The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings is the newly elected President of the House of Deputies. She has written an op-ed essay published in the Washington Post. I’m proud to be Episcopalian:
Tag: Christianity
7/18/12—Maturing in wisdom and age
Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. Luke 2:52 CEB
World Water Day video from charity: water
World Water Day is observed on March 22nd every year. However, the need for clean water is constant. This short video was prepared by charity: water. The video speaks volumes. The need is great. I want to be part of the solution; I hope you do, too.
7/17/12—Maturing in wisdom and age
Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. Luke 2:52 CEB
The Lord’s Prayer as you’ve (probably) never heard it before
The Lord’s Prayer in Lakota.
Some of you were as privileged as me to receive the wisdom, experience, and ministry of The Rev. Margaret Watson at St. Margaret’s in Palm Desert, CA. Currently Margaret is serving Episcopal churches from Eagle Butte, SD on the Cheyenne River Reservation. She has a daily blog post—leave it lay where Jesus flang it—written as part of her morning prayer time. I encourage you to check out my “Garden & Compost” note of 7/13/2012. As we listen for the whispers of the Spirit we may hear the voices of our brothers and sisters in Christ from as far away as South Dakota and as near as the Reservations in our own Coachella Valley.
7/13/12—Maturing in wisdom and age
Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. Luke 2:52 CEB
Introducing 2 new items for our blog
Luke tells us that when his frantic parents found Jesus (who had been lost to them several days) in the Temple they reprimanded him, brought him home, that, in her heart, Mary treasured all she had witnessed, and finally that “Jesus matured in wisdom and years…” (Luke 2:52)
- From time to time those of us who post here will offer an “Aside, Link, Quote, Status update, or other short note” as part of OUR “maturing in wisdom and age.” These will be shorter than a full post. They will be a “quick read.”
- As you may remember we make our posts within a particular “category.” In the right hand column you will now find a convenient drop down list titled “Go to this category.” Use it to take you to those posts (and quick notes) in a specific category (like Art & Music).
Let us know what you think about these additions. Thanks for being part of the Sunday Morning Forum at St. Margaret’s in Palm Desert, CA.
Texts of terror
Sacred Scripture, Violent Verses: How Should We Read the Bible’s Texts of Terror?
The sacred scriptures we use contain lots of violence (just recently our Sunday lectionary texts have featured a number of beheadings and this Sunday 7/15 we hear Mark’s account of the death (by beheading) of John the Baptist).
Daniel Clendenin explores our sometimes uneasy relationship with scripture, especially these “texts of terror” a term first used by Phyllis Tickle to describe them. Go to Sacred Scripture, Violent Verses: How Should We Read the Bible’s Texts of Terror? This is the essay for the week on Journey with Jesus (a weekly E-zine I frequently visit; the archived material is wonderful, too). ~dan
Some questions to try out today
We’ll gather in our Sunday Morning Forum at 9am PDT this morning and take up the questions posed by our Forum Member, Wendy:
“Life and peace. Good life. We are invited to access it by freeing ourselves to be open to and led by the Spirit of God to become children of God (Romans 8:14 NRSV). Through our Western lens, to become spirit-focused seems to ignore the real world and to become a child almost seems to be a condescension, but are either of these fears accurate?
“Perhaps the greatest question to ponder is the destiny of a child? Is it to become an adult? Or, according to the Bible, here, is it to become in close relationship with God? Is the child an incomplete adult or is the child an image of one in closest relationship with God in Spirit? Here in Romans, we are invited to become as a child to enter into the Spirit of God. ” from Children of God by Wendy Sanders
- What images (verbal or otherwise) come to mind when you hear that you are “a child”?
- “Paul, you are such a child.” Can you imagine Paul’s reaction to that statement? What kind of response might he give?
- Is it the destiny of a child to “become an adult”? Explain.
- Is it the destiny of a child enter into “a close relationship with God”? Explain.
- Have you ever used the word “Abba” in your prayers? If yes, please share what you experienced.
To the Trinity be praise!
To the Trinity be praise!
God is music, God is life
that nurtures every creature in its kind.
Our God is the song of the angel throng
and the splendor of secret ways
hid from all humankind,
But God, our life is the life of all.
–Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Come, Gracious Spirit
Now it is after sunset (in my patch of California). On the Eve of Pentecost I share with you this presentation of the hymn “Come, Gracious Spirit.” Enjoy (more than once) as you prepare for (or celebrate) Pentecost.
So you know: “A Christian hymn of prayer to the Holy Spirit written by Simon Browne, 1720. Sung in the video by the Altar of Praise Chorale.” [YouTube caption]
Ever heard of the Five Marks of Mission? Well …
On Sunday, believing ourselves “sent into the world” by Jesus in his prayer—John 17:18—we looked at the “Five Marks of Mission” set before Episcopalians (and all Anglicans worldwide) in 1984 and again in 1990.
“The Mission of the Church is the mission of Christ.”
- To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- To respond to human need by loving service
- To seek to transform unjust structures of society
- To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
See: http://bit.ly/KCHAf6 (Anglican Communion)
(Bonds of Affection-1984 ACC-6 p 49,
Mission in a Broken World-1990 ACC-8 p 101)
Around the table each of us found one of the marks “hitting the mark” in our heart. For me it was the last mark “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” Men and women of faith have reached differing conclusions about “how” this ought to be undertaken, or if it should be undertaken at all.
For another the fourth mark “To seek to transform unjust structures of society” raised the question of discerning a God-given mission amidst the current political environment in America where men and women of faith who have reached different conclusions about what is an “unjust structure” of society tend to vilify and even demonize each other publicly.
It was a lively discussion. It raised more questions than it answered. It led us to pray for each other.
- Which of the “marks” speaks most vividly to you?
- What questions are raised in your heart as you begin to expand the summary statement of that mark?
- How do you see these marks flowing from your Baptismal Covenant (with God and other Episcopalians)?
- Or, do you see these marks flowing from the Baptismal Covenant at all?
- How do you discern God’s call to you? Who or what are your guides in discernment?
Please offer a question or comment, let’s continue the conversation.
…so I have sent YOU into the world
On Sunday, May 20th, we heard, “[Father] as you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” The speaker in each instance, of course, is Jesus. He is speaking to those who gather around him—in every age—to hear what he is saying. He is speaking to us. Today, WE are the ones sent into the world.
We prayed for each other and for all who listen for the Spirit this past Sunday: “We pray for the gifts of ministry.” Today I offer another prayer: A Litany of Women for the Church by Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Nun living in Pennsylvania.
How are you responding to the Spirit as you go into the world as one sent by Jesus? How do you choose your way forward as one who is sent? I invite you to continue the conversation in the Comments section that follows.
Hear what the Spirit is saying 