First Week of Advent: Saying “Yes” to the Journey

As Advent begins this week, we invite you to orient yourself to the coming of the Jesus at Christmas through the practices of Journeying the Way of Love. This journey begins by saying “yes” to God’s call to birth new life into the world—a call that is both powerful and gentle, a call that will, if fully embraced, grow beyond our imaginations, spilling out of ourselves and into our family, friends, community, and the whole world. Over the course of this holy season, we invite you to respond to that call using these daily practices, and encourage you to offer them to your friends, family, and neighbors.

Sunday, December 2 - WORSHIP
Pay attention during worship today. What part of the service fills your heart?

Monday, December 3 - GO
Take time to listen closely to someone you may not ordinarily take seriously, or who has a different perspective than you.

Tuesday, December 4 - LEARN
Read Luke 1:26-38. What is God calling you to say “yes” to?

Wednesday, December 5 - PRAY
Set a timer for five minutes. Silently repeat this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Thursday, December 6 - BLESS
In the spirit of St. Nicholas, practice a random act of kindness today.

Friday, December 7 - TURN
Reflect: Where have I fallen short this week? How can I make amends?

Saturday, December 8 - REST
Do something today that replenishes your spirit.

For more Advent resources related to the Way of Love, visit episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove.

There, you’ll find links to the full Advent curriculum Journeying the Way of Love, as well as a nine-session curriculum for use anytime, a printable Advent calendar, video, and much more.

The O Antiphons

Traditionally, the Magnificat, the song of Mary, is sung or said every day at Evening Prayer (just as the Benedictus, Zechariah’s song, is associated with Morning Prayer and Simeon’s Song is linked with Compline). During the last week before Christmas, there are antiphons that you can use to wrap around the Magnificat if you pray Evening Prayer. 

The Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

These are called the O Antiphons, because they all begin with “O”. If you pray Evening Prayer, try this: after the reading from Scripture, say the antiphon, and then pray the Magnificat, and then say the antiphon again. Even if you don’t pray all of Evening Prayer, prepare for Christmas by praying the antiphons all by themselves. 

December 17: O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

December 18: O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

December 19: O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

December 20: O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 21: O Morning Star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 22: O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

December 23: O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

You know these antiphons in the famous carol “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” which is based on the O Antiphons. It's Hymn #56 in our hymnal, look it up.

Monroe Cycle of Prayer

Each month, we offer our prayers for the town of Monroe (CT):

• January – Monroe Food Pantry
• February – Monroe Senior Center
• March – Monroe’s Community Volunteers
• April – Edith Wheeler Memorial Library
• June – Monroe Parks & Recreation
• July – Monroe Farmers’ Market
• August – Monroe Emergency Responders (Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services)
• September – Monroe Schools
• October – Center for Family Justice
• November – Monroe Elected & Appointed Officials
• December – Project Warmth

Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Christ, when you came among us, you proclaimed the kingdom of God in villages, towns, and lonely places: Grant that your presence and power may be known throughout this land. Have mercy upon all of us who live and work in Monroe; and grant that all the people of our nation may give thanks to you for food and drink and all other bodily necessities of life, respect those who labor to produce them, and honor the land and the water from which these good things come. All this we ask in your holy Name. Amen.

Sermon: Christ the King

(Given at 8 AM service)

Almighty God, give us such a vision of your purpose and such an assurance of your love and power, that we may ever hold fast the hope which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We end our church year with Jesus standing before Pilate. Pilate questioning Jesus. Rebuking Jesus. Reminding Jesus who has the power of life and death or so Pilate believes…

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus is the truth, the life, and the love. It is why we are here this morning.

“This kingdom of God will not be of this world but will be from above. It is a kingdom of the spirit rather than one of the body. It shall be a kingdom ruled by love and truth. We are Christians and we proclaim a unique Jesus and a unique kingdom.” (Bp. Andy Doyle)

This morning we recognize Jesus as King & have traveled this Church year in his way of love:

Advent – The four weeks of Advent help us to remember to turn to Christ – the one who is coming and for whom we wait. The prophets kept showing us the way and told us to turn toward Bethlehem – for the coming of the Messiah. We read scripture and learn about those who showed us the way.

