REFLECTIONS BY THE REV. DAVE MARSHALL
A Mighty Fortress
July 22, 2021
During our Florida Keys vacation, we spent a day in Key West. Part of that day was spent exploring Fort Taylor which is described as the intersection of natural beauty and profound history. Fort Taylor is one of a series of forts commissioned after the war of 1812 to defend the southeastern sea. The site on Key West was selected in 1822. The current configuration was constructed in 1845 and was held as a union enclave during the Civil War. The fort is credited with cutting off supply ships to Confederate ports which, according to a friendly park volunteer, saved lives because it helped end the war. The fort was used during the Spanish-American war of 1898; and, like the Civil War, it helped keep the war short. The main weapon is a bank of cannons that could hurl a 30lb ball up to seven miles away.
Fort Taylor has never fired a shot in defense. In addition to the nearly impenetrable 8-foot thick walls that stand 50 feet tall, the perimeter of the Fort is protected by the Florida Straits, a dense mangrove forest, and, a moat. From Civil War records, the confederacy didn’t attempt to take the fort from union hands because of its mighty construction.
Elijah and I enjoyed our time exploring the fort. It certainly is different from the forts I explored in my home state of Washington. For starters, Washington didn’t become a state until 1889 – which is 44 years after Fort Taylor was built. The state’s WWII forts were built into the sides of massive cliffs overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca (the water boundary between the US and Canada) to defend against a sea invasion. Those forts, largely underground, were designed to be stealthy, not mighty.
The church hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God, didn’t make much sense to me growing up because the fortresses I knew were hidden. However, standing on the buttress of Fort Taylor, on bricks placed 176 years ago, and looking south, east and west, with unobstructed views of the strait, I suddenly understood the meaning of hymn: “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.”
It is now a park for visitors to enjoy and learn about a part of American history. Nevertheless, it is a strong, never-failing bulwark. … just like our God.
-Fr. Dave
Fort Taylor has never fired a shot in defense. In addition to the nearly impenetrable 8-foot thick walls that stand 50 feet tall, the perimeter of the Fort is protected by the Florida Straits, a dense mangrove forest, and, a moat. From Civil War records, the confederacy didn’t attempt to take the fort from union hands because of its mighty construction.
Elijah and I enjoyed our time exploring the fort. It certainly is different from the forts I explored in my home state of Washington. For starters, Washington didn’t become a state until 1889 – which is 44 years after Fort Taylor was built. The state’s WWII forts were built into the sides of massive cliffs overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca (the water boundary between the US and Canada) to defend against a sea invasion. Those forts, largely underground, were designed to be stealthy, not mighty.
The church hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God, didn’t make much sense to me growing up because the fortresses I knew were hidden. However, standing on the buttress of Fort Taylor, on bricks placed 176 years ago, and looking south, east and west, with unobstructed views of the strait, I suddenly understood the meaning of hymn: “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.”
It is now a park for visitors to enjoy and learn about a part of American history. Nevertheless, it is a strong, never-failing bulwark. … just like our God.
-Fr. Dave
Automobile Intelligence?
July 15, 2021
One Saturday, my dad and I were driving by the High School he taught at. He said the car was trying to turn into the parking lot because of habit. I thought it was kind of funny. Cars don’t do things out of habit, I chuckled. But, perhaps in the near future they will.
Another car adage from dad is his lament that new cars no longer have a personality. New cars start when asked to, they climb hills, drive in hot or cold weather with ease, and always seem to repel rainwater. In Seattle, it is important to have cars that can climb hills, run in cold weather, and keep rainwater out; but Dad had cars that would not reliably do any of those things. My Grandfather would call unreliable traits in cars “personality.” He was a train engineer and learned quickly that no two trains were alike. I have heard the same thing from fighter pilots of their F18s. No two fighter jets act alike which is why they put their names on them. Yet, in today’s car world, they have no personality.
In my senior year in college, I finally got to have a car. It was one that Dad and I had worked on when I was in High School – we rebuilt the suspension and brakes, worked on the transmission and other various assorted ills. It was a 1972 Toyota Corona, faded red with a black top, and ran… most of the time. When it was cold outside, I had to turn the key and push the shift lever forward at the same time to get it to start. I told my friend that it was “a fancy theft deterrent system for thieves who work only in the winter.” When it was hot out, I would turn the key off and the engine would, more or less, keep running. To stop the engine, it required one foot firmly planted on the brake and the other foot nearly as firm on the gas. I told my roommate that the car loved the summer so much that it simply wanted to keep on driving. That car was full of personality!
According to a WSJ article, new cars will be able to learn from the driver and adapt to the driver’s style and, well, personality. Instead of fretting over what features you want your new car to have, it will learn from you and then suggest upgrades/updates after the purchase. With a car subscription service, it will adjust the seats automatically, change the interior temperature, it will know whether we need a cooled or heated steering wheel, and, get this, electric engines can actually upgrade/adapt to give the driver more power if the driver shows a proclivity for needing it. I’m honestly not sure what that means and I wonder what our state troopers would think of that. Nevertheless, this artificial intelligence already exists. The music subscription service I use has already adapted to what I listen to and makes suggestions and recommendations. Netflix has done this for years. And now it is coming to a car near you!
Psalm 123 (the easiest psalm to remember the number of) says this of followers of God: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, so our eyes look to the Lord our God.
Back when it was written, servants were to anticipate what the master needed so they would wait and watch the hands of the master in order to serve. Likewise, we are to wait and watch for the Lord our God in order to serve better. In our day and time, we believe that to serve God is to serve others who are in need.
Growing up with cars that had personalities, I always seemed to be the one to serve the car. Interesting that, like Psalm 123, cars are now able to watch our hands and to serve us. Hopefully that will help us to serve God and our neighbor better. At least we will be more comfortable while doing it.
-Fr. Dave
Another car adage from dad is his lament that new cars no longer have a personality. New cars start when asked to, they climb hills, drive in hot or cold weather with ease, and always seem to repel rainwater. In Seattle, it is important to have cars that can climb hills, run in cold weather, and keep rainwater out; but Dad had cars that would not reliably do any of those things. My Grandfather would call unreliable traits in cars “personality.” He was a train engineer and learned quickly that no two trains were alike. I have heard the same thing from fighter pilots of their F18s. No two fighter jets act alike which is why they put their names on them. Yet, in today’s car world, they have no personality.
In my senior year in college, I finally got to have a car. It was one that Dad and I had worked on when I was in High School – we rebuilt the suspension and brakes, worked on the transmission and other various assorted ills. It was a 1972 Toyota Corona, faded red with a black top, and ran… most of the time. When it was cold outside, I had to turn the key and push the shift lever forward at the same time to get it to start. I told my friend that it was “a fancy theft deterrent system for thieves who work only in the winter.” When it was hot out, I would turn the key off and the engine would, more or less, keep running. To stop the engine, it required one foot firmly planted on the brake and the other foot nearly as firm on the gas. I told my roommate that the car loved the summer so much that it simply wanted to keep on driving. That car was full of personality!
According to a WSJ article, new cars will be able to learn from the driver and adapt to the driver’s style and, well, personality. Instead of fretting over what features you want your new car to have, it will learn from you and then suggest upgrades/updates after the purchase. With a car subscription service, it will adjust the seats automatically, change the interior temperature, it will know whether we need a cooled or heated steering wheel, and, get this, electric engines can actually upgrade/adapt to give the driver more power if the driver shows a proclivity for needing it. I’m honestly not sure what that means and I wonder what our state troopers would think of that. Nevertheless, this artificial intelligence already exists. The music subscription service I use has already adapted to what I listen to and makes suggestions and recommendations. Netflix has done this for years. And now it is coming to a car near you!
Psalm 123 (the easiest psalm to remember the number of) says this of followers of God: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, so our eyes look to the Lord our God.
Back when it was written, servants were to anticipate what the master needed so they would wait and watch the hands of the master in order to serve. Likewise, we are to wait and watch for the Lord our God in order to serve better. In our day and time, we believe that to serve God is to serve others who are in need.
Growing up with cars that had personalities, I always seemed to be the one to serve the car. Interesting that, like Psalm 123, cars are now able to watch our hands and to serve us. Hopefully that will help us to serve God and our neighbor better. At least we will be more comfortable while doing it.
-Fr. Dave
Come Away
July 8, 2021
I worked for an insurance company that used bells to remind underwriters that it was time to take a break. They would ring three times a day – morning, lunch, and in the afternoon – and they were not to be ignored. This was a measure put in place because the company found that productivity increased by taking breaks and, maybe more importantly, mistakes went down with the ritual of taking a rest three times during the work day. Although the bells had stopped by the time I was hired, the practice remained very strong. Incidentally, the bells stopped because the work schedules had shifted in the building so that the day started for some at 6 am and ended for others at 7 pm.
One day during my first year, the other underwriters were getting up for their afternoon break; I, however, remained seated. My boss came by, pulled up a chair, and asked why I wasn’t getting up. I said that I was too busy. He smiled and said, “The underwriters that are too busy for a break are exactly the ones who need a break.” Much to my surprise, he was right. A ten-minute walk around the building and a funny conversation literally by the water cooler, refreshed my mind so that I was able to get more done than if I had skipped it.
For as old as the insurance company is, it did not invent the idea of taking a break. In Mark’s Gospel, we are told of Jesus who invites his disciples/workers to come away with him and to take a rest. As far as social and religious movements go, Jesus and the disciples were quite effective. I wonder if intentionally resting had something to do with it. Despite how often Jesus exemplified this behavior, he did not invent the idea of intentionally taking a break.
The fourth commandment is to “keep the Sabbath holy”; in other words, to take time off and rest. Moses who carried the 10 commandments did not invent this idea. The first story in the Bible – creation – ends with God taking a rest. Based on biblical history, God invented taking a break to rest. When I read about getting away for a rest in the Bible, I often think, wow, if God needs to take a rest, what does that say about us mortals?
Starting Sunday the 11th, just after church, 3 of the 4 Marshalls are going out for a rest. We are driving to the Florida Keys and will be staying six days on Cudjoe Key. Although we would like it to be longer, we are very glad to be getting away. Ethan will be staying at home, watching the house, taking care of the kitties, and working at Staples. In a sense, he is getting a break from his family and learning what it like to run a household.
Although Scripture shows us that God invented the vacation, the system
of reminding ourselves to take a break is up to the individual. Unlike the insurance company who rang bells as a reminder, we have Scripture to remind us to come away with God and rest.
-Fr. Dave
One day during my first year, the other underwriters were getting up for their afternoon break; I, however, remained seated. My boss came by, pulled up a chair, and asked why I wasn’t getting up. I said that I was too busy. He smiled and said, “The underwriters that are too busy for a break are exactly the ones who need a break.” Much to my surprise, he was right. A ten-minute walk around the building and a funny conversation literally by the water cooler, refreshed my mind so that I was able to get more done than if I had skipped it.
For as old as the insurance company is, it did not invent the idea of taking a break. In Mark’s Gospel, we are told of Jesus who invites his disciples/workers to come away with him and to take a rest. As far as social and religious movements go, Jesus and the disciples were quite effective. I wonder if intentionally resting had something to do with it. Despite how often Jesus exemplified this behavior, he did not invent the idea of intentionally taking a break.
The fourth commandment is to “keep the Sabbath holy”; in other words, to take time off and rest. Moses who carried the 10 commandments did not invent this idea. The first story in the Bible – creation – ends with God taking a rest. Based on biblical history, God invented taking a break to rest. When I read about getting away for a rest in the Bible, I often think, wow, if God needs to take a rest, what does that say about us mortals?
Starting Sunday the 11th, just after church, 3 of the 4 Marshalls are going out for a rest. We are driving to the Florida Keys and will be staying six days on Cudjoe Key. Although we would like it to be longer, we are very glad to be getting away. Ethan will be staying at home, watching the house, taking care of the kitties, and working at Staples. In a sense, he is getting a break from his family and learning what it like to run a household.
Although Scripture shows us that God invented the vacation, the system
of reminding ourselves to take a break is up to the individual. Unlike the insurance company who rang bells as a reminder, we have Scripture to remind us to come away with God and rest.
-Fr. Dave
A-B-A
July 1, 2021
In this past Sunday’s sermon, I talked about the unique way Mark has organized his Gospel, called the A-B-A. The example I used was the lesson for the day of Jesus heading to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter when a sick woman said to herself, if I touch Jesus’ cloak I will be healed. She touched him and was healed. After talking with the woman, he resumed going to Jairus’ house. The A-B-A is this: the “A” is going to Jairus’ home. The “B” in the story was being interrupted by the woman who was healed. Then, Jesus resumed the “A” and went to Jairus’ home. This pattern is repeated throughout Mark’s Gospel and makes it unique among the gospels. I had suggested that Mark arranged it this because the “B” in life happens – even Jesus can’t avoid it! When the “B” pops up, we may want to treat the opportunity like Jesus who doesn’t act out in anger but in compassion and curiosity.
This Sunday, I will (most likely) preach on the lesson from 2 Corinthians so I won’t be able to follow up with you on Mark’s A-B-A pattern. Nevertheless, I am writing to you about it. The Gospel story, in summary, is this: (A) Jesus is traveling the countryside preaching in synagogues about the Kingdom of God and healing people. (B) He came to his hometown and found that no one would listen to him and he “laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them; he was amazed at their unbelief.” (A) He then went about among other villages teaching/healing and sent the disciples out two by two to teach and heal.
The B in the story is Jesus not making an impact and, instead, being amazed at their unbelief. Just a few sentences earlier, Jesus was amazed at the woman’s belief that if she simply touched him she’d be healed. And now, in his hometown, with the people he grew up with, they believed nothing about nobody.
A few years ago, a parishioner who is now a retired admiral in the Navy, commented on the story. He was at sea and successfully led his portion of the coordinated attack on Saddam Hussein’s regime. There were more than five thousand sailors and aviators under his command. When he returned home, and after the family hugged him and were so thrilled to have him back safe and sound, he asked his teenaged daughter to take off her shoes in the house. She laughed at him and walked away. He quickly learned that prophets are not without honor except in their hometown! He too ran into the B in life and realized that he had some relationship work to do with his daughter. Instead of using his commander voice, he used his dad-voice and talked with her until late in the evening. He noticed the next morning that her shoes were by the front door by his. The B in life made him feel glad and thankful that he spent time talking, and not commanding, his child.
Jesus didn’t give up when no one would learn nothing-about-nobody. He kept on keeping on and, as a result of that B, he raised up others to help him. I imagine that one group of disciples returned to his hometown and taught and healed. Today, I am a part of a long historic line of people who are sent to teach and to heal, just as are Rev. Maggie and Fr. Fred. I am thankful for the B that Jesus ran into in his hometown. If not for his amazement at their unbelief, would we even have pastors and priests today? I am also thankful that Jesus kept on keeping on – that he knew to return to the A of life.
-Fr. Dave
This Sunday, I will (most likely) preach on the lesson from 2 Corinthians so I won’t be able to follow up with you on Mark’s A-B-A pattern. Nevertheless, I am writing to you about it. The Gospel story, in summary, is this: (A) Jesus is traveling the countryside preaching in synagogues about the Kingdom of God and healing people. (B) He came to his hometown and found that no one would listen to him and he “laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them; he was amazed at their unbelief.” (A) He then went about among other villages teaching/healing and sent the disciples out two by two to teach and heal.
The B in the story is Jesus not making an impact and, instead, being amazed at their unbelief. Just a few sentences earlier, Jesus was amazed at the woman’s belief that if she simply touched him she’d be healed. And now, in his hometown, with the people he grew up with, they believed nothing about nobody.
A few years ago, a parishioner who is now a retired admiral in the Navy, commented on the story. He was at sea and successfully led his portion of the coordinated attack on Saddam Hussein’s regime. There were more than five thousand sailors and aviators under his command. When he returned home, and after the family hugged him and were so thrilled to have him back safe and sound, he asked his teenaged daughter to take off her shoes in the house. She laughed at him and walked away. He quickly learned that prophets are not without honor except in their hometown! He too ran into the B in life and realized that he had some relationship work to do with his daughter. Instead of using his commander voice, he used his dad-voice and talked with her until late in the evening. He noticed the next morning that her shoes were by the front door by his. The B in life made him feel glad and thankful that he spent time talking, and not commanding, his child.
Jesus didn’t give up when no one would learn nothing-about-nobody. He kept on keeping on and, as a result of that B, he raised up others to help him. I imagine that one group of disciples returned to his hometown and taught and healed. Today, I am a part of a long historic line of people who are sent to teach and to heal, just as are Rev. Maggie and Fr. Fred. I am thankful for the B that Jesus ran into in his hometown. If not for his amazement at their unbelief, would we even have pastors and priests today? I am also thankful that Jesus kept on keeping on – that he knew to return to the A of life.
-Fr. Dave
Five Wishes
June 24, 2021
You know the saying, “Careful what you wish for.” I am going to give you the opposite opinion – careful for what you don’t wish for. Who do you wish to make health care decisions for you if you can no longer make them for yourself? What is your wish for the kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want? What dignity and comfort do wish to have in your final days on earth? What is your wish for how neighbors and acquaintances treat you and what do you want others outside of your circle of family and loved ones to know about an illness? What do you wish for your loved ones to know?
These questions are taken from a workbook called the Five Wishes which was created by Jim Towey after working closely with Mother Teresa and living in a hospice she ran in Washington DC. He created a short workbook to help people plan ahead in order to cope with the possibility dying from a serious illness. The Five Wishes asks the following:
1) What is your wish for who directs health care decisions
2) What medical treatment do you wish for (or not wish for)
3) What is your wish for comfort and dignity
4) What is you wish for your neighbors to know (or not know)
and how would you like them to treat you
5) What do you wish your loved ones to know
My dad and I had a conversation about this. It is his wish that while in hospice to not to go back to the hospital again; but, if he breaks his leg, that’s a different story and it related to question #2 – what medical treatment do you wish/not wish for. Often when I am told of someone who is ill or in the hospital, I will ask what, if anything, can I announce to the congregation – that is the #4 wish question: what do you want others to know. Similarly, on our prayer list, we have some folks that we pray for by name but do not mention for what it is that we are praying for; others, we mention out loud what they are going through. God knows what it is,
it is simply our role to pray. Likewise, it’s my pastoral role to find out what others should or should not know about someone’s illness.
The last of the wishes – what do you wish your loved ones to know – is something that doesn’t take a 12-page packet, or a visit with a priest, it is something you can ponder and act on today.
If you are interested in the Five Wishes, please visit their website, fivewishes.org. On their site you can purchase the packet and get more information. I do have one copy on my desk if you would like to take a look. Unlike the conventional phrase of being careful for what one wishes for, as your pastor, I’d advise you to consider these five wishes. If you would like to talk more about this, feel free to email, call, Zoom, or sign up for a visit on my calendar in the Gallery table. That’s my wish.
-Fr. Dave
These questions are taken from a workbook called the Five Wishes which was created by Jim Towey after working closely with Mother Teresa and living in a hospice she ran in Washington DC. He created a short workbook to help people plan ahead in order to cope with the possibility dying from a serious illness. The Five Wishes asks the following:
1) What is your wish for who directs health care decisions
2) What medical treatment do you wish for (or not wish for)
3) What is your wish for comfort and dignity
4) What is you wish for your neighbors to know (or not know)
and how would you like them to treat you
5) What do you wish your loved ones to know
My dad and I had a conversation about this. It is his wish that while in hospice to not to go back to the hospital again; but, if he breaks his leg, that’s a different story and it related to question #2 – what medical treatment do you wish/not wish for. Often when I am told of someone who is ill or in the hospital, I will ask what, if anything, can I announce to the congregation – that is the #4 wish question: what do you want others to know. Similarly, on our prayer list, we have some folks that we pray for by name but do not mention for what it is that we are praying for; others, we mention out loud what they are going through. God knows what it is,
it is simply our role to pray. Likewise, it’s my pastoral role to find out what others should or should not know about someone’s illness.
The last of the wishes – what do you wish your loved ones to know – is something that doesn’t take a 12-page packet, or a visit with a priest, it is something you can ponder and act on today.
If you are interested in the Five Wishes, please visit their website, fivewishes.org. On their site you can purchase the packet and get more information. I do have one copy on my desk if you would like to take a look. Unlike the conventional phrase of being careful for what one wishes for, as your pastor, I’d advise you to consider these five wishes. If you would like to talk more about this, feel free to email, call, Zoom, or sign up for a visit on my calendar in the Gallery table. That’s my wish.
-Fr. Dave
The Second Sacrament
June 17, 2021
Coffee hour at All Angels is back! After a long pandemic-driven hiatus, we are now gathering after the service to catch up with one another and enjoy a treat. Because it follows Holy Communion, Coffee Hour is lightheartedly referred to as the second sacrament of the Church.
There are some Episcopal churches that seem to have more people at Coffee Hour than at the service. That happened to us this past Sunday, when we had a Coffee Hour that celebrated Ethan’s graduation from High School, because many folks from the 8 am service returned to congratulate him. For other churches, the Second Sacrament is brunch after service. Good luck finding a table at a café at 11 am on Sundays in those communities.
In All Angels’ history, before we built the separate church building, the Parish Hall served as sanctuary and fellowship center. From what I have been told, the Altar was on one end of the building and the coffee was on the other. Once the service concluded, Coffee Hour started and it was in the same location. Similarly, Christi and I attended an up-and-coming Episcopal church in Redmond Washington. We were meeting in a secular fellowship hall. It had the same set up as the Parish Hall of All Angels. The chairs we sat on for the service were moved to round tables after the service for refreshments. Later on, when they built a church, they designed the sanctuary to exit directly into the Parish Hall for the second sacrament.
For the past few weeks, we have been offering Coffee Hour outside in our newly remodeled Angel Fountain Courtyard. It has been a huge blessing. We have been enjoying one another’s company while enjoying the renovated outdoor space. We also have had some new folks showing up for church. Having Coffee Hour directly in the exit path of the church has allowed me to fellowship with them and just about everyone else too.
This past Sunday, Ethan’s graduation cake did something that can only happen in Florida – it started melting. I’ve never seen a cake melt. But then again, I’ve never been able to bend a chip until moving here. Melted cake is quite tasty and it was a sign of the high dew point, humidity and temperature of mid-June in SW Florida. For as much as I enjoy Coffee Hour being directly between the church and the parking lot, we have to take it indoors for the summer. Attending church during the pandemic meant walking straight out to one’s car. As such, our church culture of making a left turn and going into the Parish Hall after services has been interrupted. As such, having Coffee Hour front and center, and unavoidable, has been a blessing. But then, with summer starting this Sunday, more than just the cake would melt if we met outside.
I am proposing a change for the summer – let’s offer coffee and treats in the narthex just like we did in our past. We can take our treat and have fellowship in the narthex, or the Gallery, or outdoors. This way, we will be sure to remember to stick around for Coffee Hour, and we will not faint from the heat and humidity. Plus, we can take time to enjoy the art from our Gallery artist, Chris Collins. By the fall, our culture of the Second Sacrament will be in the Parish Hall.
Regardless of where we enjoy fellowship, and how many are able to show up for in-person services, the important thing is that we’re back sharing in Holy Communion and communing with one another.
-Fr. Dave
There are some Episcopal churches that seem to have more people at Coffee Hour than at the service. That happened to us this past Sunday, when we had a Coffee Hour that celebrated Ethan’s graduation from High School, because many folks from the 8 am service returned to congratulate him. For other churches, the Second Sacrament is brunch after service. Good luck finding a table at a café at 11 am on Sundays in those communities.
In All Angels’ history, before we built the separate church building, the Parish Hall served as sanctuary and fellowship center. From what I have been told, the Altar was on one end of the building and the coffee was on the other. Once the service concluded, Coffee Hour started and it was in the same location. Similarly, Christi and I attended an up-and-coming Episcopal church in Redmond Washington. We were meeting in a secular fellowship hall. It had the same set up as the Parish Hall of All Angels. The chairs we sat on for the service were moved to round tables after the service for refreshments. Later on, when they built a church, they designed the sanctuary to exit directly into the Parish Hall for the second sacrament.
For the past few weeks, we have been offering Coffee Hour outside in our newly remodeled Angel Fountain Courtyard. It has been a huge blessing. We have been enjoying one another’s company while enjoying the renovated outdoor space. We also have had some new folks showing up for church. Having Coffee Hour directly in the exit path of the church has allowed me to fellowship with them and just about everyone else too.
This past Sunday, Ethan’s graduation cake did something that can only happen in Florida – it started melting. I’ve never seen a cake melt. But then again, I’ve never been able to bend a chip until moving here. Melted cake is quite tasty and it was a sign of the high dew point, humidity and temperature of mid-June in SW Florida. For as much as I enjoy Coffee Hour being directly between the church and the parking lot, we have to take it indoors for the summer. Attending church during the pandemic meant walking straight out to one’s car. As such, our church culture of making a left turn and going into the Parish Hall after services has been interrupted. As such, having Coffee Hour front and center, and unavoidable, has been a blessing. But then, with summer starting this Sunday, more than just the cake would melt if we met outside.
I am proposing a change for the summer – let’s offer coffee and treats in the narthex just like we did in our past. We can take our treat and have fellowship in the narthex, or the Gallery, or outdoors. This way, we will be sure to remember to stick around for Coffee Hour, and we will not faint from the heat and humidity. Plus, we can take time to enjoy the art from our Gallery artist, Chris Collins. By the fall, our culture of the Second Sacrament will be in the Parish Hall.
Regardless of where we enjoy fellowship, and how many are able to show up for in-person services, the important thing is that we’re back sharing in Holy Communion and communing with one another.
-Fr. Dave
Blessed Be
June 10, 2021
We are in Ordinary Time. You might disagree with that statement based on everything happening in our world; but, according to the Church calendar, we are now in Ordinary Time. Ordinary is the longest season of the Church – it begins after the 50-day season of Easter and ends with the first Sunday of Advent, November 28, this year. The liturgical color is (ordinary) green. The season of Advent and Christmas is anything but ordinary, as is Epiphany, Lent and Easter. Those are extra-ordinary times.
The opening acclamation for the service in Ordinary Time is this:
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The response: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever, amen.
That opening acclamation, like 98% of the phrases in the Book of Common Prayer, comes from the Bible. Here are the passages that outline that acclamation.
In the book of Ruth (4:14), the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord.”
In the Second book of Samuel (6:8) and mirrored in 1 Chronicles (16:2), David finished making a burnt offering and “he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 113:2, “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore.”
Lastly, in the book of Job (1:21), he said, “The Lord gives and takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The two I would like to compare are from Ruth and Job. In Ruth, the widow, Naomi, got married and became pregnant, which in their day meant raising a child in the memory of her deceased husband. The women around her said, “Blessed be the Lord … God shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age.” In the book of Job, as the story goes, all that Job had was taken from him but instead of cursing God, he said, “God gives and takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Both passages use the “blessed be” phrase but are distinctly different – the women around Naomi name God as restorer and nourisher whereas Job recognizes God as giver and taker.
Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Many theologians believe it predates the Hebrew language. Sufi wisdom believes that all things come from God and all things return to God; which is one way to look at Job’s theological statement of giver and taker. But I am going to take a different approach that blends it more in line with Naomi’s belief. We don’t know the mind of Job; or if he was even a real person or if this is simply a story to imagine how to live as faithful people amid bad things happening to good people; but the story shows that it was the devil who took away everything that Job held dear. At the end of Job’s story, all was restored by God. With Naomi’s faith, we see God as restorer and nourisher not as the-one-who-arbitrarily-takes.
I, however, believe that God does give and take – God takes away our/my individual sin as well as the sin of the world. God takes away fear and gives love and joy and peace. God takes away the sting of death and replaces it with hope and faith. All of those “takings” leave us/me restored and nourished.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
-Fr. Dave
The opening acclamation for the service in Ordinary Time is this:
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The response: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever, amen.
That opening acclamation, like 98% of the phrases in the Book of Common Prayer, comes from the Bible. Here are the passages that outline that acclamation.
In the book of Ruth (4:14), the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord.”
In the Second book of Samuel (6:8) and mirrored in 1 Chronicles (16:2), David finished making a burnt offering and “he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 113:2, “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore.”
Lastly, in the book of Job (1:21), he said, “The Lord gives and takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The two I would like to compare are from Ruth and Job. In Ruth, the widow, Naomi, got married and became pregnant, which in their day meant raising a child in the memory of her deceased husband. The women around her said, “Blessed be the Lord … God shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age.” In the book of Job, as the story goes, all that Job had was taken from him but instead of cursing God, he said, “God gives and takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Both passages use the “blessed be” phrase but are distinctly different – the women around Naomi name God as restorer and nourisher whereas Job recognizes God as giver and taker.
Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Many theologians believe it predates the Hebrew language. Sufi wisdom believes that all things come from God and all things return to God; which is one way to look at Job’s theological statement of giver and taker. But I am going to take a different approach that blends it more in line with Naomi’s belief. We don’t know the mind of Job; or if he was even a real person or if this is simply a story to imagine how to live as faithful people amid bad things happening to good people; but the story shows that it was the devil who took away everything that Job held dear. At the end of Job’s story, all was restored by God. With Naomi’s faith, we see God as restorer and nourisher not as the-one-who-arbitrarily-takes.
I, however, believe that God does give and take – God takes away our/my individual sin as well as the sin of the world. God takes away fear and gives love and joy and peace. God takes away the sting of death and replaces it with hope and faith. All of those “takings” leave us/me restored and nourished.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
-Fr. Dave
Worry Not
June 3, 2021
Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?
- Jesus, as quoted by Matthew 6:27
Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.
- St. Peter, as quoted in 1 Peter 5:7
In a New Testament theology class, we were told pay attention to when Jesus asks a question. In fact, our professor told us to underline Jesus’ questions in order to heed them. In the Rabbinic style of teaching, during the New Testament era, questions were often rhetorical. In today’s language, they have often been interpreted as a statement. My professor warned us not to fall into the trap of thinking it simply is a statement but rather to explore Jesus’ question in your heart.
My Christology (belief about Jesus) says that Jesus can read what is on someone’s heart and to read someone’s mind. The line used in the Gospels goes like this: He perceived what they [the people] were thinking. With that insight, Jesus asks probing questions; not for his benefit because he already knows the answer, but so that we can take a deeper look at ourselves. Here is his question: “Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?” He is asking to see who will honestly evaluate themselves and to say inwardly, “Yep, that’s me; I think I can add time to my life by worrying.”
If Jesus asked for a show of hands to see who believes that worrying adds to life, would you raise your hand? I sure would. In the business world, it is a well-known fact that you grow what you track – sales, performance, customer service, product quality, new markets, etc. You grow what you track; too often, however, I confuse “track” with “worry”. In the realm of successful aging, worrying is actually shown to be an unsuccessful strategy to live a happy retired life. Should one track one’s investments, monthly spending, eating habits and exercise routines, of course. Should one worry about such things? Jesus would say “no”.
I think (Saint) Peter was a worrier. He always seemed to jump to conclusions, be the first to raise a concern or complaint, and to quickly dismiss anything that didn’t fit within his world view. There are times that Jesus would take Peter off by himself. We don’t know what they talked about but I imagine he was telling Peter to not worry. In the first letter attributed to Peter, he writes that we are to cast all our worries on to God. Why? Because God cares for us. Imagine that – in God’s kingdom, caring for humans is to carry their worries. I also appreciate that the retired fisherman is telling us to “cast” our worries on God. Like gripping the hard cords of a fishing net and throwing it off your boat, Peter is inviting us to do the same with our anxieties.
If you raised your hand earlier about being a worrier, and you’d like to try a different way of thinking, here’s a prayer that I pray:
Almighty God, I take my worries that have ahold of me like a fisherman’s net and I cast them into your deep sea. I give you every anxiety, every worry, fear, and concern and cast them to you because you love me and because I can’t carry them anymore.
Dear God, take them, they are yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
-Fr. Dave
- Jesus, as quoted by Matthew 6:27
Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.
- St. Peter, as quoted in 1 Peter 5:7
In a New Testament theology class, we were told pay attention to when Jesus asks a question. In fact, our professor told us to underline Jesus’ questions in order to heed them. In the Rabbinic style of teaching, during the New Testament era, questions were often rhetorical. In today’s language, they have often been interpreted as a statement. My professor warned us not to fall into the trap of thinking it simply is a statement but rather to explore Jesus’ question in your heart.
My Christology (belief about Jesus) says that Jesus can read what is on someone’s heart and to read someone’s mind. The line used in the Gospels goes like this: He perceived what they [the people] were thinking. With that insight, Jesus asks probing questions; not for his benefit because he already knows the answer, but so that we can take a deeper look at ourselves. Here is his question: “Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?” He is asking to see who will honestly evaluate themselves and to say inwardly, “Yep, that’s me; I think I can add time to my life by worrying.”
If Jesus asked for a show of hands to see who believes that worrying adds to life, would you raise your hand? I sure would. In the business world, it is a well-known fact that you grow what you track – sales, performance, customer service, product quality, new markets, etc. You grow what you track; too often, however, I confuse “track” with “worry”. In the realm of successful aging, worrying is actually shown to be an unsuccessful strategy to live a happy retired life. Should one track one’s investments, monthly spending, eating habits and exercise routines, of course. Should one worry about such things? Jesus would say “no”.
I think (Saint) Peter was a worrier. He always seemed to jump to conclusions, be the first to raise a concern or complaint, and to quickly dismiss anything that didn’t fit within his world view. There are times that Jesus would take Peter off by himself. We don’t know what they talked about but I imagine he was telling Peter to not worry. In the first letter attributed to Peter, he writes that we are to cast all our worries on to God. Why? Because God cares for us. Imagine that – in God’s kingdom, caring for humans is to carry their worries. I also appreciate that the retired fisherman is telling us to “cast” our worries on God. Like gripping the hard cords of a fishing net and throwing it off your boat, Peter is inviting us to do the same with our anxieties.
If you raised your hand earlier about being a worrier, and you’d like to try a different way of thinking, here’s a prayer that I pray:
Almighty God, I take my worries that have ahold of me like a fisherman’s net and I cast them into your deep sea. I give you every anxiety, every worry, fear, and concern and cast them to you because you love me and because I can’t carry them anymore.
Dear God, take them, they are yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
-Fr. Dave
Painting Parable
May 27, 2021
There’s an old joke about a parsonage and a paint job. It goes like this: a painting contractor saved money by thinning the paint for the parsonage with turpentine. After painting the house, he stood back to admire his work. Suddenly a dark cloud formed over the parsonage and thunderstorm washed away his paint. He looked up to the sky and said, “Oh God, what should I do?!” The answer came back, “Repaint, repaint and thin no more.”
Two weekends ago, I found myself painting the tile roof of our house. I thought of that joke because the paint I used was expensive and it took six very heavy 5-gallon buckets. The directions clearly stated there will be no thinning of the paint; but, I must admit that I thought about it.
Why paint the roof you may ask? Although it is not leaking, the roof is nearing 30 years old. The original white coating on the tile is flaking off which can cause clogs at the downspouts and, during heavy rains, it peppers the grass, driveway and the hood of my car. Tile is not waterproof but the tar coating underneath it is. The tile protects the tar from the heat of the sun. The paint I applied is the consistency of mud and it is an ultra-white acrylic elastomeric fiber-reinforced roof sealer which does three things – reflects sunlight which keeps the roof cooler, extends the life of the tar undercoating, and prevents water from leaking onto the undercoating. I am pleased to report that we have noticed a difference with our air conditioner in that it does not turn on until much later in the afternoon.
The theological lesson I originally thought of while painting was of stewardship – caring for that which we have been blessed. It reminded me of how during the pandemic we have cared for our facility and improved it. But, there is more to it.
I finished painting the southside of the roof and after a week-long break,
I resumed painting the north, east and west sides. Walking on the tile is a little tricky. Each tile moves slightly when stepped on – like a rickety rock on a river bed; if the river bed was on a 35-degree angle and any slip could cause one to slide off. Suffice it to say, I had to step carefully. However, when I stepped onto the newly painted south side, the tiles didn’t click back and forth, they were solid. The elastomeric fiber-reinforced roof sealer connected each individual tile so that the roof had become one. Just to make sure I wasn’t imagining something, I stepped onto the unpainted section and then back on to the painted section and sure enough, there was a difference, it all held together.
I now have a roof painting parable which goes like this: the Holy Spirit is like elastomeric fiber-reinforced roof sealer, which, when applied to the surface, it makes many tiles one. Like roof tile and paint, although we are many, when the Spirit is applied, we become one. The rain and sun of life can beat down but with the Spirit we can repel what comes our way and remain as one.
