, “Does anything travel at the speed of light?”  In that video he says:

            If time slows down as you approach the speed of light, then the equations tell us

            at the speed of light time stops.  That means, if you were a photon, time does not

            pass for you at all.  That means that at the moment a photon is generated anywhere

            in the universe, it gets absorbed at its destination.  We can watch the photon move

            across the universe, but for the photon, time does not elapse.

In other words, there is no past or future for photons, but everything just IS.

I don’t need science to prove whether or not God exists, that is a matter of faith; but I do find it interesting that faith and science intersect at this point where God is described as light and mathematical equations show us that light exist in the NOW for all time.

The gospel for Christmas Day is always John 1:1-14.  I find this to be one of the most beautiful passages in all of Scripture.  And now, thanks to an atheist or agnostic astrophysicist, I have a new understanding of God in the universe. 

The Bible is not a science textbook, but it does offer us a greater Truth.  And sometimes the Truth of the Bible manifests itself in unexpected ways – such as learning that light just IS.

Merry Christmas,

December 20, 2023

Christmas can be a hard time for a lot of people.  It’s filled with expectations of gift giving, card sending, and meaningful family gatherings.  But what happens when those expectations go unmet or unfulfilled? 

Some people have moved into a new area, so their connections – whether family or friends – are not in place, and/or they have not yet made new connections.  Some people ask if they need to keep sending Christmas cards to people with whom they only communicate once a year.  I know of at least three people who have recently lost a spouse, and this Christmas season will be painful for them.

For some people, especially those living in the northern latitudes, Christmas requires snow.  It’s hard to get into the Christmas spirit when it’s sunny and 50 degrees all week.

We often hear that Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of year.  We hear that it’s supposed to be magnificent and filled with joy.  We hear so much about what it’s “supposed to be” that we sometimes forget what it really is.

Christmas is the day (and the season, but that’s another story) when we celebrate the Incarnation, the moment when God became human.  It’s the day we celebrate a boy being born to an unwed mother in a backroom where the animals were kept because nobody would make room in their homes for a couple of strangers who were expecting the birth of their first baby. 

Despite all of that, despite all of our preconceived ideas about what Christmas should be, despite the pressure we put on ourselves to make the perfect Christmas, despite the parties, despite all of it and more, Christmas is really about the Incarnation, the moment when God the Son became a human being.

The Incarnation is all about God with us.  The Incarnation is all about that moment when God lived among us and as one of us, giving us an example of what a life dedicated to God could look like.  This is good news. 

It’s good news because in all of our conditions and states we know that God is with us.  God is with us for our first Christmas apart from family.  God is with us in our first Christmas without a spouse.  God is with us when we are gathered together with loved ones.  God is with us in our celebrations and in our tears. 

This Christmas, wherever you are, however you are feeling, may you know the joy of God with you.

December 13, 2023

Wednesday Word:  Of Magnets and Crosses

Somewhere along the line I began collecting crosses.  It wasn’t an intentional thing, and it certainly wasn’t due to some effort of showing off my “holiness.”  It just sort of happened.  A cross here and there that I found interesting or meaningful.  Parishioners took notice and began gifting me with crosses.  Hanging on my office wall they have sort of become part of my identity, and people love looking at them when they visit the office.  Some people enjoy gifting them to me.  No two are exactly alike, and I think that’s what makes my wall of crosses so fascinating.

At home we have a number of refrigerator magnets.  Some of them are sleeves that hold pictures of our foreign exchange daughters, our own daughter, parents, grandparents, and other friends.  Some of them are knick-knacks from places we’ve been.  Some are utilitarian in that they are strong and can hold a lot of stuff we stick to the fridge.

Both of these things, magnets and crosses, are more than knick-knacks or simple office decorations.  For me and Joelene they are symbols of home.  They are ties to family and friends who are distant from us, or who have died and their photo is, in essence, their living memory.  They are remembrances of places we’ve been, or people who have touched us.  And for as much as we have moved, they let us know that once the magnets and crosses are unpacked and placed on the refrigerator or office wall, we are home.

Last week the box of missing magnets was found and the bare refrigerator in the rental house came alive with family and friends.  The house isn’t getting any bigger, so we are still somewhat cramped, but it’s livable.  And we still have unpacked boxes and empties here and there reminding us that we are still in transition.  But the refrigerator has been decorated and the place now feels a bit more like home.

Last week Joelene came to the office and helped me hang crosses.  We figured out what wall to use, laid them on the floor to get a general plan, and then went to work putting them up.  My office isn’t getting any bigger, so I’m still somewhat cramped, but it’s workable.  I still have unpacked boxes and a few empties here and there reminding me I'm still in transition.  But the crosses are up and my office now feels a bit more like I belong.

Advent is a season of transition.  It’s a season of packed boxes sitting next to unpacked boxes.  It’s a season of stress.  But it’s also a season that, at some point, you can look around and say, “I’m home.”  Advent is a season that calls us home to be with the Messiah who has Already come, as well as a season that calls us to look forward to coming home to be with the Messiah who has Not Yet come.

However your Advent transition is going, I hope you get to the place where you can say, “I’m home.”