Christmas – We celebrate the holy mystery of God coming to us as a baby – Jesus. We worship and give thanks to God for this great gift. Just as God blesses us, we bless one another in the sharing of gifts of love to one another.

Epiphany – This long season helps us learn about Jesus: his call of the disciples to turn and follow him; his teaching in parables and how to pray; how he rested when he was tired; how he blessed everyone he came upon.

Lent – We prepare to follow Jesus to Jerusalem to experience the most holy of mysteries. We turn our heads and hearts to the cross. It is a deep time of prayer and learning for followers of Jesus – including us today.

Easter – We give thanks to God for Jesus, and our worship is joyful as we celebrate the resurrection. It is so important because it also helps us prepare to go into the world to share the Good News.

Pentecost – Just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit comes upon us and blesses us to continue the work of Jesus. We are commissioned to go and bless others, acting as examples of what it means to pray, worship, learn, and bless.

Ordinary Time (Season after Pentecost) – For many of us, this is a time of rest. The summer months remind us of God’s growing creation and how we need to feed ourselves and keep growing in mind, body, and spirit.

The whole year reminds us of ways we can follow a Jesus-centered life. God is the center extending to infinity, so the center includes the three great times (Christmas, Easter & Pentecost) that help us turn and connect with God.

In the mystery of Christmas, we find unending wonder. We learn about the birth of Christ and worship him.

Easter. On one side we see the one who was crucified. On the other side we see the one who is still with us, Resurrected, and you cannot pull them apart. That is the mystery of Easter.

Pentecost is the time when the Holy Spirit awoke Jesus’ followers to make them leaders to love and care for others as well as themselves. The Spirit’s leading us is the mystery of Pentecost. (Sharon Pearson)

This journey of the church year is also the circle of our family. We put Jesus at our center and remember all the stories about God’s love. And we travel the year with Jesus from birth to death, it is a never-ending circle of life and we take our part in it to in our lives…

Every evening you and your family gather around the table in your kitchen for supper. The entree might be some epicurean delight from the pages of Bon Appétit – but more often than not it’s Chinese takeout or pizza from your favorite local pizza joint. As everyone digs in, the table buzzes with talk of tomorrow’s soccer game, a crabby teacher, the current fix-up project, the latest office crises, and a new knock-knock joke. Here at the kitchen table, parent and child give and receive encouragement, consolation, forgiveness and love. Especially love. If there is one safe harbor on earth, one secure, sheltered place where you are always welcome no matter how badly you mess up, the kitchen table is it. Your kitchen – the place where Christ rules.

A storm devastates a town; a fire reduces a neighborhood to burnt timber and ashes; an act of terrorism cuts a wide and bloody swath through a community. That’s when they go to work: skilled medical professionals, tireless construction workers, patient and gifted counselors, compassionate volunteers. These dedicated souls work around the clock to care for the hurt and injured, rescue those in danger, help the traumatized cope, and begin the hard work of rebuilding. By their very presence, these good people transform the debris and ashes into the kingdom of Jesus.

The tired old downtown building has seen better days but no better use. The city’s churches have worked together to turn the brick structure into a community center, a safe place where children can come to play basketball, receive tutoring, or just hang out after school. The well-stocked pantry provides for dozens of hungry families every week; a free clinic offers basic on-site medical care and referral services to the poor and uninsured. Its meeting rooms are always busy: the elderly have a place to go for companionship and immigrants are taught how to master the language of their new homeland. In this austere brick building, Jesus reigns. (Connections)

The kingdom of Jesus is not found in the world’s centers of power but within human hearts; it is built not by deals among the power elite but by compassionate hands; Christ reigns neither by influence nor wealth but by generosity and justice. A politician and influential figure like Pilate cannot grasp the kingship of Jesus nor the truth of his life – but we who have been baptized in the life, death and resurrection of Christ are called to build and maintain that kingdom in our own time and place (even as we await for what is to come). Christ’s reign is realized only in our embracing a vision of humankind as a family made in the image of God, a vision of one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, a vision of the world centered in the spirit of love, hope, and compassion taught by Christ that we walk with love each day of the church year. Amen.

