Happy Pentecost and Other Happenings

Dear All,

On Tuesday the 29th, I will head out of town for an extended period of continuing education. I will return to church on June 24th. We have some wonderful guest celebrant/preachers lined up and I hope you will all welcome them with your customary warmth. I will attempt to blog from Princeton. May God watch between me and thee while we are parted one from another.

Yrs, in Christ, Jennie

Ascension Day

Always on a Thursday and forty days into the Easter celebration. What sense do you make of this?

Ascension by Garofalo (1481-1559) - Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Rome

Luke 24: 49-53

⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Sunday, May 13 2007

In addition to Mother's Day, this coming Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, is also known as Rogation Sunday. The name comes from the gospel for the day, which includes the words "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give to you". Rogation comes from the Latin word (rogare, I think) for ' to ask'. Traditionally, Rogation was when the priest, in full vestments and accompanied by all the villagers, went around the boundaries of each parish. Later this procession became known as the parish 'perambulation', or 'beating the bounds.' There were two reasons for walking the bounds. One was to learn where it was in the days when there were no maps. The other was to check that no one had moved any of the marker stones and therefore laid claim to your land.

These days, the purpose of Rogation Sunday (and the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the coming week) is to give thanks to God for the blessings of land, produce, livestock, and, in our case, the bounty of the seas.

George Herbert, poet and priest, gave the following good reasons to beat the bounds: 1) a blessing of God for the fruits of the field; 2) Justice in the preservation of the bounds; 3) Charitie, in living, walking and neighbourliy accompanying one another, with reconciling of differences at that time, if they be any; 4) Mercie, in relieving the poor by a liberal distribution of largess which at that time is or oght be made.

For more on Rogation Days, read here.

Two Saints

One of the great gifts of our Anglican tradition is the keeping of a church year calendar. We mark seasons, commemorate saints days, feasts, fasts, and Christian brothers and sisters whose lives have been exemplary. There are two significant commemorations this week. On Tuesday, May 8^th, we remember Dame Julian of Norwich (1342-1417) and, on May 9^th, St. Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389) . Below follows a bit of information about each of them.

The Lady Julian (or Juliana) was born about 1342, and when she was thirty years old, she became gravely ill and was expected to die. Then, on the seventh day, the medical crisis passed, and she had a series of fifteen visions, or "showings," in which she was led to contemplate the Passion of Christ. These brought her great peace and joy. She became an anchoress, living in a small hut near to the church in Norwich, where she devoted the rest of her life to prayer and contemplation of the meaning of her visions. The results of her meditations she wrote in a book called Revelations of Divine Love, available in modern English in a Penguin Paperback edition. During her lifetime, she became known as a counselor, whose advice combined spiritual insight with common sense, and many persons came to speak with her. Since her death, many more have found help in her writings.The precise date of her death is uncertain.Her book is a tender meditation on God's eternal and all-embracing love, as expressed to us in the Passion of Christ.She describes seeing God holding a tiny thing in his hand, like a small brown nut, which seemed so fragile and insignificant that she wondered why it did not crumble before her eyes. She understood that the thing was the entire created universe, which is as nothing compared to its Creator, and she was told, "God made it, God loves it, God keeps it."She was concerned that sometimes when we are faced wiith a difficult moral decision, it seems that no matter which way we decide, we will have acted from motives that are less then completely pure, so that neither decision is defensible. She finally wrote: "It is enough to be sure of the deed. Our courteous Lord will deign to redeem the motive." Source: James Kiefer writing here. For additional information about Dame Julian, visit here and here.

Although the room where Julian lived and received visitors was destroyed during WW II,
it has been faithfully recreated.

The Second Commemoration of the Week (May 9) is Saint Gregory of Nazianzus
who, with Saints Athanasius, Basil, and John Chrysostom, is a Father of the Church and one of the four Eastern Doctors of the Church. He is known especially for his contributions to the theological definition of the Trinity and the nature of Christ. He, Basil, and Gregory of Nyssa are called the Cappadocian Fathers. Brought up in the Cappadocian town of Nazianzus (present-day Bekar, Turkey), where his father was bishop, Gregory as a young man was reluctant to take a position of responsibility in the church, retiring instead to a monastic community started by Basil in Pontus. He explained this action in his Defense of the Flight to Pontus, which became the basis for works on the priesthood by Saint John Chrysostom and Pope Gregory I. Gregory was consecrated a bishop in 371 but did not become actively involved in ecclesiastical affairs until he assumed leadership (379) of the orthodox community in Constantinople, at a time when the city was divided by controversy between rival Christian groups. He played a leading role at the first Council of Constantinople (381), which continued the definition of Christian teaching begun at the councils of Nicaea, but opposition at the council to Gregory's claim to the bishopric of Constantinople made him decide to return to Nazianzus. In 384 he again retired to monastic life, and died a few years later.