-Fr. Dave
Two weekends ago, I found myself painting the tile roof of our house. I thought of that joke because the paint I used was expensive and it took six very heavy 5-gallon buckets. The directions clearly stated there will be no thinning of the paint; but, I must admit that I thought about it.
Why paint the roof you may ask? Although it is not leaking, the roof is nearing 30 years old. The original white coating on the tile is flaking off which can cause clogs at the downspouts and, during heavy rains, it peppers the grass, driveway and the hood of my car. Tile is not waterproof but the tar coating underneath it is. The tile protects the tar from the heat of the sun. The paint I applied is the consistency of mud and it is an ultra-white acrylic elastomeric fiber-reinforced roof sealer which does three things – reflects sunlight which keeps the roof cooler, extends the life of the tar undercoating, and prevents water from leaking onto the undercoating. I am pleased to report that we have noticed a difference with our air conditioner in that it does not turn on until much later in the afternoon.
The theological lesson I originally thought of while painting was of stewardship – caring for that which we have been blessed. It reminded me of how during the pandemic we have cared for our facility and improved it. But, there is more to it.
I finished painting the southside of the roof and after a week-long break,
I resumed painting the north, east and west sides. Walking on the tile is a little tricky. Each tile moves slightly when stepped on – like a rickety rock on a river bed; if the river bed was on a 35-degree angle and any slip could cause one to slide off. Suffice it to say, I had to step carefully. However, when I stepped onto the newly painted south side, the tiles didn’t click back and forth, they were solid. The elastomeric fiber-reinforced roof sealer connected each individual tile so that the roof had become one. Just to make sure I wasn’t imagining something, I stepped onto the unpainted section and then back on to the painted section and sure enough, there was a difference, it all held together.
I now have a roof painting parable which goes like this: the Holy Spirit is like elastomeric fiber-reinforced roof sealer, which, when applied to the surface, it makes many tiles one. Like roof tile and paint, although we are many, when the Spirit is applied, we become one. The rain and sun of life can beat down but with the Spirit we can repel what comes our way and remain as one.
-Fr. Dave
Man of Steel
May 20, 2021
My dad is a combination of Mr. Rogers (of PBS fame) and of the Man of Steel - Superman. The Mr. Rogers nickname came from his high school biology students. He often wore cardigans which made him look like Fred Rogers; but, it was temperance that earned him the nick name. Dad could calm students down with his steadying demeanor and voice. In Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, children were allowed to be children – to play, to share, get angry, to repent and be forgiven. Mr. Rogers invited all into his neighborhood to learn a good path to live. Dad taught those same lessons in his classroom for 25 years and then in the Christian bookstore he and mom owned for more than two decades. Now in retirement, and in his final months on earth, he is still showing the good path and many are learning because they are spending time in Dad’s neighborhood.
Twenty years ago, and no longer a spring chicken, Dad joined a boxing club in Seattle. He had the common sense not to spar with fighters in the ring, but plenty of punching bags fear him. He exchanged jogging for in-line skating to save his knees which, alas, are not made of steel. He doesn’t like fast food or drinking soda, he eats very little meat, prefers raw vegetables and organic, plant-based sources of protein. As a child, I was playing with an old baking mixer and somehow got my fingers caught in the blades. I ran to him to show that my hands were stuck. He dropped what he was doing and bent the blades apart with his bare hands in a true display of steel versus steel in which he prevailed. He chopped cords of wood, could always remove the toughest bolt, carry the heaviest load of books, lift a transmission, and move whatever piece of furniture anyone needed moving. One day my friend Chris and I were chopping wood in the backyard. Dad came home, saw what we were doing, and followed along with his heavier axe. Chris, to this day, remembers dad splitting the knotty wood like it was styrofoam. Dad converted two cars from gas engines to electric motors; he learned to weld and became an electrical engineer in the process.
Here is one story of which I am not particularly proud but it shows how he is both Mr. Rogers and a Man of Steel. One day during my high school career, the angry boyfriend of a female friend of mine showed up on the doorstep of our home. My perception then and now is that he misunderstood a note I had written to my female friend. Nonetheless, his eyes were blazing and he was intent on revenge with that high school macho self-righteousness we all know about. Dad talked to him on the porch, calmed him down, and sent him away. Later on, my female friend said that her boyfriend thought was dad was pretty cool and to tell him “hi” next time she sees him. Dad was my defender and calmer of angry spirits. Thinking of Dad has helped me keep my cool in difficult situations.
Dad worked at the crosstown rival High School. In my senior year, we invited his High School to one of our dances. Unfortunately, members of the football team bumped into each other on the dance floor. They took it outside and Dad followed. Two students were arguing, well on their way to something more serious. Dad stepped in between them and told them to calm down. Someone from behind pushed one student into the other which knocked Dad down. He bounced back up, held both football players apart and told everyone to go back inside, which they did. Dad: defender, teacher, calmer and protector.
Dad had kidney cancer in 1986. A surgeon removed the diseased kidney and Dad kept on going. Over a decade ago he was afflicted with thyroid cancer. The doctors removed his thyroid and he kept on going. Eight years ago, we found out he has lung cancer which was behaving itself and not growing. Four years ago, the kidney cancer returned, this time in his lungs. Dad took kidney cancer chemotherapy which worked for a couple of years. But, the overachieving cancer became resistant. He switched to immunotherapy which uses the body’s own immune system to attack the cancer. He was told this new treatment has two paths – either it will fail and he will be dead in six months or it will work and he will go into remission. Dad, the life-long Episcopalian, has found a middle way: the cancer is not growing but it is not shrinking. The therapy “juices” his immune system like a flu vaccine. But, unlike the flu shot, the feeling doesn’t pass. Kidney cancer is irritating to his lungs. He is on pain medication because of the discomfort in his chest cavity. His active lifestyle has been diminished so that it takes energy to walk down the hallway and, an avid reader, he finds it difficult to stay awake to read. In other, words, the boxing, jump roping, in-line skating, box-of-books carrying man had changed. He is still dad; kind, thoughtful, compassionate and highly intelligent. But physically, the change has been dramatic in a way that I can only explain tearfully. After much prayer and discussion with Mom, Dad has decided that it is time to end the immunotherapy and to bring hospice into his home. He has three to six months.
Dad is still the Man of Steel/Mr. Rogers. Dad’s steeliness comes from a faith that shapes his ethics. He truly endeavors to love God with all his heart and to love his neighbor as himself. Even when his lungs are being squished by excess fluid and cancerous growth, he fills himself with love for God and God’s creation and creatures. In fact, through these tears, I can witness to you that I’ve never seen my dad stronger then when he told Christi, my brother, and me that he is ending his treatment. His bravery for taking each day as it comes, his insistence to care for mom, and all of us, with each labored breath, shows his steeliness. He is at his strongest when he allows others in his neighborhood to care for him.
On-lookers of the crucifixion, asked Jesus and his followers, “Where is your God?” Jesus gave up his last breath for others with this: “Father, forgive them.” Dad is following Jesus by using what will be his last breaths in this life to care for others as he has always done. So, “Where is my God?” I see God through Dad’s conviction and faith, through Dad’s concern for others even when by all rights he should be concerned about himself. That is truly the Man of Steel I know and emulate in order to show my children and the people I pastor how to follow Jesus. Dad, the teacher, is showing how to live in grace and peace with a terminal illness. Like Mr. Rogers and Jesus, Dad is teaching us that all are lovable, capable and are welcome in His neighborhood.
-Fr. Dave
Twenty years ago, and no longer a spring chicken, Dad joined a boxing club in Seattle. He had the common sense not to spar with fighters in the ring, but plenty of punching bags fear him. He exchanged jogging for in-line skating to save his knees which, alas, are not made of steel. He doesn’t like fast food or drinking soda, he eats very little meat, prefers raw vegetables and organic, plant-based sources of protein. As a child, I was playing with an old baking mixer and somehow got my fingers caught in the blades. I ran to him to show that my hands were stuck. He dropped what he was doing and bent the blades apart with his bare hands in a true display of steel versus steel in which he prevailed. He chopped cords of wood, could always remove the toughest bolt, carry the heaviest load of books, lift a transmission, and move whatever piece of furniture anyone needed moving. One day my friend Chris and I were chopping wood in the backyard. Dad came home, saw what we were doing, and followed along with his heavier axe. Chris, to this day, remembers dad splitting the knotty wood like it was styrofoam. Dad converted two cars from gas engines to electric motors; he learned to weld and became an electrical engineer in the process.
Here is one story of which I am not particularly proud but it shows how he is both Mr. Rogers and a Man of Steel. One day during my high school career, the angry boyfriend of a female friend of mine showed up on the doorstep of our home. My perception then and now is that he misunderstood a note I had written to my female friend. Nonetheless, his eyes were blazing and he was intent on revenge with that high school macho self-righteousness we all know about. Dad talked to him on the porch, calmed him down, and sent him away. Later on, my female friend said that her boyfriend thought was dad was pretty cool and to tell him “hi” next time she sees him. Dad was my defender and calmer of angry spirits. Thinking of Dad has helped me keep my cool in difficult situations.
Dad worked at the crosstown rival High School. In my senior year, we invited his High School to one of our dances. Unfortunately, members of the football team bumped into each other on the dance floor. They took it outside and Dad followed. Two students were arguing, well on their way to something more serious. Dad stepped in between them and told them to calm down. Someone from behind pushed one student into the other which knocked Dad down. He bounced back up, held both football players apart and told everyone to go back inside, which they did. Dad: defender, teacher, calmer and protector.
Dad had kidney cancer in 1986. A surgeon removed the diseased kidney and Dad kept on going. Over a decade ago he was afflicted with thyroid cancer. The doctors removed his thyroid and he kept on going. Eight years ago, we found out he has lung cancer which was behaving itself and not growing. Four years ago, the kidney cancer returned, this time in his lungs. Dad took kidney cancer chemotherapy which worked for a couple of years. But, the overachieving cancer became resistant. He switched to immunotherapy which uses the body’s own immune system to attack the cancer. He was told this new treatment has two paths – either it will fail and he will be dead in six months or it will work and he will go into remission. Dad, the life-long Episcopalian, has found a middle way: the cancer is not growing but it is not shrinking. The therapy “juices” his immune system like a flu vaccine. But, unlike the flu shot, the feeling doesn’t pass. Kidney cancer is irritating to his lungs. He is on pain medication because of the discomfort in his chest cavity. His active lifestyle has been diminished so that it takes energy to walk down the hallway and, an avid reader, he finds it difficult to stay awake to read. In other, words, the boxing, jump roping, in-line skating, box-of-books carrying man had changed. He is still dad; kind, thoughtful, compassionate and highly intelligent. But physically, the change has been dramatic in a way that I can only explain tearfully. After much prayer and discussion with Mom, Dad has decided that it is time to end the immunotherapy and to bring hospice into his home. He has three to six months.
Dad is still the Man of Steel/Mr. Rogers. Dad’s steeliness comes from a faith that shapes his ethics. He truly endeavors to love God with all his heart and to love his neighbor as himself. Even when his lungs are being squished by excess fluid and cancerous growth, he fills himself with love for God and God’s creation and creatures. In fact, through these tears, I can witness to you that I’ve never seen my dad stronger then when he told Christi, my brother, and me that he is ending his treatment. His bravery for taking each day as it comes, his insistence to care for mom, and all of us, with each labored breath, shows his steeliness. He is at his strongest when he allows others in his neighborhood to care for him.
On-lookers of the crucifixion, asked Jesus and his followers, “Where is your God?” Jesus gave up his last breath for others with this: “Father, forgive them.” Dad is following Jesus by using what will be his last breaths in this life to care for others as he has always done. So, “Where is my God?” I see God through Dad’s conviction and faith, through Dad’s concern for others even when by all rights he should be concerned about himself. That is truly the Man of Steel I know and emulate in order to show my children and the people I pastor how to follow Jesus. Dad, the teacher, is showing how to live in grace and peace with a terminal illness. Like Mr. Rogers and Jesus, Dad is teaching us that all are lovable, capable and are welcome in His neighborhood.
-Fr. Dave
Happier Widow
May 13, 2021
The Women’s Discussion Group on Thursday discussed an article written by a widow for widows. The group quickly pointed out that the article is not just for widows; it could be for widowers, for people who will be widows someday, for people who have been through a divorce and for anyone who has experienced grief and depression that follows.
The author, Kim Murry, wrote that the only person who can make you happy is you. It’s both the good news and the bad news. Happiness cannot and will not come from exterior sources – boyfriends, girlfriends, a workaholic lifestyle, gambling, tech gadgets, fast cars, the internet, alcohol or pills. The only person who can make you happy is you. The next step is the decision to be happy. Since no one else; and no pill or exterior stimuli; can make you happy, it all starts with you making a decision to be happy – a happier widow, a happier divorcee, a happier grief-stricken person. From that one decision comes a cascading effect of life changes.
The choice to be happy is made by helping others, making health a priority, and knowing your worth. Scientists has studied the benefits of helping others and have determined it will reduce the risk of hypertension, give you a sense of purpose, it will help prevent dementia, and will counteract the effects of stress, anxiety and anger. Helping others can be a variety of different things and can be done once a day, or week or month, for hours or just for ten minutes. The point is to make a decision to do something that helps someone else and then to do it. There will be days when you don’t want to and that’s okay. But, make a decision next time to get up and do it. And, if the activity leaves you feeling burdened or drained, find something else.
The only one who can make you a heathier person is you. Like happiness, you have to make the decision to eat healthier and get up and move around. It doesn’t have to be 6 am yoga on the beach or Pilates; it could be walking around the block; the point is any movement helps a lot.
You are worth it. Being a widow, or divorcee, or grief-stricken doesn’t mean you are broken, or damaged goods, or worthless, or a has-been. It means, simply, that you have gone through, or are going through, a terrible time. But, the horrible time you are in doesn’t factor in to your worthiness. The author points out that if you feel worthy, making the decision to be happier is easier. And, if you make choices – help others and focus on your health – to be happier, you will feel more worth it too. Here are some ways to live into your worth: practice self-care (no one will do it for you), commit to yourself first before committing to others, say “no” when something doesn’t serve you or burdens you, stand up for yourself (no one will do it for you), love yourself no matter what.
The Church wouldn’t be the Church if not for widows and grief-stricken people who decided to make changes in their life. Within the first few years of the early church, widows took the apostles in and had worship services in their homes and courtyards. The Way (what Christianity was originally called) provided an avenue of helping others, restoring one’s worth through baptism and receiving communion, and praying for one another’s health. That was the foundation of the Church. It reminds me of the old church hymn, I have decided to follow Jesus. It all comes down to a decision that no one can make but you.
-Fr. Dave
The author, Kim Murry, wrote that the only person who can make you happy is you. It’s both the good news and the bad news. Happiness cannot and will not come from exterior sources – boyfriends, girlfriends, a workaholic lifestyle, gambling, tech gadgets, fast cars, the internet, alcohol or pills. The only person who can make you happy is you. The next step is the decision to be happy. Since no one else; and no pill or exterior stimuli; can make you happy, it all starts with you making a decision to be happy – a happier widow, a happier divorcee, a happier grief-stricken person. From that one decision comes a cascading effect of life changes.
The choice to be happy is made by helping others, making health a priority, and knowing your worth. Scientists has studied the benefits of helping others and have determined it will reduce the risk of hypertension, give you a sense of purpose, it will help prevent dementia, and will counteract the effects of stress, anxiety and anger. Helping others can be a variety of different things and can be done once a day, or week or month, for hours or just for ten minutes. The point is to make a decision to do something that helps someone else and then to do it. There will be days when you don’t want to and that’s okay. But, make a decision next time to get up and do it. And, if the activity leaves you feeling burdened or drained, find something else.
The only one who can make you a heathier person is you. Like happiness, you have to make the decision to eat healthier and get up and move around. It doesn’t have to be 6 am yoga on the beach or Pilates; it could be walking around the block; the point is any movement helps a lot.
You are worth it. Being a widow, or divorcee, or grief-stricken doesn’t mean you are broken, or damaged goods, or worthless, or a has-been. It means, simply, that you have gone through, or are going through, a terrible time. But, the horrible time you are in doesn’t factor in to your worthiness. The author points out that if you feel worthy, making the decision to be happier is easier. And, if you make choices – help others and focus on your health – to be happier, you will feel more worth it too. Here are some ways to live into your worth: practice self-care (no one will do it for you), commit to yourself first before committing to others, say “no” when something doesn’t serve you or burdens you, stand up for yourself (no one will do it for you), love yourself no matter what.
The Church wouldn’t be the Church if not for widows and grief-stricken people who decided to make changes in their life. Within the first few years of the early church, widows took the apostles in and had worship services in their homes and courtyards. The Way (what Christianity was originally called) provided an avenue of helping others, restoring one’s worth through baptism and receiving communion, and praying for one another’s health. That was the foundation of the Church. It reminds me of the old church hymn, I have decided to follow Jesus. It all comes down to a decision that no one can make but you.
-Fr. Dave
Compensation
May 6, 2021
The discussion group topic this week was about successful aging. There is no set standard for what “successful” aging is; rather, it is up to each individual to define what successful aging is. Nevertheless, various experts have tried to define it. Dr. Rick Machemer outlined a six-point matrix that attempts to quantify “successful” but, as he pointed out, it really comes down to one’s own expectations. It makes me wonder what your expectations are for successful aging? How would you define it, and, are you living into those expectations?
For some, successful aging involves traveling, spending time with loved ones, watching live performances, and dining out. One of the hardest parts of the pandemic is not being able to do those things. It makes me wonder if there has been a lost sense of successful aging over the past year and a half.
One of the six points of successful aging is compensation – and no, it’s not about being paid to age. Reading glasses are a compensation. There is a whole golf club industry that compensate for one’s swing as we age so that the sport remains enjoyable. For some, compensation is cataract surgery, hearing aids, or a hip replacement, or, for me, large print books. Another way to look at compensation is like this: when moving to Bradenton, we bought a single-story house because we believe one day stairs will become less comfortable to manage.
Hand-in-hand with compensation is daily choices. Roughly 20% of successful aging has to do with genetics; 80% is environmental – as in daily choices made over a lifetime. Whether it is going to the gym, stretching at home, eating less, going for a walk, deep breathing exercises, all of these are daily choices made for successful aging. The flip side is that each lapse one takes from a daily activity, the less successful the aging process may be for that individual. Research shows that family/friend groups play a part in the environmental aging process. Tennis groups, golf associations, book clubs, churches, family dinners – these are all sources of role modeling for aging and also accountability in aging.
One aspect of spirituality and aging is compensation from God. Again, God is not paying one to age, but, I have noticed that starting around the age 10, I have become increasingly more dependent upon God. A friend of mine who is a deacon found that his legs did a lot of spiritual work early in his vocation. However, as his legs have gotten older, God is compensating with him through prayer in action and asking/motivating others to do the walking. Like how I depend upon reading glasses to read, I think that successful aging has a component of compensation from God in the form of dependence. This is dependence captured in the healing prayer in the Book of Common prayer, “Sanctify, O Lord, the sickness of your servant, that the sense of his/her weakness may add strength to her faith, seriousness to her repentance, and assurance of everlasting life with you.”
Now that is what I call successful aging.
-Fr. Dave
For some, successful aging involves traveling, spending time with loved ones, watching live performances, and dining out. One of the hardest parts of the pandemic is not being able to do those things. It makes me wonder if there has been a lost sense of successful aging over the past year and a half.
One of the six points of successful aging is compensation – and no, it’s not about being paid to age. Reading glasses are a compensation. There is a whole golf club industry that compensate for one’s swing as we age so that the sport remains enjoyable. For some, compensation is cataract surgery, hearing aids, or a hip replacement, or, for me, large print books. Another way to look at compensation is like this: when moving to Bradenton, we bought a single-story house because we believe one day stairs will become less comfortable to manage.
Hand-in-hand with compensation is daily choices. Roughly 20% of successful aging has to do with genetics; 80% is environmental – as in daily choices made over a lifetime. Whether it is going to the gym, stretching at home, eating less, going for a walk, deep breathing exercises, all of these are daily choices made for successful aging. The flip side is that each lapse one takes from a daily activity, the less successful the aging process may be for that individual. Research shows that family/friend groups play a part in the environmental aging process. Tennis groups, golf associations, book clubs, churches, family dinners – these are all sources of role modeling for aging and also accountability in aging.
One aspect of spirituality and aging is compensation from God. Again, God is not paying one to age, but, I have noticed that starting around the age 10, I have become increasingly more dependent upon God. A friend of mine who is a deacon found that his legs did a lot of spiritual work early in his vocation. However, as his legs have gotten older, God is compensating with him through prayer in action and asking/motivating others to do the walking. Like how I depend upon reading glasses to read, I think that successful aging has a component of compensation from God in the form of dependence. This is dependence captured in the healing prayer in the Book of Common prayer, “Sanctify, O Lord, the sickness of your servant, that the sense of his/her weakness may add strength to her faith, seriousness to her repentance, and assurance of everlasting life with you.”
Now that is what I call successful aging.
-Fr. Dave
Music
April 29, 2021
This past Tuesday, Ethan and Elijah performed in Bradenton Christian School’s spring band concert. It was a wonderful performance that six months ago we didn’t know if it was going to happen. This school year, Elijah learned to play the trombone on-line with the other 5th graders for the first quarter and then joined in person. Ethan, who has been playing the clarinet since 5th grade, decided to pick up the baritone saxophone. He too started learning it on-line and then, in the 2nd quarter, joined in-person band. They both, and the whole school, did a great job.
It was an exciting performance and a little bittersweet. At BCS, music begins in 5th grade and runs through the 12th. As such, the 5th graders and the 12th graders performed on the same night. This was the last time our boys would perform music on the same night for the same institution.
In between performances, when the stage was being rearranged for the next group, there were presenters who talked about the spirituality of music and the importance of academic excellence and brain development associated with learning an instrument. I found the presentations interesting because in my public High School we didn’t have to defend or underscore the importance of music. I suppose it is a sign of the times – parents are concerned about pre-collegiate scores and frankly, sports scores. I imagine that focus leaves music on the periphery. But that is not how it is with God.
In the beginning, God creating the heavens and the earth. That is the opening line to the Bible. My favorite Jewish rendition of that passage is this, “When God sang creation into being.” In Jewish rites, music, and in particular, singing, is more important than the spoken word. Likewise, in the Anglican rite, we value music.
God sang creation – you may have heard of the recording of the big bang; it sounds like an intergalactic show tune. That music is still reverberating around the universe like a never-ending song. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry land, Moses and Miriam sang a song of triumph and praise. At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when Jesus turned water into wine, there was singing. Undoubtedly Jesus sang too. Likewise, at the Last Supper, before heading out into the night, the disciples and Jesus and the women and children at the meal all sang songs. The Book of Revelation shows the choir in heaven where there is great singing and rejoicing. In nature, we know of the song birds, of whale songs, of crickets and the roar of lions. Creation certainly is alive with the sound of music! Even in our quiet moments, like the peaceful silence at our 8 a.m. service, silence is music of its own kind.
This Sunday is our first Sunday with our new organ. It also is the first time the choir has sang indoors since February 2020. It will be a celebration of hymnody and of song. And, like at BCS where children (of God) make music together, the children of God gathered at All Angels will continue in the rich tradition of creation and music.
-Fr. Dave
It was an exciting performance and a little bittersweet. At BCS, music begins in 5th grade and runs through the 12th. As such, the 5th graders and the 12th graders performed on the same night. This was the last time our boys would perform music on the same night for the same institution.
In between performances, when the stage was being rearranged for the next group, there were presenters who talked about the spirituality of music and the importance of academic excellence and brain development associated with learning an instrument. I found the presentations interesting because in my public High School we didn’t have to defend or underscore the importance of music. I suppose it is a sign of the times – parents are concerned about pre-collegiate scores and frankly, sports scores. I imagine that focus leaves music on the periphery. But that is not how it is with God.
In the beginning, God creating the heavens and the earth. That is the opening line to the Bible. My favorite Jewish rendition of that passage is this, “When God sang creation into being.” In Jewish rites, music, and in particular, singing, is more important than the spoken word. Likewise, in the Anglican rite, we value music.
God sang creation – you may have heard of the recording of the big bang; it sounds like an intergalactic show tune. That music is still reverberating around the universe like a never-ending song. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry land, Moses and Miriam sang a song of triumph and praise. At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when Jesus turned water into wine, there was singing. Undoubtedly Jesus sang too. Likewise, at the Last Supper, before heading out into the night, the disciples and Jesus and the women and children at the meal all sang songs. The Book of Revelation shows the choir in heaven where there is great singing and rejoicing. In nature, we know of the song birds, of whale songs, of crickets and the roar of lions. Creation certainly is alive with the sound of music! Even in our quiet moments, like the peaceful silence at our 8 a.m. service, silence is music of its own kind.
This Sunday is our first Sunday with our new organ. It also is the first time the choir has sang indoors since February 2020. It will be a celebration of hymnody and of song. And, like at BCS where children (of God) make music together, the children of God gathered at All Angels will continue in the rich tradition of creation and music.
-Fr. Dave
The Holy Wave
April 22, 2021
There is a new behavior I am seeing on television and on my computer screen. For lack of a better term, I am calling it the Zoom wave. As you may have seen, more and more television news teams are using Zoom and Skype as a way to talk with correspondents or other experts in the field. In the old days, 2019, there used to be a camera operator and a producer at each location. They would radio or call the station to let them know they are set up and ready for their individual broadcast. Then, the anchor would “send it over” to the remote. Nowadays, the camera operator and the producer are rolled into one as a digital device on someone’s computer or phone. To signal to the anchor’s desk that the remote is ready, they do a simple wave. This action is mirrored in most Zoom meetings that I am a part of. The Zoom app connects the video stream first and then connects the audio. In that in-between time, the person on Zoom waves a hello to the group before their audio is connected. In our diocesan clergy Zoom meetings, where we have over 100 participants, our audio remains muted so all we have is the wave to say hello.
The wave has spilled out into other aspects of life. I recently have met with various contractors who have performed a number of construction services at All Angels – cement, railings, tile, roof, organ, etc. In days-gone-by (again, 2019), we would all shake hands. Nowadays, we wave to each other to recognize one another. You know what a “golf clap” is; this new form of saying hello is more like a “golf wave” – a simple, understated gesture that gets the point across. After all, it would look out of place if one were to wave at another with the same type of wave used to get someone’s attention at a ball game or in a darkened theater before the performance starts. The Zoom wave is a simple golf wave to say hello.
One of my favorite trends is what I call the holy wave which is this: someone walks into the church, turns around, smiles and waves at the camera. Somewhere along the line, it has been communicated that a parishioner is watching on-line and another parishioner is in-person and the person in the church wishes to say hello to the person on-line so they wave. It warms my heart each time I see it. A simple, holy gesture to say hello, I see you, and, from what I imagine, a gesture to say you are here with me and I am with you.
Believe it or not, there are holy waves captured in Scripture. At the end of most of Paul’s letters, he sends greetings from people to other people. It’s a simply holy wave of sorts. Likewise, Luke in his Gospel as well as the Book of Acts, begins each tome with a holy wave to someone, or a group of someones, known only as “Theophilus” which most likely means “beloved”. If Luke were writing in the 21st Century, or, if St. Paul were to walk into All Angels to speak, I imagine they would also turn to the camera and offer a holy wave. So, let us do the same and offer a holy wave to one another.
-Fr. Dave
The wave has spilled out into other aspects of life. I recently have met with various contractors who have performed a number of construction services at All Angels – cement, railings, tile, roof, organ, etc. In days-gone-by (again, 2019), we would all shake hands. Nowadays, we wave to each other to recognize one another. You know what a “golf clap” is; this new form of saying hello is more like a “golf wave” – a simple, understated gesture that gets the point across. After all, it would look out of place if one were to wave at another with the same type of wave used to get someone’s attention at a ball game or in a darkened theater before the performance starts. The Zoom wave is a simple golf wave to say hello.
One of my favorite trends is what I call the holy wave which is this: someone walks into the church, turns around, smiles and waves at the camera. Somewhere along the line, it has been communicated that a parishioner is watching on-line and another parishioner is in-person and the person in the church wishes to say hello to the person on-line so they wave. It warms my heart each time I see it. A simple, holy gesture to say hello, I see you, and, from what I imagine, a gesture to say you are here with me and I am with you.
Believe it or not, there are holy waves captured in Scripture. At the end of most of Paul’s letters, he sends greetings from people to other people. It’s a simply holy wave of sorts. Likewise, Luke in his Gospel as well as the Book of Acts, begins each tome with a holy wave to someone, or a group of someones, known only as “Theophilus” which most likely means “beloved”. If Luke were writing in the 21st Century, or, if St. Paul were to walk into All Angels to speak, I imagine they would also turn to the camera and offer a holy wave. So, let us do the same and offer a holy wave to one another.
-Fr. Dave
Indebtedness
April 15, 2021
Since the passing of Alex Trebek, the game show, Jeopardy, has been searching for a new host. I admire the former host for many reasons but the most prominent is the way he handled his cancer, his career, and his death. He could have hidden it, retired, or both; instead, he walked all of us through his journey. It can be said that he took his cancer as an opportunity for greatness.
The discussion topic for this past week was an article written by Tamara Mann Tweel about Rabbi Heschel’s approach to aging. The Rabbi addressed a White House conference on aging and said, “The problem of aging is more than a material wellbeing, it is the agony of spiritual insecurity, boredom, fear and loneliness, and the sense of being useless.” That last part reminds me of psalm 31 which we recite every Good Friday, “I am as useless as a broken pot.” Every generation that has read that passage understands its meaning – the feeling of being useless. I wonder if Alex Trebek ever felt that way.
Rabbi Heschel suggested that people live by a sense of belonging and a sense of indebtedness. To live, in a Jewish sense, as far as I understand it, is both belonging – like in a family, in a community, as a nation – and being indebted to not only that family but also to the earth and its structures and easements. Jesus took it a step farther when he said to pray for one’s enemies. That is truly an indebtedness!
Native American spirituality, as I understand it, is to be indebted to the animal that gave up its life to be food. The thanksgiving prayer over the deer and over the rest of the meal is be thankful and to offer one’s life as indebtedness to the earth and all her creatures. Another way to look at it is how the chef is indebted to the diner and the diner to the chef; like the train to the track, and the track to the engineers and installers and vice-versa.
“Belonging” follows the same line of thinking – the train would not be in connection with the other cars, and to fulfill its purpose, without being indebted to the track. The Native American who offers the prayer is doing so in community; which he or she is also indebted to, which is also his or her life’s purpose. The church usher has a belonging to the church, the church-goer is indebted and in belonging to the usher who is indebted to the Church who is indebted and belonging to Christ.
I am indebted to you, the reader, and we have a sense of belonging together as author and reader. Many of the readers support me and my family at All Angels so we are indebted to you, and, at the same time we have a shared sense of belonging.
Indebtedness and belonging also provide for opportunities for greatness. The warm greeting hello, the note in the mail, the email exchange, or the visit – to each we are indebted and belong and, to each, we are given an opportunity. And, that opportunity, indebtedness, and belonging transcend the grave. As I watch talented people host Jeopardy, I am reminded at the sense of belonging Alex Trebek brought with the show and the sense of indebtedness he had to it and to the contestants. Although he is gone, that opportunity of greatness continues. In a much larger fashion, the disciples had belonging and indebtedness to Christ. Their sense of community and indebtedness reverberates in today’s Church which makes each Sunday an opportunity for greatness. So whether we participate at home, or in person, we belong and are indebted.
-Fr. Dave
The discussion topic for this past week was an article written by Tamara Mann Tweel about Rabbi Heschel’s approach to aging. The Rabbi addressed a White House conference on aging and said, “The problem of aging is more than a material wellbeing, it is the agony of spiritual insecurity, boredom, fear and loneliness, and the sense of being useless.” That last part reminds me of psalm 31 which we recite every Good Friday, “I am as useless as a broken pot.” Every generation that has read that passage understands its meaning – the feeling of being useless. I wonder if Alex Trebek ever felt that way.
Rabbi Heschel suggested that people live by a sense of belonging and a sense of indebtedness. To live, in a Jewish sense, as far as I understand it, is both belonging – like in a family, in a community, as a nation – and being indebted to not only that family but also to the earth and its structures and easements. Jesus took it a step farther when he said to pray for one’s enemies. That is truly an indebtedness!
Native American spirituality, as I understand it, is to be indebted to the animal that gave up its life to be food. The thanksgiving prayer over the deer and over the rest of the meal is be thankful and to offer one’s life as indebtedness to the earth and all her creatures. Another way to look at it is how the chef is indebted to the diner and the diner to the chef; like the train to the track, and the track to the engineers and installers and vice-versa.
“Belonging” follows the same line of thinking – the train would not be in connection with the other cars, and to fulfill its purpose, without being indebted to the track. The Native American who offers the prayer is doing so in community; which he or she is also indebted to, which is also his or her life’s purpose. The church usher has a belonging to the church, the church-goer is indebted and in belonging to the usher who is indebted to the Church who is indebted and belonging to Christ.
I am indebted to you, the reader, and we have a sense of belonging together as author and reader. Many of the readers support me and my family at All Angels so we are indebted to you, and, at the same time we have a shared sense of belonging.
Indebtedness and belonging also provide for opportunities for greatness. The warm greeting hello, the note in the mail, the email exchange, or the visit – to each we are indebted and belong and, to each, we are given an opportunity. And, that opportunity, indebtedness, and belonging transcend the grave. As I watch talented people host Jeopardy, I am reminded at the sense of belonging Alex Trebek brought with the show and the sense of indebtedness he had to it and to the contestants. Although he is gone, that opportunity of greatness continues. In a much larger fashion, the disciples had belonging and indebtedness to Christ. Their sense of community and indebtedness reverberates in today’s Church which makes each Sunday an opportunity for greatness. So whether we participate at home, or in person, we belong and are indebted.
-Fr. Dave
50-Day Celebration
April 8, 2021
I am a fan of the birthday week – the practice of celebrating a birthday for an entire week and not just on the birth-day. Some families have a birthday month. That might a bit much. When Elijah turned 11, we had a birthday week. Although his actual birthday was on a Tuesday, we started the celebration on Friday when he had the day off from school. We went out on the boat and rented a jet ski for an hour. We then had something special on Saturday, then Sunday, and then again on Monday. By the time his birthday rolled around, we all had done a lot of celebrating and I think he was ready for life to get back to normal.
The birthday week helps with the feeling of drop off after a big celebration. There is a natural let down after a big day; like July 5th, or the Tuesday after Labor Day, or January 2nd. As I have written to you, when I was growing up, my parents tried to extend the gift-giving/receive portion of Christmas for all 12 days. I like celebrating Christmas for the 12 days; but, the gift giving thing didn’t work out to well. So now we stick with joy, decorations, and yummy food.
If you’ve ever wondered why Christmas is celebrated for 12 days, it stems from the Council of Tours in the year 567. They declared that it took twelve days for the magi to travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
If you think a 12-day celebration of Christmas is a lot, well hold on to your hat because Easter is celebrated for 50 days! 50!! You will see the church adorned in white, you will see celebratory flower decorations, and, it is during Easter that the confession in the liturgy is omitted. Why 50 days? First off, Easter must be longer than Lent. It just seems fair. Secondly, and certainly more importantly, the reason stems from the Jewish calendar. Easter is always celebrated around the time of the Passover. Fifty days (give or take a day) later is another festival called Shavuot. In the Christian tradition, the Day of Pentecost happened 50 days after Easter. If you remember the story, there were people of the Jewish faith gathered from all over - Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; Cretans and Arabs. (Acts 2) Ever wondered why they were all there and the disciples/apostle too? It was Shavuot. The tradition is that on Passover, the Israelites were released from captivity and fled into the wilderness. 50 days later, Moses received the Torah on Mt. Sinai.
The important thing for me on this is two-fold: we don’t have to worry about post Easter Sunday letdown because we’re going to celebrate for a month and then some; Easter ends on Pentecost which is the traditional birthday of the Church. If you like the idea of a birthday-week, or birthday-month, the Church celebrates its birthday all the way until Advent arrives shortly after Thanksgiving. It looks to me like we have a lot of celebrating to do.
-Fr. Dave
The birthday week helps with the feeling of drop off after a big celebration. There is a natural let down after a big day; like July 5th, or the Tuesday after Labor Day, or January 2nd. As I have written to you, when I was growing up, my parents tried to extend the gift-giving/receive portion of Christmas for all 12 days. I like celebrating Christmas for the 12 days; but, the gift giving thing didn’t work out to well. So now we stick with joy, decorations, and yummy food.