Todd+

December 6, 2023

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra.  As with most Saints, we don’t know much about him.  He was born in Asia Minor (Turkey), suffered imprisonment at the hands of Emperor Diocletian, is associated with saving three young girls from a life of prostitution by dropping gold coins through their windows at night so their father could pay their dowry (or maybe into their shoes), saving sailors from drowning, and was possibly at the Council of Nicaea (325) where he defended Orthodox Christianity against Arius and the Arian Heresy.

He's the patron saint of children, sailors, repentant thieves, brewers, pawnbrokers, and unmarried people.

Saint Nicholas was popular in Europe, and immigrants brought the history, legends, and traditions of Sinter Klaas to North America, where he eventually morphed into Santa Claus.

He continues to be celebrated as a major Saint in the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.

Why am I bringing up Saint Nicholas, other than that today is his feast day?

We have officially entered the holiday season.  Besides the obvious celebration of Christmas, there are also celebrations of Hannukah, Kwanza, and a whole list of other feast days.  The world, and the Hallmark Channel in particular, would have you believe that these are the happiest days of the year, filled with celebrations and good cheer. 

Saint Nicholas reminds us that that is not always the case.  He reminds us that the holidays are filled with broken people, with people in danger, with people in precarious situations, with people who have experienced loss, and with people for whom this is not the hap, hap, happiest time of the year.

This Christmas may we be like Saint Nicholas.  May we be aware of those in need and offer the presence and hope of a God who is present in all aspects of our lives.

May you have a blessed Advent and Christmas Season,

Todd+ 

November 22, 2023

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. – Philippians 4:4

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and, I suppose, the official start to the holiday season.  The holidays are a mixed bag of emotions.  For some of us, they are filled with joy and merriment and a sense that the world isn’t so bad after all.  For others, like my former parishioner Bill whose wife Phyllis died shortly after I arrived in Buffalo, I would imagine this holiday season will be painful and empty.  Most of us, I think, fall somewhere in the middle.

This can be a very joyful and blessed time, but it can also be the polar opposite, I get that.  So it can be difficult for some people to hear the above words and find a way to rejoice always.

I am not a psychologist, nor do I pretend to offer Pollyanna advice to people to “just cheer up.”  But it does seem to me that being able to find something worth rejoicing, or being thankful for, helps.

Here are some things for which I am thankful, even if they came in difficult times.

I am thankful that a parishioner forwarded Saint Luke’s profile to me, even though I was not currently seeking a new call.

I am thankful that the Search Committee and I saw in each other the possibility of a good relationship.

I am thankful my wife supports me in this ministry.

I am thankful for tow trucks.

I am thankful for local garages that were able to offer immediate assistance.

I am thankful for the hospitality of a certain car dealer in Pierre.

I am thankful that my wife will soon be here.

I am thankful that our friend Pol was willing to make the drive to Buffalo with her so she wouldn’t have to travel alone.

I am thankful for the hospitality of new parishioners in this in-between stage.

I am thankful for the motel manager who gave me a room key even though she was leaving town.

Life is not always smooth sailing and often comes with obstacles (he said as he sat for 3+ hours on the side of the Ohio Turnpike, and again as he sat at the Vivian Rest Stop in South Dakota).  But in all of life’s twists and turns, in all of its bumps and obstacles and bruises, I am convinced that there are always things for which we can be thankful if we are willing to look for them.

May you have a joyous Thanksgiving; and more than that, may you find times and places to be thankful in the midst of chaos so that you can rejoice in the Lord always.

November 15, 2023

Over the course of several gatherings I have been asked, "What's your favorite part of worship?"

This question causes you to think intentionally about worship.  It makes you slow down and think through something you might normally go through without thinking.  It helps you pay attention.  It leads you to look forward to a particular part of the service.  It helps you savor that part of worship that you find most meaningful

Over the years, my answer has changed.  During the COVID shutdown when there were only a few people in the building, my answer to that question was when, during the Lord's Prayer, I looked down into the chalice with just a small amount of wine in it, I could see the reflection of the cross on the rood screen behind me.  That was a holy moment in a difficult time.

Lately my answer has been, "Just before the Sanctus." Just before the Sanctus, that ancient anthem of, "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might . . ." which has been part of the Eucharist since the 3rd Century, the priest says, "Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name."

At that moment I am reminded that what we do on Sunday morning, and at every eucharistic gathering, is not done in isolation.  What we do on Sunday morning is not confined to just us.  Nor is it confined to just the Episcopal church.  Nor is it confined to those churches who celebrate the Eucharist as we do (Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, for instance). 

When we worship on Sunday morning, and at every eucharistic gathering, we are not only joined with people in the wider Church, but we are joined with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven.  In that moment when we sing the Sanctus we are in a thin place.  We are in a place beyond time and space.  We are in a place of the now of eternity.  We who share in this holy meal are not only bound together with each other, we are bound together with the whole multitude of the faithful who have gone before and who are yet to come.

When you join us for worship, ask yourself, "What's your favorite part?"  And then pay attention to it.  Look forward to it.  Savor it.  And in that moment know that you are near to God and the whole host of heaven.

Blessings,

Todd+

November 8, 2023

 There's a Monday morning prayer group that meets every week at 9:00 in Onderdonk Hall, and this past Monday was my first time with this group.