More about Gregory can be learned at here and here.

from ORATION 31

"To us there is One God, for the Godhead is One, and all that proceedeth from Him is referred to One, though we believe in Three Persons. For one is not more and another less God; nor is One before and another after; nor are They divided in will or parted in power; nor can you find here any of the qualities of divisible things; but the Godhead is, to speak concisely, undivided in separate Persons; and there is one mingling of Light, as it were of three suns joined to each other. When then we look at the Godhead, or the First Cause, or the Monarchia, that which we conceive is One; but when we look at the Persons in Whom the Godhead dwells, and at Those Who timelessly and with equal glory have their Being from the First Cause--there are Three Whom we worship."

The Shrimp Festival

Hope everyone who is able will join us in McClellanville this coming Saturday for the annual Blessing of the Fleet and the Shrimp Festival. Here is the link to more info. My goodness! What a fun time this is! Come and bring the family!

Readings for Sunday, Easter 5, May 6th.

A website that I visit frequently is known as "The Text this Week". This site helpfully publishes links to the upcoming Sunday readings, various commentaries and even sermons. The link to the texts for this coming week can be found here. Check it out!

I am thinking of preaching on the Revelation text since the Gospel passage was the focus of Maundy Thursday's sermon this year. Here is the Revelation text

Revelation 19:1, 4-9

19After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, ⁴And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” ⁵And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.” ⁶Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. ⁷Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; ⁸to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. ⁹And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

The marriage supper of the Lamb sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And, the good news is that you are invited, as is all of creation. One's imagination could run pretty wild given the rich variety of wedding celebrations possible. I don't think the picture below is from a wedding feast, but, hey, it might look like this! Here is a giant Ukrainian pysanka (Easter egg) built in 1975 in Vegreville, Canada.

Festival of Leonardo da Vinci

Don't look. He's not in our liturgical calendar, but maybe should be. Leonardo da Vinci died on this date in 1519. Edward Hays tells us, he was... "A true genius in many and varied fields. When commissioned to paint a portrait of the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, he found it very difficult to make her smile. Da Vinci even resorted to hiring people to play, sing, and jest while he painted her. Today, Mona Lisa's smile is renowned. A good day to let the grace of the Easter season make your smile unforgettable."

Easter 4 Gospel Reading

This is our Gospel reading for Sunday. Where would you start?

John 10:22-30

²²At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰The Father and I are one.”

The above illustration is from the Jesus Mafa series. It is part of a project to set the Gospel in African context. Originally developed for the Mafa people of North Cameroun, the project continues. Click here to read about this remarkable undertaking.

Such a sad two weeks

First, the death of our neighbor - a beautiful and full of life 9 yr old girl - Oriana. Then, the tragedy at Virginia Tech followed by a fallen Blue Angel in Beaufort, SC.

Rest eternal grant to them , O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Alleluia ! Christ is Risen!

The Resurrection
Fra Angelico, San Marco Museum, Florence

A Sermon for Easter Day 2007

Look out! God’s resurrection power is at work!

They came at early dawn and found an empty tomb. They were perplexed – confused – disoriented. Things were not as they ought to have been. Read more....

Giotto di Bondone, 1304-1306.

No. 30 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 14. Washing of Feet

Fresco, 200 x 185 cm

Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

A Fine Litany for Holy Week

To pray for genuine humility is a tricky thing. May this litany by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930) be of some assistance to us all.

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

–Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930)

From the Churchyear.net site

Palm Passion Sunday

The lections are daunting. You can find them here. Where does one begin? What strikes you as you think about triumph turned to tragedy in a blink of an eye?

Chanting the Decalogue - Fifth Sunday in Lent

This morning we began the service with the Penitential Order which includes, as an option, a recitation of the Ten Commandments (also known as the Decalogue). Having served St. James Santee for just one year now, we are still getting to know each other. To chant the Decalogue or not to chant was the question. We took the plunge and it actually sounded terrific. Well done, people!

There is something about singing words that helps them sink in more deeply. May we praise God in this way often!

"He who sings prays twice"

Attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)

Preaching Text for 3/25/07

The Bible passage that I will preach on is the following. I have some ideas, but wonder what you think would be helpful to focus on with this terrific text.