If you’ve ever wondered why Christmas is celebrated for 12 days, it stems from the Council of Tours in the year 567. They declared that it took twelve days for the magi to travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
If you think a 12-day celebration of Christmas is a lot, well hold on to your hat because Easter is celebrated for 50 days! 50!! You will see the church adorned in white, you will see celebratory flower decorations, and, it is during Easter that the confession in the liturgy is omitted. Why 50 days? First off, Easter must be longer than Lent. It just seems fair. Secondly, and certainly more importantly, the reason stems from the Jewish calendar. Easter is always celebrated around the time of the Passover. Fifty days (give or take a day) later is another festival called Shavuot. In the Christian tradition, the Day of Pentecost happened 50 days after Easter. If you remember the story, there were people of the Jewish faith gathered from all over - Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; Cretans and Arabs. (Acts 2) Ever wondered why they were all there and the disciples/apostle too? It was Shavuot. The tradition is that on Passover, the Israelites were released from captivity and fled into the wilderness. 50 days later, Moses received the Torah on Mt. Sinai.
The important thing for me on this is two-fold: we don’t have to worry about post Easter Sunday letdown because we’re going to celebrate for a month and then some; Easter ends on Pentecost which is the traditional birthday of the Church. If you like the idea of a birthday-week, or birthday-month, the Church celebrates its birthday all the way until Advent arrives shortly after Thanksgiving. It looks to me like we have a lot of celebrating to do.
-Fr. Dave
A Little Like Heaven
April 1, 2021
A small miracle happened on Tuesday of Holy Week. Facebook sent me a notification that a friend made a new post. This is not a miracle; Facebook emails me all the time. But, part of the miracle is that I actually clicked on the email. My attention to Facebook has significantly declined since 2016. In fact, I have basically ignored Facebook for over four years. Interestingly enough, they still email me. I suppose there is something to be said about the virtue of persistence. Nevertheless, on Holy Tuesday, I logged on to FB and took a look at the post.
The message was from a family that we were close with in San Diego. Our 18-year old, Ethan, has been friends with their 18-year old, since elementary school. Our families have been friends since 2008 – we would go to the beach together, go over to each other’s houses, celebrate birthdays and the like, until 2016 when they took a promotion that brought them to North Carolina. We have a photo of our last dinner together; it was a beautiful southern California sunset that framed in our two families who had looks on our faces that showed we didn’t know what the future held. We stayed in contact through texts, Facebook, and Christmas cards. Then, in 2019, we too left San Diego and relocated to Florida. And then I got an email message from Facebook.
The FB post said this, “My hubby finally got to see the beauty of the Gulf Coast. Lido beach today and then to Clearwater beach tomorrow.” I nearly fell out of my chair. I quickly responded to the post that was three hours old, “Lido! Clearwater! We’re halfway in-between, call me.” I then called Christi and she texted them too; and, lo and behold, we got together with them at 9 pm, Tuesday night, on the Anna Maria pier. Both boys are the same height and both are making plans for college. Our friends are at similar stages in life. But here’s the miracle – it was like the conversation we had in San Diego ended with a comma because Tuesday night the conversation simply started up again as if five thousand miles and four years had passed in just a breath. And, like before, we ended the conversation at 10:30, with a comma.
I think this is what heaven is like: in heaven, we will simply pick up the conversations we started with loved ones on earth as if no time passed. If four years and five thousand miles can’t stop a good conversation between friends, neither can the distance and time between now and heaven.
-Fr. Dave
The message was from a family that we were close with in San Diego. Our 18-year old, Ethan, has been friends with their 18-year old, since elementary school. Our families have been friends since 2008 – we would go to the beach together, go over to each other’s houses, celebrate birthdays and the like, until 2016 when they took a promotion that brought them to North Carolina. We have a photo of our last dinner together; it was a beautiful southern California sunset that framed in our two families who had looks on our faces that showed we didn’t know what the future held. We stayed in contact through texts, Facebook, and Christmas cards. Then, in 2019, we too left San Diego and relocated to Florida. And then I got an email message from Facebook.
The FB post said this, “My hubby finally got to see the beauty of the Gulf Coast. Lido beach today and then to Clearwater beach tomorrow.” I nearly fell out of my chair. I quickly responded to the post that was three hours old, “Lido! Clearwater! We’re halfway in-between, call me.” I then called Christi and she texted them too; and, lo and behold, we got together with them at 9 pm, Tuesday night, on the Anna Maria pier. Both boys are the same height and both are making plans for college. Our friends are at similar stages in life. But here’s the miracle – it was like the conversation we had in San Diego ended with a comma because Tuesday night the conversation simply started up again as if five thousand miles and four years had passed in just a breath. And, like before, we ended the conversation at 10:30, with a comma.
I think this is what heaven is like: in heaven, we will simply pick up the conversations we started with loved ones on earth as if no time passed. If four years and five thousand miles can’t stop a good conversation between friends, neither can the distance and time between now and heaven.
-Fr. Dave
Cold Brew and the Episcopate
March 25, 2021
Clergy often define what a bishop is by the historicity of the office – namely that Jesus laid his hands on Peter and ordained him, more or less, and then Peter laid his hands on the apostles and the apostles did that in succession all the way to our day. The line often goes like this: our connection with the historic church and the larger church is through our local bishop. There is nothing wrong with that; it’s fine, and it certainly is correct. But my modern take on the office of the bishop is different.
When I go to Trader Joes grocery store, I don’t really care about who the general manager is. In fact, I hardly care about who the manager is. I just want to walk in, buy my TJ’s cold brew, and check out. However, on the day that my Organic French Roast Trader Joes Cold Brew concentrate in the 16oz bottle is not in stock, suddenly I care about who is in charge. Or, what if there is a day that Trader Joes has discontinued all my favorite items, or there are no cashiers, or carts, or there is no power on in the building; then I certainly care about who is in charge and who the general manager is. That’s how I look at the episcopate (bishop). Most folks who attend one of the 78 congregations in the diocese don’t really care who the bishop is. Some may not even care that much about who the priest is. They want to show up, pray, hear about the Good News, and then head on out about their day. But, the minute they show up and there is no service, or priest, or electricity; suddenly they would probably care about who the bishop is.
The fact of the matter is that I am a priest because of a bishop. I am in the Diocese of SW Florida because of a bishop and likewise, I am Rector of All Angels because, you guess it, of a bishop. My predecessor, Fr. Danner, can tell you the same exact story. He’s a priest because of a bishop and he was the Rector of All Angels also because of a bishop. Just like how the feel, or attitude, or culture of a church is, in some ways, a result of who the pastor is, the same is true with retail stores and dioceses. There was a diocese that I steered clear of because, in part, of their bishop. He and I would not see eye to eye on much. Conversely, when I met with Bishop Smith the first time, there was a spark. I told him of a dream/vision I had about SW Florida in our first meeting which, if this were a Trader Joes, would be called an interview. He smiled and showed me a draft of his address at the upcoming diocesan convention. Would you know it, he and I were saying the same thing! Not surprisingly, I feel more connected, or that I have more in common, with the clergy of this diocese more than the other dioceses I have served. I imagine this has something to do with the bishop.
As the diocese heads into the season of transition as we search for our new bishop, I like to keep my eyes on the future of the Church. Who the new bishop will be won’t affect us at All Angels much, but, down the road, the continuation of Episcopal ministry on Longboat and the diocese depends greatly on who is called.
-Fr. Dave
When I go to Trader Joes grocery store, I don’t really care about who the general manager is. In fact, I hardly care about who the manager is. I just want to walk in, buy my TJ’s cold brew, and check out. However, on the day that my Organic French Roast Trader Joes Cold Brew concentrate in the 16oz bottle is not in stock, suddenly I care about who is in charge. Or, what if there is a day that Trader Joes has discontinued all my favorite items, or there are no cashiers, or carts, or there is no power on in the building; then I certainly care about who is in charge and who the general manager is. That’s how I look at the episcopate (bishop). Most folks who attend one of the 78 congregations in the diocese don’t really care who the bishop is. Some may not even care that much about who the priest is. They want to show up, pray, hear about the Good News, and then head on out about their day. But, the minute they show up and there is no service, or priest, or electricity; suddenly they would probably care about who the bishop is.
The fact of the matter is that I am a priest because of a bishop. I am in the Diocese of SW Florida because of a bishop and likewise, I am Rector of All Angels because, you guess it, of a bishop. My predecessor, Fr. Danner, can tell you the same exact story. He’s a priest because of a bishop and he was the Rector of All Angels also because of a bishop. Just like how the feel, or attitude, or culture of a church is, in some ways, a result of who the pastor is, the same is true with retail stores and dioceses. There was a diocese that I steered clear of because, in part, of their bishop. He and I would not see eye to eye on much. Conversely, when I met with Bishop Smith the first time, there was a spark. I told him of a dream/vision I had about SW Florida in our first meeting which, if this were a Trader Joes, would be called an interview. He smiled and showed me a draft of his address at the upcoming diocesan convention. Would you know it, he and I were saying the same thing! Not surprisingly, I feel more connected, or that I have more in common, with the clergy of this diocese more than the other dioceses I have served. I imagine this has something to do with the bishop.
As the diocese heads into the season of transition as we search for our new bishop, I like to keep my eyes on the future of the Church. Who the new bishop will be won’t affect us at All Angels much, but, down the road, the continuation of Episcopal ministry on Longboat and the diocese depends greatly on who is called.
-Fr. Dave
Humility
March 18, 2021
You know the three rules of real estate:
1) location, 2) location, 3) location. I enjoy watching House Hunters on HGTV. That show regularly violates the three real estate rules. It seems the three rules of House Hunters is: 1) stainless steel appliances, 2) granite counter tops, 3) open concept. Maybe that is what makes it a fun show to watch – that the home buyers frequently make mistakes. But, every once in a while, a buyer will change his or her mind and get the house that works best.
Changing one’s mind takes an act of courage and humility. An article by Arthur Brooks, in The Atlantic, opines that humility, and changing one’s mind, is a source of happiness. Brooks suggests that one should take small steps in humility by changing one’s mind on small things first. One suggestion is to try changing one’s loyalty from a sports team or at least try to be dispassionate about it. Taking Brook’s advice, I have been trying to watch the turmoil of the Seattle Seahawks – of whether star quarter back Russell Wilson will be in a Seahawk uniform in August or if he will be traded – with a dispassionate mind. I’m still not happy about the situation which means I have more work to do. But there is progress in another area. I didn’t like Tom Brady as a New England Patriot. But, I have been easing into the TB bandwagon since his arrival in Tampa Bay and recent Super Bowl win. What won me over, however, was his drunken post Super Bowl boat parade when he threw the Lombardi trophy from his boat to another one. Suddenly, Tom Brady became human, in my eyes, and I started changing my mind. … and I am happier as a result.
Another key to happiness-in-humility is to invite contradiction. Instead of telling someone they are wrong, try asking, “Tell me more.” If anything, it is an attractive quality to ask someone more about what they think so you might make a new friend, or, at least avoid making an adversary.
Jesus said many famous “I am” phrases – I am the vine, I am the gate, I am the way, the truth and the life. One less known is this one, “I am humble and gentle.” From the eleventh chapter of Matthew, Jesus said, “If you are tired, anxious and worn out, come to me; learn from me; I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls.” Later on, he rode in triumph to Jerusalem but was seated on a humble donkey. In the Temple, children started singing his name, foreigners from all over the empire came to see him, and, seeing all this, he did not use it as a time to build himself up and shame his opponents. Instead, Jesus said it was time to humble himself on a cross.
St. Augustine probably didn’t know the three rules of real estate, but, when asked by a student about fulfillment, he responded, “There are three parts: the first part is humility; the second, humility; the third, humility.” Perhaps we should pay less attention to the stainless steel appliances and granite countertops of life, and instead, focus on humility and changing one’s mind. If we do, humility will lead to happiness, or, in Jesus’ words, humility will lead to rest for our souls. Come to think of it, maybe the buyers on House Hunters know exactly what is best for them; not me. Maybe for them it’s not location but appliances. Hmmm, it feels like I am finding rest for my soul already.
1) location, 2) location, 3) location. I enjoy watching House Hunters on HGTV. That show regularly violates the three real estate rules. It seems the three rules of House Hunters is: 1) stainless steel appliances, 2) granite counter tops, 3) open concept. Maybe that is what makes it a fun show to watch – that the home buyers frequently make mistakes. But, every once in a while, a buyer will change his or her mind and get the house that works best.
Changing one’s mind takes an act of courage and humility. An article by Arthur Brooks, in The Atlantic, opines that humility, and changing one’s mind, is a source of happiness. Brooks suggests that one should take small steps in humility by changing one’s mind on small things first. One suggestion is to try changing one’s loyalty from a sports team or at least try to be dispassionate about it. Taking Brook’s advice, I have been trying to watch the turmoil of the Seattle Seahawks – of whether star quarter back Russell Wilson will be in a Seahawk uniform in August or if he will be traded – with a dispassionate mind. I’m still not happy about the situation which means I have more work to do. But there is progress in another area. I didn’t like Tom Brady as a New England Patriot. But, I have been easing into the TB bandwagon since his arrival in Tampa Bay and recent Super Bowl win. What won me over, however, was his drunken post Super Bowl boat parade when he threw the Lombardi trophy from his boat to another one. Suddenly, Tom Brady became human, in my eyes, and I started changing my mind. … and I am happier as a result.
Another key to happiness-in-humility is to invite contradiction. Instead of telling someone they are wrong, try asking, “Tell me more.” If anything, it is an attractive quality to ask someone more about what they think so you might make a new friend, or, at least avoid making an adversary.
Jesus said many famous “I am” phrases – I am the vine, I am the gate, I am the way, the truth and the life. One less known is this one, “I am humble and gentle.” From the eleventh chapter of Matthew, Jesus said, “If you are tired, anxious and worn out, come to me; learn from me; I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls.” Later on, he rode in triumph to Jerusalem but was seated on a humble donkey. In the Temple, children started singing his name, foreigners from all over the empire came to see him, and, seeing all this, he did not use it as a time to build himself up and shame his opponents. Instead, Jesus said it was time to humble himself on a cross.
St. Augustine probably didn’t know the three rules of real estate, but, when asked by a student about fulfillment, he responded, “There are three parts: the first part is humility; the second, humility; the third, humility.” Perhaps we should pay less attention to the stainless steel appliances and granite countertops of life, and instead, focus on humility and changing one’s mind. If we do, humility will lead to happiness, or, in Jesus’ words, humility will lead to rest for our souls. Come to think of it, maybe the buyers on House Hunters know exactly what is best for them; not me. Maybe for them it’s not location but appliances. Hmmm, it feels like I am finding rest for my soul already.
Railings
March 11, 2021
My occupational background is in insurance, which included reviewing slip-and-fall claims. I am afraid my insurance background has influenced my vocational perspective. In other words, I see potential slip and fall claims everywhere. Most of the claims I reviewed were complete and utter accidents – tripping over a floor mat, slipping on wet concrete, and, my least favorite, tripping over the rails on the backside of an old-fashioned rocking chair, which actually happens more often than you might think.
This past week, I was like a kid in a candy store because a brand new railing was installed on the two steps that lead up to the Parish Hall and office entrance. The railing is in the middle of the steps. Why am I so happy about it? Because I have watched people walk out through the Gallery door, with something in their right hand – a purse, a bulletin, or some other belonging – and then turn right to go down the two steps; however, since they have something in their hand, they elect not to hold on to the rail to navigate down the steps. And that action makes me nervous. Today, nevertheless, the middle rail makes it so that the person with something in their right hand can grab a railing with their left hand. And, even better, our Junior Warden extraordinaire – Ed Ortiz – insisted that the railing be made so that it can be removed in case we need to move something big across the steps.
This Sunday, we are going to bless our remodeled angel courtyard entrance. It features an ADA complaint ramp so that people of any mobility can enter God’s house of prayer through the front door. In addition to the ramp and the new tile, are, of course, railings; prominent, strong, obvious-but-modest railings. In addition, we have new railings along the terrace walkway and along the ramp next to the Memorial Garden. In other words, we’ve got railings!
There is a theological dimension to this. There are many ways to think of God – creator, redeemer, sustainer – and I’m going to add one more God-the-handrail. God is like a handrail in this way: it is there when we need it; we ignore it, especially in our youth; and it is a constant, year-round, ever present help. The handrail won’t tell us what to do, but rather, it is a guide. The handrail won’t step in to stop us from doing something dumb, but it is there if we need guidance and a helping hand. We don’t blame the handrail for the high pollen count, the sick friend, the bad business deal, or for the tumultuous political culture of our day; instead, when we are carrying a heavy load, or if we stumble or slip, the handrail is there so that we don’t fall.
-Fr. Dave
This past week, I was like a kid in a candy store because a brand new railing was installed on the two steps that lead up to the Parish Hall and office entrance. The railing is in the middle of the steps. Why am I so happy about it? Because I have watched people walk out through the Gallery door, with something in their right hand – a purse, a bulletin, or some other belonging – and then turn right to go down the two steps; however, since they have something in their hand, they elect not to hold on to the rail to navigate down the steps. And that action makes me nervous. Today, nevertheless, the middle rail makes it so that the person with something in their right hand can grab a railing with their left hand. And, even better, our Junior Warden extraordinaire – Ed Ortiz – insisted that the railing be made so that it can be removed in case we need to move something big across the steps.
This Sunday, we are going to bless our remodeled angel courtyard entrance. It features an ADA complaint ramp so that people of any mobility can enter God’s house of prayer through the front door. In addition to the ramp and the new tile, are, of course, railings; prominent, strong, obvious-but-modest railings. In addition, we have new railings along the terrace walkway and along the ramp next to the Memorial Garden. In other words, we’ve got railings!
There is a theological dimension to this. There are many ways to think of God – creator, redeemer, sustainer – and I’m going to add one more God-the-handrail. God is like a handrail in this way: it is there when we need it; we ignore it, especially in our youth; and it is a constant, year-round, ever present help. The handrail won’t tell us what to do, but rather, it is a guide. The handrail won’t step in to stop us from doing something dumb, but it is there if we need guidance and a helping hand. We don’t blame the handrail for the high pollen count, the sick friend, the bad business deal, or for the tumultuous political culture of our day; instead, when we are carrying a heavy load, or if we stumble or slip, the handrail is there so that we don’t fall.
-Fr. Dave
DNA
March 4, 2021
Ethan, my 18-year old, has a new job – applying for college scholarships. He found an interesting one that applies to those of Scottish lineage. Both Christi and I believe that we have Scottish heritage but how much lineage is unknown.
On a whim, five years ago, I sent some saliva to Ancestry.com. They had a sale going on and I was sort of interested learning more about my ancestry. Growing up, we didn’t talk much about heritage or lineage. If asked, I would say that I am part German, Irish, Scott and English. There are a number of Scottish comedians who I enjoy and find some sort of identity with so, if pressured, I would say I’m Scottish. The pressure to identify with heritage came up when I served at Saint John’s Episcopal School. With a school population of 300 students, only 7 students identified as not being of Mexican/Spanish descent; 2 of those 7 students have Marshall as their last name. My middle school students wouldn’t let me sit with simply stating that I was western European. I was one of the few so-called white people that they knew well enough to ask deeper questions to.
So, as mentioned, on a whim, I sent in my DNA. Here is my ancestry percentage: I am 4% German, 5% Welsh, 7% Norwegian, 8% Irish, 11% Scottish, and 65% English. Ancestry.com has continued to work my DNA over the past five years. They have concluded that there are two lines of my “people” – one group settled in early Connecticut and New York and the other is a part of the early New England Settlers. If this is correct, my lineage has been in North America since the early 1700s. It underscores the family story of being loyalists who moved to Canada.
What about my spiritual DNA? If I were to look at my faith, who are my spiritual ancestors? There is a good chance that I am a part of an unbroken line of Anglicans through the Church of Canada back to the Church of England. But what about before then? St. Paul wrote about the Tree of Abraham in this way: people of the Jewish faith are descendants related to Abraham through the family tree; Christians are grafted onto the tree through faith in Christ; as such we are all of one family.
I may never have a clear picture of my ancestral history but I can trace my belief through the faith tradition my parents taught me back to Christ and, as such, back to Abraham. As far as how Ethan is going to answer the scholarship question of heritage, I’d suggest he go through his mother’s line because with only 11% I can’t call myself a full Scott, but perhaps upon reflection, I am a little Scott-ish.
-Fr. Dave
On a whim, five years ago, I sent some saliva to Ancestry.com. They had a sale going on and I was sort of interested learning more about my ancestry. Growing up, we didn’t talk much about heritage or lineage. If asked, I would say that I am part German, Irish, Scott and English. There are a number of Scottish comedians who I enjoy and find some sort of identity with so, if pressured, I would say I’m Scottish. The pressure to identify with heritage came up when I served at Saint John’s Episcopal School. With a school population of 300 students, only 7 students identified as not being of Mexican/Spanish descent; 2 of those 7 students have Marshall as their last name. My middle school students wouldn’t let me sit with simply stating that I was western European. I was one of the few so-called white people that they knew well enough to ask deeper questions to.
So, as mentioned, on a whim, I sent in my DNA. Here is my ancestry percentage: I am 4% German, 5% Welsh, 7% Norwegian, 8% Irish, 11% Scottish, and 65% English. Ancestry.com has continued to work my DNA over the past five years. They have concluded that there are two lines of my “people” – one group settled in early Connecticut and New York and the other is a part of the early New England Settlers. If this is correct, my lineage has been in North America since the early 1700s. It underscores the family story of being loyalists who moved to Canada.
What about my spiritual DNA? If I were to look at my faith, who are my spiritual ancestors? There is a good chance that I am a part of an unbroken line of Anglicans through the Church of Canada back to the Church of England. But what about before then? St. Paul wrote about the Tree of Abraham in this way: people of the Jewish faith are descendants related to Abraham through the family tree; Christians are grafted onto the tree through faith in Christ; as such we are all of one family.
I may never have a clear picture of my ancestral history but I can trace my belief through the faith tradition my parents taught me back to Christ and, as such, back to Abraham. As far as how Ethan is going to answer the scholarship question of heritage, I’d suggest he go through his mother’s line because with only 11% I can’t call myself a full Scott, but perhaps upon reflection, I am a little Scott-ish.
-Fr. Dave
BSC
February 27, 2021
In October, 2020, at the 52nd Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, Bishop Dabney Smith told the lay and clergy delegates that he was retiring and therefore calling for the election of a successor bishop. I will have a front row seat to the process of electing a new bishop, which includes studying the diocese, screening and selecting candidates, and ultimately electing a Bishop Coadjutor, because I have been elected to the Bishop Search Committee (BSC). Our first retreat is this weekend. The election date for the new bishop will be April 2, 2022. The BSC has between this weekend, and April next year, to get our work done.
If you are into numbers, here they are: The Diocese is 52 years old, Bishop Smith is our 5th bishop, he was elected in December 2006, consecrated in March of 2007, was “seated” six months later, and has served for 14 years. The average length of an episcopate (serving as diocesan bishop) is 8.9 years. The bishop must retire before, or within 90-days after, turning 72. The average age of retirement is 66. By the 2nd century, three orders of ordained ministry had been identified: bishops, deacons and priests; with priests being the last order to be created. The Episcopal Church believes our bishops stand in an unbroken line going back 21 centuries to the Apostles; this line is called Apostolic Succession.
Bishop Smith said the bishop search will be a time of renewal for the diocese. Like a parish going through a clergy transition, the diocese will determine who we are and, perhaps more importantly, how we see ourselves ten years from now. I have been told by those who have served on parish or diocesan search committees, it is a time of renewal for those who serve. I have also been told that on one hand, I get to experience the mysteries of the Holy Church of God and, on the other hand, I’ll see how the sausage is made.
There are a number of things that have the highest level of confidentiality within the process and a number of things that will be, more or less, shouted from the rooftops; in a reserved and contemplative Episcopal manner. It is my desire to share with you those things that I can about the process.
I can understand why someone would want to be a U.S. Senator. It’s prestigious, one gets to travel the state and represent its interests, as well as negotiate treaties and vote on Supreme Court nominees. It would be pretty cool. On the other hand, I, for the life of me, cannot understand why someone would willingly run for the office of President. My bias heading into the BSC is this: being a rector is a wonderful position –
he or she gets to make an impact in the lives of the congregants and the community, and, gets to serve at the altar of God. Why would someone want to give that up to then deal with all the other things (the sausage making) of the Church. I suppose that over the next year,
I’ll be in very close contact with people who feel called to do just that. May God help them, and our diocese, as we go through this time of renewal and new life.
-Fr. Dave
If you are into numbers, here they are: The Diocese is 52 years old, Bishop Smith is our 5th bishop, he was elected in December 2006, consecrated in March of 2007, was “seated” six months later, and has served for 14 years. The average length of an episcopate (serving as diocesan bishop) is 8.9 years. The bishop must retire before, or within 90-days after, turning 72. The average age of retirement is 66. By the 2nd century, three orders of ordained ministry had been identified: bishops, deacons and priests; with priests being the last order to be created. The Episcopal Church believes our bishops stand in an unbroken line going back 21 centuries to the Apostles; this line is called Apostolic Succession.
Bishop Smith said the bishop search will be a time of renewal for the diocese. Like a parish going through a clergy transition, the diocese will determine who we are and, perhaps more importantly, how we see ourselves ten years from now. I have been told by those who have served on parish or diocesan search committees, it is a time of renewal for those who serve. I have also been told that on one hand, I get to experience the mysteries of the Holy Church of God and, on the other hand, I’ll see how the sausage is made.
There are a number of things that have the highest level of confidentiality within the process and a number of things that will be, more or less, shouted from the rooftops; in a reserved and contemplative Episcopal manner. It is my desire to share with you those things that I can about the process.
I can understand why someone would want to be a U.S. Senator. It’s prestigious, one gets to travel the state and represent its interests, as well as negotiate treaties and vote on Supreme Court nominees. It would be pretty cool. On the other hand, I, for the life of me, cannot understand why someone would willingly run for the office of President. My bias heading into the BSC is this: being a rector is a wonderful position –
he or she gets to make an impact in the lives of the congregants and the community, and, gets to serve at the altar of God. Why would someone want to give that up to then deal with all the other things (the sausage making) of the Church. I suppose that over the next year,
I’ll be in very close contact with people who feel called to do just that. May God help them, and our diocese, as we go through this time of renewal and new life.
-Fr. Dave
USS All Angels
February 18, 2021
In a couple of weeks, I will celebrate my second year anniversary at All Angels. Also, in a few weeks, we will come up to the anniversary of going on-line. That tells me that half my time spent with you all has been during a pandemic. The primary thing we do at All Angels is fellowship. It is also the primary thing that we had to stop doing. While our in-person attendance, combined with our on-line attendance, is climbing and, in many ways, higher than a year ago; while we are able to have book studies, discussion groups, and even a Stewardship drive; we have yet to have in-person fellowship. A popular church phrase is this: keep the Main Thing the main thing. God is the Main Thing. At the same time, our primary way of sharing the Main Thing’s love is fellowship and it is the one thing we had to stop doing for longer than anyone thought.
None of the clergy and churches that I am in contact with have any idea how to do fellowship during the pandemic. Frankly, no one is talking about any substantive plans to restart. I do know this about fellowship: it will be outside, with coffee and tea but without finger food, and there will be lots and lots of smiles. At this point, I think the first group to try in-person meeting will be the Women’s Discussion Group. Next will be two coffee and tea stations outside after a church service. Then, we will work on the Men’s Group, ECW, bible and book studies. All the while, we will be charting a course not taken.
The way I can describe this past year is, imagine, if you will, All Angels as a clipper ship. The seas have been rough and the wind has been strong with shifting directions. Nevertheless, we have charted a course this year through rough weather in a part of the sea we never have been in before. The top decks were closed for a while; only a handful of sailors were allowed up. Later on, more were allowed topside to navigate and trim the sails. Others have come up to make repairs and improvements. Although the seas are still rough, just beyond the horizon, there is some clearer weather. There will be a time soon for more people to come up on deck. After that, there will be even smoother sailing so that more and more can
come up from their cabins. Some people may choose to stay below deck while others have been itching to stretch their legs and talk to other people. At the same time, there are some other ships/churches, who have decided to stay in port; others ventured out but quickly put down the anchors and rolled up the sails. But that’s not us. We have charted a slow but steady course. I talked to skippers who have ventured out father and have learned from them. What we have learned out in the storm we have reported to other ships and that has helped them to venture out too.
While we have had anything but fair winds and following seas this past year, our mission is to venture out to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church.
- Fr. Dave
None of the clergy and churches that I am in contact with have any idea how to do fellowship during the pandemic. Frankly, no one is talking about any substantive plans to restart. I do know this about fellowship: it will be outside, with coffee and tea but without finger food, and there will be lots and lots of smiles. At this point, I think the first group to try in-person meeting will be the Women’s Discussion Group. Next will be two coffee and tea stations outside after a church service. Then, we will work on the Men’s Group, ECW, bible and book studies. All the while, we will be charting a course not taken.
The way I can describe this past year is, imagine, if you will, All Angels as a clipper ship. The seas have been rough and the wind has been strong with shifting directions. Nevertheless, we have charted a course this year through rough weather in a part of the sea we never have been in before. The top decks were closed for a while; only a handful of sailors were allowed up. Later on, more were allowed topside to navigate and trim the sails. Others have come up to make repairs and improvements. Although the seas are still rough, just beyond the horizon, there is some clearer weather. There will be a time soon for more people to come up on deck. After that, there will be even smoother sailing so that more and more can
come up from their cabins. Some people may choose to stay below deck while others have been itching to stretch their legs and talk to other people. At the same time, there are some other ships/churches, who have decided to stay in port; others ventured out but quickly put down the anchors and rolled up the sails. But that’s not us. We have charted a slow but steady course. I talked to skippers who have ventured out father and have learned from them. What we have learned out in the storm we have reported to other ships and that has helped them to venture out too.
While we have had anything but fair winds and following seas this past year, our mission is to venture out to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church.
- Fr. Dave
New to You
February 11, 2021
I have learned that churches, like people, have their own set of gifts; and, when God is speaking through those gifts, it’s best to listen.
We didn’t know if the New to You Art Sale would work. We didn’t know if we would get any art donated, if anyone would be interested in looking at pre-owned art, or, if we would sell any. As it turned out, we have had more than 60 pieces of art donated, we have had a steady stream of people from the community coming to look, and, people are purchasing it! Yesterday, we had a Longboat resident donate a beautiful piece of art. It was the first time Linn or I had met her. She liked what we were doing and wanted to be a part of it. That act seemed like something I could have only have dreamed or imagined. Nevertheless, God is speaking.
Last year, the original-to-the-church Rogers organ started to fail. To many people, inside and outside the church, our music program has become central to finding peace. Losing the organ for any period of time was not acceptable. As such, the Vestry made the decision to replace it with an Allen. We chose Allen, in part, because we received a substantial discount which was based on the Pennsylvania organ company’s desire to have an organ on Longboat (to help sell them more organs on the barrier islands). Our agreement is that we would have a loaner organ until our new one was installed and we would be willing to allow other churches, or individuals, to come by and hear our new organ. If you have been watching our services and organ concerts, you’ll hear that Dale loves the loaner organ and makes it absolutely sing. And then God spoke again.
A couple of weeks ago, our Allen representative asked if a small Lutheran church from Naples could come by to listen to the loaner organ. We whole heartedly agreed. As it turns out, their small congregation has an even smaller, quickly aging organ. One of their dearest parishioners has a terminal condition. He wanted to gift an organ to the church in his memory. Our loaner Allen, a 20-year old organ, was priced just under their budget. When they saw and heard the organ, they fell in love with it. They were told that when our new one is installed, they can buy the loaner and have it installed; probably the week after Easter. The donor said that it would be in place for his funeral and seemed pleased with it. But, God was speaking… Having the organ installed in time for his funeral was not good enough for Dale and me. It is our wish that they have the organ as soon as possible so the whole church, and the donor, could enjoy it prior to his funeral. Soon our loaner will be on its way to its forever home and we will get another loaner that Dale will have to learn. It may not be quite as fancy as this one, but, as Dale pointed out, when God speaks, it’s a good idea to respond.
Whether it is used art, or a used organ, one of the many gifts of All Angels is to bring new life to previously owned/forgotten about/discarded things. The prayer used at my installation as Rector is this,
Look favorably on your whole Church and let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made.
It appears God is speaking and God is making that prayer a reality for us, and for the whole world, to see.
- Fr. Dave
We didn’t know if the New to You Art Sale would work. We didn’t know if we would get any art donated, if anyone would be interested in looking at pre-owned art, or, if we would sell any. As it turned out, we have had more than 60 pieces of art donated, we have had a steady stream of people from the community coming to look, and, people are purchasing it! Yesterday, we had a Longboat resident donate a beautiful piece of art. It was the first time Linn or I had met her. She liked what we were doing and wanted to be a part of it. That act seemed like something I could have only have dreamed or imagined. Nevertheless, God is speaking.
Last year, the original-to-the-church Rogers organ started to fail. To many people, inside and outside the church, our music program has become central to finding peace. Losing the organ for any period of time was not acceptable. As such, the Vestry made the decision to replace it with an Allen. We chose Allen, in part, because we received a substantial discount which was based on the Pennsylvania organ company’s desire to have an organ on Longboat (to help sell them more organs on the barrier islands). Our agreement is that we would have a loaner organ until our new one was installed and we would be willing to allow other churches, or individuals, to come by and hear our new organ. If you have been watching our services and organ concerts, you’ll hear that Dale loves the loaner organ and makes it absolutely sing. And then God spoke again.
A couple of weeks ago, our Allen representative asked if a small Lutheran church from Naples could come by to listen to the loaner organ. We whole heartedly agreed. As it turns out, their small congregation has an even smaller, quickly aging organ. One of their dearest parishioners has a terminal condition. He wanted to gift an organ to the church in his memory. Our loaner Allen, a 20-year old organ, was priced just under their budget. When they saw and heard the organ, they fell in love with it. They were told that when our new one is installed, they can buy the loaner and have it installed; probably the week after Easter. The donor said that it would be in place for his funeral and seemed pleased with it. But, God was speaking… Having the organ installed in time for his funeral was not good enough for Dale and me. It is our wish that they have the organ as soon as possible so the whole church, and the donor, could enjoy it prior to his funeral. Soon our loaner will be on its way to its forever home and we will get another loaner that Dale will have to learn. It may not be quite as fancy as this one, but, as Dale pointed out, when God speaks, it’s a good idea to respond.
Whether it is used art, or a used organ, one of the many gifts of All Angels is to bring new life to previously owned/forgotten about/discarded things. The prayer used at my installation as Rector is this,
Look favorably on your whole Church and let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made.
It appears God is speaking and God is making that prayer a reality for us, and for the whole world, to see.
- Fr. Dave
Poinsettia
February 4, 2021
Johnny Carson had a tradition of displaying Poinsettias behind his desk on the Tonight Show during the week leading up to Christmas. He and Ed McMahon had a little routine about how to pronounce the seasonal red-leafed plant. Ed would say it is, “Poinset-ta” and Johnny would say, “No, it’s poinset-tia.” The studio in Burbank, CA, flew the poinsettias in from Puyallup, Washington, where I spent the first few years of my life. Johnny would also have fun every year trying to pronounce Puyallup (pew-all-up).
Tradition seems to follow the poinsettia. All Angels follows the tradition of displaying them for Christmas and, just as importantly, we dedicate the plants in memory or thanksgiving for people associated with the congregation. The display and dedication was particularly memorable this year because of how much things have changed because of the pandemic. As one parishioner remarked, “It’s nice to see that as some things change, other things remain the same.” She said this while watching the Christmas Eve service and admiring the display from the comfort of her home.
Memorials are an important tradition at All Angels. We have a memorial garden that features a memorial path that can take one right up to the terrace of the church. This idea came up: what if we planted the poinsettias from this year in the memorial garden to see if they pop up around Advent season next year. As such, the memorial poinsettias were planted. Time (and weather) will tell if they will pop up again.
Named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, he was the first to bring the plant from Mexico to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1828. He planted them around his home. In the 1850’s, the process for getting them to produce eventually made them the top selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada. The Christmas poinsettia tradition is inspired from Mexican folklore about a girl named Pepita who had no present for the baby Jesus. Her cousin, Pedro, suggested even the smallest gift would be appreciated by Jesus. Pepita picked her favorite leafy plants by her home, wrapped them in a cloth, kept them in her room overnight, and then brought them to the Christmas Eve service. When she unwrapped her present for Jesus, she was surprised to see the green leaves had turned bright red. To this day, the Poinsettia is known in Mexico as the Flores de Noche Buena – flowers of the Holy Night. Botanical research shows that the leaves of plant will turn red after receiving at least 12-hours of darkness; which, in some ways, shows the folklore could be factually true.