As we began, we were asked about our senses -- taste, touch, sight, hearing, and smell.  What did we notice?  What did we feel was most important?  What were we most thankful for?

We went around the table offering our own thanks for a particular sense we found important.  When it came to me, I gave thanks for what I hear in all the various ways.

I am thankful for hearing children's voices on Sunday who, after I said, "The Lord be with you," gave a very enthusiastic response of, "And also with you!"

I am thankful for beginning to hear the stories of the people here at Saint Luke's.  I am thankful for hearing about people in the hospital or who might need a home visit.  I am thankful for hearing the concerns people have about the situation with our Bishop.  I am thankful for hearing about the hope people have for our future together.  I am thankful for hearing from Joelene on a daily basis.

And this past Saturday, when the uncertainty of our house sale loomed large, and the insurance company mistakenly deleted coverage on the wrong car, and having a credit card company establishing and sending a new card with the wrong address, and the Maryland Toll Commission saying our account was invalid despite having the correct number right in front of me, and wondering about the right time to cancel electric, internet, and garbage, and do I need to do two change of addresses?  With all of that running through my head I was thankful for the sound of water.

On that beautiful Saturday afternoon, I found myself on a bench over Clear Creek just sitting.  I sat and I wondered about all of the above and how this was going to work.  And I sat and listened to the sound of the running water.  Somewhere in there I heard the voice of peace.

Water has a way of doing that for me; whether it's a running creek or the crashing waves of the ocean, hearing moving water has a way of calming me and reminding me that God is near.

As you sit with God, which one of your senses helps steady you?  Which one of your senses helps bring you close to God?  If you don't know, take some time to find out.

Blessings,

Todd+

October 4, 2023

Let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made – BCP 280, 515, 528, 540

This is part of the Collect used on Good Friday during the reading of the Solemn Collects and at the ordinations of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. I have always found it a hopeful prayer, particularly during periods of chaos. This Collect reminds me that, no matter what the world casts down, how old and weary we may be or feel, or how imperfect things around us seem to be, God is constantly raising things up. God is constantly offering new life. God is constantly working to bring the world to perfection.

I think this prayer is particularly appropriate for all of us at this time in our lives because we are all in a period of flux, a period of transition, a period of chaos, and a period of hope.

I am shuffling off to Buffalo under less-than-ideal circumstances. As of yet, our house hasn't sold, which brings its own stress under the best of times. But this will require me to head to Buffalo alone, hoping (at this point) that I will have some kind of place to stay, while Joelene remains behind until the house finally sells. That is producing some higher-than-normal anxiety in our household.

Saint John's once again begins the journey to finding a new Rector. October will be filled with supply priests and one service led by Deacon Sue. I have heard an interim priest has been found, but it's not my job to make that formal announcement, but know you will be in good hands. That, of course, doesn't make it any easier; but knowing you are making a good start is a huge step.

Joelene and I will be leaving many good friends. We will be leaving jobs we have each enjoyed. We will be leaving groups of people with whom we have outside connections. Everyone at Saint John's has touched us in different ways. We have laughed with you and cried with you. I have prayed with and over you. You have each shared your gifts with us and we have learned from all of you.

This will be a challenging time for you, so please know that over the course of the next year or so you will be in my prayers. During this time, remember to be humble and gentle with each other. Have patience with others and with the process. Act with love and kindness and bear each other's burdens. Work to maintain the unity of the Holy Spirit with bonds of peace. Pray daily and take time to listen.

On this, my final Wednesday Word to the people of Saint John's, let me say, “Thank you.” Thank you for your friendship over the past seven years and for having a part in the life of this parish. You will be missed. And now I leave you with my favorite blessing:

Remember who you are.

Remember what you love.

Remember what is sacred.

Remember what is true.

Remember that you die and each day is a gift.

Remember how you wish to live.

And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with this and every day.

Todd+

September 27, 2023

For the past few weeks I have been packing up my office and winding things down.

Three weeks ago I resigned from the HARC Board. A week after that I attended my final HARC community meeting. Somewhere in there I tendered my resignation from Diocesan Council.

Last week I packed up the almost-final boxes in the office, leaving just a few things out that I still need, or didn't have a box the right size, or am waiting for my last day before closing up. Sunday afternoon, after the rain stopped, some friends met me and Joelene at the office and we hauled all the boxes to the house where they are now in the garage. This accomplishes two things: 1) it allows the interim rector immediate use of the space without having to deal with my stuff; and 2) it allows the moving company to only make one stop when picking up our things.

Speaking of the interim rector, I've been busy creating a list of people who need to be seen, as well as an extensive list of things they will need to know about (the computers, email, phone, Zoom, Discretionary Account, etc.) in the hopes of allowing them an easy beginning. On top of that, I've also been cleaning and organizing files and work spaces so they will hopefully have what they need where they need it.

I also had Melonie run copies of the September bulletins so they can get a feel for what our liturgy has looked like. It doesn't include everything, of course, but it should give them a good starting point.