Sunday Morning #Silence

For the next few Sunday Mornings (before our worship begins):

I was recently at a Clergy Day and we talked about the age of anxiety we live in today. It is so easy for the anxiety we each carry to come with us into our time here.

So, I am going to have us let go of those cares, for a time. We are going to take a moment to quiet ourselves for our worship this morning.

Such holy silence creates God moments throughout our worship. Our worship is a time to place ourselves in the mystery of God and sit beside the presence of God in this sacred space. It is a hallowed time to be, to feel loved by God, connected to God’s People and Creation, and empowered to do God’s will in the world. It is essential for our spiritual health.

So sit back. Relax. And let us take a moment of silence.

Silence.

Prayer:
Loving God, you have led us to this place, not to shield us from heartache and the pain of human life, but to heal us and inspire us, to gently redirect us, till we see the world as you do and love it with your love. Amen. (from Iona Abbey Worship Book)

Sermon: November 18

Awaken me this morning, Lord to your light, Open my eyes to your presence.
Awaken me, Lord to your love, Open my heart to your indwelling.
Awaken me, Lord to your life, Open my mind to your abiding.
Awaken me always, Lord to your purpose, Open my will to your guiding. Amen. (David Adam)

These words are from retired bishop Steven Charleston: “In Alaska I used to meet them when I traveled around the state, the smokejumpers and the hotshots. They were the men and women who fought the wild fires. Many of them were very young. As I pray for all the people devastated by the fires that have been raging in California I think of these young faces. The courage to stand between the inferno and the lives of strangers is a rare kind of bravery. It is a testimony to the best in human nature. It reminds us that no fire can destroy the spirit of compassion that motivates one person to help another. That bond, that willingness, that love is stronger than any fire and it can rebuild hope even in the midst of ashes.”

I find his words particular moving for us on this Sunday as our prayers continue for all those affected by the wild fires (missing, displaced, dead, & more). I also thought of his words as I saw a picture of a lone firefighter standing before the burning hills and mountains.

It looked like hell. The firefighter silhouetted against the fire and the dark hills, who looked ready to get to work…

“The courage to stand between the inferno and the lives of strangers is a rare kind of bravery.”

It reminds me of the courageous white helmets in Syria who despite the terrible war, attempt to help those in need in Syria. I think of doctors without borders who go to places of epidemic and try to save lives.

I also think of the staff at Nursing Homes who got their patients out, often times in their own cards from the fast moving fire. Teachers doing the same at schools…

Our first reading from David – that the archangel Michael will be with us even in anguish, there will be deliverance, reminds us that God and God’s messengers will be with us in our endeavors even at the worst of times. I think of how many people by the grace of God were able to escape those flames. The stories are incredible…

In the Gospel, Jesus talks about how the beautiful temple will be cast down. But more than the building, Jesus talks about a time of suffering that is to come.

Jesus then tells his disciples not to allow themselves to be lured or seduced by their desire into the world which others will want to create. All other messiahs are false. Wars and rumors of wars have no sacred meaning at all, and the one who is looking at what happens through Jesus’ eyes will not be frightened of these things, not driven by them in any way.

We can relate to such earth-shattering events in our own lives around sudden, unexpected loss. Death, illness, job loss, can change one’s world forever. So, can natural disasters (earthquakes, famines, & fire). It can seem at first as if the sun has fallen from the sky and no longer shines. Nothing is quite the same and yet there will be redemption. As Christians, we are called to walk the way of love of Jesus even at the worst of times, to believe in redemption & deliverance.

What is hope our then? What will redemption & deliverance look like?

(Brazilian theologian) “It is the suspicion that the overwhelming brutality of facts that oppress us and repress us is not the last word. It is the hunch that reality is more complex than the realists want us to believe. That the frontiers of the possible are not determined by the limits of the actual. And that in a miraculous and unexpected way, life is preparing the creative events which will open the way to freedom and to resurrection.