Philippians 3:4-14

⁴even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. ⁸More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, ¹¹if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ¹²Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Interview with The Rev. Mark J. Lawrence

Just in case you were wondering....

“I am not asking, nor have ever asked, anyone to make a choice about leaving the Episcopal Church. I am saying that many need to awaken from their slumber if they do not want their beloved Church to be dominated by an extremist agenda. I understand that many do not have a stomach for the game and prefer to sit on the sidelines. So be it. But please: You may say I am wrong. You may say I am reactionary. You may say I have a log in my eye. But don’t put words in my mouth. I haven’t asked anyone to leave TEC and I’m making no plans to leave. I have lived with others misrepresenting me for five months. Now it is my turn and I’m taking it. “

The Very Rev. Mark J. Lawrence - March 17, 2007
< http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=18327>

This is followed by a very fine interview with our once and future Bishop Elect The Very Rev. Mark J. Lawrence.

(To get to the article click on the underlined words)

In The Beginning

Today St. James Santee Episcopal Church begins its blog. The purpose of the blog (short for web log or journal) is to have a place to post church notices, articles and links of interest, reflect about upcoming sermons , and to just visit in general. Members, friends, and visitors are all welcome. Please use good sense in posting and refrain from making comments that could be considered slander, gossip or other unpalatable remarks. Our guide is speaking the truth in love. So let the conversation begin!

The E-100 Preaching Plan - Yr. 1

You are invited to read along!

In the Beginning

1. The Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:25 ) September 13, ‘09 – Proper 19B
2. The Fall (Genesis 3:1-24 ) September 20 – Proper 20B
3. The Flood (Genesis 6:5-7:24 ) September 27 – Proper 21B
4. God’s Covenant with Noah (Genesis 8:1-9:17) October 4 – Proper 22B
5. Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) October 11 – Proper 23B

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

6. The Call of Abram (Genesis 12:1-20) October 18 – Proper 24B
7. God’s Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15:1-21) October 25 – Proper 25B
8. Isaac’s Birth and Sacrifice (Genesis 21:1-22:19 )November 1 – All Saints
9. Jacob and Esau Compete (Genesis 27:1-28:22) November 8 – Proper 27B
10 Jacob and Esau reconcile (Genesis 32:1-33:20 ) November 15 –Proper 28B

Break

Christ the King – Last Sunday after Pentecost - November 22

1 Advent C November 29
2 Advent C December 6
3 Advent C December 13
4 Advent C December 20
Christmas 1 December 27
Christmas 2 January 3, 2010

Resume

The Story of Joseph

11. Sold into Slavery (Genesis 37:1-36) January 10 – Epiphany 1C
12 Prison and a Promotion (Genesis 39:1-41:57) January 17- Epiphany 2C
13 Ten Brothers Go to Egypt (Genesis 42:1-38) January 24 – Epiphany 3C
14 The Brothers Return (Genesis 43:1-44:34) January 31 – Epiphany 4C
15 Joseph reveals his identity (Genesis 45:1-46:7 ) February 7- Epiphany 5C

Moses and the Exodus

Break

22 The Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-34:35) April 18 – Easter 3C
23 Joshua Succeeds Moses (Joshua 1:1-18 ) April 25 – Easter 4C
24 Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1-4:24) May 2 – Easter 5C
25 The Fall of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27 ) May 9 – Easter 6C
26 Israel’s Disobedience (Judges 2:6-3:6) May 16 – Easter 7C

Pentecost Day May 23

The Judges

27 Deborah Leads Israel (Judges 4:1-5:31) May 30 – Trinity C
28 Gideon Defeats the Midianites (Judges 6:1-7:25) June 6 – Proper 5C
29 Samson Defeats the Philistines (Judges 13:1-16:31) June 13 – Proper 6C
30 The Story of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4:22) June 20 – Proper 7C


The Rise of Israel

31 Samuel Listens to God (1 Samuel 1:1-3:21) Jun 27- Proper 8C
32 King Saul (1 Samuel 8:1-10:27) July 4 – Proper9C
33 David and Goliath (1 Samuel 16:1-18:16 ) July 11 – Proper 10C
34 David and Saul (1 Samuel 23:7-24:22) July 18 – Proper 11C
35 King David (2 Samuel 5:1-7:29) July 25 – Proper 12C

The Fall of Israel

36 David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25) August 1 – Proper 13C
37 King Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-3:28) August 8 – Proper 14C
38 Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:1-9:9) August 15 – Proper 15C
39 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 16:29-19:18) August 22 – Proper 16C
40 The Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-30 )August 28 – Proper 17C