Personally, Joelene and I have, we think, finally settled on a plan. Our house here in Hagerstown doesn't look like it's going to sell anytime soon. That has put a hold on us purchasing a house in Buffalo. So the plan is for me to head to Wyoming with as many necessities as can fit into my little Honda Fit and rent a small apartment. Joelene will stay here, continuing to work at Robinwood, and look over the house until such time that it sells. When that happens, we'll look for a permanent home and complete the move at that time.

There is much that has been done. There is much that has yet to be done. And no matter how much we manage to finish or accomplish, there is always more yet to be done; because, really, we are never completely finished, we just wrap things up as best we can.

I'm reminded that the only person who was truly able to say, “It is finished,” was Jesus. For the rest of us, the unfinished business remains.

May you continue the good work that has been started,

September 20, 2023

We are slowly getting things packed up. All of my books have been packed, as well as all of my hats and crosses. The framed pictures will come down later today. The plan, I think at this point, is to move everything from the office to the house and store it in the garage so the moving company only has to make one, relatively easy stop.

A parishioner was in the office yesterday morning and popped in to see the progress. He looked around at all the empty spaces with boxes piled up, and said, “It looks naked.”

I replied, “Wait until all the pictures come down.”

Houses, offices, rooms of various kinds are all empty – all naked – until we decorate them. Our houses, bedrooms, offices, and other spaces we occupy, all get decorated in some manner that reflects our personalities, our likes, our passions. All of these things help make our houses homes. All of these things give people some idea of who you are and what's important to you.

In a number of places in the gospels, Jesus uses the image of a house in place of a person. In short, we are the house in which Christ dwells. Each of us provide a dwelling space for Jesus.

As we go about our daily lives, can people see the importance of Christ in our lives by how we've decorated ourselves – by how we live, speak, and behave? Or, when people interact with us, do they see empty, naked walls?

Our decorations are visible statements of our selves. Is Christ a visible statement in your life?

Blessings,

September 13, 2023

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

This piece of wisdom has been around forever, it seems. The point of the saying is that things often look impossible or overwhelming if you look at the whole picture, but if you break it down into bite-sized pieces, they often become manageable.

In my life right now, Joelene and I are eating an elephant. We need to get the house ready to list, need to get it listed, move out all of our daughter's stuff that has been stored, box up a lot of our stuff, I need to box and pack up my office, I need to get moving bids, we need to find a house in Buffalo, we need to sell our house, we need to buy a new house, we need to plan how we're getting to Buffalo, we need to wrap up doctor and dental appointments, we need to . . . I don't know what all else. There's Just. So. Much.

Here at Saint John's, you all are dealing with your own elephant. The Senior Warden needs to line up supply clergy. He and the Junior Warden need to work with the Diocese on finding an interim. The Vestry will need to put together a Search Team. A parish profile will need to be formed and written. Interviews will need to be conducted. And all of that on top of doing the regular business of the church. There's Just. So. Much.

But you know what? Joelene and I are not going to get to Buffalo by putting the whole elephant on the truck. Saint John's is not going to go through this process by standing an elephant in the middle of the nave. Instead, we both will need to eat the elephant one bite at a time.

Move my daughter's stuff into storage. Check. Pack up one room. Check. Pack up one shelf of office books. Check. Check. Check. Check. Contact a moving agency. Check. Keep the house clean for prospective buyers. Check. Line up supply clergy. Check. Meet with prospective interim priest. Check. Schedule Cn. Wright to meet with the congregation. Check.

Yes, all of the elephant needs to get eaten. But breaking it down into bite-sized pieces and then eating that one bite, sometimes only once a day, will make it seem manageable as well as give us both a sense of accomplishment as we each achieve one short-term goal at a time.

These are stressful times for all of us. Joelene and I are doing what we can to keep that stress to a minimum. The Wardens and Vestry are doing what they can to keep that stress to a minimum. And if it seems too much, or too overwhelming, take a few moments and pray this prayer:

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God. Amen.

September 6, 2023

As you have no doubt heard by now, I have accepted a call to be the next Rector of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, Buffalo, WY. My last Sunday will be October 1, and the rest of October will be taken up with doctor appointments of various kinds for both Joelene and myself, last minute arrangements, and finally heading to Wyoming.

Joelene and I talked with a local realtor who did what realtors do and gave us tips on how to get the house “show ready.”

If you don't know what that means, it means that you need to make the house look like people live there without having any indication that people live there. In other words, all of the things that help make your house a home need to be eliminated so that your home becomes a house. This means that pictures need to come off walls, magnets need to come off the refrigerator, cat toys need to be picked up, mail needs to be hidden, the office needs to look like nobody actually works in it, and on and on.

Over the past several days we've made some progress at this. But let me tell you, it's much harder than it sounds; because it's more than just cleaning up. Much more. And for often as we have moved since becoming a priest, you would think that we would have a better handle on this. But we don't. It's almost like we just can't learn how to keep a place neat and tidy.

You may not be moving in the near future. You may actually be in what the Home Improvement channels call “your forever home.” So you may not think this applies to you. But at some point you are going to move – whether that's to a new house down the street, or another state, or a retirement facility (I hear Homewood has a lot of Episcopalians there!), or somewhere much more . . . permanent.

At some point we will all move.

During this latest adventure of ours, my new resolution is to Plan to Move. Not with the mentality of, “I won't be here forever,” but more with the mentality of, “If I had to move next month, would would go with me and what would go to recycle-reuse-trash?”