But, the two, suffering and hope, must live from each other. Suffering without hope produces resentment and despair. But hope without suffering creates illusions, naivete, and drunkenness. So let us plant dates, even though we who plant them will never eat them. We must live by the love of what we will never see. This is the secret of discipline. It is a refusal to let our creative act be dissolved away by our own need for immediate sense experience. And it's a stubborn commitment to the future of our grandchildren. Such disciplined love is what has given saints, revolutionaries, and martyrs the courage to die for the future they envisage. They make their own bodies the seed of their own highest hopes.” ~ Rubem Alvez b. 1933 (Tomorrow's Child)

I think Ruben’s idea fits with what Jesus and the scriptures are saying to us today & those firefighters embodied. That even in the midst of fire, sorrow, and suffering, we live in hope. We plant dates. We plant hope knowing we might not see the results.

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Martin Luther (400 years before Alvez)

We plant not knowing what it will be but we live in hope. And we live by love.

“Love laughs at the end of the world because love is the door to eternity and he who loves God is playing on the doorstep of eternity, and before anything can happen love will have drawn him over the sill and closed the door and (at the end) he won’t bother about the world [burning] because he will know nothing but love.” - Thomas Merton 1915-1968 (The Sign of Jonas)

The signs of trouble are all around us. The signs of hope are there too. We are called to walk in that love, to be a hopeful people, that stand on the edge of the fire, the edge of the rain as our own Aimee Tabor put it.

“Sometimes suffocating in that small gap between hope and heartache - gratitude and grief – resilience and reluctance. Sometimes we’re keenly aware that the rain is as vital to life as the sun. It quenches our thirst for perspective and renews our appreciation for life and all it can offer. Other times, we are content to quietly retreat to our respective shelters and just wait out the storm.” (Aimee Tabor)

There will be storms in our lives. There will be war, earthquakes and fires too. Sadly, this is part of life on planet earth. But our response is what will mark us as followers of Jesus.

Whether we seek shelter or stand at the edge, let us be a part of that love that is stronger than any fire and rebuild hope even in the midst of ashes. Amen.

Praying for CA

Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, protect all those facing the destruction from the fires in California and guide those who are working to put the fires out; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by your gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gracious God, when the call comes, when the bell rings, firefighters go out to save people and property, risking their lives in service to their fellow citizens. Comfort the families and friends who are mourning. Be with those whose communities are still struggling with fire and guide all those who continue to answer the call to fight the fires. Help us to reach out our hands in love to all the communities devastated by fire. We ask this in the name of the one who brings life to all, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, heavenly Father, who by your son Jesus Christ has promised to all those who seek your kingdom and its righteousness all things necessary to sustain their life: Send us, we entreat you, in this time of need, such moderate rain and showers in California, that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and to your honor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Litany of Hope in a time of destruction by wildfires
By Maria L. Evans (her blog here)

Creator God, Author of the Universe;
as the deer long for cooling streams,
as weary people long for shelter in skeletal, burned places,
gather your creatures and your children safely into your loving arms.
 

(silence)
 

In your mercy, Lord,
Hear our prayer.

Ever-present God of the wind and sky,
God who holds the oceans in the palm of Your holy hand,
God who has dominion of thunder and rain,
Assuage the thirst of a scorched land and a parched people.
 

(silence)
 

In your mercy, Lord,
Hear our prayer.

Sheltering God of maternal eagle’s wings and home-seeking sparrows,
Comfort your people.
Brace the aching legs of weary firefighters and volunteers
and ease the pain of the hearts of those displaced.
 

(silence)
 

In your mercy, Lord,
Hear our prayer.

Resurrecting God of of the Valley of Dry Bones and the Easter miracle,
Forgive, restore, and renew your people.
Remind us that, just as the lodge pole pine requires fire and death for rebirth,
that your people can also find hope in the acrid smoke of tragedy.
Call to the hearts of those unaffected by wildfires
to put their hands toward the cloud of smoke and pillars of fire
and grasp the hands of those who flee in fear.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ,
who conquered the burnt wasteland of sin and death,
refreshing us with the living waters of the peace that passes all understanding.  
Amen.