Years ago, someone planted their Easter lilies at All Angels hoping that by the following Easter, they would rise. And, sure enough, every year we have Easter lilies popping up from the ground. I am wondering we are going to have a new tradition and that is seeing poinsettias popping up from the ground in October; and, after 12-hours of darkness, I am hoping their leaves will turn bright red in anticipation of Christmas. That would be quite a memorial and a celebration of new life, regardless of how one pronounces Poinsettia.
- Fr. Dave
Tradition seems to follow the poinsettia. All Angels follows the tradition of displaying them for Christmas and, just as importantly, we dedicate the plants in memory or thanksgiving for people associated with the congregation. The display and dedication was particularly memorable this year because of how much things have changed because of the pandemic. As one parishioner remarked, “It’s nice to see that as some things change, other things remain the same.” She said this while watching the Christmas Eve service and admiring the display from the comfort of her home.
Memorials are an important tradition at All Angels. We have a memorial garden that features a memorial path that can take one right up to the terrace of the church. This idea came up: what if we planted the poinsettias from this year in the memorial garden to see if they pop up around Advent season next year. As such, the memorial poinsettias were planted. Time (and weather) will tell if they will pop up again.
Named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, he was the first to bring the plant from Mexico to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1828. He planted them around his home. In the 1850’s, the process for getting them to produce eventually made them the top selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada. The Christmas poinsettia tradition is inspired from Mexican folklore about a girl named Pepita who had no present for the baby Jesus. Her cousin, Pedro, suggested even the smallest gift would be appreciated by Jesus. Pepita picked her favorite leafy plants by her home, wrapped them in a cloth, kept them in her room overnight, and then brought them to the Christmas Eve service. When she unwrapped her present for Jesus, she was surprised to see the green leaves had turned bright red. To this day, the Poinsettia is known in Mexico as the Flores de Noche Buena – flowers of the Holy Night. Botanical research shows that the leaves of plant will turn red after receiving at least 12-hours of darkness; which, in some ways, shows the folklore could be factually true.
Years ago, someone planted their Easter lilies at All Angels hoping that by the following Easter, they would rise. And, sure enough, every year we have Easter lilies popping up from the ground. I am wondering we are going to have a new tradition and that is seeing poinsettias popping up from the ground in October; and, after 12-hours of darkness, I am hoping their leaves will turn bright red in anticipation of Christmas. That would be quite a memorial and a celebration of new life, regardless of how one pronounces Poinsettia.
- Fr. Dave
Who Moved My Cheese
January 28, 2020
It takes a lot to get me mad, unless I’m dealing with passwords. Nothing can get me to move from happy to angry faster than a password problem. The Google Suite system that runs our All Angels’ email system has a super administrator login. I have that password; although when I went to log in, the Google system said, and I quote, “We’re not quite sure you are who you say you are, please click on one of these options.” The options include sending a text to a phone number I do not recognize or an email to an inactive email account. I went to the office computer that has been in place since we went with the G Suite application. Thinking I outsmarted the system, I felt pretty good when I sat down at Linn’s desk and typed in the login information for the super administrator. But, you guessed it, Google gave me the same message. And then the anger fog set in.
Written by the same author who wrote the influential management book titled One Minute Manager, the book, Who Moved My Cheese, is about corporate layoffs. The setting is the story of two mice who go through the same maze every day to get a piece of cheese. But, one day, the cheese was not there. One mouse decided to explore new areas of the maze; the other decided to sit where the cheese used to be and complain about it. The point of the story is that sometimes, through no fault of our own, our cheese moves. The question is what are we going to do about it.
When the G Suite application said, “We’re not sure you are who you say you are; here are some extra hoops for you to jump through because, you know, even though you are busy, and have a simple task to complete through our system, we think we know better than you, so, here’s another task.” In reality, that’s not exactly what it said but it is how it felt to me.
The fog anger does a number of things to the mind; for me in particular, anger stops creativity. For a little while, I sat like the mouse who was angered that his cheese was not there. But, after a bit, I started thinking like the other mouse who decided to explore the rest of the maze.
Lots of cheese has been moved in the past year. One of the most recent cheese moves is a letter I received from the Bishop that says we’re not to impose ashes on Ash Wednesday. Our choice is to get mad and complain or let the creative side take us somewhere new. It’s hard to get creative around waiting for the department of health to call and say your vaccine is ready but if Covid-19 has taught us anything, we’ve learned about patience and waiting. Someday I will get a vaccination, the email system will be fixed, and we will have a normal Ash Wednesday. In the meantime, let’s go explore the rest of the maze.
- Fr. Dave
Written by the same author who wrote the influential management book titled One Minute Manager, the book, Who Moved My Cheese, is about corporate layoffs. The setting is the story of two mice who go through the same maze every day to get a piece of cheese. But, one day, the cheese was not there. One mouse decided to explore new areas of the maze; the other decided to sit where the cheese used to be and complain about it. The point of the story is that sometimes, through no fault of our own, our cheese moves. The question is what are we going to do about it.
When the G Suite application said, “We’re not sure you are who you say you are; here are some extra hoops for you to jump through because, you know, even though you are busy, and have a simple task to complete through our system, we think we know better than you, so, here’s another task.” In reality, that’s not exactly what it said but it is how it felt to me.
The fog anger does a number of things to the mind; for me in particular, anger stops creativity. For a little while, I sat like the mouse who was angered that his cheese was not there. But, after a bit, I started thinking like the other mouse who decided to explore the rest of the maze.
Lots of cheese has been moved in the past year. One of the most recent cheese moves is a letter I received from the Bishop that says we’re not to impose ashes on Ash Wednesday. Our choice is to get mad and complain or let the creative side take us somewhere new. It’s hard to get creative around waiting for the department of health to call and say your vaccine is ready but if Covid-19 has taught us anything, we’ve learned about patience and waiting. Someday I will get a vaccination, the email system will be fixed, and we will have a normal Ash Wednesday. In the meantime, let’s go explore the rest of the maze.
- Fr. Dave
Fins Matter
January 21, 2020
My ten-year old son, Elijah, has a model rocket that his grandfather gave him. It is about two feet long with red and black stripes and is complete with a black nose cone and three small black fins. The rocket launches from a bright orange base pad that has a metal rod that guides the rocket up and it has a ten-foot cord for the launching control.
After we built the rocket, we inserted a thumb-sized rocket engine, stuffed the parachute through the top, and then secured the cone on top. Carefully, Elijah attached the launch cord to the rocket engine, and then, standing ten feet away in a deserted football field, we did a countdown, and pressed two buttons that made the engine ignite. The next three seconds were very exciting because the rocket shot straight up into the sky with a blue/grey trail of smoke. Then, there was a “pop” of energy that pushed the parachute and cone off and then the rocket floated back safely down to earth.
We started with the entry level rocket engines that advertise a 350-500 foot blast. This past week, however, we went out to try new, next-level up rocket engines which are advertised to send the rocket 1,000 feet up. Prior to trying out the new engines, however, we had to make a simple repair. The last time we shot the rocket up, the parachute didn’t open fully so it hit the ground a little hard and one of the fins fell off. We glued it back in place and then we were ready to go. After inserting the more powerful rocket engine, we waited to make sure the practice football field was completely empty, then counted down and did the launch. The rocket shot up and kept going and going. It was very exciting! The rocket passed through the prevailing wind level and went into a different air stream which caused the rocket to go in a little different direction. Unfortunately, there was no “pop”, the parachute didn’t come out, and the rocket went nose down straight into the practice field, and, upon impact, all three fins fell off.
We pulled the rocket out of the hole it made, cleaned it up, waited for it to cool down, repacked the parachute, and put a new engine in the tail. This is rocket science, so, there is a lot of trial and error. The small plastic fins seem to be ceremonial at best so we decided to launch it without repairing it. We attached the rocket to the controller and walked ten feet away. After making sure we were alone on the field, the countdown started and we launched. The rocket shot up again but this time, when it shot above the prevailing ground wind it started spinning in tight circles and then fell like a dead fish back to the earth.
After trying to make sense of what we saw, we said, “Huh, I guess the fins matter.” They are shorter than the nose cone, weigh practically nothing, and frankly look like an afterthought. But, when it comes right down to it, the fins make sure the rocket goes up instead of spinning around in circles. Lesson learned.
I am wondering if we have fins of faith. If one were to look at one’s week like a rocket, what we practice with our faith may look like an afterthought, or maybe even decorative. Yet, one fin could be “Thy will be done,” another, “We forgive others,” and the last fin, “as we are forgiven.” Saying Lord’s Prayer may look like an afterthought to some, but, when the thrust of life takes over, it is our fins of faith that make sure we fly straight up.
- Fr. Dave
Likewise
January 14, 2020
The discussion group topic this week focused on an article by Peter Wehner that highlighted how Jesus listened to the outcast and the excluded in a way that would teach the privileged about humility and justice. An example of this is found in the parable of the Good Samaritan, which, in short, is a story of a man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead. Two privileged men, a Temple priest and a Levite, saw the man but did not help; but, an outcast, a Samaritan, did. He applied first aid, paid for his room and board so he could recover, and promised to return to pay any additional costs. As a result of this story we now have hospitals, churches, and even laws named for the Good Samaritan. But, like everything Jesus did and said, there is more to it.
This story from Luke, chapter 10, originated from a situation where a legal expert interrupted Jesus with this question, “What must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “You’re the expert, what does the law say?” He replied, “Love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “Correct! Do that and you’ll live.” The legal expert rebutted, “But who is my neighbor?” The Good Samaritan story is a result of the question. At the conclusion of the story, Jesus asked the expert, “What do you think – which of these three people was a neighbor to the man in need?” He replied, “The one who showed mercy.” Jesus looked him straight in the eye and said, “Go and do likewise.”
This story exemplifies that the excluded – the beaten man and the Samaritan – taught the privileged; in this case, the legal expert. My question to you is this: how did it teach the privileged. There is a pedagogical thought that adults learn out of need or identification. If an adult can identify with something in his/her past in what is being taught, it will be learned. Or, if an adult has a need to learn something, then it will be learned. Bearing that in mind, how did the legal expert learn – was it need or by identity. I’m going to suggest it was both. His question, what must I do to gain eternal life, shows a need – life eternal. Yet, I think the legal expert also identified with the story – specifically, the beaten-man, who was passed by, or un-helped by, religious leaders. Maybe he felt excluded by religion. If so, his deeper question is this, how do I become included. Jesus gave him what his heart needed to hear, “Go show mercy.” Another way to look at it is this – go, identify with the unheard and outcast, show them mercy.
Sociologists have pointed out that individuals or groups who feel excluded, left out, or unheard, may harm others out of, or because of, their own exclusionary pain. This is believed to be a cause of school or work place shootings. Could it also be a cause for riots? Although I have never been mistreated by the police, maybe Jesus is calling me to identify with those have been. Likewise, I do not have grievances against our government, but what if Jesus is calling me to identify; to listen to; those who do. Certainly for those who have broken the law, they need to be punished. But what about the non-violent demonstrators. What if he is calling me to show mercy by listening to someone who feels unheard or excluded. There is mercy in that; especially considering God listens to me when I feel unwelcomed or unheard.
Jesus felt drawn to outcasts. He listened to and cared for the excluded. What if the being a Good Samaritan today is to listen to those who feel excluded, left out and unheard. What if Jesus, through his words and deeds recorded in the Gospel, is telling us to “Go and do likewise.”
- Fr. Dave
This story from Luke, chapter 10, originated from a situation where a legal expert interrupted Jesus with this question, “What must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “You’re the expert, what does the law say?” He replied, “Love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “Correct! Do that and you’ll live.” The legal expert rebutted, “But who is my neighbor?” The Good Samaritan story is a result of the question. At the conclusion of the story, Jesus asked the expert, “What do you think – which of these three people was a neighbor to the man in need?” He replied, “The one who showed mercy.” Jesus looked him straight in the eye and said, “Go and do likewise.”
This story exemplifies that the excluded – the beaten man and the Samaritan – taught the privileged; in this case, the legal expert. My question to you is this: how did it teach the privileged. There is a pedagogical thought that adults learn out of need or identification. If an adult can identify with something in his/her past in what is being taught, it will be learned. Or, if an adult has a need to learn something, then it will be learned. Bearing that in mind, how did the legal expert learn – was it need or by identity. I’m going to suggest it was both. His question, what must I do to gain eternal life, shows a need – life eternal. Yet, I think the legal expert also identified with the story – specifically, the beaten-man, who was passed by, or un-helped by, religious leaders. Maybe he felt excluded by religion. If so, his deeper question is this, how do I become included. Jesus gave him what his heart needed to hear, “Go show mercy.” Another way to look at it is this – go, identify with the unheard and outcast, show them mercy.
Sociologists have pointed out that individuals or groups who feel excluded, left out, or unheard, may harm others out of, or because of, their own exclusionary pain. This is believed to be a cause of school or work place shootings. Could it also be a cause for riots? Although I have never been mistreated by the police, maybe Jesus is calling me to identify with those have been. Likewise, I do not have grievances against our government, but what if Jesus is calling me to identify; to listen to; those who do. Certainly for those who have broken the law, they need to be punished. But what about the non-violent demonstrators. What if he is calling me to show mercy by listening to someone who feels unheard or excluded. There is mercy in that; especially considering God listens to me when I feel unwelcomed or unheard.
Jesus felt drawn to outcasts. He listened to and cared for the excluded. What if the being a Good Samaritan today is to listen to those who feel excluded, left out and unheard. What if Jesus, through his words and deeds recorded in the Gospel, is telling us to “Go and do likewise.”
- Fr. Dave
More Perfect
January 7, 2020
This was not the reflection I intended to send to you. The piece titled Fins Matter – about a recent experience Elijah and I had with a model rocket – was supposed to be printed today. But, the events that happened at the capital on Wednesday, the Day of Epiphany, requires me to write something different to you.
Christi and I were watching with aching hearts as the US Capital was under siege, and the constitutionally required joint-session of congress was stopped. At the same time, in a different room, our 10-year old, Elijah, was memorizing the preamble of the constitution. When I was in 5th grade, we too had to memorize it. To this day, I recall the words with the tune from School House Rock. And, like how Christi and I learned it, we too are passing the tune along to our son.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
This 52-word preamble took six weeks to create during the hot summer months in Philadelphia, 1787. It was these five objectives that the framers could agree upon:
Justice, Tranquility, Defense, Welfare, Liberty.
The process to create a union more perfect is still under construction. All the while, our united call is for justice, peace, defense, welfare, and liberty. These are not objectives that can be completed or checked off as complete; rather, it is a desire, a movement, an experiment, and at times, a desperate struggle.
At 8 pm Wednesday night, the Senate was called back to order, and, in some ways, they brought the country back to order. It was a visible sign that although chaos took over for a brief period, our desire for a more perfect union remains. The Marshalls gathered around the television to watch. Ethan had his calculus homework on his lap, Elijah was on my lap, Christi had a cat on her lap; and on the day of Epiphany, by the glow of our Christmas Tree, we watched Senators from both sides of the aisle speak from their heart about unity and our shared responsibility to bring justice, tranquility, defense, welfare and liberty.
The catechism in our Book of Common Prayer teaches that the mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. The Church purses that mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love. We carry out the mission of the Church through the ministry of all its members. Like the preamble, the Church has five objectives – to pray/worship, to proclaim, to promote justice, peace, and love.
The pursuit of the five objectives of the preamble to make our Union more perfect is similar to the pursuit of the Church to bring unity. It cannot be completed but rather the mission, the struggle, the pursuit is passed from generation to generation.
- Fr. Dave
Christi and I were watching with aching hearts as the US Capital was under siege, and the constitutionally required joint-session of congress was stopped. At the same time, in a different room, our 10-year old, Elijah, was memorizing the preamble of the constitution. When I was in 5th grade, we too had to memorize it. To this day, I recall the words with the tune from School House Rock. And, like how Christi and I learned it, we too are passing the tune along to our son.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
This 52-word preamble took six weeks to create during the hot summer months in Philadelphia, 1787. It was these five objectives that the framers could agree upon:
Justice, Tranquility, Defense, Welfare, Liberty.
The process to create a union more perfect is still under construction. All the while, our united call is for justice, peace, defense, welfare, and liberty. These are not objectives that can be completed or checked off as complete; rather, it is a desire, a movement, an experiment, and at times, a desperate struggle.
At 8 pm Wednesday night, the Senate was called back to order, and, in some ways, they brought the country back to order. It was a visible sign that although chaos took over for a brief period, our desire for a more perfect union remains. The Marshalls gathered around the television to watch. Ethan had his calculus homework on his lap, Elijah was on my lap, Christi had a cat on her lap; and on the day of Epiphany, by the glow of our Christmas Tree, we watched Senators from both sides of the aisle speak from their heart about unity and our shared responsibility to bring justice, tranquility, defense, welfare and liberty.
The catechism in our Book of Common Prayer teaches that the mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. The Church purses that mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love. We carry out the mission of the Church through the ministry of all its members. Like the preamble, the Church has five objectives – to pray/worship, to proclaim, to promote justice, peace, and love.
The pursuit of the five objectives of the preamble to make our Union more perfect is similar to the pursuit of the Church to bring unity. It cannot be completed but rather the mission, the struggle, the pursuit is passed from generation to generation.
- Fr. Dave
Merry Christmas
December 31, 2020
“On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, three French hens.” I am surprised that Amazon has not picked up on the my-true-love-sent-to-me theme as a way of delivering packages after December 25th. What is often referred to as Christmas Day – the 25th – it is a bit of a misnomer. The season of Christmas goes for twelve entire days; not just a 24-hour period. After all, if it were not so, why would we have the 12 Days of Christmas song. Does this mean that you can deliver a Christmas present or Christmas card on January 2nd and it technically is not late; you bet!
My parents tried to establish in our household the reign of Christmas over twelve days. One year, they came up with the idea to open a present or two on Christmas Day – the First Day – and then open a present for each succeeding day until the 12th. I think we made it to three French hens and then opened the rest of them. Reflecting back on it, I imagine my brother and I were probably pretty insufferable for the first three days of Christmas. … and we were not in the middle of a pandemic. I couldn’t imagine trying to do that now. Well, frankly I couldn’t imagine doing it then either.
The next year, when we were all back on speaking terms again, my parents allowed us to open all the presents on Christmas Day but held one present for the 12th day of Christmas. None of us received 12 drummers drumming but I imagine my brother and I were a bit of a drumming headache until that day. The next year, my parents held a present for the 12th day but did so in secret so my brother and I were surprised to find one more present under the tree.
My parents were in our church choir and they were a larger troupe of Gilbert & Sullivan performers. To this day, I can sing the alto and tenor parts of the Macado, Pirates of Penzance and, my favorite, HMS Pinafore. In keeping with the driving-the-12-days-of-Christmas philosophy into our heads, my parents would throw a Twelfth Night Party. We would take down the tree, eat all the rest of the Christmas cookies, and, most importantly, sing. I remember one year, it must have been the G&S production troupe at our house, because someone passed out the SATB sheet music for Handel’s Messiah. I distinctly remember waltzing around our connected living and dining room and hearing each section sing the well-known Hallelujah chorus. That was truly a way to celebrate Christmas and the end of the season. I cannot listen to the Messiah today without thinking about that group and experience. Hallelujah for Christmas and for all of its 12 days!
- Fr. Dave
My parents tried to establish in our household the reign of Christmas over twelve days. One year, they came up with the idea to open a present or two on Christmas Day – the First Day – and then open a present for each succeeding day until the 12th. I think we made it to three French hens and then opened the rest of them. Reflecting back on it, I imagine my brother and I were probably pretty insufferable for the first three days of Christmas. … and we were not in the middle of a pandemic. I couldn’t imagine trying to do that now. Well, frankly I couldn’t imagine doing it then either.
The next year, when we were all back on speaking terms again, my parents allowed us to open all the presents on Christmas Day but held one present for the 12th day of Christmas. None of us received 12 drummers drumming but I imagine my brother and I were a bit of a drumming headache until that day. The next year, my parents held a present for the 12th day but did so in secret so my brother and I were surprised to find one more present under the tree.
My parents were in our church choir and they were a larger troupe of Gilbert & Sullivan performers. To this day, I can sing the alto and tenor parts of the Macado, Pirates of Penzance and, my favorite, HMS Pinafore. In keeping with the driving-the-12-days-of-Christmas philosophy into our heads, my parents would throw a Twelfth Night Party. We would take down the tree, eat all the rest of the Christmas cookies, and, most importantly, sing. I remember one year, it must have been the G&S production troupe at our house, because someone passed out the SATB sheet music for Handel’s Messiah. I distinctly remember waltzing around our connected living and dining room and hearing each section sing the well-known Hallelujah chorus. That was truly a way to celebrate Christmas and the end of the season. I cannot listen to the Messiah today without thinking about that group and experience. Hallelujah for Christmas and for all of its 12 days!
- Fr. Dave
Christmas/Mess
December 24, 2020
Today’s reflection is from the Rev. Kate Heichler from her message “Getting to Bethlehem” from Water Daily.
I labored long under the illusion of the “perfect Christmas” which is all shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating done; perfectly chosen gifts on their way to everyone. Well, thanks to our pandemic, a lot of that pressure has been lifted this year. Will I manage to be calm and serene and so ready for Christmas Eve that I will have a spiritual encounter with God? Who am I kidding? If Luke’s story has any historical accuracy, the Holy Night we celebrate was a mess, its protagonists exhausted, scared, lonely, anxious, no doubt cranky. And at least one was in agonizing pain, delivering her first child in a stable, with only her betrothed to help her – and he more helpless than she.
Mary and Joseph didn’t want to be in Bethlehem, especially not so close to her time. They were there at the behest of a cruel tyrant seeking to squeeze yet more taxes out of a conquered people. Luke is specific about the people in power at that time – Caesar Augustus, Quirinius – and the towns Mary and Joseph traveled from and to – Nazareth in Galilee, Bethlehem in Judea. His specificity reminds us that the gift of God in flesh, Emmanuel, God-with-us was not general or vague, but personal, bounded in human time, space and history. And emotion.
Jesus didn’t come into this world on an eiderdown comforter. He came into a mess, a chaotic night in which a young couple desperately sought lodging in a strange city, finally accepting the offer of space with household livestock as the woman’s birth pangs grew in urgency. Jesus came into a political and religious mess. And he comes into our mess. If you are sad, or maybe even messed up this Christmas, you are ONE with the Christmas spirit, the original one. If you are feeling blue, invite Jesus to be with you in what you’re feeling. As we accept his presence in our turmoil, we become readier to identify with what he experienced as a newborn – complete vulnerability, confusion, cold, uncertainty.
Getting to Bethlehem can be a stressful slog, and a journey full of pain and expectation. But, like Mary, Joseph and Jesus, the light will shine where it needs to be.
I labored long under the illusion of the “perfect Christmas” which is all shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating done; perfectly chosen gifts on their way to everyone. Well, thanks to our pandemic, a lot of that pressure has been lifted this year. Will I manage to be calm and serene and so ready for Christmas Eve that I will have a spiritual encounter with God? Who am I kidding? If Luke’s story has any historical accuracy, the Holy Night we celebrate was a mess, its protagonists exhausted, scared, lonely, anxious, no doubt cranky. And at least one was in agonizing pain, delivering her first child in a stable, with only her betrothed to help her – and he more helpless than she.
Mary and Joseph didn’t want to be in Bethlehem, especially not so close to her time. They were there at the behest of a cruel tyrant seeking to squeeze yet more taxes out of a conquered people. Luke is specific about the people in power at that time – Caesar Augustus, Quirinius – and the towns Mary and Joseph traveled from and to – Nazareth in Galilee, Bethlehem in Judea. His specificity reminds us that the gift of God in flesh, Emmanuel, God-with-us was not general or vague, but personal, bounded in human time, space and history. And emotion.
Jesus didn’t come into this world on an eiderdown comforter. He came into a mess, a chaotic night in which a young couple desperately sought lodging in a strange city, finally accepting the offer of space with household livestock as the woman’s birth pangs grew in urgency. Jesus came into a political and religious mess. And he comes into our mess. If you are sad, or maybe even messed up this Christmas, you are ONE with the Christmas spirit, the original one. If you are feeling blue, invite Jesus to be with you in what you’re feeling. As we accept his presence in our turmoil, we become readier to identify with what he experienced as a newborn – complete vulnerability, confusion, cold, uncertainty.
Getting to Bethlehem can be a stressful slog, and a journey full of pain and expectation. But, like Mary, Joseph and Jesus, the light will shine where it needs to be.
The 4th Week
December 17, 2020
I’d like to give a shout out to the 4th week of Advent. It’s the week that really gets overshadowed by the looming and unstoppable presence of Christmas Eve. Starting on December 20th this year, the 4th week ends abruptly on sundown on the 24th. That is usually how the fourth week of Advent goes – it’s never a full week. Most people, myself included, start saying Merry Christmas during the 4th week. I’ve been trying my best to say, “Happy Advent” this year but honestly, after Sunday, that all goes out the window.
The 4th week of Advent is when we remember the stories of Elizabeth and Zachariah – surprise parents of John the Baptizer, and Mary and Joseph – surprise parents of the Messiah. The main emphasis for this week centers on the Biblical phrase, “How can this be?!” The first to utter that phrase was Temple priest Zachariah, who in his old age, had been unable to give his wife Elizabeth a child. The culture back then had it so that being childless was a negative thing; especially so if one held such a high esteemed position as Temple priest. As the story goes, Zachariah was randomly chosen to bring the incense into the high vault of the Temple. It was the highest honor of any priest to do. While in the room, an angel spoke to him and said that he was going to have a son. “How can this be!?” he exclaimed.
This week we hear about the angel Gabriel visiting Mary and telling her she is going to have a son. Again, same reaction – how can this be – but for a different reason. Zachariah believed he was too old to have a child; Mary believed she was too young. God saw it differently.
I am writing this to you on my son Ethan’s birthday. He turns 18 years old today! I remember vividly where Christi and I were when she told me that she was pregnant. It was our own, how can this be, moment. We had just adopted our two girls from Russia. We were trying to settle into being brand new parents with kids who had recently turned 16 and 11 years old. And now this! How can it be?!
When Zachariah found out he was going to be a dad, his life, and the world, was never the same. Likewise, when Mary found out she was going to be pregnant, her life, and the world, were never going to be the same. That feeling is echoed through every family that finds out they will be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents. … and the world will never be the same.
The 4th week of Advent is the shortest and frankly gets very little credit; but, this week may be the most important of the Advent season because it is when we, and the world, find out we will never be the same.
- Fr. Dave
The 4th week of Advent is when we remember the stories of Elizabeth and Zachariah – surprise parents of John the Baptizer, and Mary and Joseph – surprise parents of the Messiah. The main emphasis for this week centers on the Biblical phrase, “How can this be?!” The first to utter that phrase was Temple priest Zachariah, who in his old age, had been unable to give his wife Elizabeth a child. The culture back then had it so that being childless was a negative thing; especially so if one held such a high esteemed position as Temple priest. As the story goes, Zachariah was randomly chosen to bring the incense into the high vault of the Temple. It was the highest honor of any priest to do. While in the room, an angel spoke to him and said that he was going to have a son. “How can this be!?” he exclaimed.
This week we hear about the angel Gabriel visiting Mary and telling her she is going to have a son. Again, same reaction – how can this be – but for a different reason. Zachariah believed he was too old to have a child; Mary believed she was too young. God saw it differently.
I am writing this to you on my son Ethan’s birthday. He turns 18 years old today! I remember vividly where Christi and I were when she told me that she was pregnant. It was our own, how can this be, moment. We had just adopted our two girls from Russia. We were trying to settle into being brand new parents with kids who had recently turned 16 and 11 years old. And now this! How can it be?!
When Zachariah found out he was going to be a dad, his life, and the world, was never the same. Likewise, when Mary found out she was going to be pregnant, her life, and the world, were never going to be the same. That feeling is echoed through every family that finds out they will be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents. … and the world will never be the same.
The 4th week of Advent is the shortest and frankly gets very little credit; but, this week may be the most important of the Advent season because it is when we, and the world, find out we will never be the same.
- Fr. Dave
The Parable of the Good Samaritan-Canadian
December 10, 2020
Did you read the story about the family from Georgia who drove to Alaska? If not, here’s a summary. Lynn Marchessault packed up her two kids – 13-year-old son Payton and 10-year-old daughter Rebecca – a pair of elderly dogs and a cat named Midnight, and drove to be with her husband who is stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks. They were supposed to move in September; but, with the Canadian border closed, her travel documents were not ready until the end of November. Undeterred by the delay, they packed up their 4x4 truck, and rented a U-Haul trailer, and set off.
The first 3,000 miles were uneventful. The kids and animals were well behaved and the truck performed well. At the Saskatchewan border crossing, the Canadian authorities let her in under these pre-arranged conditions: keep to the main roads; stop only when necessary for food or gas; no eating in-person at restaurants; they had just five days to get to the Alaskan border. The drive northwest through Canada was okay until heavy snow started to come down. Being from the south, Lynn had never driven in whiteout conditions. By the time they made it to Wonowon, British Columbia, she was at her wits end. 1070 miles from the Alaska border, Lynn had been run ragged from the constant slipping and sliding. She stopped at a gas station and, while her kids were in the bathroom, she broke down in front of a complete stranger. The Canadian woman checked her tires and said they were good summer tires but won’t get any traction on snow especially towing a trailer. The good Samaritan/Canadian helped the Marchessault’s get to a tire store for winter tires and then a motel for the night. Lynn called her husband and, in her words, “threw in the towel.” She was so tired and frightened she cried that the US border patrol will have to pick her up in Wonowon.
The good Samaritans/Canadians of the town put out a plea on social media that evening for help to get this family to Alaska – which is a two-day trip for someone who knows how to handle the Alaskan Highway in snow. Gary Bath read the post and answered the call to help. He dropped what he was doing and drove the family the rest of the way.
At the end of the Advent season, we hear of weary travelers who have no place to go. The kindness of a complete stranger gave Mary and Joseph a place to rest and to give birth to the One who later on told the story of the Good Samaritan. I wonder if Jesus had in mind his own birth story when telling the story of the Samaritan who dropped everything to help a stranger. Did he think of the stable owner when telling the story of the people who asked, “When did we see you in need?” Regardless, we now have a modern version of that story. It seems to me that when the good Samaritan-Canadian Gary Bath drove the Marchessault’s to Alaska, that he did the same for Jesus.
- Fr. Dave
The first 3,000 miles were uneventful. The kids and animals were well behaved and the truck performed well. At the Saskatchewan border crossing, the Canadian authorities let her in under these pre-arranged conditions: keep to the main roads; stop only when necessary for food or gas; no eating in-person at restaurants; they had just five days to get to the Alaskan border. The drive northwest through Canada was okay until heavy snow started to come down. Being from the south, Lynn had never driven in whiteout conditions. By the time they made it to Wonowon, British Columbia, she was at her wits end. 1070 miles from the Alaska border, Lynn had been run ragged from the constant slipping and sliding. She stopped at a gas station and, while her kids were in the bathroom, she broke down in front of a complete stranger. The Canadian woman checked her tires and said they were good summer tires but won’t get any traction on snow especially towing a trailer. The good Samaritan/Canadian helped the Marchessault’s get to a tire store for winter tires and then a motel for the night. Lynn called her husband and, in her words, “threw in the towel.” She was so tired and frightened she cried that the US border patrol will have to pick her up in Wonowon.
The good Samaritans/Canadians of the town put out a plea on social media that evening for help to get this family to Alaska – which is a two-day trip for someone who knows how to handle the Alaskan Highway in snow. Gary Bath read the post and answered the call to help. He dropped what he was doing and drove the family the rest of the way.
At the end of the Advent season, we hear of weary travelers who have no place to go. The kindness of a complete stranger gave Mary and Joseph a place to rest and to give birth to the One who later on told the story of the Good Samaritan. I wonder if Jesus had in mind his own birth story when telling the story of the Samaritan who dropped everything to help a stranger. Did he think of the stable owner when telling the story of the people who asked, “When did we see you in need?” Regardless, we now have a modern version of that story. It seems to me that when the good Samaritan-Canadian Gary Bath drove the Marchessault’s to Alaska, that he did the same for Jesus.
- Fr. Dave
Lion or Lamb?
December 3, 2020
One of my favorite posters is a collection of biblical phrases that describe God. The background of the poster is purple and the words are in gold; except for the bright white bold phrase in the center that reads I AM. It reminded me then, and now, that God has many names. The same is true with Jesus. He is master, Lord, savior, Christ, friend, shepherd, Messiah, and, as our Eucharistic prayer names him, Firstborn of all creation, Head of the Church, Author of our salvation. There are two names, however, that I would like to reflect on – Lamb of God, Lion of Judah.
How can Jesus be both lion and lamb?
God is described in psalm 84 as both sun and shield – the one who makes the day hot and the one who covers/shields/protects one from the harshness of the sun. In the early church period, when followers were trying to figure out what they had experienced, some had suggested that God is the sun and Jesus is the shield from God’s burning hot anger and wrath. Thankfully that theology didn’t survive long; nevertheless, God is so big that titles and names fall short of describing our Creator, even a poster full of them. But that still doesn’t explain how Jesus can be both lamb and lion, prey and predator, herbivore and carnivore, friend and feared adversary, overt and covert, both pet and apex predator.
The title, Lion of Judah, has many Biblical references. Judah is the southern territory of Israel, containing both Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The “lion” is the one who is in charge, like a king. Matthew’s Gospel tells of the Wise Men who traveled to Jerusalem looking for the Messiah. They were told he is to be from, or is to be born in, Bethlehem. Thus, the Lion of Judah is a way to describe the Messiah.
The Lamb of God reference is from John’s Gospel and the Book of Revelation. The overtones are of the Passover lamb that is sacrificed for sin. There is, of course, the additional imagery of the kind, warm and fuzzy God-in-Christ in contrast to the vengeful angry image of God.
One way to solve the lion and lamb riddle is to look at it through the lens of who someone is and what someone does. The Lion of Judah is a title for the messiah that expressly describes who Jesus is. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, is an aspect of what Jesus does. St. Paul, in his wonderful use of imagery and language that transcends time and peoples, brought the two distinct images together by describing Jesus as the Crucified King. In other words, both lion and lamb.
- Fr. Dave
How can Jesus be both lion and lamb?
God is described in psalm 84 as both sun and shield – the one who makes the day hot and the one who covers/shields/protects one from the harshness of the sun. In the early church period, when followers were trying to figure out what they had experienced, some had suggested that God is the sun and Jesus is the shield from God’s burning hot anger and wrath. Thankfully that theology didn’t survive long; nevertheless, God is so big that titles and names fall short of describing our Creator, even a poster full of them. But that still doesn’t explain how Jesus can be both lamb and lion, prey and predator, herbivore and carnivore, friend and feared adversary, overt and covert, both pet and apex predator.
The title, Lion of Judah, has many Biblical references. Judah is the southern territory of Israel, containing both Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The “lion” is the one who is in charge, like a king. Matthew’s Gospel tells of the Wise Men who traveled to Jerusalem looking for the Messiah. They were told he is to be from, or is to be born in, Bethlehem. Thus, the Lion of Judah is a way to describe the Messiah.
The Lamb of God reference is from John’s Gospel and the Book of Revelation. The overtones are of the Passover lamb that is sacrificed for sin. There is, of course, the additional imagery of the kind, warm and fuzzy God-in-Christ in contrast to the vengeful angry image of God.
One way to solve the lion and lamb riddle is to look at it through the lens of who someone is and what someone does. The Lion of Judah is a title for the messiah that expressly describes who Jesus is. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, is an aspect of what Jesus does. St. Paul, in his wonderful use of imagery and language that transcends time and peoples, brought the two distinct images together by describing Jesus as the Crucified King. In other words, both lion and lamb.
- Fr. Dave
A Breath of Advent Air
November 27, 2020
Don’t look now but Advent is here. The season that is most commonly known for Advent calendars, it is the time of year where we await and anticipate the arrival of Jesus. It is a many-sided season because it ends with Christmas which, on one side, means that we were waiting and preparing for the yearly celebration of Jesus’ birth. Another side is that we are waiting for the return of Christ and that no one knows the day or the hour of when he returns; even if our calendar shows his birth is on December 25th. A third-side is that Advent can be treated like a mini-Lent. In many churches, purple is the color for Advent which is also the color of Lent. Some religious traditions have Advent participants give up things; just like in Lent. The fourth side of Advent is that it is a perpetual season. We are always waiting for the return of Christ. We wait during Christmas, during the Easter season, and during the dog-days of summer, we are waiting and expecting Jesus to return. Regardless of the many ways to look at Advent, by the time Christmas finally arrives, I often feel winded.