This is really just another take on hanging your clothes backwards and whatever hasn't been turned around after six months goes to Goodwill. Or maybe it's another take on Marie Kondo's method of organizing and simplifying. But seriously, I found stuff I haven't used or needed since seminary – that's been over 20 years ago! So there's no reason I need to be carting that stuff off to Wyoming.

So twice a year, maybe when you change your smoke alarm batteries, go through one room and ask yourself, “Do I need to move this to a new place?”

And as you think about that question, maybe think about how you might replace all that stuff in your life with the presence of Christ.

Amen.

August 30, 2023

Earlier this year Bishop Sutton had diocesan clergy read, Do I Stay Christian? by Brian McLaren.

You may have heard of him. He was raised in the Evangelical tradition of Christianity and over time left that branch to align with a more inclusive form of Christianity. He was also big in the emergent church movement. He has also written over 15 books that deal with inclusivity of all kinds and calling into question (or simply renouncing) simplistic black and white answers that focus more on following rules and punishment than in pursuing God's love of all people.

At various spots in the book he makes some of the following statements:

“I must renounce all forms of Christianity that claim to defend supremacy, privilege, domination, and violence.”

“Nobody is born a religious jerk. It takes a religion to help someone become that way.”

“The Christian community still remains largely ignorant of or in denial about its detestable history of anti-Semitism.”

“When you observe the passion and persistence with which [conservative Christians] speak out against LGBTQ equality, and the nonchalance with which they seek to eradicate abuses of power by their own, you have to wonder.”

There are many other quotable lines in there coming from a place of inclusion and a place of regret in having been part of a system that looks to punish people in the name of God.

As I read the book, it occurred to me that, without knowing it, Brian was quoting from the Book of Common Prayer. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God, not to separate them into the blessed and the damned. All people are created in the image of God, therefore we must love our neighbor as our self. Because all people are created in God's image, we must strive for justice and respect the dignity of every human being.

These things Brian is saying are things that the Episcopal church has been saying for a long time. So it both amuses me and frustrates me that our overall position of inclusivity and equality seems to be generally ignored while someone like Brian McLaren can write about these things and garner a following.

The Episcopal church has been on this bandwagon, as I said, for a long time. We have fought our own internal battles over the full inclusion of women, LGBT people, and minorities. We have come to a place where who you are or how you define yourself is generally less important than whether or not you work to follow Christ, resist evil, and proclaim the Good News of God in Christ.

We have good news to share.

Saint John's Day is Sunday, September 10, and the theme is “Bring a Friend.” You have a week and a half to think about how and whom you will invite to church that day so they can experience here at Saint John's the same thing that Brian McLaren has been writing about – inclusivity and equality are gifts from God.

Blessings,

August 23, 2023

Have you noticed the morning change?

Over the past few days the mornings are cooler than they have been. The sun rises incrementally later each day, adding to the length of time it remains cool. Driving into the office with the windows down feels good. And I can almost catch the faint scent of autumn in those few early morning hours.

But it doesn't stay that way for very long. At least, that wasn't the case late last week and into Sunday and Monday of this week. Very quickly the temperature rose into the upper '80's and the humidity also rose. I spent most of Monday in my car, driving from one meeting to the next, and from one visitation to the next. The A/C would just start to get the car cooled off when I had to park and make my visit; only to climb back into a car that felt like it was 110 degrees. By the time I got home I was exhausted from dealing with the heat.

In the big picture, things don't seem to have changed. It's still hot and humid, and summer, while winding down (school starts next week), still has a hold on us and the weather. Last trips to the lake or the beach are still being made. Children may still be running through sprinklers. It still feels like summer overall.

But there are moments when we catch a glimpse of a seasonal change. There are moments when we think, “Fall is in the air.”

God works in a similar way. We look around and it seems things are as they always have been. Sometimes things are hot and humid and it's difficult to move through the oppressiveness. But then there are small signs that a change is coming. There are small, incremental moments when we catch a glimpse of something new, or of some coming relief. When the change comes, we are most often taken by surprise.

We need to pay attention to those small indicators that can make us aware a change is coming. Whether that is a little cooler weather in the morning or something that made you stop for a moment, if we don't pay attention it'll take us by surprise.

What would it be like if we weren't continually taken by surprise, but, instead, if we paid more attention to incremental signals that let's us know God is doing something different?

So pay attention, because you just might notice God working in your life sooner than expected.

Blessings,

August 16, 2023

What do you think Communion is? – Question asked on a social media account by an Anabaptist who will “likely be preaching on Worldwide Communion Day in October.”

One person responded that Communion is a Christian ritual based on the Passover, gathered together, in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and the new covenant of which we are a part, and a sense of being part of the body of Christ, not only with those gathered, but with those gathered in other places and stretching back to the Last Supper and, ultimately, the Exodus.

I responded that it not only stretches back, but it also stretches forward. It's a foretaste of the heavenly banquet where we join with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven, and it's a moment in time when all that was and all that will be now is.

Holy Communion is a sacramental and sacrificial act that connects us with the body of Christ throughout time, binding us together with saints before and saints after, with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven in a moment when God, the Great I AM is present in a moment in which we ARE. Additionally, Holy Communion is not something which we take, for that implies force, but is a gift of God which we receive.