"Grieving Our Lost Children" by Walter Brueggemann

Another brutality, another school killing, another grief beyond telling . . . and loss . . . in Colorado, in Wisconsin, among the Amish in Virginia. Where next? We are reduced to weeping silence, even as we breed a violent culture, even as we kill the sons and daughters of our "enemies," even as we fail to live and cherish and respect the forgotten of our common life. There is no joy among us as we empty our schoolhouses; there is no health among us as we move in fear and bottomless anxiety; there is little hope among us as we fall helpless before the gunshot and the shriek and the blood and the panic: we pray to you only because we do not know what else to do. So we pray, move powerfully in our body politic, move us toward peaceableness that does not want to hurt or to kill, move us toward justice that the troubled and the forgotten may know mercy, move use toward forgiveness that we may escape the trap of revenge. Empower us to turn our weapons to acts of mercy, to turn our missiles to gestures of friendship, to turn our bombs to policies of reconciliation; and while we are turning, hear our sadness, our loss, our bitterness. We dare to pray our needfulness to you because you have been there on that gray Friday, and watched your own Son be murdered for "reasons of state." Good God, do Easter! Here and among these families, here and in all our places of brutality. Move our Easter grief now . . . without too much innocence - to your Sunday joy. We pray in the one crucified and risen who is our Lord and Savior. Amen. Walter Brueggemann (c) Prayers for a Privileged People p 61-62.

Prayers Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice ending World War I & for all Veterans

We honor the memory of those who inhabited war-shattered landscapes, those who endured the mud and the blood; those who showed great courage and loyalty to comrades at arms; those who saw the unspeakable sight of bodies broken; those whose minds were numbed by the noise of bombardment, and those whose eyes saw the ugliness of disfigured, weeping and frightened faces. For all who were engaged in combat, those who tended the maimed and injured, the fallen, and for those families who still hold the memories of deceased soldiers, we ask for God’s mercy, and for ourselves, the grace to remember.

We will remember.

Gracious God, we give thanks for military men and women, both from the past and present, and for their courageous service and sacrifice to our country and its people to secure the blessings of life, liberty, and justice for all. May our remembrance be a timely reminder that our freedom was purchased at high cost, and should not be taken for granted. Give us resolve to labor in faithful service to you until all share the benefits of freedom, justice, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Remember, Lord, those whose stories were unspoken and untold.

Jesus, remember them when you come into your kingdom.

Remember, Lord, those whose minds were darkened and disturbed by memories of war.

Jesus, remember them when you come into your kingdom.

Remember, Lord, those who suffered in silence, and those whose bodies were disfigured by injury and pain.

Jesus, remember them when you come into your kingdom.

O God of all, remember your holy promise, and look with love on all your people, living and departed. On this day we especially ask that you would hold for ever all who suffered during the First World War, those who returned scarred by warfare, those who waited anxiously at home, and those who returned wounded, and disillusioned; those who mourned, and those communities that were diminished and suffered loss. Remember too those who acted with kindly compassion, those who bravely risked their own lives for their comrades, and those who in the aftermath of war, worked tirelessly for a more peaceful world. And as you remember them, remember us, O Lord; grant us peace in our time and a longing for the day when people of every language, race, and nation will be brought into the unity of Christ’s kingdom. This we ask in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, our maker and our strength, from whose love in Christ we can never be parted either by death or defeat: May our remembrance this day deepen our sorrow for the loss and wastes of war, make us more grateful to those who courageously served to defend this land. and may all who bear the scars and memories of conflicts, past and present, know your healing love for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.



(prayers from the Church of England.)

Discipleship Today

As his disciples today, we are called to follow that way of love, to be part of the movement and embody it with our lives.