The Psalms and Proverbs

41 The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6) September 5- Proper 18C
42 Have Mercy on Me (Psalm 51:1-19) September 12 – Proper 19C
43 Praise the Lord (Psalm 103:1-22) September 19- Proper 20C
44 Godly Wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-4:27) September 26 – Proper 21C
45 Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs 16:1-18:24) October 3 – Proper 22C

The Prophets

46 The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 51:1-53:12) October 10 – Proper 23C
47 Jeremiah’s Call and Message (Jeremiah 1:1-3:5) October 17- Proper 24C
48 Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6:1-28) October 24 – Proper 25C
49 The Story of Jonah (Jonah 1:1-4:11) October 31 – Proper 26C
50 The Day of Judgment (Malachi 1:1-4:6) November 7 – All Saints

Directions to Brick Church at Wambaw

Directions to the Brick Church at Wambaw coming  from Charleston

Take US 17 N from Mt. Pleasant going towards Georgetown – from the Ravenel Bridge, it is a straight shot -You have two choices

1.  At 37 miles, turn left at the intersection of Highways 17 and  45.  Go 2.2 miles and take a right onto Old Georgetown Highway.   Go 3.7 miles and church will be on your left.

or

2. Continue on 17N  past McClellanville turnoff on the right and the blinking caution light (remember to slow down to 45 through that zone because the road is patrolled heavily).


Approx. 6 miles past the blinking caution light, take a left onto Rutledge Rd. (if you go over a bridge – the South Fork of Santee River, you have missed it. If you pass the sign to Hopsewee Plantation, you have doubly missed it).

Travel about 1.5 miles on Rutledge Rd. You should see a sign on the right that says St. James Santee Episcopal Church. Take a left onto the Old Georgetown Highway.  Go about 4 miles. Church will be on your right.



Directions to the Brick Church at Wambaw coming from Georgetown.

The  church is  approximately 20 miles from Georgetown.

Take US 17S from Georgetown going towards Mt. Pleasant.

After you cross the South Fork of the Santee River, take a right onto Rutledge Road.   Travel about 1.5 miles on Rutledge Rd. You should see a sign on the right that says St. James Santee Episcopal Church. Take a left onto the Old Georgetown Highway.  Go about 4 miles. Church will be on your right.


Please Note
Old Georgetown Highway is a sand dirt road. It will seem as if you are driving in the forest on a  dirt road to nowhere, but suddenly you will come around the curve and see the Church and cars . On the left hand side of the church is a parking lot. Do be careful about the ditches (we have to pull people out every year).

Annual Service is Second Sunday of Easter at 11:00 am followed by covered dish picnic.

Palm Passion 2008

"And the curtain in the temple was torn in two...."

Mt. 27:51a


What a turn. What a shift in the crowd. One day, they are praising God and welcoming Jesus as the long awaited, long hoped for messiah. The next day, it’s a different story - Kill him! From Hosanna to Crucify seems like it ought to take a little longer, but, that is human nature . It turns on a dime. In a mille-second, the hero is the villain. It’s fluky as the wind.


Today, it’s important to let the passion narrative speak for itself today..for the words to hang in the air and to land in our hearts where they may…


Yet, there is one little verse that I’d like to point out to you …it is this one.. Matthew 27:51

It comes right after the death of Jesus…let me read a little bit of the passage to you…
Picking up at verse 50…Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. and 51…”And behold the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split.”

It’s about the curtain…

To talk about the curtain, we’ll have to talk about the temple. There were two temples…
In the first, the Temple of Solomon, there was a wall dividing two areas – The Holy and the Holy of Holies. The wall was covered with a curtain.
In this second area – The Holy Of Holies - “the Ark of the Covenant had rested and was considered to be the place where God resided. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies - and God's presence - once a year, and then only after an elaborate cleansing ritual; even then he would have a cord tied to his leg so that others could safely drag him out should he enter God's presence with unatoned sin. “
In the second Temple there was a wall of curtain separating between the holy and the holy of holies. The curtain was 4 in' thick and would have been somewhere around 60-70 ft high and wide. The weight was approximately between 4 to 6 tons depending on the material used. In fact the Talmud teaches that it took some 300 priest to carry it to its place. “ This was not a sheer curtain. Think of the apron that x-ray people put on you and imagine it 4 inches thick.