Holy Communion is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. When consecrated, the bread and wine become body and blood, not through a change in substance, but through a substantial change in which Christ becomes present in the elements. As we reflect on that, we believe that we, also, are substantially changed to reflect the presence of Christ in our lives.

Holy Communion is THE central act of our Sunday worship. It unites us with Christians past, present, and future. It unites us with Christians who are participating in this holy meal at that time all over the world. It brings us to the table with all the heavenly host.

As you approach Sunday and prepare yourself to worship God in the beauty of holiness, spend some time reflecting on this question: What do you think Communion is?

Blessings,

August 2, 2023

And while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. – Luke 9:29

This coming Sunday, August 6, is the Feast of the Transfiguration, the time when Jesus' appearance changes and he meets with Moses and Elijah. It's also when a cloud overshadowed those three along with the disciples, and they heard a voice say, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

This story has a parallel in Exodus 34 when Moses, also on a mountain, experiences a transfiguration in which his face shines so intently that he has to cover it when around people.

The question we should always ask ourselves when reading/studying Scripture is this: How does this passage or story affect me/us today? With the story of the Transfiguration just a few days away, how does this story (or these stories, if you're looking at both the gospel and the reading from Exodus) of Jesus and/or Moses being changed to such an extent that they radiate brilliance affect me today?

Looking at it with that question in mind might lead us to understand that the story isn't necessarily about Moses and Jesus being transfigured before our eyes, but that the story is about how an encounter with God changes a person. And not just a physical change, because I have seen people who have had a close encounter with God and seem to have a certain glow about them. That glow, though, if you read the full stories, is short-lived.

How would an encounter with God change us? How does our encounters with God – daily prayer, Sunday worship, etc. – change us?

We encounter God at least on a weekly basis. Are we allowing ourselves to be transfigured in such a way that people can recognize we have had an encounter with God?

May you see your time with God not as something normal and expected, but as something amazing that overshadows you and changes you in such a way that others notice you have been touched by the presence of God.

Blessings,

July 26, 2023

I need a new crazy with different people – Anonymous

It's summer. We are seven weeks into the twenty-five week Season after Pentecost. The forecast is calling for temperatures around 100 degrees this Friday.

I was talking with a person recently who was mentioning all of the above, along with an additional general feeling of worn outedness. Motivation was down. Patience was down. They were beginning to feel worn down. They openly wondered if it was time for a change of some kind.

That can happen to all of us at one time or another. Whether we start thinking about a career change, or a different role in the same career, or experience a midlife crisis, or develop a case of wanderlust, or simply think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, we can all fall into the desire of wanting a new crazy with different people.

Sometimes it's not the doldrums, or a midlife crisis, or the need to make a career change. Sometimes, to be healthy, we really do need to make a change. Sometimes a move is needed.

Deacon Sue wrote a little about this earlier this month when she wrote about discernment. In her piece, she asked the question, “Is this my goal or is this God's goal?”

That's a good question to ask; but I would add to that, “With whom are you talking to about this?” Discernment doesn't happen in a vacuum. You need to have someone, or many someones, to bounce your thoughts off of. You need to have someone you trust ask you hard, clarifying questions. You need someone who will tell you, “That's just crazy talk,” or, “You might be right – what would happen if you did make a change?”

The dog days of summer happen, I think, because we have a lot of time on our hands. So whether you think you need a new crazy with different people, or a new crazy with the same people, spend some time with God in prayer as well as time with trusted people who can provide good input in order to help figure out where you might be called to next.

God is calling us to serve in a variety of ways. Just make sure that you are answering God's call and not a simple desire to find a new crazy with different people.

Blessings,

July 19, 2023

I have been holding an Evening Prayer service on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the South Transept for the past six-plus years. At one point, someone offered to lead it on Fridays, but that hasn't always been dependable. I haven't offered it on Wednesdays due to offering a mid-week Eucharist and other meetings that take place on Wednesday evenings. But you can count on an EP service every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 5:30.

Most of the time I am the only person there. A few people came by when I first started the service. Some people made it a Lenten discipline one year. Before being hired by her current employer, Dcn. Sue was there regularly. And, depending on work or other schedules, a few people drop in every so often. But for the most part, it's a service of one.

I was asked recently why I continue to hold Evening Prayer if nobody shows up.

The short answer is that the Baptismal Covenant asks us to “continue . . . in the prayers.” Offering a regularly scheduled service of EP helps me be faithful in the prayers.

A longer answer is that EP, or any type of prayer service, should not be based on whether or not people attend or some sort of return-on-investment formula. The cycle of prayer allows one to spend time with God. The cycle of prayer adds a particular rhythm to the days, weeks, months, and years. It also offers a specific time where I spend praying for the people of Saint John's by praying through our directory every month and other concerns that have come up.

Spending time in prayer shouldn't be an afterthought. Spending time in prayer shouldn't be a quick fly-by when we are rushed. Spending time in prayer shouldn't only be reserved for Sundays.