If you are wondering what the real meaning of Advent is, I’d have to say it is up to you to determine that. If you’d like to treat it like a Lenten season, feel free. If your tradition is to light a candle, one for each week, that’s great. If you breathe a sigh of relief on Christmas morning, that’s fine too. However it is that you decide to treat Advent, it is up to you. Nevertheless, we should be aware that Jesus is scheduled to return someday, maybe soon.
Advent comes with a warning – at least one from me to you. Prepare for the Gospel lessons in Advent to be on the harsher, judgmental side of God. Don’t blame me for this, we are following along with the Revised Common Lectionary, Episcopal Edition. This Sunday, we are hearing that the return of Christ will start with the sun darkened and the stars falling from the sky. Advent II and III is about John the Baptizer who wore camel’s hair and ate locusts – which are symbols of God’s judgement. Advent IV is about Mary, thankfully. Often I will hear this after a service in Advent, “Well, those reading don’t sound very Christmassy.” I suppose the point is they are not supposed to.
For me, Advent is about preparing for Christmas, for birthdays during December, for one of the biggest seasons of the Church, for end-of-the-year reports, for holiday parties, and, somewhere along in my list, for Jesus. This year, like the other years, I’d like to move Jesus up on my list. Maybe because we’re not going to, or hosting, any parties, I have a little more room this year; or maybe it is because 2020 is calling us all into a deeper relationship with God and in participating with our spiritual life. My weekly Advent practice this year will be to read a portion of Joan Chittister’s book, The Breath of the Soul, Reflections on Prayer. I’ll put each reading up on-line so that you can read with me. Regardless of how you see this multi-sided season of Advent, I invite you to take some time to reflect on prayer and how it lets the soul breathe.
- Fr. Dave
Don’t look now but Advent is here. The season that is most commonly known for Advent calendars, it is the time of year where we await and anticipate the arrival of Jesus. It is a many-sided season because it ends with Christmas which, on one side, means that we were waiting and preparing for the yearly celebration of Jesus’ birth. Another side is that we are waiting for the return of Christ and that no one knows the day or the hour of when he returns; even if our calendar shows his birth is on December 25th. A third-side is that Advent can be treated like a mini-Lent. In many churches, purple is the color for Advent which is also the color of Lent. Some religious traditions have Advent participants give up things; just like in Lent. The fourth side of Advent is that it is a perpetual season. We are always waiting for the return of Christ. We wait during Christmas, during the Easter season, and during the dog-days of summer, we are waiting and expecting Jesus to return. Regardless of the many ways to look at Advent, by the time Christmas finally arrives, I often feel winded.
If you are wondering what the real meaning of Advent is, I’d have to say it is up to you to determine that. If you’d like to treat it like a Lenten season, feel free. If your tradition is to light a candle, one for each week, that’s great. If you breathe a sigh of relief on Christmas morning, that’s fine too. However it is that you decide to treat Advent, it is up to you. Nevertheless, we should be aware that Jesus is scheduled to return someday, maybe soon.
Advent comes with a warning – at least one from me to you. Prepare for the Gospel lessons in Advent to be on the harsher, judgmental side of God. Don’t blame me for this, we are following along with the Revised Common Lectionary, Episcopal Edition. This Sunday, we are hearing that the return of Christ will start with the sun darkened and the stars falling from the sky. Advent II and III is about John the Baptizer who wore camel’s hair and ate locusts – which are symbols of God’s judgement. Advent IV is about Mary, thankfully. Often I will hear this after a service in Advent, “Well, those reading don’t sound very Christmassy.” I suppose the point is they are not supposed to.
For me, Advent is about preparing for Christmas, for birthdays during December, for one of the biggest seasons of the Church, for end-of-the-year reports, for holiday parties, and, somewhere along in my list, for Jesus. This year, like the other years, I’d like to move Jesus up on my list. Maybe because we’re not going to, or hosting, any parties, I have a little more room this year; or maybe it is because 2020 is calling us all into a deeper relationship with God and in participating with our spiritual life. My weekly Advent practice this year will be to read a portion of Joan Chittister’s book, The Breath of the Soul, Reflections on Prayer. I’ll put each reading up on-line so that you can read with me. Regardless of how you see this multi-sided season of Advent, I invite you to take some time to reflect on prayer and how it lets the soul breathe.
- Fr. Dave
Pilgrimage
November 19, 2020
There has been so much change happening all around us that it is easy to let things slip by. I’d like to take a moment and highlight a change that occurred on Sunday. For the first time in All Angels’ history, the terrace was open for people to enter and worship on Sunday. We had four souls who were willing to be test subjects; and, the results are in – they loved it!
The original plan for the church had a wraparound walkway that extended around the church from the memorial garden to the terrace. That would have allowed for the terrace to be used as an emergency exit. But, as buildings and plans go, the walkway did not materialize so the terrace remained a closed space. After decades of having members of the altar guild and flower guild get stuck out on the terrace, after the door closed behind them and locked, three things happened all at once – a global pandemic temporarily restricted indoor worship to 10 people, All Angels started broadcasting our services outside the church, and the Vestry decided to improve the entrances for people of any mobility. In order to improve our ingress/egress plan, we (probably) had to add an emergency exit. The logical place to do that was through the terrace. With the rising popularity of worshipping at All Angels outside, a bold plan was made. A contractor cut into the terrace walls at both north and south ends and then poured an ADA compliant cement walkway that connected into our existing garden pathway. Lastly, all-weather outdoor speakers were installed that carry the audio from inside the church to the outside. And voila, a new era has begun.
The Albert and Bette Spaeth Meditation Terrace has a plaque that reads as follows: Enter + Rest + Pray
From 1994 until 2020, the only way to enter the meditation terrace was through the doors in nave of the church. And, if they locked behind you, the only way to exit was to jump over the wall. Nowadays, pilgrims seeking to rest and pray can enter through the walkway; any time of day, any day of the week. We are living into the vision that folks had back when the church was made. The speakers make it so that congregants can sit on the terrace, enjoy fresh outdoor air, and participate in the service. And, for the first time in anyone’s recollection, communion was served on the terrace this past Sunday. The first communicant was a parishioner who just celebrated her 97th birthday, Marge Stapleton.
Change can happen like a swinging pendulum. Other change is like passing a threshold from which one cannot go back or like a navigation point of no return. All Angels has now passed a threshold. Now that the terrace is open for anyone to take time to enter, rest and pray, there is no going back. Our proverbial door has been set in the open position with cement. It is another step that all the pilgrims of All Angels are taking to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church.
- Fr. Dave
If you would like to follow in the footsteps of Albert and Bette Spaeth and help underwrite the costs of our continuing pilgrimage,
click here. https://onrealm.org/AllAngelsBySeaE/-/give/now
The original plan for the church had a wraparound walkway that extended around the church from the memorial garden to the terrace. That would have allowed for the terrace to be used as an emergency exit. But, as buildings and plans go, the walkway did not materialize so the terrace remained a closed space. After decades of having members of the altar guild and flower guild get stuck out on the terrace, after the door closed behind them and locked, three things happened all at once – a global pandemic temporarily restricted indoor worship to 10 people, All Angels started broadcasting our services outside the church, and the Vestry decided to improve the entrances for people of any mobility. In order to improve our ingress/egress plan, we (probably) had to add an emergency exit. The logical place to do that was through the terrace. With the rising popularity of worshipping at All Angels outside, a bold plan was made. A contractor cut into the terrace walls at both north and south ends and then poured an ADA compliant cement walkway that connected into our existing garden pathway. Lastly, all-weather outdoor speakers were installed that carry the audio from inside the church to the outside. And voila, a new era has begun.
The Albert and Bette Spaeth Meditation Terrace has a plaque that reads as follows: Enter + Rest + Pray
From 1994 until 2020, the only way to enter the meditation terrace was through the doors in nave of the church. And, if they locked behind you, the only way to exit was to jump over the wall. Nowadays, pilgrims seeking to rest and pray can enter through the walkway; any time of day, any day of the week. We are living into the vision that folks had back when the church was made. The speakers make it so that congregants can sit on the terrace, enjoy fresh outdoor air, and participate in the service. And, for the first time in anyone’s recollection, communion was served on the terrace this past Sunday. The first communicant was a parishioner who just celebrated her 97th birthday, Marge Stapleton.
Change can happen like a swinging pendulum. Other change is like passing a threshold from which one cannot go back or like a navigation point of no return. All Angels has now passed a threshold. Now that the terrace is open for anyone to take time to enter, rest and pray, there is no going back. Our proverbial door has been set in the open position with cement. It is another step that all the pilgrims of All Angels are taking to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church.
- Fr. Dave
If you would like to follow in the footsteps of Albert and Bette Spaeth and help underwrite the costs of our continuing pilgrimage,
click here. https://onrealm.org/AllAngelsBySeaE/-/give/now
Hear Ye, Hear Ye
November 12, 2020
I am writing to you on Veterans Day. We have a small hurricane, parked off the coast and it is dumping rain and lots of wind. At the same time, I am listening to patriotic hymns – from outside the church! Our brand new, six speaker, all-weather, 180 watt sound system is now broadcasting outside the church. Rotary volunteers wearing parkas, shorts, flip flops and face coverings are keeping the soaking flags from falling and greeting veterans as they drive by. The soundtrack to this event is provided by All Angels.
In Washington State, where I grew up and went to college, there is a tradition to play music outside when the weather gets nice. On those rare days, neighbors, college students, anyone really, will put speakers into the open windows and play their favorite tunes. I would shoot baskets while listening to an album by Duran Duran. My brother would wash his car to Lynard Skynard. In college, on sunny days, the dorms would erupt with music all designed to be heard outside.
As a camp counsellor, we would have a dance on the final night of each camp session. Our preferred place was the outdoor basketball court. Can you guess who would set up the speakers outside; yep, yours truly. I imagine the camp’s neighbors prayed for rain.
Flash forward to 2020, southwest Florida. I conducted an Easter morning service in front of Blake Hospital because the country went into a lockdown. For the rest of the Easter season, we held in-church services but they were not open to the public. Bob Erker and I hauled some old Pevey loudspeakers out of storage and, with Ethan’s help and ingenuity, we set up the drive-up and outdoor church. As the season of Easter moved into Pentecost and the season after, we realized outdoor church was going to continue. The Vestry dreamed up all sorts of possibilities including having fellowship outside, the Mardi Gras party outdoors, and other events. They decided we needed something permanent. This is southwest Florida, after all, and unlike Washington State, we have lots and lots of nice days especially in the “winter” season.
After some discussion with the city of Longboat Key, we now have outdoor speakers that will be used on Sunday morning for our services, for the upcoming Blue Christmas and Christmas Eve service. We are offering organ music in the park every Thursday from 11 am to noon for the public to come by and enjoy uplifting music. I can see us offering quiet Advent/Christmas music for pilgrims to Longboat who want to rest in the evening under the shade of our beautiful oak trees. And, just imagine this: we can actually start next year’s Palm Sunday procession outside. I do not have a crystal ball, but, I imagine that even on the last Sunday of March, 2021, there will be people who prefer to remain outdoors to worship.
If you had told me when I was 17 years old that what I learned about playing music outside would one day fit into the mission statement of a church that I would serve and lead in Florida, I would have thought you were nuts. And now, we’re running around in a near-hurricane, listening to organ music and thanking veterans for their service; I guess we are pretty nutty after all.
- Fr. Dave
In Washington State, where I grew up and went to college, there is a tradition to play music outside when the weather gets nice. On those rare days, neighbors, college students, anyone really, will put speakers into the open windows and play their favorite tunes. I would shoot baskets while listening to an album by Duran Duran. My brother would wash his car to Lynard Skynard. In college, on sunny days, the dorms would erupt with music all designed to be heard outside.
As a camp counsellor, we would have a dance on the final night of each camp session. Our preferred place was the outdoor basketball court. Can you guess who would set up the speakers outside; yep, yours truly. I imagine the camp’s neighbors prayed for rain.
Flash forward to 2020, southwest Florida. I conducted an Easter morning service in front of Blake Hospital because the country went into a lockdown. For the rest of the Easter season, we held in-church services but they were not open to the public. Bob Erker and I hauled some old Pevey loudspeakers out of storage and, with Ethan’s help and ingenuity, we set up the drive-up and outdoor church. As the season of Easter moved into Pentecost and the season after, we realized outdoor church was going to continue. The Vestry dreamed up all sorts of possibilities including having fellowship outside, the Mardi Gras party outdoors, and other events. They decided we needed something permanent. This is southwest Florida, after all, and unlike Washington State, we have lots and lots of nice days especially in the “winter” season.
After some discussion with the city of Longboat Key, we now have outdoor speakers that will be used on Sunday morning for our services, for the upcoming Blue Christmas and Christmas Eve service. We are offering organ music in the park every Thursday from 11 am to noon for the public to come by and enjoy uplifting music. I can see us offering quiet Advent/Christmas music for pilgrims to Longboat who want to rest in the evening under the shade of our beautiful oak trees. And, just imagine this: we can actually start next year’s Palm Sunday procession outside. I do not have a crystal ball, but, I imagine that even on the last Sunday of March, 2021, there will be people who prefer to remain outdoors to worship.
If you had told me when I was 17 years old that what I learned about playing music outside would one day fit into the mission statement of a church that I would serve and lead in Florida, I would have thought you were nuts. And now, we’re running around in a near-hurricane, listening to organ music and thanking veterans for their service; I guess we are pretty nutty after all.
- Fr. Dave
All Things New
November 5, 2020
Several Fridays ago, our organist and music director, Dale, sounded troubled on the phone. He asked if I was sitting down and then explained to me that the organ didn’t start. It sounded like he was describing a death in the family. He went on to explain that the organ repair company said that we’re looking at a possible $20k repair, or substantially more; the repair could take months and we would need a loaner organ at $1,000 per month. Dale prepared to conduct Sunday’s service on the piano.
The next day he called and sounded much better. He tried the organ again and it worked. Since that time, the organ works when it wants to. This past Sunday, he was supposed to play a music reflection after the prayers of the people. After the prayers, I didn’t hear any music so I started to stand for the announcements but then I heard the hymn so I sat back down. As it turned out, Dale had started playing right after the prayers at the appointed time, but the organ decided to wait and then play.
As far back as theologians and anthropologists can tell, music has always been a part of worship. Many people read the beginning of Genesis this way: “God sang, ‘Let there be light.’” Scripture references heaven as a place with lots and lots of music. In our church, music is important to our worship. Even with the 8 am service, that has no formal music, the silence and reverence felt in the service is its own music.
The Vestry reviewed two bids to replace the organ – one from Allen and the other from Rogers which is a new version of our existing organ. In their factory just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Allen Organ is the last 100% American made organ manufacturer. They are one of the finest electronic organs companies in the world. Although the bids were similar – both around $125,000 – we decided on the Allen. It will be ready by the end of March. Until then, we have a loner Allen organ that was installed on Monday. When I heard it, I thought we actually had pipes in the church. The sound is amazing… and this is just the loaner.
Our mission is to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the Church. Our new organ will plug directly into our on-line streaming system and into our soon-to-be installed outdoor speakers. This will substantially improve the sound of the organ for those outside of the church.
Starting on Veterans Day and then running every Thursday morning from 11 to noon, Dale will play an outdoor organ concert. Each week, he will offer a different theme. Stay tuned for the music calendar selections. We will offer our garden-like campus as a place of rest with uplifting music each Thursday. With Christ, all things are made new. As we bring the living Christ to others, it makes sense that we will be creating familiar tunes and ancient hymns in old and new ways.
- Fr. Dave
The next day he called and sounded much better. He tried the organ again and it worked. Since that time, the organ works when it wants to. This past Sunday, he was supposed to play a music reflection after the prayers of the people. After the prayers, I didn’t hear any music so I started to stand for the announcements but then I heard the hymn so I sat back down. As it turned out, Dale had started playing right after the prayers at the appointed time, but the organ decided to wait and then play.
As far back as theologians and anthropologists can tell, music has always been a part of worship. Many people read the beginning of Genesis this way: “God sang, ‘Let there be light.’” Scripture references heaven as a place with lots and lots of music. In our church, music is important to our worship. Even with the 8 am service, that has no formal music, the silence and reverence felt in the service is its own music.
The Vestry reviewed two bids to replace the organ – one from Allen and the other from Rogers which is a new version of our existing organ. In their factory just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Allen Organ is the last 100% American made organ manufacturer. They are one of the finest electronic organs companies in the world. Although the bids were similar – both around $125,000 – we decided on the Allen. It will be ready by the end of March. Until then, we have a loner Allen organ that was installed on Monday. When I heard it, I thought we actually had pipes in the church. The sound is amazing… and this is just the loaner.
Our mission is to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the Church. Our new organ will plug directly into our on-line streaming system and into our soon-to-be installed outdoor speakers. This will substantially improve the sound of the organ for those outside of the church.
Starting on Veterans Day and then running every Thursday morning from 11 to noon, Dale will play an outdoor organ concert. Each week, he will offer a different theme. Stay tuned for the music calendar selections. We will offer our garden-like campus as a place of rest with uplifting music each Thursday. With Christ, all things are made new. As we bring the living Christ to others, it makes sense that we will be creating familiar tunes and ancient hymns in old and new ways.
- Fr. Dave
Lift a Cup
October 29, 2020
The theme of the discussion groups this week was happiness. The article we discussed was written by Arthur Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor, who opined that when it comes to happiness, we are measuring the wrong indicators. Typically, American household happiness is measured by how large our houses are, which have increased by 1,000 feet since the early 1970’s; disposable income in relation to how often we eat out; available and use of technology – over the past two decades the availability and use of the internet has increased from 52% of households to 90%. Yet, the General Social Society, which has been measuring social trends among Americans since 1972, shows a long-term, gradual decline in happiness – and a rise in unhappiness – from 1988 to the present. Apparently we are measuring the wrong indicators.
What is happiness to you? How would you define it? The cynic in me says that if we shrank the average size of homes, removed the internet, and ate out less, our happiness would not increase. So, what then is happiness? Is it even measurable?
Water generally makes me happy. Drinking water, boating, swimming, ice in my drink; I like water. After watching Hurricane Zeta, and the other hurricanes this year, slam into the north Gulf Coast, too much water can bring lots of unhappiness. Does happiness come down to balance? No internet would generally make me unhappy. Too much internet time would probably make me unhappy too. Probably. St. Benedict and his rule of life would say that struggle is a part of happiness. We need to labor at something, to work and struggle at something, to find happiness. Although this might blend satisfaction with happiness, there certainly is an element of struggle and balance when defining happiness.
Many find happiness in golf. At the same time, golf is a struggle. Others find happiness in tennis, which, at the same time, is a struggle. Working on a puzzle brings happiness to others but there has to be a balance – it cannot be too easy nor to difficult. The same applies to crossword puzzles and reading a good book.
The happiest moments captured in the Gospel for Jesus is when someone answered a question correctly, when he was blessing children, and, frankly, when wine was involved. Jesus gave great praise, and seemed to have a smile on his face, when wisdom was hidden from the intellectual in society but when children knew the answer. I can see the smile on his face when he said, “Let the children come to me because to these has been given the Kingdom of Heaven.” When his mother, Mary, approached Jesus at a wedding they were attending in Cana, and said, “Son, do that thing you do.” I can see Jesus smiling when he said to the servants, “Fill every pot and bucket you have with water and watch what happens.” I also think that Jesus finds happiness in surprising people. His post-resurrection appearance in the locked room, the two disciples who didn’t recognize him until he sat at a table and broke bread in front of them (and then subsequently immediately disappeared), and on the shoreline calling out to the disciples, “You haven’t caught and fish, have you.” I think he was happy in each case of surprise.
During none of these happy times was Jesus indoors, on the internet, or eating take-out food. Instead, he was involved in connections with others – through conversation and wine. Maybe he was reminding us to find happiness with each other when he lifted up the cup and said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” I think that means that we can find happiness indoors, on the internet, and ordering take-out food if we are doing it in connection with God and others. Even if that cup is on the golf course.
- Fr. Dave
The theme of the discussion groups this week was happiness. The article we discussed was written by Arthur Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor, who opined that when it comes to happiness, we are measuring the wrong indicators. Typically, American household happiness is measured by how large our houses are, which have increased by 1,000 feet since the early 1970’s; disposable income in relation to how often we eat out; available and use of technology – over the past two decades the availability and use of the internet has increased from 52% of households to 90%. Yet, the General Social Society, which has been measuring social trends among Americans since 1972, shows a long-term, gradual decline in happiness – and a rise in unhappiness – from 1988 to the present. Apparently we are measuring the wrong indicators.
What is happiness to you? How would you define it? The cynic in me says that if we shrank the average size of homes, removed the internet, and ate out less, our happiness would not increase. So, what then is happiness? Is it even measurable?
Water generally makes me happy. Drinking water, boating, swimming, ice in my drink; I like water. After watching Hurricane Zeta, and the other hurricanes this year, slam into the north Gulf Coast, too much water can bring lots of unhappiness. Does happiness come down to balance? No internet would generally make me unhappy. Too much internet time would probably make me unhappy too. Probably. St. Benedict and his rule of life would say that struggle is a part of happiness. We need to labor at something, to work and struggle at something, to find happiness. Although this might blend satisfaction with happiness, there certainly is an element of struggle and balance when defining happiness.
Many find happiness in golf. At the same time, golf is a struggle. Others find happiness in tennis, which, at the same time, is a struggle. Working on a puzzle brings happiness to others but there has to be a balance – it cannot be too easy nor to difficult. The same applies to crossword puzzles and reading a good book.
The happiest moments captured in the Gospel for Jesus is when someone answered a question correctly, when he was blessing children, and, frankly, when wine was involved. Jesus gave great praise, and seemed to have a smile on his face, when wisdom was hidden from the intellectual in society but when children knew the answer. I can see the smile on his face when he said, “Let the children come to me because to these has been given the Kingdom of Heaven.” When his mother, Mary, approached Jesus at a wedding they were attending in Cana, and said, “Son, do that thing you do.” I can see Jesus smiling when he said to the servants, “Fill every pot and bucket you have with water and watch what happens.” I also think that Jesus finds happiness in surprising people. His post-resurrection appearance in the locked room, the two disciples who didn’t recognize him until he sat at a table and broke bread in front of them (and then subsequently immediately disappeared), and on the shoreline calling out to the disciples, “You haven’t caught and fish, have you.” I think he was happy in each case of surprise.
During none of these happy times was Jesus indoors, on the internet, or eating take-out food. Instead, he was involved in connections with others – through conversation and wine. Maybe he was reminding us to find happiness with each other when he lifted up the cup and said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” I think that means that we can find happiness indoors, on the internet, and ordering take-out food if we are doing it in connection with God and others. Even if that cup is on the golf course.
- Fr. Dave
A Stole and A Hard Hat
October 22, 2020
I used to be an audio and video sales manager for a home electronics retail company that started with two stores and grew to more than 40 (before they were bought by BestBuy). I was a part of the team that opened our 7th location, it was the flagship store in a highly coveted retail area just south of Seattle. While the store was under construction, it was required that we wear hard hats.
The morning of our grand opening, our store manager held a meeting with the entire 80-person staff. He walked into the meeting wearing his hard hat. He said, “Before most of you got here, the leadership team had to wear these helmets to protect our heads from falling objects; it’s like we expected something to fall. Now that we have this brand new, shiny retail store, it would be a surprise if something fell. Although we are structurally sound, I want you to wear your hard hats, not on your heads but in your mind. I want you to be ready, and to expect, something to break or fail. I want you to expect that something will go wrong so that we can quickly come up with a work-around. This is my fifth new store and I can tell you from experience something always, always goes wrong.” Sure enough, the following week, on a very busy Saturday afternoon, we lost power to the entire point-of-sale system. We quickly pulled out the paper forms; the ones we used to say, “Can I write this up for you?”; and got back to work.
When you look at All Angels, you wouldn’t expect it to be a hard hat area; but it is. Starting the Sunday after Easter, the complexity of delivering our Sunday morning worship service has increased 5-fold. We now publish three weekly bulletins – one in print and two on-line bulletins, regular and large print. We went from having one way to worship – in person, to having these five ways to worship: drive up church on the radio, walk up church in the garden area, live-streamed church on YouTube, Zoom-in’ church, and in person. This means we should be wearing hard hats in our mind every Sunday because something might go wrong. The last two Sundays in a row, our audio cable got kicked which disabled Zoom, the outdoor speakers, and the radio. The last time, however, we got it back up and running within a minute because we were ready and expecting something not to work. In the 21st century Church, it’s like Jesus is saying, “Pick up your cross, put on your hard hat, and follow me.”
-Fr. Dave
The morning of our grand opening, our store manager held a meeting with the entire 80-person staff. He walked into the meeting wearing his hard hat. He said, “Before most of you got here, the leadership team had to wear these helmets to protect our heads from falling objects; it’s like we expected something to fall. Now that we have this brand new, shiny retail store, it would be a surprise if something fell. Although we are structurally sound, I want you to wear your hard hats, not on your heads but in your mind. I want you to be ready, and to expect, something to break or fail. I want you to expect that something will go wrong so that we can quickly come up with a work-around. This is my fifth new store and I can tell you from experience something always, always goes wrong.” Sure enough, the following week, on a very busy Saturday afternoon, we lost power to the entire point-of-sale system. We quickly pulled out the paper forms; the ones we used to say, “Can I write this up for you?”; and got back to work.
When you look at All Angels, you wouldn’t expect it to be a hard hat area; but it is. Starting the Sunday after Easter, the complexity of delivering our Sunday morning worship service has increased 5-fold. We now publish three weekly bulletins – one in print and two on-line bulletins, regular and large print. We went from having one way to worship – in person, to having these five ways to worship: drive up church on the radio, walk up church in the garden area, live-streamed church on YouTube, Zoom-in’ church, and in person. This means we should be wearing hard hats in our mind every Sunday because something might go wrong. The last two Sundays in a row, our audio cable got kicked which disabled Zoom, the outdoor speakers, and the radio. The last time, however, we got it back up and running within a minute because we were ready and expecting something not to work. In the 21st century Church, it’s like Jesus is saying, “Pick up your cross, put on your hard hat, and follow me.”
-Fr. Dave
Practicing Presence
October 15, 2020
Back in Jesus’ day, it was believed there were three planes of existence, heaven, earth, and under-earth. Like dinners plates stacked, the planes touched but there was no interaction between them. One of the early symbols of Jesus is the V shape – he was from heaven, lived on earth, went to under-earth, then back to earth, then returned to heaven. The belief came to be that through Christ, we can enter the “plate” of heaven. But, more than that, the spiritual focus of the early Church was belief that there are no plates, just the constant, daily presence of heaven/God because the Holy Spirit. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can experience heaven in the here and now.
Experiencing heaven on earth gave rise to the notion of “thin places” where the plate of heaven feels closer to the plate of earth. Sometimes those thin places are church; most often, however, they are in nature. The downside to the thin-place theology is that if we feel closer to God in some places, then we don’t know of God’s presence in all places. St. Benedict believed that to be untrue; he believed we are always in a thin place with God because of the Holy Spirit. What we need to do is first recognize or believe that the presence of God is with us at all times.
Benedict wrote that the chief thing that separates us from the presence of God is the thought that we are separated from God. To practice the presence of God is to first let go of the thought that we are separated and then to trust that God is indeed present in all of life around us. The second step in practicing the presence of God is to accept the fact that we can find God’s presence in the ordinary stuff of life – in the beauty of the day, in the voice of a family member, a smile from a stranger, kindness from a neighbor, or in an opportunity that beckons us. The third part of the practice is to accept that practicing the presence of God happens gradually over time.
One person told me that she was wondering what the presence of God was doing while she was watching news on the television. It was a particularly depressing and disturbing news cycle. Fully embracing the belief that the presence of God is with her at all times, she said out loud, “Where is your presence in this!?” The immediate feeling she got back was, “Turn it off.” Feeling a bit shocked, she immediately turned off the TV. In the silence that followed, she heard the sound of the breeze coming in through her sliding door. She got up and looked outside. Unfolding in front of her was the setting sun over the gulf – the yellow hues of the sun reflecting off turquoise water framed in by red clouds and white sand. She gripped the slider door, acknowledged God in the beauty of nature, and whispered “thank you.” The thought that crossed her mind was this, “Hey, you are the one who turned off the TV.”
-Fr. Dave
Experiencing heaven on earth gave rise to the notion of “thin places” where the plate of heaven feels closer to the plate of earth. Sometimes those thin places are church; most often, however, they are in nature. The downside to the thin-place theology is that if we feel closer to God in some places, then we don’t know of God’s presence in all places. St. Benedict believed that to be untrue; he believed we are always in a thin place with God because of the Holy Spirit. What we need to do is first recognize or believe that the presence of God is with us at all times.
Benedict wrote that the chief thing that separates us from the presence of God is the thought that we are separated from God. To practice the presence of God is to first let go of the thought that we are separated and then to trust that God is indeed present in all of life around us. The second step in practicing the presence of God is to accept the fact that we can find God’s presence in the ordinary stuff of life – in the beauty of the day, in the voice of a family member, a smile from a stranger, kindness from a neighbor, or in an opportunity that beckons us. The third part of the practice is to accept that practicing the presence of God happens gradually over time.
One person told me that she was wondering what the presence of God was doing while she was watching news on the television. It was a particularly depressing and disturbing news cycle. Fully embracing the belief that the presence of God is with her at all times, she said out loud, “Where is your presence in this!?” The immediate feeling she got back was, “Turn it off.” Feeling a bit shocked, she immediately turned off the TV. In the silence that followed, she heard the sound of the breeze coming in through her sliding door. She got up and looked outside. Unfolding in front of her was the setting sun over the gulf – the yellow hues of the sun reflecting off turquoise water framed in by red clouds and white sand. She gripped the slider door, acknowledged God in the beauty of nature, and whispered “thank you.” The thought that crossed her mind was this, “Hey, you are the one who turned off the TV.”
-Fr. Dave
A Garrison of Peace
October 8, 2020
If you have seen my liturgical style, you may have noticed that I do not pray the Eucharistic prayer by memory. Some clergy recite it from memory, but, I choose not to. Some of this style has to do with being an underwriter in a corporate culture that insisted one is not to memorize the insurance policy; but rather to read it. It didn’t matter if we had read a particular section hundreds of times, we must read it when making a determination. In college, I studied a Supreme Court case that decided whether a police should read or recite the Miranda rights. The court ruled that the arresting officer must read the rights, not recite it from memory.
In seminary, we were advised to memorize two parts of the service – the absolution and the benediction. In the bulletin this Sunday, the benediction isn’t in print, it just says, “The Blessing”. I don’t memorize stuff well; in fact, some have made fun of me for not remembering the lyrics to the most common Christmas hymns. But, for the benediction, I will be just fine as long as I remember these words: the peace of God. If I can remember those words, I can recite the rest from memory – “[the peace of God] which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The words of the benediction came from Sunday’s reading — chapter 4, verse 7, of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This past Tuesday, I was reading the chapter in Greek. Normally I’d speed through the words I already know but something made me stop and look at them in verse 7. Wouldn’t you know, I saw something that I’ve never seen before. The word that stuck out for me is the verb “to keep”. The Greek word Paul used is phroureo; it means to keep, to guard, to set-a-garrison. The transliterated Greek reads this way: the peace of God which exceeds all thought set-a-garrison-around your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Upon reading that, my mind was blown. I had never imagined God’s peace setting a garrison/fortress around my heart and mind in Christ. Visually speaking, the peace of God for me had always looked like a tranquil lake, or an orange setting sun over a blue ocean, not a stone wall. In fact, when I think of the verb to-keep, I think of it in in a possessive transaction; like keeping something. But, medieval architecture shows a keep is a strong tower. Here I was thinking that God’s peace keeps-transactionally our hearts and minds in Christ. Where, in Paul’s day and time, he wrote that God’s peace sets a garrison or a strong tower to hold our hearts and minds in Christ. Now, that certainly does pass all understanding!
-Fr. Dave
In seminary, we were advised to memorize two parts of the service – the absolution and the benediction. In the bulletin this Sunday, the benediction isn’t in print, it just says, “The Blessing”. I don’t memorize stuff well; in fact, some have made fun of me for not remembering the lyrics to the most common Christmas hymns. But, for the benediction, I will be just fine as long as I remember these words: the peace of God. If I can remember those words, I can recite the rest from memory – “[the peace of God] which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The words of the benediction came from Sunday’s reading — chapter 4, verse 7, of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This past Tuesday, I was reading the chapter in Greek. Normally I’d speed through the words I already know but something made me stop and look at them in verse 7. Wouldn’t you know, I saw something that I’ve never seen before. The word that stuck out for me is the verb “to keep”. The Greek word Paul used is phroureo; it means to keep, to guard, to set-a-garrison. The transliterated Greek reads this way: the peace of God which exceeds all thought set-a-garrison-around your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Upon reading that, my mind was blown. I had never imagined God’s peace setting a garrison/fortress around my heart and mind in Christ. Visually speaking, the peace of God for me had always looked like a tranquil lake, or an orange setting sun over a blue ocean, not a stone wall. In fact, when I think of the verb to-keep, I think of it in in a possessive transaction; like keeping something. But, medieval architecture shows a keep is a strong tower. Here I was thinking that God’s peace keeps-transactionally our hearts and minds in Christ. Where, in Paul’s day and time, he wrote that God’s peace sets a garrison or a strong tower to hold our hearts and minds in Christ. Now, that certainly does pass all understanding!
-Fr. Dave
Replate! Replate!
October 1, 2020
My friend Tim, after finding out that All Angels needed to have our chalices replated, wrote this joke:
A pastor had two chalices that were in need of refinishing — the silver lining had worn away after years of wear. He found a business that did such things and decided to try them out with one of the chalices and if it worked out okay he would take in the second one. But it turned out the owner of the business was a crook and instead of using silver, he used tin. Upon picking up the poorly refinished chalice, the pastor said to him, “Replate, replate, and tin no more.”
One hallmark of seminary training is field education – doing hands on service at various churches in the area and then reflecting about our experience each week in class. Many of the parishes near the seminary pride themselves on being training churches. There are some, however, that are not used to, nor inclined to, be a teaching parish. I’ll call one such church Smokey Steve’s – an anglo-catholic parish that uses a lot of incense. A friend of mine shared her experience serving at Smokey’s. It was her first time serving with the chalice. Half way through the administration of the cup, the altar guild director reprimanded her by the altar and said she is, “Wiping the chalice wrong” and that she will “wear out the chalice.” When my friend retold this story in class, our professor became indignant. She said, “We SHOULD be wearing out our chalices. What good news: the Episcopal Church actually wore out a chalice from using it too much! Hallelujah!”
My professor would be pleased with All Angels. We have worn out both of our chalices. By some divine design, it happened at the same time. And, it happened during a global pandemic when we are offering only the bread and therefore not using the chalices. What a perfect time to have them replated. Hallelujah!
I am thankful for many things including the fact that we have actually used our chalices enough to wear them out, that we have so many generous parishioners that we have the funds to replate immediately without financial constraint, and, I am thankful that we are passing refinished chalices to the next generation so that they can wear them out too. Hallelujah indeed!
-Fr. Dave
A pastor had two chalices that were in need of refinishing — the silver lining had worn away after years of wear. He found a business that did such things and decided to try them out with one of the chalices and if it worked out okay he would take in the second one. But it turned out the owner of the business was a crook and instead of using silver, he used tin. Upon picking up the poorly refinished chalice, the pastor said to him, “Replate, replate, and tin no more.”
One hallmark of seminary training is field education – doing hands on service at various churches in the area and then reflecting about our experience each week in class. Many of the parishes near the seminary pride themselves on being training churches. There are some, however, that are not used to, nor inclined to, be a teaching parish. I’ll call one such church Smokey Steve’s – an anglo-catholic parish that uses a lot of incense. A friend of mine shared her experience serving at Smokey’s. It was her first time serving with the chalice. Half way through the administration of the cup, the altar guild director reprimanded her by the altar and said she is, “Wiping the chalice wrong” and that she will “wear out the chalice.” When my friend retold this story in class, our professor became indignant. She said, “We SHOULD be wearing out our chalices. What good news: the Episcopal Church actually wore out a chalice from using it too much! Hallelujah!”
My professor would be pleased with All Angels. We have worn out both of our chalices. By some divine design, it happened at the same time. And, it happened during a global pandemic when we are offering only the bread and therefore not using the chalices. What a perfect time to have them replated. Hallelujah!
