July 31, 2024

Wednesday Word:  Opus Dei

Opus Dei is Latin and means, “Work of God.”  This term was popularized by Saint Benedict in his monastic rule.  In speaking about it, he says that the practice of daily prayer belongs to the whole Church, and that the whole people of God are called to sanctify their own lives by the practice of constant prayer. 

In his Rule for Monastics, Benedict lays out a schema for praying seven times during the day, and was based on Ps. 119:164 –

            Seven times a day do I praise you,* because of your righteous judgments.

While setting aside seven times a day to pray is not possible for most of us today, I believe we should all make time to pray regularly.  The BCP has the Daily Offices (which are a variation of what Benedict laid out) of Morning and Evening Prayer, along with Noonday Prayer and Compline.  It also has shorter forms of Daily Devotionals for Morning, Noon, Early Evening, and At the Close of Day.  And if carrying around a BCP all day is too onerous, we have small paper trifolds of the Daily Devotions you can stick in your pocket, purse, or wallet.

This act of daily prayer is most effective when it becomes a habit.  Doing the work of God on a regular basis allows it to become a regular part of your day, eventually becoming a natural part of life as much as reading the daily paper over coffee.  Daily prayer shapes us to become “other directed” instead of always focused on ourselves.  It also becomes a time when we recognize that we are not praying alone, but we are praying with the whole Church – that great cloud of witnesses past, present, and yet to come.  In prayer we do the work of God.

In the upcoming Seekers Newsletter, I talk about offering Saint Luke’s as a place of contemplation and rest for the community of Buffalo.  One way to do this would be to have people committed to opening the church at noon during the week.  If this is something that interests you, please contact me or the office and we can work on having a church that is open for daily prayer.

And even if you can’t commit to opening the church at noon during the week, find time during your life to schedule a time of regular prayer.  Because in that small act, you will be doing the work of God.

Todd+ 

July 24, 2024

Wednesday Word:  Thank you

This past Sunday, July 21, was a very big day at Saint Luke’s.  It began with our usual Holy Eucharist service at 9:00, which was then followed by a pancake breakfast with bacon, sausage, and juice/coffee.  That was followed with a bevy of activity from the reception committee as they set up and prepared for the installation service reception.  Bishop Katharine arrived at 2:30 to meet with several members of our youth group, and then the installation service itself took place at 4:00.  Not only was there a good turnout of parishioners, but we had several visitors and four other clergy of the diocese, three of whom vested.

Hymns were sung, prayers were offered, words were spoken, gifts were given, and fellowship was enjoyed.  All in all, it was a grand day.

Thank you to everyone who participated on Sunday:

            Thank you to the people who came to worship at 9:00.

            Thank you to Jim Wood and his Crew of Capable Cooks for making breakfast.

            Thank you to Donna Naill and the Reception Committee for all their work in setting up.

            Thank you to the people who joined us to celebrate new beginnings at 4:00.

            Thank you to everyone who joined us for the reception and provided joy.

            Thank you to everyone who stuck around afterward and helped clean up.

It was a great day that symbolized our joint new beginnings of priest and people.  I am glad to be sharing this life and ministry with you all.

Thank you

July 17, 2024

Wednesday Word:  Of Roots and Trees

I was talking with a retired clergy person awhile ago about being in Buffalo and settling in.  During the course of that conversation, he said, “You knew a priest was going to stay if they planted a tree.”  The implication, of course, being why would someone plant a tree that takes a long time to grow if they weren’t going to be around to see that happen?

Planting a tree symbolizes rootedness.  It symbolizes a willingness to be present for the long-term.  It can also symbolize slow and steady growth, strength and vitality, and a place of rest; all of which are applicable to the church.  Slow and steady growth is better for the church in the long run because, unlike the seeds that fell on rocky ground, it allows for deep roots to develop.  A tree and church that has deep roots is strong and vital.  A tree and church that grows can also provide a place of rest from the heat of the world and a place to sit and recharge.

So maybe planting a tree isn’t a bad idea . . . except for the fact that things I plant tend to die rather quickly. 

Instead of planting a tree to convey the fact that I plan on staying, Joelene and I bought a house.

I hope that buying a house can symbolize the same things as planting a tree.  It certainly indicates a willingness to be present in this place for a long time.  There is plenty to do around the house, everything from interior decorating to exterior landscaping.  None of which will happen overnight, but it will be slow and steady.  I don’t know about the strength and vitality part of the analogy, but we also hope that our home can be a place of rest and refreshment not only for us, but for those who visit as well.

I think planting a tree is probably much less expensive, but buying a house gives us a sense of rootedness in this place.  We are home, and that’s a very good thing.

Blessings,

July 10, 2024

Wednesday Word:  Home

When I first began my tenure at Christ Church, Sheridan, and Saint Paul’s, Virginia City, Montana, I was a transitional deacon; that is, I was ordained as a deacon in June and was waiting the canonically-required time of at least six months before being ordained as a priest.  Because I was still “in the process,” I was still required to meet with the Commission on Ministry to ensure that things would still move forward.

During one of those phone meetings I was asked to describe how I was settling in in the new place (or something like that, I can’t exactly remember).  I remember talking about the churches, the people, the mountains, and feeling a sense of being home.  Someone on the COM said that was the first time they heard me excited about everything. 

Fast forward to this past Monday.  I was talking about my vacation with some parishioners and one of them said, “Welcome home . . . No, I’ll say, ‘Welcome back,’ because this probably doesn’t feel like home.”

On the contrary, this very much feels like home.  Everything from the mountains to the weather to the right time zone to the people of Saint Luke’s makes this feel like home.  There are certainly things that are not home yet, but we’re on a good start.  As we move forward, this place will continue to be our home and become more embedded in our lives.

So yes, we’re home from vacation and we’re home for the long-haul.

It’s good to be home.

Blessings,

July 3, 2024

Wednesday Word:  Vacation

Joelene and I have been out of town on vacation.  We planned a secret-to-my-daughter trip back to Maryland to surprise her for her birthday. 

While here we scheduled time with a variety of friends, seeing people who became near and dear to us during our time there.  We have also eaten at a few of our favorite restaurants, and Joelene and Cece caught a show in Baltimore.  On the whole, this has been a relaxing time of friends, food, and remembrances.

We all need to find time to recharge.  We all need to reconnect.  We all need to relax.  Even Jesus found time to get away.

As we move into the 4^th of July holiday, I hope you all find time to gather with friends, have some fun, and take time to remember who and what is important to you.

Stay safe,