Instead, spending time in prayer should be as intentional as the time you spend with your beloved. It should be a time set aside for the important work of being with God. And whether that is quiet time in the morning, whether it is time away at noon, whether it is praying Morning Prayer before the busy-ness of the day sets in, whether it's praying Evening Prayer in the South Transept or when you get home at night, or whether it's praying Compline before going to bed, it should be regular, intentional time with God.

Wherever you are and whatever your circumstances, don't let the distractions of the world take you away from spending time with God.

Blessings,

June 21, 2023

We have officially entered the long, green Season after Pentecost, otherwise known as Ordinary Time.

We have also officially entered the summer season – the season of vacations, trips to the beach, family visits, bbq's, and other activities.

One of the things summer also brings us are visitors to the church. People may just be passing through the area and want to worship on a Sunday morning. Some people may want to see something different from what they're used to. Some people may be new to the area and are searching for a spiritual home. Some people, for whatever reason, may have left their old church and are looking for a new home as well. Whatever the reason, summer is a time we may see new people come through our doors.

I recently read an article written by a retired ELCA pastor who visited several churches in an effort to find a spiritual home. Although not surprising, she was surprised by the spectrum of welcoming to non-welcoming churches she visited. A lot of what she wrote about is obvious and already incorporates how we interact with visitors here at Saint John's; but she made a few points that bear repeating.

“Hospitality,” she said, “is about spotters and scooters.”

Spotters are those people who keep a lookout for new people or people they don't recognize. A spotter will then make a point to introduce themselves to the new person with something like, “I don't believe we've met . . . I'm NN.” They will then offer to accompany them to coffee hour or, if before the service, ask if they are familiar with the Episcopal liturgy. In both cases they will also look to spot a parishioner who will then take them under their wing, so to speak.

Scooters are those people who move to invite the new person to join them. If this is at coffee hour, they notice (or are told by the spotter) the visitor in the room and move to interact with them. They ask non-threatening questions (“Where are you from?” or “Do you have any questions about the church?” but NOT, “Would you like to chair our pledge campaign this year?”). If this is before the service, a scooter can ask if they are familiar with the liturgy and, if not, offer to sit next to them and help guide them through the BCP & Hymnal. Even if they are familiar, asking to share a pew and then inviting them to stay afterward shows you care about not leaving them alone.

The best way to bring people into the faith and into the church is by inviting them. The second best way is by taking an interest in them when they are visiting and not leaving them alone.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the elect, “I was a stranger and you invited me in.” This summer let's make sure we spot the stranger in our midst, scoot up next to them, and invite them in.

Blessings,

June 14, 2023

I sat in the church on Sunday afternoon listening to the harpist practice for her recital later that day. As I listened, I took a visual tour of the stained glass windows in the nave. We are blessed to worship in one of the most beautiful spaces I've known, and I'm sure many of you feel the same way.

As I was looking at those windows that tell the story of Christ's life from the Annunciation to the Crucifixion and his Ascension, I wondered, “Which one is my favorite?” I think that probably depends on my mood at the time. So then I asked myself, “Which one speaks to me now?”

As I looked around the nave and all of the windows, and even up into the chancel and sanctuary, I kept coming back to Jesus encountering Nathanael under the fig tree. This episode can be found in John 1:48. What John tells us is that Jesus called Philip and Philip then told Nathanael about Jesus. There's an encounter and Jesus eventually says, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Using artistic license, our window appears to depict Nathanael asleep under that tree, not noticing the presence of Christ right next to him.

How often, I thought, are we like Nathanael in that window – asleep to the presence of Christ right next to us?

Maybe we no longer take time to notice the holy presence of the Lord in our midst because we see it so often. Maybe we are asleep to the presence of Christ in the form of those people who use parts of our building for shelter. Maybe we are asleep to the presence of Christ in our lives because other things always seem to take precedence. Maybe we are asleep to the still, small voice of God because we would rather see or hear something big and dramatic. The list can go on.

In his book, The Problem of Pain, CS Lewis wrote, “They wanted some corner in the universe of which they could say to God, 'this is our business, not yours.' But there is no such corner.”

There is no such corner where God is not present. There is no such corner that Jesus does not touch. Maybe what it takes for us to be awakened to that is to spend some time in peaceful quiet with our eyes and ears wide open so that we are awake to the presence of Christ right next to us.

June 7, 2023

Deacon Sue and I spent this past Saturday in Baltimore at the cathedral for two ordination services. The first was at 10:00 and saw the ordination of two deacons. The second was at 2:00 and saw the ordination of five priests.

Ordination services are always joyous affairs. The color of the day is red, so you get to see a bunch of red stoles you normally don't get to see. Clergy gather around the ordinands as Holy Orders are conferred on them by the bishop. There is a sense of hope as things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new. You get to see the joy in their eyes as they help celebrate their first Communion, and you notice the difference they feel in administering the Body and Blood to those in attendance for the first time as ordained clergy. And, for the most part, there were only one or two times when I got the liturgical heebie jeebies; which isn't bad for two services that spanned four hours or so.

After we exchanged the Peace, the bishop reminded those in attendance at both services that, through the centuries, the Church has called a small percentage of people to serve as deacons and priests. That is not because those people are more special than others, but simply because they have a different ministry. When asking, “Who are the ministers of the Church?” the Catechism clearly states they are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. As we continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, as we see a hurting world in need of healing, we know the Church has a big job ahead of her, and it will take all of her members to bring the healing presence of Christ to the world around us.