How do we do this? It begins with…

1. engagement with scripture
2. transforming power of the Eucharist and our participation in it
3. entering into a deeper prayer life

Online:

There are several resources that will help you with these:

• http://www.missionstclare.com/english/ - Daily Office (prayer & scripture)
• http://prayer.forwardmovement.org/forward_day_by_day.php - Daily Meditations (scripture)
• https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer
• https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/ 

You can find the Bible online here:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

You can find the Book of Common Prayer online here:

https://bcponline.org/ 

and of course, come to church on Sunday for all three!

Sermon: November 11

Take, O Lord, and receive our liberty, our memory, our understanding and our will, all that we have and call our own. You have given all to me. To you, O Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give us only your love and your grace; that is enough for me. Amen. (adapted form St. Ignatius of Loyola)

"Trees" (1913)

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

This humble poem was written by Joyce Kilmer. He wrote it in 1913 and published it with other poems. “At the time of his deployment to Europe during World War I, Kilmer was considered the leading American Roman Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. He enlisted in the New York National Guard and was deployed to France with the 69th Infantry Regiment in 1917. He was killed by a sniper's bullet at the Second Battle of the Marne on July 30, 1918 at the age of 31.” (wikipedia) Just over 100 days later, the Armistice would be signed “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” and the majority of the fighting would be over.

Today is the centennial commemoration of the end of World War I. When I think of WW I, I think of Joyce Kilmer and his call to serve. I think of my great Uncle Roy who served in WW I including a stint in Siberia. I also think of the German book (Im Westen nichts Neues) “All Quiet on the Western Front” which I read in college which looks at the war from a German author.

I think of Sergeant Alvin York was once described as World War I’s “greatest civilian soldier,” yet he began the conflict as a conscientious objector. He objected on religious grounds to participate in the war, but he became convinced after much discussion with others that God meant for him to fight and would keep him safe, even as he tried to kill as few as necessary. For his efforts in one offensive capturing 132 enemy soldiers with his company of 9 soldiers, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and several other citations for bravery. Shunning the spotlight, the reluctant soldier returned to his home in Tennessee after the war and took up farming. In his diary he reflected upon his service…

“God would never be cruel enough to create a cyclone as terrible as that Argonne battle. Only man would ever think of doing an awful thing like that…So you can see here in this case of mine where God helped me out. I had been living for God and working in the church some time before I come to the army. So I am a witness to the fact that God did help me out of that hard battle; for the bushes were shot up all around me and I never got a scratch.”

After the war, York formed a foundation with the mission of increasing educational opportunities in his region of Tennessee. Before the war, during it and after, Alvin York was trying to be faithful to the God he found in the bible and that he had experienced in his church in TN and whom he felt walked with him every day.

I think Alvin York if he stood before us today would challenge us here to be faithful to God, in whatever circumstances come before us. We might not be drafted into a war, but we will end up in circumstances beyond our control, how will we respond?

As our PB Michael puts it, “In the first century Jesus of Nazareth inspired a movement. A community of people whose lives were centered on Jesus Christ and committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial, and redemptive love. Before they were called “church” or “Christian,” this Jesus Movement was simply called “the way.””

Kilmer and York were both part of this movement, this way of life and love with Jesus. As his disciples today, we are called to follow that way of love, to be part of the movement and embody it with our lives.

How do we do this? It begins with…

1. engagement with scripture (psalms, day by day)
2. transforming power of the eucharist and our participation in it
3. entering into a deeper prayer life (BCP, handouts)
By living into scripture, eucharist, and prayer, we will follow the examples of others being faithful with our time, talent and treasure. Just as the widows in our readings today.

In the first reading, the widow of Zarephath with her son who have nothing to give, still provides hospitality to the prophet Elijah with food, which never runs out during the famine. The widow at the treasury in the Gospel reading who gives all she has to fulfill her faithful obligation.

Giving of our lives and our money is not just the act of giving but in the attitude of giving; that such gratitude should translate into generosity with our lives. It is that attitude that our readings exalt in the widow’s gifts. In the economy of God, numbers are not the true value of giving: it is what we give from our want, not from our extra, that reflects what we truly value, what good we actually want to accomplish, what we really want our lives and this world to be.