Quite a curtain..why was it there? For several reasons really…some symbolic and others practical…


Symbolically it represented the rift between God and humankind…the separation between us …once a year only the high priest would enter so that atonement – that is, reconciliation and peace, could be reestablished between God and his people.
Year after year the priest did by coming before the living presence of God and offering a sacrifice of the blood of an animal – symbolizing human blood or life – meaning, “You gave us our lives…we dedicate them, we give them back to you…because we are yours. And…we know that the price of our sin is our lives…in this blood, we offer that price. Have mercy upon us.” Another aspect of the symbolism of the curtain was that it evoked a tent. Remember that God met Moses in the Tent of Meeting.


The other reason the curtain was there was for protection – because …to be in the presence of the living God, the creator of the universe would be – not an exact parallel- like being exposed to nuclear fission or looking directly into the sun. The sun is far too bright and our eyes will be damaged. To look on the Living God would be to die. This was and is the conviction of the Jews who had more experience with Him than anybody else at that time. Remember what happened when Lucy Pevensie in the Narnia Chronicles first went for an encounter with Aslan the lion. “Is he safe?” she asked. “Well, no,” the answer came back, “of course he’s not safe, but he’s good.”
I want to press this point a little further, but we live in a time that tends to water down the supernatural. Think about what happens in the bible when people encounter angels. They fall down or pass out in sheer fright. Remember Isaiah? His prophetic call came when he was in the Temple and looked on the living God. He said, “Woe is me, for I am an unclean man of an unclean people.” He thought that he was about to die on the spot.
The power and brightness of the presence of the living God was not safe for people. Do you remember the people’s reaction to Moses after he would come out of the tent of meeting – his face would be shining so brightly that it scared people and they begged him to put a veil on…no one, could look on God and live…and they were afraid they would die.
Did you catch that? He put on a veil…
So the curtain…the veil in the temple signified separation, estrangement, and protection.
When Jesus died ,when the Lamb of God breathed his last, the curtain was torn in two.
What could this mean?
1. That full atonement had been made – Jesus Christ, our great high priest offered the once for all sacrifice – not a sacrifice that would need to be repeated year after year…but once for ever – to bring about atonement – peace and reconciliation between humankind and God…that he would eternally be our mediator…no need for any other…
A side note…when I offer prayers on your behalf , I do so in the name of Jesus…standing within his priesthood…not on my own for that would be both useless and meaningless…but in his name, under the cover of his blood.
So, back the curtain – the second thing to say about this today – is that in Jesus Christ, there is no longer separation between God and us and ,in Jesus Christ, we look on the glory of the Father. Here’s something really key - the power and light we see through him as fearful and awesome as it is , we can now see its true nature – that is, it is the power of sacrificial love.
This past week, I heard a country gospel song which gets at what this kind of love is like. The refrain went something like this,
“Wherever you are you can't go far enough, Whatever you've done you can't outrun the long arm of love. “[1]
This coming week is Holy Week and today we have begun to walk the way of the Cross…Today, we go from Hosanna to Crucify and next Sunday, we will travel from Crucify to Hallelujah. It’s the heart of the gospel. Come stand at the foot of the cross and at the empty tomb. Get the atonement down in your bones so that you can truly hear and believe that the sacrifice of our great high priest was on your behalf and for you, that great veil has been torn…forever. AMEN.