During the Examination in the ordination service of a deacon, the bishop says, “Every Christian is called to follow Jesus Christ, serving God the Father . . .” And at the ordination of a priest, the bishop says, “All baptized people are called to make Christ known as Savior and Lord, and to share in the renewing of his world.” These two ordination services make clear that all people are ministers within different orders.

As we move into summer and people take vacations and trips, I would ask that you take some of that time to discern how you might serve the Church in general, and Saint John's in particular. Fall is not that far away, and as people begin to return to onsite worship we need everyone to participate in various ministries. John Sabine has a pick-up choir through summer; drop in and check it out, and maybe you will find a home with our music ministry. Kim Halsey and the Service & Outreach group are always looking for ways to put our faith into action. Charlie Chaney and the Fabric & Grounds group have no shortage of things needing attention around the building. We are still looking for a Treasurer. Our worship service needs people to serve in the Altar Guild, as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Acolytes. What interests and skills do you have that you can offer up?

I'm reminded of the hymn, “Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea, day by day his clear voice soundeth, saying, 'Christian, follow me'.”

As the recovery from COVID continues, we must all answer the question: How will you serve?

May 31, 2023

“My parents live in Bonney Lake.”

I was talking with someone recently who had a general knowledge of western Washington. They had friends or family or something who lived in Enumclaw or Maple Valley, which is near Bonney Lake.

So, of course, during the conversation, I mentioned that my parents live in Bonney Lake, and it's always nice to talk with someone who knows the geography of where you're from.

I don't remember exactly, but I want to say this conversation happened about three or four weeks ago; which is significant for this.

Sometime after that conversation it occurred to me that my parents do not live in Bonney Lake. My parent lives in Bonney Lake. My mom lives in Bonney Lake. My dad died on March 27.

In the big picture I know that we all die. Death is part of the business of being a priest. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended. And my dad had suffered from COPD for several years. I watched from afar as his quality of life continued to deteriorate, barely able to walk from the living room to the bathroom, continually tied to an oxygen tank, spending all his time in the recliner because he couldn't breathe while laying down and couldn't move very far because he could barely breathe while walking. Add to all of that his more frequent hospital visits and, in the end, death became a blessing.

That's not to say I'm glad my dad died. But there is a relief that comes at the end of suffering when you believe someone has arrived at a place of peace. My faith tells me that he is resting with the saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

That is what I believe.

But there are days when not everything has sunk in. There are days when you haven't yet fit a death into your normal operating system. That conversation was one of those days.

At some point I'll remember that my parents don't live in Bonney Lake – my mom lives in Bonney Lake. And no matter what my faith tells me, that is a hard adjustment to make.

I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die.

Amen.

May 24, 2023

Sometimes I don't even know where to begin. Sometimes I just have to sit with the news and try to take it all in. And sometimes what I'm taking in is so overwhelming, so paralyzing, so beyond belief that I sit in stunned silence and whisper, “Lord, have mercy.”

This past Holy Week a story broke detailing the sexual abuse of over 600 children by more than 150 Catholic clergy during a sixty-year period in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. These are staggering numbers. In a week where we remembered the abuse and eventual death of an innocent man at the hands of the religious authorities and the state, we were also confronted with the ongoing abuse of innocent children at the hands of religious authorities and the associated cover-up.

Yesterday another report broke stating more than 450 offenders sexually abused more than 1900 children over a seventy-year period in Illinois in the Catholic Church.

In both of these, Baltimore and Illinois, the number of abusers and abused was far greater than had previously been disclosed. To quote from one report about the Baltimore findings, “Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children.”

Bishop Sutton addressed the Baltimore story at Clergy Conference and again at the Diocesan Council meeting last weekend. He reminded both of those groups that the Episcopal church doesn't have clean hands, as we have had clergy who have abused children. He reminded us to pray for the victims, that they may be healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually from the abuse they suffered. He also asked us to pray for the people in the Roman Catholic Church who are also having to deal with these awful events and the lasting impact they have on people both inside and outside the Church.

I can't even begin to process the fact that well over 600 clergy sexually abused more than twenty-five HUNDRED children. TWENTY. FIVE. HUNDRED. I don't even know where to begin with that. So I sit with the news and try to take it all in. And after a bit, I remember where I can begin.

I can begin here. I can begin by reminding people that here at Saint John's we do all we can to keep our most vulnerable parishioners safe. In our bathrooms we have posters with information on how to report abuse or suspected abuse. All people in positions of authority, all employees, and all volunteers who work with vulnerable parishioners are required to take the Safe Church program. Some of those people are also subject to a background check. We do these things not because we think people are inherently abusive, we do these things to let people know we are serious about protecting our people. So I begin there.

And for those who have been abused, I pray: Lord God, you called us into being in a state of fragility and vulnerability. Look with mercy upon those children who suffered abuse at the hands of those who were supposed to protect them, set them free of the trauma that engulfs them, bring to light and accountability those evil acts done in the dark, and may your tender mercy lead them to health and wholeness. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.

Todd+