In the Gospel scheme of things, it is not the amount of content of the gift but the measure of the love, selflessness and commitment that directs the gift that is great before God; for Christ calls us not to seek greater things or talents to astound the world but for greater love and selflessness with which to enrich the world.

Kilmer and York did that 100 years ago. How will you give today? Amen.

WWI Commission Announces 'Bells of Peace' for Armistice Centennial

WASHINGTON DC: The World War One Centennial Commission, announced Bells of Peace: A World War One Remembrance.

Bells of Peace is a collaborative program, whereby American citizens and organizations, across the entire country, are invited to toll bells in their communities twenty-one times on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. local time.

Bells will be tolled in communities across the nation, in places of worship, schools, town halls, public carillons, and cemeteries. Bells will toll in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. at an interfaith service to mark the centennial of the Armistice that brought an end to hostilities, in what Americans fervently hoped had been “The War to End All Wars.”

This nationwide program is designed to honor those American men and women who served one hundred years ago, during World War One. The war ended by an armistice agreement between the warring countries at 11 a.m. on November 11th, 1918.

World War One took place between July 1914 and November 1918, and was one of the deadliest conflicts in world history. Over nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a result of the war. The United States officially entered the war on April 6th, 1917.

Some 4.7 million Americans stepped forward to serve in uniform during the war, 2 million of them were deployed overseas to fight, and 116,516 of them never made it home.

St. Peter's will join in and ring our bell at 11 am on the 11day of the 11th hour.

Sermon: All Saints' Sunday

Eternal God, hope of all who trust in you, in Christ you weep with those who mourn even as you cry out in triumph over the grave. Unbind us from sin, release us from captivity, and with Lazarus, raise us from death to life, so that we may join that great crowd of saints who forever sing praise to your holy name; through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life. Amen.

Who are these saints that we remember? That decorate our walls and windows and speak to us from the grave? (Who we sing about in our hymns?)

In today’s Gospel, we have the story of the raising of Lazarus, Jesus said to Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

I think the saints are those who believed, who saw the Glory of God in their time and place, and their lives reflected that glory. Not perfect but faithful and true.

"This story about Lazarus shares much in common with that of the Samaritan woman at the well. With the Samaritan woman the issue was seeing Jesus as the source of living water as compared to ordinary water. Here the issue is to see Jesus as the source of living life as compared to ordinary life." (David Ewart)

Faith in the glory of God in Jesus is seeing that living water, that living life, beyond what we can experience in our daily lives.

The toughest part of being a Christian, I believe, is trying to live our faith in our daily lives. It’s easy to say we are a Christian & proclaim our beliefs. But it is much more difficult to live out our beliefs, to embody the truth of our faith in Jesus Christ.

"Religion is not ours till we live by it, till it is the Religion of our thoughts, words, and actions, till it goes with us into every place, sits uppermost on every occasion, and forms and governs our hopes and fears, our cares and pleasures."

These words come from William Law who was a renowned priest in England in the 18th century, who lost his position at Emmanuel College, Cambridge when his conscience would not allow him to take the required oath of allegiance to King George I. He reminds us that our religion, our faith, is not ours until we truly own it in our lives and live it in every place we go, even when we may suffer for it... That’s why we remember those saints, because they did it in their own time, in their own way, and we seek to be such faithful disciples today.

St. Moses the Black – lived a life as thief and bandit until his travels brought him into a monastery and his whole life changed as he found that living water. He was later killed when bandits attacked his monastery (he saved his fellow monks).

St. Thomas a Becket – lived a life of privilege in government until he becomes an Archbishop and it changes his life, and he found that living life in that call and he died serving God.

St. Teresa of Avila – faithfully joined a convent and when she began reforming it and starting new ones, she suffered under the Spanish Inquisition, but remained faithful to her visions of God.

To follow the saints, to live into our discipleship, walking with Jesus, is to simply be who we are most fully…

St. Irenaeus, “the glory of God is a human being fully alive!”