JTCO- 3.16.08




[1] Crossway Quartet

Proper 20 C -Sept 23, 2007

Proper 20C-2007
Text: Luke 16:1-13

Outrageous Forgiveness


This morning we hear another parable from Jesus – what has been called the parable of the wicked steward or dishonest manager. It is an odd story and strikes a strange note. Quite truthfully, this particular parable has been subject to more and varied interpretations than any of Jesus’ other parables because it is so difficult to figure out what Jesus was trying to say.
In seminary, I had a New Testament professor who was fond of saying that she would be glad to get to heaven so she could ask Jesus and St. Paul some questions about what they had said. I like to think about her quizzing St. Paul – “Now, exactly what did you mean when you said…?” I suspect this reading from today is one she’d be asking about too. Let’s take a stab at it.
The first thing to look at is where it falls – what teachings of Jesus are on either side – its neighbors, if you will. So notice that it follows the three “Lost” parables and comes right before a discussion with the Pharisees in which he took them to task for their love of money – so we need to bear in mind that this probably has something to do finding that which has been lost and, it may also relate to money, or what it symbolizes, and its place in our lives.
In each of three preceding parables, Jesus has been talking with us about the lengths to which our God goes to find us and to reclaim us, to heal and restore us. He does things, that from a human point of view, make no sense whatsoever…It can help us to remember that comment from God in Isaiah where he says – “Your ways are not my ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts.”
In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus must have left his listeners shaking their heads…what father would put up with a son like this - one who had essentially squandered so much of the gain of the father’s life work. This would have been shocking and, in fact, the parable is sometimes called the parable of the Prodigal Father -- because the Father was so outrageously generous and forgiving…..forgiving the debt.
Here I am reminded of the Lord’s prayer…and remember that financial debt is sometimes a metaphor for sin – forgive us our sin, trespasses, debts as we forgive those who sin, trespass, or are indebted to us…So, the second stake we can put into the ground is that of forgiveness of sin…now let’s look at the parable.
We have an estate manager, a steward, who is being fired – perhaps unjustly, perhaps not, and who is scrambling to make the best of the short amount of time he’s got…
A lot of people owe the owner of the estate – and owe him “big”…
Owing a lot of money is fairly typical these days – 2.5 trillion $ in consumer debt as of June this year…The average household owes close to $12,000 in credit card debt.. If you are a homeowner, you will know that signing a home mortgage or big note is sobering…overwhelming if you think about it too much…
In another church I served, I had a couple come for some pastoral counseling…they were fighting like mad…and somewhere along the way I asked them how much debt they were carrying – it was close to $75,000 in credit card debt…their annual income was somewhere around $50,000. They were overcome by debt and could not hope to pay it off…Think how relieved they would have been if someone from Master Card, the person who had been harassing them previously, called out of the blue and said…we’re going to write off that debt. Or, if someone called and said…the bank is going to forgive your home mortgage…or your student loan debts…or your business debt…we’re going to forgive it …you’d probably be thinking…this is too good to be true, no way this is legal…it’s probably a mistake at the bank……and you’d probably wait and then check your balance…..and then the statement arrives in the mail…or better, yet, the deed…free and clear… what a celebration that would be! Wouldn’t you be praising American Express or Visa, or the bank to the high heavens…because debt really is a form of slavery ---
Now, some of you who are practical folks no doubt would be saying – well, that’s nice idea but that can’t work practically because the whole system would fall apart…if everybody’s mortgages were forgiven, the banking system would collapse…someone has to pay…and you are right to think this…back to this in a moment
To become debt free is a wonderful thing --- but more wonderful is to become debt free in a spiritual sense…
How scandalous it must have appeared to the religious authorities of the day that Jesus forgave people’s sins --- “No one but God alone can forgive sins” they buzzed – what does he think he’s doing? I can see Jesus looking up at them, raising his eyebrows as if to say…well? (Take it a step further)..If I am forgiving sins and only God can forgive sins…then…
What if…just what if…Jesus was telling us that God was like that dishonest or tricky steward? What if this is a kingdom parable? What if Jesus is telling us that this is how it is in the Kingdom of Heaven?

We live in a world that wants an eye for an eye – if you owe, you owe…in a world that forgives so little and holds onto injuries for so long…how shocking to have a God who forgives…and forgives much…but the more practical among us would say…that just can’t work…if everyone’s sin or crime is forgiven the whole system of justice would collapse…where there has been injury, someone has to pay…and you would be right..
Like the tricky steward, Our Lord Jesus did not have a long time to walk this earth...but, o, how he used that time – he wrote down and ripped up people’s debts with abandon and then poured out his life so that the debt --- the demand for justice could be met …and the paper could be stamped “Paid in Full” for all people for all time…
Now, here’s the thing….if you are baptized into his death and resurrection, then you are a part of this Christian economy, and we are called to write down the debts of others. This is something we can do because the living presence of Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit makes it possible. To forgive means to say – you owe me nothing…there is no debt remaining…and this is not something we have the power in us to do on our own…but we can forgive because we have been forgiven…because our spiritual mortgage has been burned…we can have the grace and power to do the same…
Jesus tells this story and then speaks about being faithful in the little things. This is because the practice of forgiveness is not just in the big things…it begins with the smaller hurts, slights, offenses . We learn with the smaller things for, if we can forgive in the smaller things…be faithful in the smaller things…then when the big ones come, through the grace and blood of Jesus Christ, we can forgive the larger ones…Today and in the coming week, I want to challenge, invite and plead with you to pull out your ledger book and have a look at who owes you…and then, like our Lord and Master Jesus, start writing those debts down and off for all eternity. AMEN.

Easter 6 C - The Promise of Presence

Easter 6 C * May 13, 2007 * Mother’s Day, Rogation Sunday* JTCO

Whoever thought that playing peek-a-boo would be so important? As it turns out, one of the very earliest developmental lessons babies learn is what called object permanence – that is, that a thing or person still continues to exist even we can’t see it or them. Little babies learn this through endless games and by learning to trust that when they cry someone will come. If they don’t learn it, they stay anxious, clingy, fearful every time someone needs to come or go.

