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+