I am thankful for many things including the fact that we have actually used our chalices enough to wear them out, that we have so many generous parishioners that we have the funds to replate immediately without financial constraint, and, I am thankful that we are passing refinished chalices to the next generation so that they can wear them out too. Hallelujah indeed!
-Fr. Dave
Praying the Psalms
September 24, 2020
I’ve been asked who is writing the prayers of the people for Sunday – it’s me. Several events have converged to make this happen. In order to limit exposure and spreading of the virus, we have not rotated our Sunday servers. Our prayer leaders, Rev. Maggie, 10 am, and Alison Jones, 8 am, have been leading us in in prayer for long enough that I have become familiar with how they pray out loud. This has allowed me to shape the prayers with their voice in mind. Because of the upside-down-ness of 2020, prayers are both paramount and a source of great comfort. Doing the same-ol’-same-ol’ prayers didn’t seem to fit the urgency and uniqueness our time. Thankfully the prayer book allows for, and in many ways encourages, prayers to be written and said during the peak of the liturgy of the word.
The Lutheran Coalition for Renewal provides scripture-based prayers each week that follow the lectionary readings. I use them as a resource. The last few weeks, however, I have taken it one step further; we are now praying the psalms. Elijah’s Bible class at Bradenton Christian School is studying the psalms which includes having students write their own. The 5th grade materials show the five categories of psalms. In seminary, we learned the seven psalmic categories in four forms. Yet, at 8 pm, on the night before the assignment was due, both child and parent were tired. I said, “Look, this is how I see the psalms – they say either ‘thanks’, ‘wow’, or ‘help’. Which prayer do you want to write today?” His answer: “Thanks.” That event was the inspiration for praying the psalms with our Sunday prayers.
There are lots of books on how to pray the psalms. Here’s the Marshall version – read a line of the psalm and then say to God what it means to you, right here, right now. For example, Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” says to me right now that God is guiding me. As such, my prayer is, “Thank you Lord, I have no want nor worry because you are my shepherd.” If you were to literally open the Bible to the Book of Psalms – it is easy to find because it is right in the middle of the book – read any line, think about what it means to you right now, and say that to God, then you are praying the psalms.
Last week, we had this prayer:
One generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your power.
Make the Church a place where all may find shelter in Jesus’ widespread arms; grow in faith and joy, and labor fruitfully to his glory and for the benefit of others.
I wrote it because when I read Psalm 145, verse 4 – one generation shall praise your works to another – I thought of the Church.
This Sunday’s psalm, 103, has to do with angels. As such, each prayer begins with a verse from the psalm and has something to pray about with angels in our midst. In that sense, the voice of Alison and Rev. Maggie will carry the voice of the angels to our ears and from our hearts to God on the wings of angels.
-Fr. Dave
The Lutheran Coalition for Renewal provides scripture-based prayers each week that follow the lectionary readings. I use them as a resource. The last few weeks, however, I have taken it one step further; we are now praying the psalms. Elijah’s Bible class at Bradenton Christian School is studying the psalms which includes having students write their own. The 5th grade materials show the five categories of psalms. In seminary, we learned the seven psalmic categories in four forms. Yet, at 8 pm, on the night before the assignment was due, both child and parent were tired. I said, “Look, this is how I see the psalms – they say either ‘thanks’, ‘wow’, or ‘help’. Which prayer do you want to write today?” His answer: “Thanks.” That event was the inspiration for praying the psalms with our Sunday prayers.
There are lots of books on how to pray the psalms. Here’s the Marshall version – read a line of the psalm and then say to God what it means to you, right here, right now. For example, Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” says to me right now that God is guiding me. As such, my prayer is, “Thank you Lord, I have no want nor worry because you are my shepherd.” If you were to literally open the Bible to the Book of Psalms – it is easy to find because it is right in the middle of the book – read any line, think about what it means to you right now, and say that to God, then you are praying the psalms.
Last week, we had this prayer:
One generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your power.
Make the Church a place where all may find shelter in Jesus’ widespread arms; grow in faith and joy, and labor fruitfully to his glory and for the benefit of others.
I wrote it because when I read Psalm 145, verse 4 – one generation shall praise your works to another – I thought of the Church.
This Sunday’s psalm, 103, has to do with angels. As such, each prayer begins with a verse from the psalm and has something to pray about with angels in our midst. In that sense, the voice of Alison and Rev. Maggie will carry the voice of the angels to our ears and from our hearts to God on the wings of angels.
-Fr. Dave
Code Enforcement
September 17, 2020
I found myself at a boat ramp on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Maybe it was curiosity, or a rite of passage, or maybe it was a break in the thunder and rain that made me want to take the boat out; regardless of the reason, and despite the stories of Florida boat ramps, I decided to launch the boat on the busiest weekend of the year. We put our boat, Epifinny, in at the south ramp of Coquina Beach, near the Longboat Pass Bridge. Designed to launch two boats at the same time, with a dock on the left and right side, that morning, many boaters decided to launch straight down the middle. The via-media side of me appreciated their middle of the road approach. Nevertheless, it did cause a backup. We were the third boat in line to launch, which, in retrospect, was a good way to watch how others performed the tricky maneuver of reversing a boat and trailer into saltwater. Getting the boat out of the water was a different matter entirely.
The boys and I planned on being home for lunch. I figured that the boat ramp would be full by mid-morning so that very few would use it at noon. Unfortunately, that was not the case; I was the fifth trailer in line at noon. By the time I was on deck, as it were, the ramp was nearing the intersection of chaos and anarchy. Fortunately, the Code Enforcement officers rolled in. Driving a golf cart that remembered to eat Wheaties in the morning, three officers started barking directions to drivers and boaters before their feet touched the ground. It was a welcome sight.
The boat owner in front of me had just launched his Sea-Doo jet ski and drove off to park the trailer. Unfortunately, his watercraft was blocking the ramp. The code enforcement officer told me to drive into the launching lane and wait for them to tell me when to go. I did as I was told. With the jet ski still in the water, the officer motioned for me to reverse in. With my empty trailer, it was easy to see where the vessel was so I started backing until the wheels were almost in the water. The officer motioned for me to stop and then joked, “Hey, if this guy doesn’t come back, do you want a jet ski?” The owner came back and, seeing the scene, hurried to his personal watercraft. All three officers were watching him with their arms folded over their chests. To lighten the mood, I asked the officer nearest to me, “Are you putting money on whether the jet ski starts?” The officer replied with a smirk, “Nah, it’s not going to start. The key is in but he forgot about the kill switch.” After several attempts, and some swear words from the operator aimed at his passenger, the officer unfolded his arms, walked over and said, “Listen brother, you gotta...” And then it fired up. Shortly thereafter, my boys and I were at home eating lunch.
I believe in angels. After watching the Code Enforcement officers, it makes me wonder if angels watch us in the same way – speaking only when having too, and, being a presence of calm when frustration takes over. According to the City Bradenton Beach, their CE officers have the difficult assignment of balancing the general public’s welfare with the rights of individual owners and operators. It must be a thankless job; as such, I sent them a note of thanks for their help on Labor Day weekend. Come to think of it, I should probably thank my guardian angel too.
-Fr. Dave
The boys and I planned on being home for lunch. I figured that the boat ramp would be full by mid-morning so that very few would use it at noon. Unfortunately, that was not the case; I was the fifth trailer in line at noon. By the time I was on deck, as it were, the ramp was nearing the intersection of chaos and anarchy. Fortunately, the Code Enforcement officers rolled in. Driving a golf cart that remembered to eat Wheaties in the morning, three officers started barking directions to drivers and boaters before their feet touched the ground. It was a welcome sight.
The boat owner in front of me had just launched his Sea-Doo jet ski and drove off to park the trailer. Unfortunately, his watercraft was blocking the ramp. The code enforcement officer told me to drive into the launching lane and wait for them to tell me when to go. I did as I was told. With the jet ski still in the water, the officer motioned for me to reverse in. With my empty trailer, it was easy to see where the vessel was so I started backing until the wheels were almost in the water. The officer motioned for me to stop and then joked, “Hey, if this guy doesn’t come back, do you want a jet ski?” The owner came back and, seeing the scene, hurried to his personal watercraft. All three officers were watching him with their arms folded over their chests. To lighten the mood, I asked the officer nearest to me, “Are you putting money on whether the jet ski starts?” The officer replied with a smirk, “Nah, it’s not going to start. The key is in but he forgot about the kill switch.” After several attempts, and some swear words from the operator aimed at his passenger, the officer unfolded his arms, walked over and said, “Listen brother, you gotta...” And then it fired up. Shortly thereafter, my boys and I were at home eating lunch.
I believe in angels. After watching the Code Enforcement officers, it makes me wonder if angels watch us in the same way – speaking only when having too, and, being a presence of calm when frustration takes over. According to the City Bradenton Beach, their CE officers have the difficult assignment of balancing the general public’s welfare with the rights of individual owners and operators. It must be a thankless job; as such, I sent them a note of thanks for their help on Labor Day weekend. Come to think of it, I should probably thank my guardian angel too.
-Fr. Dave
The Church's One Foundation
September 10, 2020
I recently received an email of a local house listing from a friend, Tim, in North Idaho. Here is the description: A floating wedding chapel has been transformed into a luxury houseboat and is on the market for $400,000. The unique two-bedroom property is currently docked on the Manatee River in Palmetto, Florida. The vessel was formerly a wedding venue known as Chapel On The Bay but now it can be your dream home.
Just think of the possibilities of a floating church – it is a rectory, a portable office, a commuter car during the busy season, a vessel of outreach, a blessing barge and ark wedding center. I could skipper it to the annual Diocesan convention held in Port Charlotte which just happens to have a dock. In fact, I could even dock at DaySpring Camp and Conference Center, located conveniently on the Manatee River, for clergy conference or when I have a meeting with the bishop. In fact, I could have him over for lunch and a swim. How about a Bible study with lessons on walking on water or casting nets on the other side of the boat. I could hang a sign on the side of the church/boat that says, “Get your fishing license blessed here.”
There is a famous church hymn that begins with, “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the word.” If I could take “by water” literally, it would make sense to have a floating church. Speaking of the foundation, the church-houseboat is 33 tons and sits upon a 30’x60’ fiberglass catamaran hull. A dual hull design is similar to the dual nature of Christ, right? She is powered by two Cummins diesel engines for a max speed of 6 knots (just about 7 mph – a holy number). I can imagine that instead of a baptismal font, there would be a baptismal water slide. We could even install holy water cannons to bless unsuspecting boaters at local sandbars. The last thing I have to say about this is if All Angels by the Sea wanted to have a satellite campus, a boat would make sense. Her name would be, of course, All Angels on the Sea.
For as much fun as it would be to tie up to Plymouth Harbor in a floating chapel, it does sound a little dinghy. In all seriousness, we have a church with a strong foundation, Christ is the chief cornerstone. We are fellow travelers on this journey through life. We don’t need a floating church because Christ goes with us wherever we are – on land and on water. But, holy water cannons do sound fun.
-Fr. Dave
Just think of the possibilities of a floating church – it is a rectory, a portable office, a commuter car during the busy season, a vessel of outreach, a blessing barge and ark wedding center. I could skipper it to the annual Diocesan convention held in Port Charlotte which just happens to have a dock. In fact, I could even dock at DaySpring Camp and Conference Center, located conveniently on the Manatee River, for clergy conference or when I have a meeting with the bishop. In fact, I could have him over for lunch and a swim. How about a Bible study with lessons on walking on water or casting nets on the other side of the boat. I could hang a sign on the side of the church/boat that says, “Get your fishing license blessed here.”
There is a famous church hymn that begins with, “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the word.” If I could take “by water” literally, it would make sense to have a floating church. Speaking of the foundation, the church-houseboat is 33 tons and sits upon a 30’x60’ fiberglass catamaran hull. A dual hull design is similar to the dual nature of Christ, right? She is powered by two Cummins diesel engines for a max speed of 6 knots (just about 7 mph – a holy number). I can imagine that instead of a baptismal font, there would be a baptismal water slide. We could even install holy water cannons to bless unsuspecting boaters at local sandbars. The last thing I have to say about this is if All Angels by the Sea wanted to have a satellite campus, a boat would make sense. Her name would be, of course, All Angels on the Sea.
For as much fun as it would be to tie up to Plymouth Harbor in a floating chapel, it does sound a little dinghy. In all seriousness, we have a church with a strong foundation, Christ is the chief cornerstone. We are fellow travelers on this journey through life. We don’t need a floating church because Christ goes with us wherever we are – on land and on water. But, holy water cannons do sound fun.
-Fr. Dave
Virtually Blessing Pets
September 3, 2020
I sat near the sidewalk along Bay Isles Road on October 3, 2019 and blessed pets as they walked by. Several folks stopped by to ask what in the world I was doing. “Blessing pets,” I’d reply.
A volunteer at the Temple heard my answer and asked, “Why?” I explained, “The Episcopal Church blesses all sorts of things – cars, bikes, glasses, jewelry, relationships, businesses, boats, churches, houses, driver’s licenses; really, anything you can think of we bless; so, why not pets?” In reality, we didn’t start it. St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) was known to have great love for animals and the environment. Every year around the anniversary of his death, October 4th, it is traditional to bless animals as a reminder of the love that God has given us through these special creatures and, we take time to reflect on our roles of stewards of God’s creation. My question for this year is how are we to bless animals during a pandemic?
This past week, our discussion groups tackled the topic of uncertainty. One thing we are certain of is that uncertainty can be a catalyst of innovation and creativity. I was reminded of that fact when I found myself researching and then adjusting the bit rate of our main church camera from 5,280 bps to 2,500 to match YouTube’s new encoding and metadata protocol. For those watching YouTube on Sunday, you undoubted noticed that about halfway through the service the video paused/buffered. Unfortunately, the audio didn’t buffer which resulted in the audio signal being 40 seconds ahead of the video. It’s been fixed and I never imagined I’d know how to do it. For the other complications, we had a visit from our a/v installation company. Like a car tune-up, our system is now running better than before. During the pandemic, YouTube, Zoom, and every other organization in the modern world has had to make adjustments. By comparison, in St. Francis’ life, he saw the invention of the blast furnace and wheelbarrow. Can you imagine a world without a wheelbarrow? My kids ask the same question about the internet.
Back to the question – how to bless pets during a pandemic – we believe that when two or three are gathered together in Christ’s name, he will be with us. I believe that gathering in Christ’s name can happen both in person and on-line. Fred and Diane in Maine and Linda in southern California are gathered in Christ’s name through All Angels and the help of the internet. Is Christ with them even if they are not gathered under one roof? I believe so. After all, God’s roof is much bigger than we can imagine. Likewise, with blessings of pets, do my hands need to touch each pet? Of course not. St. Francis blessed birds, yet he did not touch them. Were they blessed? I believe so because it’s God who does the blessing.
Here is what I am thinking about pet blessing:
May God bless us as we strive to bring his love and mercy to those inside and outside the church.
- Fr. Dave
A volunteer at the Temple heard my answer and asked, “Why?” I explained, “The Episcopal Church blesses all sorts of things – cars, bikes, glasses, jewelry, relationships, businesses, boats, churches, houses, driver’s licenses; really, anything you can think of we bless; so, why not pets?” In reality, we didn’t start it. St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) was known to have great love for animals and the environment. Every year around the anniversary of his death, October 4th, it is traditional to bless animals as a reminder of the love that God has given us through these special creatures and, we take time to reflect on our roles of stewards of God’s creation. My question for this year is how are we to bless animals during a pandemic?
This past week, our discussion groups tackled the topic of uncertainty. One thing we are certain of is that uncertainty can be a catalyst of innovation and creativity. I was reminded of that fact when I found myself researching and then adjusting the bit rate of our main church camera from 5,280 bps to 2,500 to match YouTube’s new encoding and metadata protocol. For those watching YouTube on Sunday, you undoubted noticed that about halfway through the service the video paused/buffered. Unfortunately, the audio didn’t buffer which resulted in the audio signal being 40 seconds ahead of the video. It’s been fixed and I never imagined I’d know how to do it. For the other complications, we had a visit from our a/v installation company. Like a car tune-up, our system is now running better than before. During the pandemic, YouTube, Zoom, and every other organization in the modern world has had to make adjustments. By comparison, in St. Francis’ life, he saw the invention of the blast furnace and wheelbarrow. Can you imagine a world without a wheelbarrow? My kids ask the same question about the internet.
Back to the question – how to bless pets during a pandemic – we believe that when two or three are gathered together in Christ’s name, he will be with us. I believe that gathering in Christ’s name can happen both in person and on-line. Fred and Diane in Maine and Linda in southern California are gathered in Christ’s name through All Angels and the help of the internet. Is Christ with them even if they are not gathered under one roof? I believe so. After all, God’s roof is much bigger than we can imagine. Likewise, with blessings of pets, do my hands need to touch each pet? Of course not. St. Francis blessed birds, yet he did not touch them. Were they blessed? I believe so because it’s God who does the blessing.
Here is what I am thinking about pet blessing:
- Bring your pets, in person, Thursday October 1,
at 2 pm in front of the bell tower. - Gather your pets on-line, Sunday October 4, at 10 am on either YouTube or Zoom.
- Bring your pets to either Walk-up or Drive-in Church, Sunday, October 4, at the 10 service.
May God bless us as we strive to bring his love and mercy to those inside and outside the church.
- Fr. Dave
Cautionary Practices
August 27, 2020
A group of concerned citizens convinced the Manatee County Commission to modify its mask mandate to exempt churches effective immediately. Although I have some strong feelings on this exemption, it does not affect All Angels for many reasons – first and foremost, we’re in Sarasota County (Longboat Key is oddly in both counties), the city has a mask mandate and the Bishop has said each rector and Vestry should continue in cautionary practices.
We are dealing with a contagious airborne virus that is often spread by non-symptomatic people. Most of the congregation would self-identify as being in a high risk category. Just because Manatee County is reporting a 4% infection rate doesn’t mean we are in the clear. Speaking of infection rates, Longboat Key has gone weeks without a new reported case. Despite that success, the city commissioners have wisely, in my opinion, decided to continue with the cautionary practices that have kept the infection rate at or near zero.
There is an interesting case from a Starbucks in South Korea. An unmasked, asymptomatic customer enjoyed her drink while sitting underneath a blowing a/c vent. She infected 27 people in the establishment. Contact tracing has shown those 27 have infected 36 more, so far. The customer and the 27 people most likely had masks but were not wearing them because they were eating and drinking. Yet, the four Starbucks employees who wore masks did not become infected. Epidemiologists have shown masks significantly reduce the chance of asymptomatic spread; this particular case, however, shows how non-N95 masks can even hold back the virus from the wearer. It seems as if wearing a mask helps your neighbor and yourself.
Manatee County Commission said there has been no evidence of virus transmission stemming from church participation in the county… thus, masks are not required. Unfortunately, evidence suggests otherwise; churches around the country have experienced blooming transmission from unmasked church participation. It raises the question for me that perhaps no Manatee County church transmission has occurred because masks are required. I get little comfort knowing that epidemiologists in the future will study what happens here.
The group of concerned citizens against wearing masks in church said that it was governmental overreach, prohibited free worship, and, if the government could dictate what they could wear, perhaps the government could limit the number of people who can attend. This author would like to point out that those clauses – clothing and maximum number in a building – currently exist. Also in existence is the fact that mask or no mask I still cannot visit parishioners at Sarasota Memorial Hospital or Plymouth Harbor. To our brothers and sisters of the faith in Manatee County, we are all members of one body. The Apostle Paul writes that we need to weep with those who weep and celebrate with those who celebrate. I think he’d also write that we need to wear masks for those who medically cannot wear them and for those who are at the most risk. Perhaps the best expression of free worship is this: to voluntarily practice cautionary practices, like wearing a face covering, to help others.
- Fr. Dave
We are dealing with a contagious airborne virus that is often spread by non-symptomatic people. Most of the congregation would self-identify as being in a high risk category. Just because Manatee County is reporting a 4% infection rate doesn’t mean we are in the clear. Speaking of infection rates, Longboat Key has gone weeks without a new reported case. Despite that success, the city commissioners have wisely, in my opinion, decided to continue with the cautionary practices that have kept the infection rate at or near zero.
There is an interesting case from a Starbucks in South Korea. An unmasked, asymptomatic customer enjoyed her drink while sitting underneath a blowing a/c vent. She infected 27 people in the establishment. Contact tracing has shown those 27 have infected 36 more, so far. The customer and the 27 people most likely had masks but were not wearing them because they were eating and drinking. Yet, the four Starbucks employees who wore masks did not become infected. Epidemiologists have shown masks significantly reduce the chance of asymptomatic spread; this particular case, however, shows how non-N95 masks can even hold back the virus from the wearer. It seems as if wearing a mask helps your neighbor and yourself.
Manatee County Commission said there has been no evidence of virus transmission stemming from church participation in the county… thus, masks are not required. Unfortunately, evidence suggests otherwise; churches around the country have experienced blooming transmission from unmasked church participation. It raises the question for me that perhaps no Manatee County church transmission has occurred because masks are required. I get little comfort knowing that epidemiologists in the future will study what happens here.
The group of concerned citizens against wearing masks in church said that it was governmental overreach, prohibited free worship, and, if the government could dictate what they could wear, perhaps the government could limit the number of people who can attend. This author would like to point out that those clauses – clothing and maximum number in a building – currently exist. Also in existence is the fact that mask or no mask I still cannot visit parishioners at Sarasota Memorial Hospital or Plymouth Harbor. To our brothers and sisters of the faith in Manatee County, we are all members of one body. The Apostle Paul writes that we need to weep with those who weep and celebrate with those who celebrate. I think he’d also write that we need to wear masks for those who medically cannot wear them and for those who are at the most risk. Perhaps the best expression of free worship is this: to voluntarily practice cautionary practices, like wearing a face covering, to help others.
- Fr. Dave
The Garden
August 20, 2020
All Angels has a splendid group of gardeners who are willing to lend their talents to beautify our campus. From our hanging orchids to the memorial garden to the walking path through the park-like setting where people come and rest, we have a wonderful, angel-filled grounds.
Anglican tradition believes God is revealed in Scripture, in nature, and reason. Using that our theological tradition, I’d like to introduce you one of our more recent plants. Pictured here is a plant that was on the back side of the church in a spot where it wasn’t growing well. The blue vase was in the angel fountain entrance but has been relocated while we imagine a new, more accessible entrance. One of our angel gardeners took the opportunity and transplanted both the plant and the vase so now it is on display on the walking path toward the church entrance. One thing gardeners do is transplant; they take a plant, replant it, and it usually thrives. In a theological sense, so does God.
We have been given a garden and plants as well as memory/reason/skill. We are called to use all of those for the growth of God’s garden-gift. Just like a gardener who sees a plant not doing so well in one environment and moves it to a better place, the Holy Spirit, who is The Master Gardener, also transplants us and helps us grow. I was reminded of this the last time I was out on our boat. Elijah drove the boat for the entire outing except for launching it and putting it back on the trailer. Elijah has been transplanted from the San Diego area where he used to ride his bike around the lake by our house. Nowadays in Florida, he is driving a boat around the bay. I think God saw in him something more than a bike rider.
Thinking about the congregation of All Angels, I’d have to say we are all transplants. We have been plucked up from somewhere and established here. Some of our congregation transplants every year – from Florida to the north and then back to Florida again. Yet, whether a parishioner is a year-rounder or a seasonal resident, there is God-given growth in the transplant.
I give thanks to God who has given us a garden and the ability to care for it. I also give thanks to God, The Master Gardener, who transplants and provides for growth.
- Fr. Dave
Anglican tradition believes God is revealed in Scripture, in nature, and reason. Using that our theological tradition, I’d like to introduce you one of our more recent plants. Pictured here is a plant that was on the back side of the church in a spot where it wasn’t growing well. The blue vase was in the angel fountain entrance but has been relocated while we imagine a new, more accessible entrance. One of our angel gardeners took the opportunity and transplanted both the plant and the vase so now it is on display on the walking path toward the church entrance. One thing gardeners do is transplant; they take a plant, replant it, and it usually thrives. In a theological sense, so does God.
We have been given a garden and plants as well as memory/reason/skill. We are called to use all of those for the growth of God’s garden-gift. Just like a gardener who sees a plant not doing so well in one environment and moves it to a better place, the Holy Spirit, who is The Master Gardener, also transplants us and helps us grow. I was reminded of this the last time I was out on our boat. Elijah drove the boat for the entire outing except for launching it and putting it back on the trailer. Elijah has been transplanted from the San Diego area where he used to ride his bike around the lake by our house. Nowadays in Florida, he is driving a boat around the bay. I think God saw in him something more than a bike rider.
Thinking about the congregation of All Angels, I’d have to say we are all transplants. We have been plucked up from somewhere and established here. Some of our congregation transplants every year – from Florida to the north and then back to Florida again. Yet, whether a parishioner is a year-rounder or a seasonal resident, there is God-given growth in the transplant.
I give thanks to God who has given us a garden and the ability to care for it. I also give thanks to God, The Master Gardener, who transplants and provides for growth.
- Fr. Dave
DVR
August 13, 2020
It’s not often I get to say the words, “Fixed it.” My vocation is an on-going mission and ministry, and, like teaching, or management, or accounting, it doesn’t have a lot of moments where I can sit back and say it is fixed, or done, or completed. Jesus’ last words on the cross, “It is finished,” are important because ministerial life is often just the opposite. My wife’s side of the family includes fire fighters and vineyard owners. Although they can finish a season, both occupations always seem to be on call. My clergy mentor and friend, Brian Prior, would mow the lawn of his church perhaps for the sole reason of seeing something completed at church.
About six years ago, we cut-the-cord from cable and bought an over-the-air DVR and digital antenna. It had an expensive, upfront cost, but the past six years have been free television heaven. While we miss watching HGTV and cable news networks, the exchange – paying nothing – has definitely made it worth it. On Monday, however, our digital video recorder stopped working. The recording part of the DVR is on a hard drive identical to the one used in computers and laptops; and it just failed. On the DVR were 40 Nova programs, 32 Nature on PBS, 4 Father Brown episodes, a bunch of cooking shows and other things we enjoy watching. In an attempt to get the DVR to work, I had to reboot it which erased everything. But alas, unlike Fr. Brown solving another murder mystery, this ended unfinished and justice was not served.
After spending a little time on-line finding out what others have done, I bought a 2 terabyte external hard drive, plugged it into the DVR, rebooted, and… viola, it worked! While our past recorded shows are gone, we can now begin recording again to our heart’s desire. This new drive can store four-times what our old one could. In a year from now, we’re going to have a Rick Steves’ Europe binge watch! And, in addition to being able to record again, this project has allowed me to say the words, “fixed it.”
I wondered if this is how a surgeon feels after completing a surgery? And yes, I do know there is a difference between fixing a broken hard drive and replacing a heart valve. But is the satisfaction the same? I have yet to find a surgeon who has replaced a hard drive, and likewise, an IT tech who has replaced a heart valve, so I can only guess that the answer is yes.
After Jesus fed the 5,000, was there a point when he sat back in the grass and watched the people eat, and said to himself, “Fixed it.” I hope so. On the 7th day of creation, when God sat back and rested, was the satisfaction the same as a potter who completes an entire dining set? Again, I hope so. I wonder what it was like to eradicate polio. I imagine that satisfaction must be better than heart surgery or home repairs. Will there be a time in human history when the Covid-19 virus is eradicated that we will get to sit back with unmasked mouths and say, “Fixed it.” I sure hope so.
About six years ago, we cut-the-cord from cable and bought an over-the-air DVR and digital antenna. It had an expensive, upfront cost, but the past six years have been free television heaven. While we miss watching HGTV and cable news networks, the exchange – paying nothing – has definitely made it worth it. On Monday, however, our digital video recorder stopped working. The recording part of the DVR is on a hard drive identical to the one used in computers and laptops; and it just failed. On the DVR were 40 Nova programs, 32 Nature on PBS, 4 Father Brown episodes, a bunch of cooking shows and other things we enjoy watching. In an attempt to get the DVR to work, I had to reboot it which erased everything. But alas, unlike Fr. Brown solving another murder mystery, this ended unfinished and justice was not served.
After spending a little time on-line finding out what others have done, I bought a 2 terabyte external hard drive, plugged it into the DVR, rebooted, and… viola, it worked! While our past recorded shows are gone, we can now begin recording again to our heart’s desire. This new drive can store four-times what our old one could. In a year from now, we’re going to have a Rick Steves’ Europe binge watch! And, in addition to being able to record again, this project has allowed me to say the words, “fixed it.”
I wondered if this is how a surgeon feels after completing a surgery? And yes, I do know there is a difference between fixing a broken hard drive and replacing a heart valve. But is the satisfaction the same? I have yet to find a surgeon who has replaced a hard drive, and likewise, an IT tech who has replaced a heart valve, so I can only guess that the answer is yes.
After Jesus fed the 5,000, was there a point when he sat back in the grass and watched the people eat, and said to himself, “Fixed it.” I hope so. On the 7th day of creation, when God sat back and rested, was the satisfaction the same as a potter who completes an entire dining set? Again, I hope so. I wonder what it was like to eradicate polio. I imagine that satisfaction must be better than heart surgery or home repairs. Will there be a time in human history when the Covid-19 virus is eradicated that we will get to sit back with unmasked mouths and say, “Fixed it.” I sure hope so.
Kəˈmyo͞onyən
August 6, 2020
After a long, pandemic-driven hiatus, Holy Communion is being offered again at All Angels. The hiatus came from this question: How do we share in communion but breathe different air? It is inherently difficult to answer because the sacrament says we are one body because we share one bread and one cup. … just not the same air?
The solution required some retooling of the service itself. In an environment where we are required to wear masks indoors, I couldn’t understand how we were to receive the bread with masks on. To make matters more difficult, some of the communicable airborne disease material I read indicated that one should spend the least amount of time possible sharing indoor air. Since we are unable to create an indoor environment like in commercial airliner or ICU where the air is recycled seven times per minute, I came up with a 45-minute Morning Prayer service. Since communion adds twenty minutes to the service; I had to go back to the basics. Here are the requirements for Holy Communion: proclamation of the Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer, the saying of the Nicene Creed (on Sundays), and the Eucharistic prayer. With the help of our worship team, we came up with a Holy Communion service, with music, that goes just over 50 minutes. However, we still had the eat-while-wearing-a-mask problem.
This might sound strange, but I had a dream of administering communion next to a baptismal font. The church in my dreams is always the same – ancient, wooden with tall ceilings, and overflowing with people. Although it is not any church I have ever physically seen, the important part is that in my dream I was giving out communion standing next to the baptismal font. During the day, something triggered a memory of my dream and that’s when it hit me, I need to administer communion next to our baptismal font; which, in our awesome church, is outside.
One unique aspect of All Angels is that our baptismal font is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone can visit at any time. Every other baptismal font I have seen is locked inside a church. Ours is exactly the opposite and is much more representative of the river Jesus was baptized in – outside, in nature, fed by rain water, with leaves, and God’s creatures all around it which includes the black snake that lives in the garden – that’s not figurative, we actually have a friendly black snake which I believe keeps away poisonous snakes and rodents. Anyway, the point is, where others have been baptized, we now receive the Body of Christ. Communicants are invited to take and then eat somewhere on campus in their own individual outdoor air.
Unofficially speaking, the other requirement of Holy Communion is fellowship. That unofficial but important part of communion we will be working on next. Perhaps it’ll take another dream to see the answer that is right in front of me.
- Fr. Dave
The solution required some retooling of the service itself. In an environment where we are required to wear masks indoors, I couldn’t understand how we were to receive the bread with masks on. To make matters more difficult, some of the communicable airborne disease material I read indicated that one should spend the least amount of time possible sharing indoor air. Since we are unable to create an indoor environment like in commercial airliner or ICU where the air is recycled seven times per minute, I came up with a 45-minute Morning Prayer service. Since communion adds twenty minutes to the service; I had to go back to the basics. Here are the requirements for Holy Communion: proclamation of the Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer, the saying of the Nicene Creed (on Sundays), and the Eucharistic prayer. With the help of our worship team, we came up with a Holy Communion service, with music, that goes just over 50 minutes. However, we still had the eat-while-wearing-a-mask problem.
This might sound strange, but I had a dream of administering communion next to a baptismal font. The church in my dreams is always the same – ancient, wooden with tall ceilings, and overflowing with people. Although it is not any church I have ever physically seen, the important part is that in my dream I was giving out communion standing next to the baptismal font. During the day, something triggered a memory of my dream and that’s when it hit me, I need to administer communion next to our baptismal font; which, in our awesome church, is outside.
One unique aspect of All Angels is that our baptismal font is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone can visit at any time. Every other baptismal font I have seen is locked inside a church. Ours is exactly the opposite and is much more representative of the river Jesus was baptized in – outside, in nature, fed by rain water, with leaves, and God’s creatures all around it which includes the black snake that lives in the garden – that’s not figurative, we actually have a friendly black snake which I believe keeps away poisonous snakes and rodents. Anyway, the point is, where others have been baptized, we now receive the Body of Christ. Communicants are invited to take and then eat somewhere on campus in their own individual outdoor air.
Unofficially speaking, the other requirement of Holy Communion is fellowship. That unofficial but important part of communion we will be working on next. Perhaps it’ll take another dream to see the answer that is right in front of me.
- Fr. Dave
Cone of Uncertainty
July 30, 2020
Reporting on Tropical Storm Isaias, The Tampa Bay Times said that our region has entered the “cone of uncertainty” – the yellow cone that depicts the probable track of any given storm. To most Floridians, the cone of uncertainty means this: It is time to check on supplies for a hurricane, to prepare the exterior of homes and businesses, and to go on with life as normal.
At All Angels, we had a two-month head start on the cone of uncertainty. In June, our maintenance committee made sure all branches were trimmed back from the buildings and that any dead limbs that could turn into projectiles were removed. This morning, on a property walk with Ed and Bob; junior and senior warden; all we had to do was move our flower pots inside and take down the beautiful hanging pots from the trees.
On the home front, tomorrow I will do a property walk to make sure that all things around the house are ready. I think our cat, Oscar, is making hurricane preparations too. Starting about a month ago, he started bringing in various creatures to the house – salamanders, lizards, and a snake. Much to our displeasure, he has brought in three bunnies during the past week; the second one he brought in (which may have been the same bunny as the first) either had PTSD or had an injured front leg. The boys and I brought it to a wildlife rescue and rehab facility. The bunny that Oscar brought to us on Monday, however, was fully intact. I was thankful it was uninjured because, to be frank, I wouldn’t know what to say to Ed Straight of Wildlife Rehab Center if I brought another injured bunny to him. Each night we are uncertain what Oscar might bring to us. Here is one thing that is certain: Oscar’s freedom to go outside at night is uncertain.
My Florida life has taught me that life goes on during a cone of uncertainty. If tropical storm Isaias changes direction and causes an evacuation of Longboat Key, Sunday’s service certainly will go on – online, of course.
In a spiritual sense, we can find hope and love at the center of our faith; especially in uncertain times. In faith, we hold onto the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote that nothing can separate us from God’s love. I am certain that if Paul were writing in our day, he would write that nothing can separate us from God’s love – not hurricanes, wildfires or earthquakes, not cancer or surgery, not physical therapy, not pets bringing us gifts, not contentious election cycles, protests, or pandemics – nothing can separate us from God’s love.
- Fr. Dave
At All Angels, we had a two-month head start on the cone of uncertainty. In June, our maintenance committee made sure all branches were trimmed back from the buildings and that any dead limbs that could turn into projectiles were removed. This morning, on a property walk with Ed and Bob; junior and senior warden; all we had to do was move our flower pots inside and take down the beautiful hanging pots from the trees.
On the home front, tomorrow I will do a property walk to make sure that all things around the house are ready. I think our cat, Oscar, is making hurricane preparations too. Starting about a month ago, he started bringing in various creatures to the house – salamanders, lizards, and a snake. Much to our displeasure, he has brought in three bunnies during the past week; the second one he brought in (which may have been the same bunny as the first) either had PTSD or had an injured front leg. The boys and I brought it to a wildlife rescue and rehab facility. The bunny that Oscar brought to us on Monday, however, was fully intact. I was thankful it was uninjured because, to be frank, I wouldn’t know what to say to Ed Straight of Wildlife Rehab Center if I brought another injured bunny to him. Each night we are uncertain what Oscar might bring to us. Here is one thing that is certain: Oscar’s freedom to go outside at night is uncertain.
My Florida life has taught me that life goes on during a cone of uncertainty. If tropical storm Isaias changes direction and causes an evacuation of Longboat Key, Sunday’s service certainly will go on – online, of course.