In our gospel reading this morning, the disciples are having a lesson in object permanence as Jesus talked with them about his departure. This passage from, John Chapter 14, comes at the Last Supper they shared with him before his death. Our reading comes from a section of what is known as the Farewell Discourse. In some ways, it might seem that we are turning back the calendar to the events of Holy Week, but we are hearing this reading this morning – well into the Easter season – for two reasons.

The first is that we are right around the corner from the feast of the Ascension in which Jesus finally does take leave of the disciples after forty of days of being present with them, and which we’ll mark next Sunday, the day in which the resurrected Lord returns to the Father. The second reason is that Jesus is making a promise, the fulfillment of which is gift both to them and us – that the Father will send the Holy Spirit.

I am indebted to Jim Somerville,[1] who suggests the following dialogue -- questions from the disciples that Jesus answers in this section.

And these sound a lot like the kinds of questions mothers get from their children as they pick up their keys and pocketbook and head for the door…

"Where are you going?""I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am there you may be also." [14:3]

"Can we go with you?""Where I am going you cannot come." [13:33]

"How long will you be gone?""A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while and you will see me." [14:19]

"Who will take care of us?""I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever." [14:16]”

Sound familiar? Parents will recognize these questions and especially moms. Object permanence is one of the issues. Will Jesus continue to exist and will they be taken care off even when they can no longer see him? When little ones develop normally, they learn this, and so they can let Mom out of sight for a little while, trusting that she will return. And, it is a question for us who are followers of Jesus Christ in our own day and time. Can we trust that Jesus is alive and is actively caring for us, even when we cannot see him with our own eyes?

As happens so often, our Collect of the Day, can give us an important clue about how to approach this passage…Let me read it for you again –O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding; Pour into hearts such love towards you , that we, loving you all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

The good that God does for us …past, present and future…for those who love Him…is beyond what we can understand…(We can’t see it, but we can trust it)…and we ask God, give us such love for you that the promises you have given us will become reality…The word that struck me here as key, is the word “promise”..

My goodness, what parent doesn’t make promises to a child? And, as you know, broken promises can badly compromise any relationship but particularly with parents and children. What parents has not heard that terrible wail usually accompanied by tears…”But….you promised!”?

So, let’s take a deeper look at what Jesus is saying to the disciples as he gets them ready for his departure…Jesus gives us three promises to offset the disciples’ and our anxiety about object permanence. I’d like to add a fourth dimension for consideration. All of these speak to how we know that the Risen Lord is with us.

Jesus gives us three promises of his presence: That he is present in his Word, his Peace, and through The Holy Spirit.

1. First, Jesus promises us that when we remember and hold dear and honor his word that he will dwell in us. He says “Those who love me will keep my word….if we were doing a literal translation of this passage…if would read…if anyone is loving me, that one will keep my word. Loving Jesus and keeping his word are related…The word keep is worth considering. It goes beyond obedience and has the sense of “holding dear” “observing” “guarding” or “consider important”.

Jesus promises us that when we keep his word, we will know his living presence and the presence of Father inwardly…and it goes beyond just remembering …This makes sense if you think about it. Here I am thinking about some of the sayings in our family…from time to time, I think about or remember something a family member has said…for instance, my great aunt Fanny who died years ago at the age of 106. Aunt Fancy was a maiden great aunt – never married - , a great wit and could really turn a phrase. Here is one of our family stories about a saying of Aunt Fancy’s. My sister Susan had taken her to church – First Presbyterian Church in Columbia – she was about 92 at the time. It was after church and they were sitting in the car pick up area having a little rest before they walked to the car which was a good hike. A lady who was standing down from them leaned over and said, “I’m waiting for my husband.” Susan said, that without missing a beat, Aunt Fancy said, “I am too.” Sometimes when I hear or say the words, “I am waiting for my husband”, her words come to me. I hear them in her voice and in that moment, it goes beyond remembering into sensing that I am in her presence. So, too, with Jesus’ words when we treasure them, guard them, observe them - he is present.

2. The Second promise of presence Jesus makes is that we will know that he is with us because he gives us his peace. This is the peace that passes all understanding…the peace that can be ours even in the midst of a storm. Even when everything around us is coming unglued, we have the gift of knowing that, no matter how difficult or painful the outcome, we sense that we are not alone and that in the end all will be well.