Ehab Taha, a 26-year-old from Canada, was riding public transit in Metro Vancouver when a large man he described on Facebook as “suffering from drug abuse and\or mental health issues” became aggressive in his train car.

The man was alarming fellow passengers “with erratic movements, cursing, shouting” until a 70-year-old woman decided to reach out and help him by extending her hand and grabbing his.

The sweet gesture soothed the man. Eventually he sank to the floor of the train as tears flooded his eyes.

"It was quite incredible how much he calmed down in a split moment,” Taha told HuffPost Canada. “It was the most touching thing I've ever seen.”

Moved by “the incredible display of humanity,” Taha snapped a picture of the two holding hands and posted it to Facebook.

“I spoke to the woman after this incident and she simply said, ‘I'm a mother and he needed someone to touch.’ And she started to cry.” Although the woman felt a great amount of empathy for the man, like most, she was initially petrified to interfere.

"She was very brave. She even mentioned that she thought about what would happen if he stabbed her with the pen -- because he had one in his hand -- but she said it was more important he didn't feel alone."

At the end, he said 'Thanks, Grandma,' and walked away.” (from Huffington Post)

In the end, what Jesus asks of us, is to offer ourselves, to embody that love that Jesus shares with us even if we might suffer for it. To be that gentle touch that someone needs as that mother did on the metro, even when it involves risk. Such a beautiful act of love!

Our faith calls each of us to offer ourselves in the Spirit of Jesus to a world hungry for love and kindness. Such faithful love & compassion is a fragrance that fills the world with the glory of God. It is why these saints are on our walls, why these faithful souls are in our windows and their witness surrounds us still. We remember and we follow. For as that beautiful old hymn put it:

They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will.
for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.

May our lives reflect and proclaim the Glory of God. Amen.

Power of Love

Bishop Michael Curry, who gave a spirited and unforgettable sermon at the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joins the TODAY Show (NBC) to talk about his newest book, “The Power of Love.” In light of the tragedy in Pittsburgh in which 11 died in a shooting at a synagogue, Curry sheds light on how faith and grief coincide, saying: “We deal with grief honestly and forthrightly. When it hurts it hurts, and don’t pretend it doesn’t hurt.”

Here is an ENS story about his book.

You can find his book here.

Dying Well

Is there a way to talk about death candidly, without fear ... and even with humor? How can we best prepare for it with those we love? This hour, TED speakers explore the beauty of life ... and death.

I found the Ted Radio Hour episode to be helpful as we think about Holy Living and Holy Dying.

Take a listen here.

All Souls' Day (Day III)

“All Saints' Day is the centerpiece of an autumn triduum. In the carnival celebrations of All Hallows' Eve our ancestors used the most powerful weapon in the human arsenal, the power of humor and ridicule, to confront the power of death. The following day, in the commemoration of All Saints, we gave witness to the victory of incarnate goodness embodied in the remarkable deeds and doers triumphing over the misanthropy of darkness and devils. And in the commemoration of All Souls we proclaim the hope of common mortality expressed in our aspirations and expectation of a shared eternity.”

– The Rev. Sam Portaro from “Brightest and Best”

The Commemoration of All Faithful Departed:

O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Poem for All Souls (by Wendell Berry):

I tremble with gratitude
for my children and their children
who take pleasure in one another.

At our dinners together, the dead
enter and pass among us
in living love and in memory.

And so the young are taught.

All Saints' Day (Day II)

“All Saints' Day is the centerpiece of an autumn triduum. In the carnival celebrations of All Hallows' Eve our ancestors used the most powerful weapon in the human arsenal, the power of humor and ridicule, to confront the power of death. The following day, in the commemoration of All Saints, we gave witness to the victory of incarnate goodness embodied in the remarkable deeds and doers triumphing over the misanthropy of darkness and devils.” – The Rev. Sam Portaro from “Brightest and Best”

Prayer:

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

A Hymn for All Saints'

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the apostles' glorious company,
who bearing forth the cross o'er land and sea,
shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
is fair and fruitful, be thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
and seeing, grasped it, thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
and singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!