In a spiritual sense, we can find hope and love at the center of our faith; especially in uncertain times. In faith, we hold onto the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote that nothing can separate us from God’s love. I am certain that if Paul were writing in our day, he would write that nothing can separate us from God’s love – not hurricanes, wildfires or earthquakes, not cancer or surgery, not physical therapy, not pets bringing us gifts, not contentious election cycles, protests, or pandemics – nothing can separate us from God’s love.
- Fr. Dave
Call Me Al
July 23, 2020
They say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. For clergy, it’s both what and who you know. Experience matters a lot in my vocation; so does knowing people who have been-there/done-that and are willing to share their experiences. As such, I am proud and thankful that I know The Rev. Dr. Al Stott.
Tall, barrel chested and handsome, I met Al in 2012 when I started at Saint John’s in Chula Vista. The church and school had gone through tremendous upheaval. Sunday services were lovingly held together by its two retired pastors, known affectionately as the Jack and Al show. Fr. Jack Tolley is a retired Episcopal priest from the San Francisco bay area and Al is a retired Lutheran pastor. Jack and I went to the same seminary and have many things in common. Al, however, is different because, as mentioned, he is a Lutheran pastor who helped save an Episcopal church. But, there is more to it than that. In addition to being a reverend, a professor, and a counsellor, he retired at the rank of captain in the Navy. A Vietnam combat veteran, he, as legend has it, singlehandedly changed the protocol for chaplains in the conflict to be allowed to wear a sidearm. As the story goes, traveling between bases in Vietnam, a roadside bomb flipped his Jeep. He and his driver survived but had one weapon between the two of them and found themselves pinned down under fire until, as he said, “the Calvary arrived to save this sailor and his frightened Army driver.” After the Navy, Al started a counselling service in Japan – in a culture that, at the time, thought very little about talk therapy. And, last but not least, he likes muscle cars and has owned multiple vehicles for most of his life.
Prior to meeting him, I had heard of his background and his various titles. When we first sat down together, I asked him what I should call him. He thought about it and replied, “You should call me… when you need to talk; I’d like to be a pastor to you, someone to listen and occasionally offer advice, but, most of all, I’d like to be your friend.” And then he said with a smile, “Call me Al.” He was each one of those people to me – a pastor, a friend, and someone who gave me great advice.
I was with him when he went through heart surgery and when he celebrated 50 years in ministry. We would have lunch just about every month. He always ordered an open face steak sandwich, rare – very rare; barely warm, as he would call it. And, this is not an exaggeration, he’d go through nearly an entire lemon in wedges with his iced tea. Every year he would invite the men’s group to his house for Octoberfest which always featured plenty of meat, beer, desserts and the occasional vegetable. He could robustly sing in German, tell jokes, and, listen with a well-trained ear to hear the whisper of God in depths of a saddened and battle-weary soul.
A couple of weeks ago, I was told that he had a very bad case of pneumonia, non-Covid related, and was on a ventilator. Last night, he passed into glory. There are not many people like Al in this world and I am very glad that I got to have him in my life. The last thing he said to me is that God grant me fair winds and following seas. And now, with tears in my eyes, I say to him, Bravo Zulu sailor, Bravo Zulu.
Tall, barrel chested and handsome, I met Al in 2012 when I started at Saint John’s in Chula Vista. The church and school had gone through tremendous upheaval. Sunday services were lovingly held together by its two retired pastors, known affectionately as the Jack and Al show. Fr. Jack Tolley is a retired Episcopal priest from the San Francisco bay area and Al is a retired Lutheran pastor. Jack and I went to the same seminary and have many things in common. Al, however, is different because, as mentioned, he is a Lutheran pastor who helped save an Episcopal church. But, there is more to it than that. In addition to being a reverend, a professor, and a counsellor, he retired at the rank of captain in the Navy. A Vietnam combat veteran, he, as legend has it, singlehandedly changed the protocol for chaplains in the conflict to be allowed to wear a sidearm. As the story goes, traveling between bases in Vietnam, a roadside bomb flipped his Jeep. He and his driver survived but had one weapon between the two of them and found themselves pinned down under fire until, as he said, “the Calvary arrived to save this sailor and his frightened Army driver.” After the Navy, Al started a counselling service in Japan – in a culture that, at the time, thought very little about talk therapy. And, last but not least, he likes muscle cars and has owned multiple vehicles for most of his life.
Prior to meeting him, I had heard of his background and his various titles. When we first sat down together, I asked him what I should call him. He thought about it and replied, “You should call me… when you need to talk; I’d like to be a pastor to you, someone to listen and occasionally offer advice, but, most of all, I’d like to be your friend.” And then he said with a smile, “Call me Al.” He was each one of those people to me – a pastor, a friend, and someone who gave me great advice.
I was with him when he went through heart surgery and when he celebrated 50 years in ministry. We would have lunch just about every month. He always ordered an open face steak sandwich, rare – very rare; barely warm, as he would call it. And, this is not an exaggeration, he’d go through nearly an entire lemon in wedges with his iced tea. Every year he would invite the men’s group to his house for Octoberfest which always featured plenty of meat, beer, desserts and the occasional vegetable. He could robustly sing in German, tell jokes, and, listen with a well-trained ear to hear the whisper of God in depths of a saddened and battle-weary soul.
A couple of weeks ago, I was told that he had a very bad case of pneumonia, non-Covid related, and was on a ventilator. Last night, he passed into glory. There are not many people like Al in this world and I am very glad that I got to have him in my life. The last thing he said to me is that God grant me fair winds and following seas. And now, with tears in my eyes, I say to him, Bravo Zulu sailor, Bravo Zulu.
Black Butterfly
July 16, 2020
On Sunday morning, before the 9:15 service, the largest butterfly I have ever seen – larger than the cover of the prayer book – was flying around the stained glass window. In addition to its size, another striking feature about this creature was its black coloring that absorbed light so it looked like a flying shadow; which was quite a contrast to the rising sun shining through the window and the bright white of our recently repainted ceiling. As I was worrying about the butterfly disrupting our upcoming service, it changed course, flew towards me, and then out into the narthex, and then outside through an open door into the angel fountain courtyard.
This is what I have experienced regarding out-of-place animal sightings: they can be interruptive, unexpected, and a sign from a deceased loved one expressing love, comfort and peace. Diane Gustafson, a parishioner at Saint John’s, Chula Vista, and retired college librarian and professor of research skills, wrote a wonderful book titled, “I’ll Bee There.” In it, Diane shares stories of how the essence/soul of people who have passed make their presence known. Through conversations with her, I have come to accept that this phenomenon is something not to be scared of but rather to take such sightings in the spirit of God – in particular, they remind us of eternal love. As such, I had a hunch that seeing an out-of-place butterfly meant something to someone. Thus, to start the sermon, I asked, “Does a black butterfly mean anything to anyone here?” Much to my surprise, no one responded so I proceeded with my sermon.
After the service, Barbara, who is one of our outdoor ushers, told me this story: A couple of days before, a black butterfly flew around her lanai pool area, landing occasionally on exterior windows as if to be looking inside. She cracked open a screen door and it flew out. Then, on Saturday, on the balcony of a friend’s house, after the sun had set into the Gulf, a black butterfly landed near them. It flew around a bit, landed again, and then flew away. And then, Sunday morning, she was sitting on a bench in the columbarium garden listening to the service and she heard me ask if a black butterfly means anything to anyone listening. She asked me if it was a sign of her (deceased) husband checking in on her. I believe it is and the butterfly is typically the symbol of new life. As a follow up, this week it kept on appearing to her and it likes to be near her dog who was her husband's companion and stayed by his side during his entire illness.
Linda, a friend and former parishioner in Chula Vista, who participates on Sunday morning on Zoom, emailed me this story: She got her first teaching job at the age of 21 to 5th graders in Brownsville, Texas. That year, a student told her a story that when her family lived in Mexico, a black butterfly flew by and they chased it all afternoon. She was told that it was the soul (“alma”) of her grandfather who was playing with them.
Scripture tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. I think there are signs all around us of love, remembrance, hope and peace. Sometimes it takes something out of the ordinary, like a large black butterfly, for us to stop and take notice of God’s eternal love.
-Fr. Dave
This is what I have experienced regarding out-of-place animal sightings: they can be interruptive, unexpected, and a sign from a deceased loved one expressing love, comfort and peace. Diane Gustafson, a parishioner at Saint John’s, Chula Vista, and retired college librarian and professor of research skills, wrote a wonderful book titled, “I’ll Bee There.” In it, Diane shares stories of how the essence/soul of people who have passed make their presence known. Through conversations with her, I have come to accept that this phenomenon is something not to be scared of but rather to take such sightings in the spirit of God – in particular, they remind us of eternal love. As such, I had a hunch that seeing an out-of-place butterfly meant something to someone. Thus, to start the sermon, I asked, “Does a black butterfly mean anything to anyone here?” Much to my surprise, no one responded so I proceeded with my sermon.
After the service, Barbara, who is one of our outdoor ushers, told me this story: A couple of days before, a black butterfly flew around her lanai pool area, landing occasionally on exterior windows as if to be looking inside. She cracked open a screen door and it flew out. Then, on Saturday, on the balcony of a friend’s house, after the sun had set into the Gulf, a black butterfly landed near them. It flew around a bit, landed again, and then flew away. And then, Sunday morning, she was sitting on a bench in the columbarium garden listening to the service and she heard me ask if a black butterfly means anything to anyone listening. She asked me if it was a sign of her (deceased) husband checking in on her. I believe it is and the butterfly is typically the symbol of new life. As a follow up, this week it kept on appearing to her and it likes to be near her dog who was her husband's companion and stayed by his side during his entire illness.
Linda, a friend and former parishioner in Chula Vista, who participates on Sunday morning on Zoom, emailed me this story: She got her first teaching job at the age of 21 to 5th graders in Brownsville, Texas. That year, a student told her a story that when her family lived in Mexico, a black butterfly flew by and they chased it all afternoon. She was told that it was the soul (“alma”) of her grandfather who was playing with them.
Scripture tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. I think there are signs all around us of love, remembrance, hope and peace. Sometimes it takes something out of the ordinary, like a large black butterfly, for us to stop and take notice of God’s eternal love.
-Fr. Dave
Shalom 'Olam
July 9, 2020
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
I have been singlehandedly trying to bring back a word from the 1840’s. The word is “agreeance.”
If you look up agreeance, you’ll see these two facts:
1) it is a word, and 2) “agreement” should be used instead.
I disagree with #2 for this reason: agreeance is a state of mind; agreement is a binding course of action between two parties; the words are similar but are not synonymous. For instance, the couple was in agreeance to skip making dinner and go out instead. They agreed upon Thai food. Over dinner, they signed an agreement to buy their dream house in Florida.
One of my favorite radio shows, A Way with Words, on NPR, talked about the word agreeance. The clip is here https://soundcloud.com/waywordradio/1350-caller-sadie-agreeance They initially told the caller, Sadie, that she should use the word “agreement” because usage of “agreeance” tends to make hearers think the person is less educated. Nevertheless, after a fruitful discussion, the hosts threw caution to the wind and said it might be time for agreeance to make a comeback. I wholeheartedly agree.
The New York Times, this past week, published the word “embiggening” for the first time in its 168-year history. The verb embiggen means to make larger. The Simpsons cartoon featured that word in an episode in 1996 in the (fictional) town motto, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man,” It was one of two words the writers made up for the episode; the second word being “cromulent.” Much to their surprise, after the airing of the show, they were informed “embiggen” was used once in 1884. Despite not actually creating it, The Simpsons made the word popular. It was used in later episodes and has since coined this popular social media phrase, “You need to embiggen your vocabulary.” Merriam-Webster did just that and in 2018 included the word in their dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary followed suit. I’d say it was quite cromulent of them.
Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah features this phrase, “You will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace.” (Is 55:12) “Celebration” in Hebrew is simchah, which at its root means “joy”. The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Joy and peace can be felt internally and seen externally and expressed both individually and corporately. Yet, how many times have you went out with joy and returned with turmoil? We tend to get our hopes up and then get disappointed. What makes this joy and peace different is found in the next verse that says joy and peace will be an “enduring reminder.” Enduring in Hebrew is “’olam” – a noun which means “forever.” With God, when we go out with joy, we will not return with disappointment, but with shalom ‘olam (everlasting peace).
So much happening today seems to be passing, fading or fleeting. Celebration, joy and peace seem to have gone out the proverbial window; but not so with God. The Lord plans for us to go out with joy and return with everlasting peace. I think we can be in agreeance that joy and peace would be a welcome and embiggen change.
July 4th
July 2, 2020
For people like me who grew up in Washington State, the real start of summer is the 4th of July. Growing up with a sailboat meant that we would be up early on the 4th getting the boat ready and then staying out on the water until midnight. Patience, our boat, was moored in Commencement Bay, across from Tacoma. The distance is a little more than two miles, but, as sailing goes, it could be a ten-mile trip. Like a massive amphitheater, the steep streets of Tacoma make Commencement Bay a wonderful place to celebrate Independence Day. Every year there was an impressive fireworks display launched from a barge just off the Tacoma waterfront. The display would cap off a spectacular day of airshows, boat shows, and the usual Americana-celebration found in military towns like Tacoma. Every year it seemed like the Air Force and Army would try to outdo each other with thrilling displays of aerobatics. For as hard as they tried, however, the Navy always took the cake with the Blue Angels. One year I swear the lead Blue Angel captain used our mast as the centering point of the performance. My ears are still ringing. In between aerial performances, the fireboats would turn on their massive water cannons that can throw 20,000 gallons of water per minute more than a football field high and three football fields out. One year, a hook-and-ladder fire truck sprayed their cannon over the beach to see if they could reach the fireboats. Everyone in-between got drenched.
Dad would tell us to always be on watch for dumb boaters which he put into these three categories: drunk boaters, inexperienced boaters, and the showoffs – which can be a combination of the first two. More than once we had to offer a hand to someone in trouble; it was just a part of the 4th of July on Commencement Bay. Dad never treated dumb boaters with anything but compassion and a helping hand. It gave me an example to live by.
By the time it was dark enough for the fireworks show, the drunk and inexperienced boaters had either been towed, arrested or sank, so the trip back to the dock was usually uneventful. There was one year, however, when a showoff in a 30-foot in/out drive cabin cruiser decided to go full speed across the bay after the show. They struck a floating and invisible-at-night log which tore off the entire “out” of the drive. One of the fireboats responded and managed to keep it afloat.
Like everything else in 2020, the Marshalls will have to wait until next year to watch fireworks from the deck of our boat and instead will start a new tradition of setting off fireworks in front of our house. Teaching my boys compassion for helping dumb boaters on the 4th will have to wait until next year.
There is no mention of a pandemic in the Bible. Nevertheless, there were many disruptions that either modified, or invented, religious traditions. This year I have given more thought to what Independence Day means to me. While it is true that not all were made free on July 4, 1776, it began a movement, or process, where our struggling 13 colonies began to shine the light of liberty for others to see. We have come a long way and we have more to go; but this year, I will be thinking about what I am doing with my own freedom to help others.
Dad would tell us to always be on watch for dumb boaters which he put into these three categories: drunk boaters, inexperienced boaters, and the showoffs – which can be a combination of the first two. More than once we had to offer a hand to someone in trouble; it was just a part of the 4th of July on Commencement Bay. Dad never treated dumb boaters with anything but compassion and a helping hand. It gave me an example to live by.
By the time it was dark enough for the fireworks show, the drunk and inexperienced boaters had either been towed, arrested or sank, so the trip back to the dock was usually uneventful. There was one year, however, when a showoff in a 30-foot in/out drive cabin cruiser decided to go full speed across the bay after the show. They struck a floating and invisible-at-night log which tore off the entire “out” of the drive. One of the fireboats responded and managed to keep it afloat.
Like everything else in 2020, the Marshalls will have to wait until next year to watch fireworks from the deck of our boat and instead will start a new tradition of setting off fireworks in front of our house. Teaching my boys compassion for helping dumb boaters on the 4th will have to wait until next year.
There is no mention of a pandemic in the Bible. Nevertheless, there were many disruptions that either modified, or invented, religious traditions. This year I have given more thought to what Independence Day means to me. While it is true that not all were made free on July 4, 1776, it began a movement, or process, where our struggling 13 colonies began to shine the light of liberty for others to see. We have come a long way and we have more to go; but this year, I will be thinking about what I am doing with my own freedom to help others.
Baby CD
June 25, 2020
The discussion group participants defined rage with phrases like “unbridled and blind anger,” and “irrational, without-restraint.” We talked about experiencing rage, how it felt, and how it can cause destructive action. One of the most common experiences is road rage – a blind, irrational anger against another (usually clueless) driver. Another example is computer rage – a blind, irrational anger against a computer, phone, tablet, or the entire internet that may end with a particular device being thrown.
After successfully live-streaming our 9:15 service on Sunday, I received a “flag” warning from YouTube – we had used an unlicensed song. Now, to be fair, this can, and does happen. On Palm Sunday, I played a prerecorded song, You Say, by Lauren Daigle. YouTube flagged it and gave me the choice to not monetize the video – which means I can’t run ads on it – or they can remove the song from the video. We don’t run ads so I went the non-monetized route. For this past Sunday, however, we were flagged for our closing hymn, Be Thou My Vision (#488 in the 1982 Hymnal) performed live by our accomplished organist, Dale Hooey. Suddenly, I felt a flash of rage. I thought, this is a CHURCH hymn performed in a CHURCH for CHURCH goers. After the brief flash of rage passed, I looked up the particulars of this hymn. The name of the tune is Slane and is an old Irish folk tune. It was first published in a 1909 hymn book titled, “Old Irish Folk Music and Songs” with Patrick Joyce being credited as the composer. The words themselves are based on an Irish monastic litany of prayers from the 8th century. The hymn book from 111 years ago of self-described “old Irish music,” and the lyrics themselves, clearly have passed the 100-year mark, generally considered to be longest covered under copyright law.
The complaint came from CD Baby Sync Publishing. Thinking that someone’s CD-for-baby music claimed the rights to the song, I wrote a strongly worded response to YouTube about how we have every right under the sun to play that hymn and, if I might go so far as to assert, some fly-by-night CD company who recorded that hymn for babies to fall asleep to are the ones who should cease and desist from using it! Okay, I admit, not very priestly of me.
Still fired up about it on Wednesday, I decided to look up this Baby CD company. As it turns out, it is worse than I thought. From what I can gather on their company website, one could buy the licensing for particular songs. I believe artists should be paid for their work and distribution companies should also receive compensation for what they do. However, this seems to have gone too far.
Still angry about the situation, I sent a tersely worded email to the company just stopping short of saying, “How dare you…” Surprisingly, I received an answer back within an hour. After having a friendly, multi-email exchange, I sent them the link to the video where it clearly shows Dale playing the hymn. They removed the block.
Rage affects relationships and our own being. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Be angry, but do not sin.” (4:26) I’m not saying rage is a sin, but, it can cause me to sin. However, focused anger, as I have learned through this exercise, can make positive change.
-Fr. Dave
After successfully live-streaming our 9:15 service on Sunday, I received a “flag” warning from YouTube – we had used an unlicensed song. Now, to be fair, this can, and does happen. On Palm Sunday, I played a prerecorded song, You Say, by Lauren Daigle. YouTube flagged it and gave me the choice to not monetize the video – which means I can’t run ads on it – or they can remove the song from the video. We don’t run ads so I went the non-monetized route. For this past Sunday, however, we were flagged for our closing hymn, Be Thou My Vision (#488 in the 1982 Hymnal) performed live by our accomplished organist, Dale Hooey. Suddenly, I felt a flash of rage. I thought, this is a CHURCH hymn performed in a CHURCH for CHURCH goers. After the brief flash of rage passed, I looked up the particulars of this hymn. The name of the tune is Slane and is an old Irish folk tune. It was first published in a 1909 hymn book titled, “Old Irish Folk Music and Songs” with Patrick Joyce being credited as the composer. The words themselves are based on an Irish monastic litany of prayers from the 8th century. The hymn book from 111 years ago of self-described “old Irish music,” and the lyrics themselves, clearly have passed the 100-year mark, generally considered to be longest covered under copyright law.
The complaint came from CD Baby Sync Publishing. Thinking that someone’s CD-for-baby music claimed the rights to the song, I wrote a strongly worded response to YouTube about how we have every right under the sun to play that hymn and, if I might go so far as to assert, some fly-by-night CD company who recorded that hymn for babies to fall asleep to are the ones who should cease and desist from using it! Okay, I admit, not very priestly of me.
Still fired up about it on Wednesday, I decided to look up this Baby CD company. As it turns out, it is worse than I thought. From what I can gather on their company website, one could buy the licensing for particular songs. I believe artists should be paid for their work and distribution companies should also receive compensation for what they do. However, this seems to have gone too far.
Still angry about the situation, I sent a tersely worded email to the company just stopping short of saying, “How dare you…” Surprisingly, I received an answer back within an hour. After having a friendly, multi-email exchange, I sent them the link to the video where it clearly shows Dale playing the hymn. They removed the block.
Rage affects relationships and our own being. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Be angry, but do not sin.” (4:26) I’m not saying rage is a sin, but, it can cause me to sin. However, focused anger, as I have learned through this exercise, can make positive change.
-Fr. Dave
He Sets the Prisoners Free
June 18, 2020
This Friday is the 155th celebration of Juneteenth. The Commonwealth of Virginia recently declared Juneteenth (June 19th) a paid state holiday. Music star Pharrell Williams spoke with the Governor of Virginia who together made this holiday a reality. In a news conference, Pharrell said “Every year, as a nation, we mark the Fourth of July, 1776, Independence Day, celebrating our independence from English colonial rule. … But that freedom we celebrate did not include everyone.” He added, “It’s time we elevate [Juneteenth], not just a celebration by and for some Virginians, but one acknowledged and celebrated by all of us because that’s how important this event is.” He ended his statement by addressing Americans whose ancestors, like his, came to Virginia 400 years ago aboard a slave ship. He said, “So here is our day. And if you love us, it’s your day too.”
The history of the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery is this: on June 19th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger’s union troops landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free – this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had become official January 1, 1863. Although Lincoln’s executive order had little impact on the Texans at the time, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to make emancipation a reality.
If you can imagine having lived your whole life as a slave, and knowing your family ancestry is made up of slaves, to wake up on Friday and find out that you are free – it was a cause for celebration. Today, the principle celebration of Juneteenth for all Americans is this – America can’t be a beacon of freedom and liberty until all Americans are free. Starting on June 19th, 155 years ago, America’s torch of freedom grew brighter for all other nations to see. It has been a rough, rocky, and uncertain road since then, but, the torch has been lit and it has not gone out. From the diary pages of Episcopal clergymen in Georgia, who in the 1840’s wrote about freedom and how white Americans can only be free when all in the nation are free, it is Juneteenth that makes that dream a reality.
Juneteenth church celebrations often cite Psalm 68, verse 5 and 6,
“Father to the orphan, defender of widows --
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.”
There are many ways to celebrate Juneteenth. What I will do on Friday is to remember that the Father to the orphan, the One who sets prisoners free, has placed the torch of liberty in our nation to burn as a light for others.
I will pray that the torch of liberty will continue to burn brightly for others to see. And, I will recite the Pledge of Allegiance and reflect upon these words:
One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The history of the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery is this: on June 19th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger’s union troops landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free – this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had become official January 1, 1863. Although Lincoln’s executive order had little impact on the Texans at the time, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to make emancipation a reality.
If you can imagine having lived your whole life as a slave, and knowing your family ancestry is made up of slaves, to wake up on Friday and find out that you are free – it was a cause for celebration. Today, the principle celebration of Juneteenth for all Americans is this – America can’t be a beacon of freedom and liberty until all Americans are free. Starting on June 19th, 155 years ago, America’s torch of freedom grew brighter for all other nations to see. It has been a rough, rocky, and uncertain road since then, but, the torch has been lit and it has not gone out. From the diary pages of Episcopal clergymen in Georgia, who in the 1840’s wrote about freedom and how white Americans can only be free when all in the nation are free, it is Juneteenth that makes that dream a reality.
Juneteenth church celebrations often cite Psalm 68, verse 5 and 6,
“Father to the orphan, defender of widows --
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.”
There are many ways to celebrate Juneteenth. What I will do on Friday is to remember that the Father to the orphan, the One who sets prisoners free, has placed the torch of liberty in our nation to burn as a light for others.
I will pray that the torch of liberty will continue to burn brightly for others to see. And, I will recite the Pledge of Allegiance and reflect upon these words:
One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Process Oriented God
June 11, 2020
Have you ever heard this prayer, “God, grant me patience, and give it to me now!” Funny thing, that is not how patience works; nor is it how God does things. In the Anglican world, we often say that we believe in a God of structure and order. As such, our particular style of worship is structured and ordered. Just before processing in one Sunday morning, I joked with the choir, “Well, let’s see what happens this morning.” The choir chuckled because that is not how we do things.
This past Sunday, we heard about Day 6 of creation – when animals and humans were made (chapter 1, Genesis). You and I both know that it took more than a “day” to make all creepy crawly things as well as humans, but, the author(s) of Genesis set out to show the orderliness of God’s creation. It’s not like God said, “Well, let’s see what happens this morning,” and then created fish before the ocean was made, or birds before air. That’s not how God does it. God Almighty seems to have a process and a plan; or maybe vice-versa.
In 2009, in California, I participated in an interfaith march to object to Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget that greatly reduced walk-up health clinics for the poor and marginalized. Once we reached the clinic, one of hundreds in the state that was scheduled to close, I was asked to start us off with prayer. I opened my prayer book and started – orderly and structured is our way, after all – and was followed by a Franciscan monk who volunteers as a chaplain at the clinic. Standing tall in his brown robe, he invited the large crowd to raise their palms in the air and face them toward Sacramento. He then gave a rousing and spontaneous prayer about the Lord who watches over the least and that our wealthy-movie-star-turned-Governor should do better. After the “amen” he said, “There we have it, God hears every prayer, and our clinic will be saved.” … which it was, after a lengthy process of negotiations and input from the citizenry. In fact, all the clinics in California were spared. It did not happen overnight, but rather, it took a process.
Healing prayers often work in the same way. There are times when instantaneous healing occurs; which are quite noteworthy; but they are the exception, not the rule. Often when we pray for healing, it occurs after a process of medical intervention and rehabilitation. Some would ask, “Why then pray at all?” The answer is simple – because prayer works. Study after study shows that those who have a good prayer life, and/or have others praying for them, spend less time in a hospital bed. Why is the ever-cost-conscious VA is so hospitable toward their chaplains? It is because the chaplaincy core reduces expenses way more than they cost.
God, who created everything, including the planets in their courses and this fragile earth, our island home, did so by an orderly process. Humans have memory, reason and skill. We learn, become wise, and pass skills onto to others – all by process, not instantaneously. There are much needed changes and reforms in this country; in particular, that all citizens should be treated uniformly by their government. But, it can’t happen overnight. Change is a process that can be ugly and messy, often times slow and unresponsive; nevertheless, it is a process.
May God sustain and strengthen our country as we go through the process of change.
This past Sunday, we heard about Day 6 of creation – when animals and humans were made (chapter 1, Genesis). You and I both know that it took more than a “day” to make all creepy crawly things as well as humans, but, the author(s) of Genesis set out to show the orderliness of God’s creation. It’s not like God said, “Well, let’s see what happens this morning,” and then created fish before the ocean was made, or birds before air. That’s not how God does it. God Almighty seems to have a process and a plan; or maybe vice-versa.
In 2009, in California, I participated in an interfaith march to object to Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget that greatly reduced walk-up health clinics for the poor and marginalized. Once we reached the clinic, one of hundreds in the state that was scheduled to close, I was asked to start us off with prayer. I opened my prayer book and started – orderly and structured is our way, after all – and was followed by a Franciscan monk who volunteers as a chaplain at the clinic. Standing tall in his brown robe, he invited the large crowd to raise their palms in the air and face them toward Sacramento. He then gave a rousing and spontaneous prayer about the Lord who watches over the least and that our wealthy-movie-star-turned-Governor should do better. After the “amen” he said, “There we have it, God hears every prayer, and our clinic will be saved.” … which it was, after a lengthy process of negotiations and input from the citizenry. In fact, all the clinics in California were spared. It did not happen overnight, but rather, it took a process.
Healing prayers often work in the same way. There are times when instantaneous healing occurs; which are quite noteworthy; but they are the exception, not the rule. Often when we pray for healing, it occurs after a process of medical intervention and rehabilitation. Some would ask, “Why then pray at all?” The answer is simple – because prayer works. Study after study shows that those who have a good prayer life, and/or have others praying for them, spend less time in a hospital bed. Why is the ever-cost-conscious VA is so hospitable toward their chaplains? It is because the chaplaincy core reduces expenses way more than they cost.
God, who created everything, including the planets in their courses and this fragile earth, our island home, did so by an orderly process. Humans have memory, reason and skill. We learn, become wise, and pass skills onto to others – all by process, not instantaneously. There are much needed changes and reforms in this country; in particular, that all citizens should be treated uniformly by their government. But, it can’t happen overnight. Change is a process that can be ugly and messy, often times slow and unresponsive; nevertheless, it is a process.
May God sustain and strengthen our country as we go through the process of change.
Discerning the Times
June 4, 2020
If you, like me, are troubled by our times and wonder if any of the past marches for rights and protections have done any good, I find comfort in the words of our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, “The Christian race is not a sprint; it is a marathon. Our work for justice, healing, and truth telling must be unceasing.”
A crowd gathered around Jesus looking for him to perform a miracle. He said that although they could look to the clouds and predict when it would rain, they couldn’t understand the times they were living in. In other words, the sign from heaven is the incarnation of God in human flesh; Jesus himself. That is the only sign they needed. Too often, however, they, like me (and perhaps us), look with our eyes up to the clouds looking for a sign from God, and wonder if God is even listening, when Jesus is right in front of us.
As we, individually and as a nation, struggle with the death of George Floyd; as we struggle with the call for every American to have equal protection under the law, George’s death, along with so many others, is a sign to us that equal protection has not materialized in our day. Are the prayers we say on Sunday – give peace O Lord because only in you can we live in safety – abdicating our responsibility to offer peace to everyone? Asking God to guide us into the way of justice and peace; is this our modern way of looking to the clouds of heaven for an answer?
Jesus said the top priority for all his followers is to love others as he loves us.
In our day, this priority can be viewed as outlined here in the letter to the Romans:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else.
Associate with people who have no status.
Don’t pay back evil actions with evil actions,
but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.
To the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Romans 12:15-18
How do we do this today? One way is the cross-shaped principle – move ahead intentionally with accountability. Systemic changes need to occur in our country and it starts locally with the transformation of individual hearts. There are many resources for people of faith to act. Please contact me if you would like some ideas. Again quoting Presiding Bishop Curry, “We need not be paralyzed by our past or our present. We are not slaves to fate; but rather, we are people of faith.” Meaningful change in our country has always started with people of faith. As we take steps on this marathon of faith, let us be lifted up by God and strive to do the work of Jesus by weeping with those who weep, by considering everyone as equal, by associating with people who have no status, by not paying back evil actions with evil actions, and, to the best of our ability, by living at peace with all people.
May God bless us along this marathon journey of faith,
-Fr. Dave
A crowd gathered around Jesus looking for him to perform a miracle. He said that although they could look to the clouds and predict when it would rain, they couldn’t understand the times they were living in. In other words, the sign from heaven is the incarnation of God in human flesh; Jesus himself. That is the only sign they needed. Too often, however, they, like me (and perhaps us), look with our eyes up to the clouds looking for a sign from God, and wonder if God is even listening, when Jesus is right in front of us.
As we, individually and as a nation, struggle with the death of George Floyd; as we struggle with the call for every American to have equal protection under the law, George’s death, along with so many others, is a sign to us that equal protection has not materialized in our day. Are the prayers we say on Sunday – give peace O Lord because only in you can we live in safety – abdicating our responsibility to offer peace to everyone? Asking God to guide us into the way of justice and peace; is this our modern way of looking to the clouds of heaven for an answer?
Jesus said the top priority for all his followers is to love others as he loves us.
In our day, this priority can be viewed as outlined here in the letter to the Romans:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else.
Associate with people who have no status.
Don’t pay back evil actions with evil actions,
but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.
To the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Romans 12:15-18
How do we do this today? One way is the cross-shaped principle – move ahead intentionally with accountability. Systemic changes need to occur in our country and it starts locally with the transformation of individual hearts. There are many resources for people of faith to act. Please contact me if you would like some ideas. Again quoting Presiding Bishop Curry, “We need not be paralyzed by our past or our present. We are not slaves to fate; but rather, we are people of faith.” Meaningful change in our country has always started with people of faith. As we take steps on this marathon of faith, let us be lifted up by God and strive to do the work of Jesus by weeping with those who weep, by considering everyone as equal, by associating with people who have no status, by not paying back evil actions with evil actions, and, to the best of our ability, by living at peace with all people.
May God bless us along this marathon journey of faith,
-Fr. Dave
Summer Reading List
May 28, 2020
The Manatee County library has been closed for months and the Marshalls are running out of books to read. We are now sharing books we have at home and discussing them as a family. One of my favorite summertime books is one that Elijah read; simply titled, “Skink.” Set in coastal Florida, it is a fictional story of a teenager who befriends a crazy man, named Skink, who also used to be the governor of Florida. So, in some respects, it is not far from reality. It is a wonderful summertime read and led to a discussion about the ethics of what happened, or should have happened, to the antagonist in the story.
A book that is too mature for Elijah was read by the three of us. It is an assigned reading book from Ethan’s AP English class, titled, “Zeitoun” (pronounced Zay-toon). It is set in August, 2005, in New Orleans and is the real-life story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun – a Syrian Muslim,
successful business owner of a home repair company, who is a father of three, married to a white American, who was raised Southern Baptist and converted to Islam prior. The award winning book, written by Dave Eggers, is well researched and documents the real-life struggle of
what happens when Zeitoun decides to stay home to watch over his business while his family evacuates because of Hurricane Katrina. Zeitoun’s family, religious, and business life is interesting enough, but, add the hurricane and it becomes a riveting story that involves the largely untold story of civil rights violations brought on by an alliance of a for-profit prison with untrained National Guardsmen. Ethan read it for class and found that it provided fruitful discussions with his school mates and their teacher. Likewise, we had many fruitful conversations at home about it.
One of my seminary professors said the Bible shouldn’t be read alone because it comes alive in discussion. We are experiencing that in the study of the Book of Revelation. I’m wondering if we should expand that idea. If you have read something that you’d like to share, please email Maria (marialove@allangelslbk.org)
I’d like to compile a summer reading list for All Angels. I am interested in getting together on Zoom once in a while to discuss a book.
For as much as I enjoyed Zeitoun; for the summer, I’d have to stick with Skink.
Blessings to you on all your summer readings,
-Fr. Dave
A book that is too mature for Elijah was read by the three of us. It is an assigned reading book from Ethan’s AP English class, titled, “Zeitoun” (pronounced Zay-toon). It is set in August, 2005, in New Orleans and is the real-life story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun – a Syrian Muslim,
successful business owner of a home repair company, who is a father of three, married to a white American, who was raised Southern Baptist and converted to Islam prior. The award winning book, written by Dave Eggers, is well researched and documents the real-life struggle of
what happens when Zeitoun decides to stay home to watch over his business while his family evacuates because of Hurricane Katrina. Zeitoun’s family, religious, and business life is interesting enough, but, add the hurricane and it becomes a riveting story that involves the largely untold story of civil rights violations brought on by an alliance of a for-profit prison with untrained National Guardsmen. Ethan read it for class and found that it provided fruitful discussions with his school mates and their teacher. Likewise, we had many fruitful conversations at home about it.
One of my seminary professors said the Bible shouldn’t be read alone because it comes alive in discussion. We are experiencing that in the study of the Book of Revelation. I’m wondering if we should expand that idea. If you have read something that you’d like to share, please email Maria (marialove@allangelslbk.org)
I’d like to compile a summer reading list for All Angels. I am interested in getting together on Zoom once in a while to discuss a book.
For as much as I enjoyed Zeitoun; for the summer, I’d have to stick with Skink.
Blessings to you on all your summer readings,
-Fr. Dave
Safe Church
May 21, 2020
I have read stories of churches that recently have disregarded the ten-person indoor limit, parishioners became infected, and they had to close. One such church may never open again. Church should be a safe place. To be a safe church, we have complied with the state mandated stay-at-home order for ten or less people to be gathered inside a house of worship. Since that time, I am excited at what our leadership team, church staff, and volunteers are doing to bring the living Christ to those outside of the church during this unparalleled time.