Julian of Norwich, 14^th century mystic, whose feast day we kept this past week, gets at this when she describes the following vision she had…She describes seeing God holding a tiny thing in his hand, like a small brown nut, which seemed so fragile and insignificant that she wondered why it did not crumble before her eyes. She understood that the thing was the entire created universe, which is as nothing compared to its Creator, and she was told, "God made it, God loves it, God keeps it." So too with us, God made us, loves us and keeps us.

I wonder how many of you have had that experience of the peace that passes understanding… it is not rational…this is another way that Jesus communicates his continuing love and presence with us.

3. The Third promise of presence is that He will ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit…and we will say more about that in the next two weeks.

4. The Fourth way of knowing God’s presence with us…and this is not St. John but Jennie speaking…has to do with one of the other themes for this Sunday You may have noticed in our hymns and prayers that we are celebrating and praising God for the beauty of creation. This is because today is Rogation Sunday…a day traditionally kept for a procession round the village , beating the bounds…that is marking the boundaries of one’s land, and thanking God for the gifts of the soil, the sea, and the whole of the physical creation. There is more about this on the church blog…The mystics have referred to knowing God in two ways…through the book of the Holy Scripture and through the book of Nature…Now, as anyone who has lived for any length of time, we know that the physical creation is not necessarily benevolent…we live in a fallen world , beautiful yes, but fallen…where disease, and natural disaster, and accidents, and environmental degradation take their toll…..ah, but it is beautiful…as a child, one of the places I felt God’s peace and presence most clearly was sitting up in the top of a 90 ft pine tree in our back yard…far, far above the madding crowd of my brothers and sisters..the light glistened across the tops of the trees, and the wind ruffled through and around the branches and leaves as birds winged their ways. It’s the same calm peacefulness, one can get in the marsh or on the water…or looking at the morning mist lifting from a lake or a field. God’s calm peace and presence can speak to us …through the abundance of his provision for us…the rain that falls and the fruits that grow and the marvelous variety of creatures…

So, then four ways that we can trust that Jesus dwells with us even now, will return for us, and that the Father is providing for us in this and every moment…In his living words; in his peace, in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit….and in his marvelous provision through the creation. May we ever be assured of the truth of his presence. In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.. Amen.

---

[1] James G. Somerville ( in "Who Will Take Care of Us?" in The Christian Century, May 6, 1998, p. 471)

Service Schedule

Sundays - 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist I or II, depending upon the season, except for the Second Sunday of Easter which is the annual Brick Church Service and picnic. That service time is 11:00 am. The 2011 Brick Church service will be May 1. Celebrant and Preacher TBA. Please join us.

Bishop's Visitation - December 11, 2011

Sundays in Advent and Lent - Holy Eucharist, Rite I.- 10:00 am followed by Coffee Hour

All other Sundays - Holy Eucharist Rt. II - followed by Coffee Hour
Fifth Sundays - Morning Prayer, Rt. I

Program and Nursery for Children - During the service.
Village Youth Group - New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church - Wednesday evenings - 6:00 pm
Contact: April Zorn at New Wappetaw

April, May and June at SJS

Sunday Services are at 10:00 am without fail.

Sunday Ap. 27 - The Rev. Dr. George Tompkins, celebrant and preacher. Mrs. Olbrych at St. Stephen's, Charleston

Saturday, May 3 - Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet - 11-5 http://www.lowcountryshrimpfestival.com/

A blessing of the fleet by local clergy celebrates tradition in this coastal community. Shrimp dinners, kabobs, chowders, barbeque and hot dogs are served. Children's area with inflatables, pony rides, etc. Local artist and crafters.

Sunday, May 4 - Shrimp Festival Weekend

Sunday, May 11- Mother's Day

Sunday, May 25- Memorial Day weekend

May 25-June 14 - Mrs. Olbrych at Princeton Theological Seminary - Supply clergy TBA

Service Times et al.

Church is at 10:00 on Sundays and is followed by Coffee Hour. Visitors are welcomed warmly.

Advent and Lent, Holy Eucharist Rite I
All other Sundays, Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Second Sundays-Quarterly - Morning Prayer, Rt. I

The annual Brick Church service is at 11:00 am, Rite I, and followed by a covered dish picnic. The Brick Church Service for 2018 will be April 8.  Please join us. Preacher, our Vicar, the Rev. Dr. Jennie C. Olbrych.


Children's Christian Ed program and Nursery is 10:00 in the Parish House with the children joining us at the Peace. Children, of course, are always welcome to attend and participate in the service.