Data about the virus is becoming clearer; and unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for keeping churches safe. You may have read about the choir in Washington State’s Skagit Valley that, during one choir practice, one non-symptomatic infected member caused more than 60% of the choir to become infected. Two of the choir members have died. I imagine you are familiar with various meat processing facilities that temporarily closed because many workers became infected. It seems that singing and yelling (like in a processing facility) are ways the virus can spread quickly.
On Tuesday, the diocesan clergy had a Zoom meeting with the bishop to discuss keeping church safe. In preparation for the meeting, we were assigned material to read that took about 90-minutes to complete. Each piece of data seemed to be more alarming than the next. Covid-19 is an airborne virus that spreads on exhaled water droplets. Sneezing and coughing produce the most aerosol particles. But, the best way to spread it is by singing or yelling because it is a longer duration of exhaled air. This is very bad news for school choirs and band programs, for barbershop quartets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. To be frank, I don’t know what my rising senior in High School is going to do with his plans to play his clarinet and baritone sax in band during the fall school semester.
The second piece of bad news is the equation of exhaled aerosol particles with regards to time. If you walk past a non-face masked shopper at CVS, you will get a small amount of virus particles into your system. Let’s say the body can take 1,000 particles before getting sick; this brief shopping encounter could get you to 200. However, if you were sitting in a room for an hour with that person, just breathing the same indoor air could bring you over the 1,000 threshold. Add talking, and it takes less time. Add singing, and, well, you get the idea. As a result of this data, the state is allowing small indoor gatherings that typically take a short duration of time. If you have noticed, waiting rooms have been eliminated because of the equation of time and aerosol particle. Oddly enough, bars, churches, and indoor sporting events seem to be most at risk because people congregate, talk or sing/yell, and typically spend more than fifteen minutes.
One more piece of the equation – location (location, location). There is a big difference with indoor and outdoor air. Imagine if Marjorie Stapleton sat in her normal seat; right side, second to last row, second to last chair; and I was up by the organ. I don’t smoke, but, for the sake of example, let’s say I lit a cigarette. How long would it take for Marjorie to smell the cigarette? I’m not sure but I think eventually she would. Likewise, let’s say she opened a box of chocolates. Eventually, I would be able to smell chocolate. Using the same scenario, let’s say she and I are outside. In order to smell the chocolate, or the cigarette, we would have to be a lot closer. Also, the smell of each would be diminished when compared to being inside. This is why there is only one case of virus transmission outdoors (and that case is rather suspect, it probably occurred inside a bathroom at an outdoor event).
The missing part of the equation, when talking about an airborne virus, has to do with particle size. We know that when talking, rather large exhaled droplets can travel three feet. The six-foot distance rule was set up in order to double that range. The big question has to do with small particles that can remain in the air for quite a while. The chocolate particle that tells our nose that someone has opened a box of candies is small and can stay airborne for more than thirty minutes. … just ask any child who has eaten some candy and then hid it from their parents. Based on data collected from a restaurant in China where the air conditioning unit seemed to help spread the virus from one table to another, and a different study from a call center in an office building where one person spread the infection to more than 90 other employees on the same floor, we know that distance and time are a major factor (restaurant – short time, close distance; office – eight-hour shift, long indoor distance). How does this relate to All Angels?
Right now, we are limited to ten people or less inside, and 50 people or less outside with six-feet of distance between family units. To produce (for lack of a better churchy term) a service, it takes 8 – 10 people; thus, we are allowing only those who are scheduled to serve inside. We currently have more than 10, but less than 50, congregants outside either in their cars, or sitting on benches, or on beach chairs. This is keeping us safe. Sooner rather than later, Episcopal churches in this diocese can consider holding indoor worship services up to 25% of capacity. For us, this is 35 people (45 total including those serving). Although Sunday attendance is lower in the summer, I don’t recall a Sunday where we had less than 45.
While we are learning more about the virus and how to be a safe church, there are many more questions to answer about going to 25% capacity. I don’t have the answers to these questions yet. The Vestry and our leadership team are looking at a whole variety of options for when the time comes that we can go to 25% occupancy. Please know that we are working diligently and praying fervently to do this right. I welcome your thoughts and feedback on this. We are all in this together and we are bringing the living Christ to those inside and outside the church. And, we are doing it safely.
-Fr. Dave
Data about the virus is becoming clearer; and unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for keeping churches safe. You may have read about the choir in Washington State’s Skagit Valley that, during one choir practice, one non-symptomatic infected member caused more than 60% of the choir to become infected. Two of the choir members have died. I imagine you are familiar with various meat processing facilities that temporarily closed because many workers became infected. It seems that singing and yelling (like in a processing facility) are ways the virus can spread quickly.
On Tuesday, the diocesan clergy had a Zoom meeting with the bishop to discuss keeping church safe. In preparation for the meeting, we were assigned material to read that took about 90-minutes to complete. Each piece of data seemed to be more alarming than the next. Covid-19 is an airborne virus that spreads on exhaled water droplets. Sneezing and coughing produce the most aerosol particles. But, the best way to spread it is by singing or yelling because it is a longer duration of exhaled air. This is very bad news for school choirs and band programs, for barbershop quartets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. To be frank, I don’t know what my rising senior in High School is going to do with his plans to play his clarinet and baritone sax in band during the fall school semester.
The second piece of bad news is the equation of exhaled aerosol particles with regards to time. If you walk past a non-face masked shopper at CVS, you will get a small amount of virus particles into your system. Let’s say the body can take 1,000 particles before getting sick; this brief shopping encounter could get you to 200. However, if you were sitting in a room for an hour with that person, just breathing the same indoor air could bring you over the 1,000 threshold. Add talking, and it takes less time. Add singing, and, well, you get the idea. As a result of this data, the state is allowing small indoor gatherings that typically take a short duration of time. If you have noticed, waiting rooms have been eliminated because of the equation of time and aerosol particle. Oddly enough, bars, churches, and indoor sporting events seem to be most at risk because people congregate, talk or sing/yell, and typically spend more than fifteen minutes.
One more piece of the equation – location (location, location). There is a big difference with indoor and outdoor air. Imagine if Marjorie Stapleton sat in her normal seat; right side, second to last row, second to last chair; and I was up by the organ. I don’t smoke, but, for the sake of example, let’s say I lit a cigarette. How long would it take for Marjorie to smell the cigarette? I’m not sure but I think eventually she would. Likewise, let’s say she opened a box of chocolates. Eventually, I would be able to smell chocolate. Using the same scenario, let’s say she and I are outside. In order to smell the chocolate, or the cigarette, we would have to be a lot closer. Also, the smell of each would be diminished when compared to being inside. This is why there is only one case of virus transmission outdoors (and that case is rather suspect, it probably occurred inside a bathroom at an outdoor event).
The missing part of the equation, when talking about an airborne virus, has to do with particle size. We know that when talking, rather large exhaled droplets can travel three feet. The six-foot distance rule was set up in order to double that range. The big question has to do with small particles that can remain in the air for quite a while. The chocolate particle that tells our nose that someone has opened a box of candies is small and can stay airborne for more than thirty minutes. … just ask any child who has eaten some candy and then hid it from their parents. Based on data collected from a restaurant in China where the air conditioning unit seemed to help spread the virus from one table to another, and a different study from a call center in an office building where one person spread the infection to more than 90 other employees on the same floor, we know that distance and time are a major factor (restaurant – short time, close distance; office – eight-hour shift, long indoor distance). How does this relate to All Angels?
Right now, we are limited to ten people or less inside, and 50 people or less outside with six-feet of distance between family units. To produce (for lack of a better churchy term) a service, it takes 8 – 10 people; thus, we are allowing only those who are scheduled to serve inside. We currently have more than 10, but less than 50, congregants outside either in their cars, or sitting on benches, or on beach chairs. This is keeping us safe. Sooner rather than later, Episcopal churches in this diocese can consider holding indoor worship services up to 25% of capacity. For us, this is 35 people (45 total including those serving). Although Sunday attendance is lower in the summer, I don’t recall a Sunday where we had less than 45.
While we are learning more about the virus and how to be a safe church, there are many more questions to answer about going to 25% capacity. I don’t have the answers to these questions yet. The Vestry and our leadership team are looking at a whole variety of options for when the time comes that we can go to 25% occupancy. Please know that we are working diligently and praying fervently to do this right. I welcome your thoughts and feedback on this. We are all in this together and we are bringing the living Christ to those inside and outside the church. And, we are doing it safely.
-Fr. Dave
Jerks
May 14, 2020
American cartoonist, and creator of the single-panel comic strip Far Side, Gary Larson, created a cartoon that I have included in this reflection. Pictured is a caricature of God who is cooking up the earth in his kitchen. On the shelf are various ingredients – humans, insects, birds, tress. Like a master baker, God has one last ingredient to put onto his masterpiece. Over the earth, he has a shaker and the ingredient is labeled, “Jerks”. God is pictured saying, “Just to make it interesting…”
It made me laugh – yet, it is also true. There are jerks on every continent, every business and government, and, may I dare add, even in religious organizations. Whether or not God placed them on every continent is a different reflection altogether.
The discussion groups this week read three articles that focused on the intersections of government, the pandemic, and religion. One article quoted Christian religious leaders in the U.S. who claimed the Coronavirus was politically motivated, it was propaganda, and an illusion or mirage. The second article highlighted how leaders of Islam were reacting to the pandemic. I found it interesting that some Islamic leaders said things similar to what the U.S. Christian leaders said about the virus. I would like to point out, however, that just like most Christians leaders, the majority of Islamic leaders worldwide are working with public health officials and are modifying their practices keep their people safe. Moderate voices, nevertheless, do not seem to make it into the press as much. Take for example how the local media reports on a public school board meeting. Considerate and well-thought out arguments rarely make the news. The voices we hear on the evening news are usually, if you don’t mind me saying, jerks. Maybe God did give us jerks to make things more interesting.
So, how about this for a new spiritual practice: next time I’m at Publix and I encounter a jerk, or I get passed while driving the speed limit on GMD Drive, instead of getting angry, maybe I should see the encounter as God making life interesting.
It made me laugh – yet, it is also true. There are jerks on every continent, every business and government, and, may I dare add, even in religious organizations. Whether or not God placed them on every continent is a different reflection altogether.
The discussion groups this week read three articles that focused on the intersections of government, the pandemic, and religion. One article quoted Christian religious leaders in the U.S. who claimed the Coronavirus was politically motivated, it was propaganda, and an illusion or mirage. The second article highlighted how leaders of Islam were reacting to the pandemic. I found it interesting that some Islamic leaders said things similar to what the U.S. Christian leaders said about the virus. I would like to point out, however, that just like most Christians leaders, the majority of Islamic leaders worldwide are working with public health officials and are modifying their practices keep their people safe. Moderate voices, nevertheless, do not seem to make it into the press as much. Take for example how the local media reports on a public school board meeting. Considerate and well-thought out arguments rarely make the news. The voices we hear on the evening news are usually, if you don’t mind me saying, jerks. Maybe God did give us jerks to make things more interesting.
So, how about this for a new spiritual practice: next time I’m at Publix and I encounter a jerk, or I get passed while driving the speed limit on GMD Drive, instead of getting angry, maybe I should see the encounter as God making life interesting.
Spiritual Communion
May 7, 2020
This is a strange time. One thing I have learned from it is that I have taken two things for granted about church – socializing and receiving communion. The two go hand-in-hand and there are times when I’d be hard pressed to say which one is personally more important. What I do know is that I value, and miss, both socializing and communion now.
This is a strange time, and having church on-line is not easy; but, I am learning how my clergy friends lead services. And, thanks to an alert on my Facebook feed, I found myself watching a service at St Patrick’s in Dublin (yes, the very same cathedral in which Oliver Cromwell stabled his horses to show his disdain for Anglicanism). Another learning opportunity of our strange time is that the clergy of the diocese are in a Zoom meeting with the bishop every two weeks for mutual support and communication. Last week we talked at length about Eucharistic theology (Eucharist = communion). I imagine for most passers-by it would be a pretty boring conversation; but for us, it was important. The main question was this: how/when will we have communion again? The bishop restricted us from offering “virtual Eucharist” which allows people at home to hold up bread and wine in front of their computer screen while the priest consecrates it on-line. There are Eucharistic rubrics (rules) that prohibit that. However, our Bishop allowed for “spiritual communion” which recognizes that there are times when one can’t physically receive communion but can spiritually receive the benefits of it. The concept of it comes from a prayer book attributed to St. Augustine (354-430). Although from the 5th century, it addresses our time now when we can’t receive physically receive communion.
My personal Eucharistic theology prohibits me from receiving communion unless it is offered to all baptized people. As such, I have been offering Morning Prayer. On the flip side, several clergy colleagues are offering a Holy Communion service. They receive the consecrated host but do not offer it off the altar. Although that practice is not my particular theology/ecclesiology, I don’t think what they are doing is wrong; rather, it is simply not how I feel called to celebrate the Eucharist. In this strange time, I don’t know how to offer the Eucharist off-altar because it requires that we share the same air. I suppose I could serve my family off the altar because we share the same air at home. But, that seems pretty exclusive for a sacrament in which Jesus gave us no bounds when he said, take, break, eat, share. This is a liminal time – there will be a day when we will be able to receive communion again. It may not be until we are all vaccinated, but the time is coming when we will all be able to share in the body of Christ through the receiving of bread and wine.
This Sunday, taking a page out of St. Augustine’s prayer book, we are going to participate in spiritual communion, which, is worth repeating, is receiving the spiritual blessings of communion when one can’t physically receive it. And, unlike traditional Sunday morning Eucharist services, you can receive spiritual communion whenever and wherever you would like by watching and participating in Sunday’s service. It is a strange time indeed, but, there are some things we can learn, perhaps receiving spiritual communion is one of them.
-Fr. Dave
This is a strange time, and having church on-line is not easy; but, I am learning how my clergy friends lead services. And, thanks to an alert on my Facebook feed, I found myself watching a service at St Patrick’s in Dublin (yes, the very same cathedral in which Oliver Cromwell stabled his horses to show his disdain for Anglicanism). Another learning opportunity of our strange time is that the clergy of the diocese are in a Zoom meeting with the bishop every two weeks for mutual support and communication. Last week we talked at length about Eucharistic theology (Eucharist = communion). I imagine for most passers-by it would be a pretty boring conversation; but for us, it was important. The main question was this: how/when will we have communion again? The bishop restricted us from offering “virtual Eucharist” which allows people at home to hold up bread and wine in front of their computer screen while the priest consecrates it on-line. There are Eucharistic rubrics (rules) that prohibit that. However, our Bishop allowed for “spiritual communion” which recognizes that there are times when one can’t physically receive communion but can spiritually receive the benefits of it. The concept of it comes from a prayer book attributed to St. Augustine (354-430). Although from the 5th century, it addresses our time now when we can’t receive physically receive communion.
My personal Eucharistic theology prohibits me from receiving communion unless it is offered to all baptized people. As such, I have been offering Morning Prayer. On the flip side, several clergy colleagues are offering a Holy Communion service. They receive the consecrated host but do not offer it off the altar. Although that practice is not my particular theology/ecclesiology, I don’t think what they are doing is wrong; rather, it is simply not how I feel called to celebrate the Eucharist. In this strange time, I don’t know how to offer the Eucharist off-altar because it requires that we share the same air. I suppose I could serve my family off the altar because we share the same air at home. But, that seems pretty exclusive for a sacrament in which Jesus gave us no bounds when he said, take, break, eat, share. This is a liminal time – there will be a day when we will be able to receive communion again. It may not be until we are all vaccinated, but the time is coming when we will all be able to share in the body of Christ through the receiving of bread and wine.
This Sunday, taking a page out of St. Augustine’s prayer book, we are going to participate in spiritual communion, which, is worth repeating, is receiving the spiritual blessings of communion when one can’t physically receive it. And, unlike traditional Sunday morning Eucharist services, you can receive spiritual communion whenever and wherever you would like by watching and participating in Sunday’s service. It is a strange time indeed, but, there are some things we can learn, perhaps receiving spiritual communion is one of them.
-Fr. Dave
Solving for X
April 30, 2020
Now that Elijah and Ethan are learning-from-home I get to see more of Elijah’s day-to-day school work. The math that the fourth graders are doing is different than what I learned. I suppose the fundamentals are the same – two plus two still equals four – but the mechanics of it are different. One thing I struggled with in my math lessons was solving for X. Luckily, I have a patient mom who also taught math. I used to get frustrated and say, “Why don’t they just tell me what X is?!” As I learned, there are important lessons that one has to go through to figure out what is hiding behind the X.
I thought about this the other day when I felt as if I was risking my life at Publix. Coffee creamer is essential, right? There were two different brands in the cooler. One was on sale but usually has a higher price. I found myself solving for X to see which one was the better buy. Could it be that all those years after I complained about why do I have to learn this, could it be that I actually needed to know how to do it?
That got me thinking about the other times in life I had to solve for X. The first thing came to mind was being an underwriter for an insurance company. X is the rate of loss. I knew information on the insured, what they wanted covered, and how much coverage they needed. But, what I didn’t know, is if they would have a loss. As it turned out, I had a pretty good sense on how to solve that equation. Likewise, as a sales manager for a home electronic retailer, I got pretty good at approving checks. I saw the customer, what they wanted to purchase, and their check. Solving for X is this: would the check clear or not.
The leadership team at All Angels has been working diligently on solving for X in our time. X consists of a balance of safety, gathering for public worship, spacing and timing. It’s a pretty complex X. There will be a time when our doors will be open, but when? People, both those familiar to us and strangers, will be welcomed in. Where will everyone sit? How will we do communion that incorporates both touch and sharing the same air space? These are the X’s that we are solving. One of the lessons we have learned in our solving-for-X time is just how important it is for the people of All Angels to be together. I, for one, took for granted the weekly gathering together. The so-called “welcome line” that we did after the service probably won’t happen until after 2021’s flu season has ended. That “X” is partially solved. What remains is how to greet one another warmly, at a safe distance. Going back to the book of Ecclesiastes, “there is a time for embracing and a time to refrain from embracing.” Church history has had to deal with a number of X’s; starting with the first one – what to do with a crucified Messiah? From the early Church to now, we continue to solve for X, with God’s help. I believe that God is behind the X, in front of the X, to its left and to its right, God is above it and below it, and God is in us as we solve for X.
-Fr. Dave
I thought about this the other day when I felt as if I was risking my life at Publix. Coffee creamer is essential, right? There were two different brands in the cooler. One was on sale but usually has a higher price. I found myself solving for X to see which one was the better buy. Could it be that all those years after I complained about why do I have to learn this, could it be that I actually needed to know how to do it?
That got me thinking about the other times in life I had to solve for X. The first thing came to mind was being an underwriter for an insurance company. X is the rate of loss. I knew information on the insured, what they wanted covered, and how much coverage they needed. But, what I didn’t know, is if they would have a loss. As it turned out, I had a pretty good sense on how to solve that equation. Likewise, as a sales manager for a home electronic retailer, I got pretty good at approving checks. I saw the customer, what they wanted to purchase, and their check. Solving for X is this: would the check clear or not.
The leadership team at All Angels has been working diligently on solving for X in our time. X consists of a balance of safety, gathering for public worship, spacing and timing. It’s a pretty complex X. There will be a time when our doors will be open, but when? People, both those familiar to us and strangers, will be welcomed in. Where will everyone sit? How will we do communion that incorporates both touch and sharing the same air space? These are the X’s that we are solving. One of the lessons we have learned in our solving-for-X time is just how important it is for the people of All Angels to be together. I, for one, took for granted the weekly gathering together. The so-called “welcome line” that we did after the service probably won’t happen until after 2021’s flu season has ended. That “X” is partially solved. What remains is how to greet one another warmly, at a safe distance. Going back to the book of Ecclesiastes, “there is a time for embracing and a time to refrain from embracing.” Church history has had to deal with a number of X’s; starting with the first one – what to do with a crucified Messiah? From the early Church to now, we continue to solve for X, with God’s help. I believe that God is behind the X, in front of the X, to its left and to its right, God is above it and below it, and God is in us as we solve for X.
-Fr. Dave
Patient/Endurance
April 23, 2020
I had a very interesting Revelation Bible study class I’d like to share with you. The last book in the Bible seeks to answer four questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Why are the wicked not punished? What is the meaning of suffering? Where is God’s justice?
Our current pandemic has led many of the faithful to ask similar questions.
In Class 2, we read the following verse, “I, John, your brother who shares with you in the hardship, kingdom, and endurance that we have in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and my witness about Jesus.” (1:9)
The approach I took on this passage was to show who the author is and where he is writing from. Several people on the Zoom study stopped me and said their Bible translation read, “I, John, your brother in the suffering and patient endurance…” Their question was why did my translation leave out “patient” when describing endurance. I was baffled. I quickly pulled up different English translations and found some had “patient” and others didn’t. I then shared my screen with them that had the Greek version (the original language) and the English equivalent underneath so we could read it together. Nowhere in the original did it show “patience”. Nevertheless, I did some research into this; here is what I found.
At issue, is the word ὑπομονή (hupomonḗ) which is translated “endurance” in the Common English Bible. It means to persevere, remain under; a bearing up under, patience, endurance as to things or circumstances. Hupomonḗ is associated with hope and refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. Generally meaning endurance, patience, perseverance or constancy under suffering in faith and duty. In the context of Rev 1:9, it means by the quality to which one perseveres.
The big question is how to translate that into English. Can one patiently endure? I am in the presence of some folks at All Angels who are patiently enduring with a health condition of themselves or of their partner/spouse. They know there is nothing they can do about their condition. Daily, they choose to persevere instead of falling prey to negativity, anger, and bitterness. Now, they’d be the first to tell you that there are days… but, for the most part, they are enduring, patiently. A friend wrote to me about the Bible study and said that patiently enduring requires consent on the one who is being put to the test. John, therefore, is writing to those who consent to call Jesus Lord and, as such, they are consenting to endure with him, patiently.
One last thing – the Greeks of the 1st century, like today, are into endurance sports like long distance running, wrestling, and swimming. It should be no surprise they are credited with creating the Olympic Games. Endurance activities are individual sports that, if done to a high quality, can lift a nation. Each one of those sports requires patience as well as endurance. What John is describing, in his Revelation is that no matter what we are facing, God is patiently enduring with us. Whether one is trapped on the exile island of Patmos, or physical distancing at home, God is with us. And, through hope that there will be an end to suffering, God is helping us to endure, which, could lift a nation.
-Fr. Dave
Our current pandemic has led many of the faithful to ask similar questions.
In Class 2, we read the following verse, “I, John, your brother who shares with you in the hardship, kingdom, and endurance that we have in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and my witness about Jesus.” (1:9)
The approach I took on this passage was to show who the author is and where he is writing from. Several people on the Zoom study stopped me and said their Bible translation read, “I, John, your brother in the suffering and patient endurance…” Their question was why did my translation leave out “patient” when describing endurance. I was baffled. I quickly pulled up different English translations and found some had “patient” and others didn’t. I then shared my screen with them that had the Greek version (the original language) and the English equivalent underneath so we could read it together. Nowhere in the original did it show “patience”. Nevertheless, I did some research into this; here is what I found.
At issue, is the word ὑπομονή (hupomonḗ) which is translated “endurance” in the Common English Bible. It means to persevere, remain under; a bearing up under, patience, endurance as to things or circumstances. Hupomonḗ is associated with hope and refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. Generally meaning endurance, patience, perseverance or constancy under suffering in faith and duty. In the context of Rev 1:9, it means by the quality to which one perseveres.
The big question is how to translate that into English. Can one patiently endure? I am in the presence of some folks at All Angels who are patiently enduring with a health condition of themselves or of their partner/spouse. They know there is nothing they can do about their condition. Daily, they choose to persevere instead of falling prey to negativity, anger, and bitterness. Now, they’d be the first to tell you that there are days… but, for the most part, they are enduring, patiently. A friend wrote to me about the Bible study and said that patiently enduring requires consent on the one who is being put to the test. John, therefore, is writing to those who consent to call Jesus Lord and, as such, they are consenting to endure with him, patiently.
One last thing – the Greeks of the 1st century, like today, are into endurance sports like long distance running, wrestling, and swimming. It should be no surprise they are credited with creating the Olympic Games. Endurance activities are individual sports that, if done to a high quality, can lift a nation. Each one of those sports requires patience as well as endurance. What John is describing, in his Revelation is that no matter what we are facing, God is patiently enduring with us. Whether one is trapped on the exile island of Patmos, or physical distancing at home, God is with us. And, through hope that there will be an end to suffering, God is helping us to endure, which, could lift a nation.
-Fr. Dave
Cobividpolar-19
April 16, 2020
A High School friend on Facebook posted this question:
Have you heard about Cobividpolar-19? It’s a new disorder manifested by weeks of pandemic self-isolation.
These symptoms include:
Feelings of anger, fear, hope, judgement and empathy all within a 30-minute span of a national newscast.
Being happy to Zoom with people you miss and also angry that you have to put on a decent shirt.
A slow building dread as each new toilet paper roll is put out.
Hiding the good candy because you’re tired of sharing EVERYTHING ELSE.
Helping your kids with math and when they ask why they have to learn this you say, “Because when you are older you might be stuck at home during a pandemic and have to teach your children.”
And, lying in bed pondering the philosophical question of 2020: To Pants or Not to Pants.
It made me laugh and I wanted to share it with you so that maybe you’d get chuckle too. But, there is nugget of truth in there that stuck out for me – going through a variety of thoughts and emotions; including hope and judgement; while watching a nationally televised news program.
On a good day, I struggle with judging. The news cycle these days doesn’t help at all – I can judge our government on every level and what they have or have not done to help us, how businesses are responding or perhaps making the situation worse, and I watch how others are selflessly helping others and then judge myself for not doing more. None of this is good for myself or for others. I could blame Cobividpolar-19 or I could take a deeper look at the issue.
I can’t control the behavior of others; the car tailgating me on GMD Drive, the person who stands too close to me in line, or the cougher without a mask on aisle 9. They are responsible for their own behavior, and likewise, I am responsible for my behavior toward them. What comes to mind is control. I can’t control the driver nor the shopper. In fact, there is a lot going on around me that I am not in control of. But, my faith says that God knows what’s going on. The tailgater who suddenly turned into the post office and ran up the steps with a package. The cougher who placed bags of groceries in three different cars. The close-stander who smiled at me with kind eyes, thanked me for wearing a mask, and said he hasn’t talked to anyone in a week. After experiencing that, my judging side started slipping away and I found empathy and hope lurking underneath.
We are not rewarded for how well we judge others. What is rewarding, however, is to find hope and empathy loitering around us. The upside of Cobividpolar-19 is the ability to feel empathy and hope; even better is responding to those feelings.
Over the last couple of weeks, All Angels has written checks - $5,000 to Children First, $5,000 to Meals on Wheels-Plus, and another $2,000, that came in on our Good Friday electronic offertory plate, will go out next week to another local charity in need. We had a full barrel of food picked up today for the Manatee Food Bank. I imagine it’ll be full again after Sunday. I am hearing stories of parishioners who are standing up to the feelings of fear and judgement and instead of putting the stimulus money into savings they are putting it directly into the economy by helping others through the church, local food banks, and as cash to people who have been laid-off.
Instead of harshly judging the effects of Cobividpolar-19, when looking at our situation through the lens of empathy and hope, I am starting to think that is a time of resurrection, hope, and new life.
-Fr. Dave
Have you heard about Cobividpolar-19? It’s a new disorder manifested by weeks of pandemic self-isolation.
These symptoms include:
Feelings of anger, fear, hope, judgement and empathy all within a 30-minute span of a national newscast.
Being happy to Zoom with people you miss and also angry that you have to put on a decent shirt.
A slow building dread as each new toilet paper roll is put out.
Hiding the good candy because you’re tired of sharing EVERYTHING ELSE.
Helping your kids with math and when they ask why they have to learn this you say, “Because when you are older you might be stuck at home during a pandemic and have to teach your children.”
And, lying in bed pondering the philosophical question of 2020: To Pants or Not to Pants.
It made me laugh and I wanted to share it with you so that maybe you’d get chuckle too. But, there is nugget of truth in there that stuck out for me – going through a variety of thoughts and emotions; including hope and judgement; while watching a nationally televised news program.
On a good day, I struggle with judging. The news cycle these days doesn’t help at all – I can judge our government on every level and what they have or have not done to help us, how businesses are responding or perhaps making the situation worse, and I watch how others are selflessly helping others and then judge myself for not doing more. None of this is good for myself or for others. I could blame Cobividpolar-19 or I could take a deeper look at the issue.
I can’t control the behavior of others; the car tailgating me on GMD Drive, the person who stands too close to me in line, or the cougher without a mask on aisle 9. They are responsible for their own behavior, and likewise, I am responsible for my behavior toward them. What comes to mind is control. I can’t control the driver nor the shopper. In fact, there is a lot going on around me that I am not in control of. But, my faith says that God knows what’s going on. The tailgater who suddenly turned into the post office and ran up the steps with a package. The cougher who placed bags of groceries in three different cars. The close-stander who smiled at me with kind eyes, thanked me for wearing a mask, and said he hasn’t talked to anyone in a week. After experiencing that, my judging side started slipping away and I found empathy and hope lurking underneath.
We are not rewarded for how well we judge others. What is rewarding, however, is to find hope and empathy loitering around us. The upside of Cobividpolar-19 is the ability to feel empathy and hope; even better is responding to those feelings.
Over the last couple of weeks, All Angels has written checks - $5,000 to Children First, $5,000 to Meals on Wheels-Plus, and another $2,000, that came in on our Good Friday electronic offertory plate, will go out next week to another local charity in need. We had a full barrel of food picked up today for the Manatee Food Bank. I imagine it’ll be full again after Sunday. I am hearing stories of parishioners who are standing up to the feelings of fear and judgement and instead of putting the stimulus money into savings they are putting it directly into the economy by helping others through the church, local food banks, and as cash to people who have been laid-off.
Instead of harshly judging the effects of Cobividpolar-19, when looking at our situation through the lens of empathy and hope, I am starting to think that is a time of resurrection, hope, and new life.
-Fr. Dave
Social Distancing?
April 2, 2020
I have just finished up a week of Zoom meetings. If you are not familiar with Zoom, you will be soon. It is a web-based program that allows for up to 1,000 people see each other and talk all at the same time on either a computer or a smart phone. On Tuesday, I had a Zoom meeting with the Men’s Discussion Group. Later that day, I had a Zoom meeting with the Bishop and 145 members of the diocesan clergy. On Wednesday, I had a Zoom meeting with 115 treasurers and rectors from around the diocese to talk about the impact of Safer-at-Home and church finances; and, in the afternoon, with 12 clergy members of our area deanery. Thursday, I had a zoom meeting with the Women’s Discussion group and a practice session with my senior warden to get music and other things to share in with the discussion; similar to what you are seeing on television. If you are wondering, Zoom is a publicly traded company and has nearly doubled in stock price over the past two months. This week, I have been socializing, if you will, with nearly 300 people. Yet, we have been physically distant.
Because of the Safer-at-Home declaration by Florida’s governor, I have been pondering how All Angels should react and comply with the letter and spirit of the law. The governor has declared church services (for all faith traditions) to be essential and therefore admissible. At the same time, we are restricted to have 10 or fewer in groups and, if you look at a previous declaration, it seems like people over the age of 65 can’t do anything but go to the store, get prescriptions, and take a walk.
I feel as if I have been caught flat-footed with this. It’s like we have been reacting and pivoting to the restrictions. In reaction, we started the Drive-in church where folks drive onto the campus and can hear the service through 99.9 FM or over the outdoor loudspeakers. We started with something like 0 cars, to 9, to 17 last week. Likewise, we are having more walk-ups who are either siting on our benches or bringing their own chairs. With this type of growth, we will easily go above both the spirit and letter of the law for the number of people in attendance. … which is great, but probably not the best idea at this time.
As such, we are putting the Drive-in church on hiatus for this month. Instead, we are going live on Zoom this Sunday at 9:15. The service will be recorded and then posted on the YouTube channel like normal. Proactively speaking, if (or when) an executive order from either the Longboat Town Council, the Bishop’s Office, the County Commissioner, the governor or president, which takes the gathering number from ten to zero, we will be already doing our worship services in our homes.
In the future, I imagine that restrictions will be gradually relaxed. That means we will start up the Drive-in church and then, hopefully just a couple of weeks later, be able to open the doors for all to gather. On that great and glorious day, we will still be live-streaming on the internet, broadcasting over 99.9 FM for those who prefer to stay in their cars, broadcasting through our loudspeakers to those who prefer to be outside, and, videotaping the service for viewing on YouTube.
They say we should be socially distant for a while to stop the spread of the Covid virus. I prefer to think of it this way: to stop the spread, we should be physically distancing ourselves yet finding new ways to be socially connected.
- Fr. Dave
Because of the Safer-at-Home declaration by Florida’s governor, I have been pondering how All Angels should react and comply with the letter and spirit of the law. The governor has declared church services (for all faith traditions) to be essential and therefore admissible. At the same time, we are restricted to have 10 or fewer in groups and, if you look at a previous declaration, it seems like people over the age of 65 can’t do anything but go to the store, get prescriptions, and take a walk.
I feel as if I have been caught flat-footed with this. It’s like we have been reacting and pivoting to the restrictions. In reaction, we started the Drive-in church where folks drive onto the campus and can hear the service through 99.9 FM or over the outdoor loudspeakers. We started with something like 0 cars, to 9, to 17 last week. Likewise, we are having more walk-ups who are either siting on our benches or bringing their own chairs. With this type of growth, we will easily go above both the spirit and letter of the law for the number of people in attendance. … which is great, but probably not the best idea at this time.
As such, we are putting the Drive-in church on hiatus for this month. Instead, we are going live on Zoom this Sunday at 9:15. The service will be recorded and then posted on the YouTube channel like normal. Proactively speaking, if (or when) an executive order from either the Longboat Town Council, the Bishop’s Office, the County Commissioner, the governor or president, which takes the gathering number from ten to zero, we will be already doing our worship services in our homes.
In the future, I imagine that restrictions will be gradually relaxed. That means we will start up the Drive-in church and then, hopefully just a couple of weeks later, be able to open the doors for all to gather. On that great and glorious day, we will still be live-streaming on the internet, broadcasting over 99.9 FM for those who prefer to stay in their cars, broadcasting through our loudspeakers to those who prefer to be outside, and, videotaping the service for viewing on YouTube.
They say we should be socially distant for a while to stop the spread of the Covid virus. I prefer to think of it this way: to stop the spread, we should be physically distancing ourselves yet finding new ways to be socially connected.
- Fr. Dave
Where is God in all of this?
March 30, 2020
Where is God in all of this?
How long, Lord? Will you ever remember me?
How long will you hide from me?
How long must I wrestle with internal thoughts and have sorrow in my heart? Daily?!
How long will this enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13:1-2
Of the 150 psalms, 42 are of lament – 30 of which are personal. These laments ask where God is in a particular situation, or where is God in the center of government, or in our communities. Quoting the first verse of Psalm 22, Jesus famously said from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.”
It seems these days we are writing our own psalms of lament. How long will we have to live like this? Why is God allowing this to happen? Has God forsaken us? What is next for us and will God be there with us? Although I do not have a definitive answer for these laments, I do have some thoughts and some faith.
Although non-believers use times of challenge, like the current pandemic, to “prove” that God doesn’t exist. They will even say that ancient writings in the Bible show that people have historically reached out to a non-existent being with no solace. But, if that were actually the case, wouldn’t our faith traditions have ended long ago.
We often wonder why God allows for evil to happen; but, what if God is a response to evil? I wonder this because it seems like after a bad thing happens, something good happens. Now, I understand there is no way to know of the evil that God stops before it happens, but what if we have it in reverse. Would you look at the news differently if God was a reaction to bad news instead of the gatekeeper who allows it? Would that make you look at God differently too?
Intertwined in the bad news of the day, there are shining bright spots. The images of children holding home-made signs of love for their grandparents; health care professionals working as hard as they can to help; compassion coming from neighbors helping other neighbors; weddings that are still happening; Sunday’s in-home concert by today’s top performers to raise money for those in need; houses across the country putting their Christmas lights back up so they can shine a light of hope at night; congress unanimously passing a bill; animal shelters bringing adoptee pets out to perspective fur-ever homes; Germans singing songs on their balconies in tribute for those in Italy; free-book libraries turning into free-food pantries. What if this is God’s reaction to Covid-19? What if this is the Spirit of God blowing through individuals to do their best to help others.
For every psalm of lament, there are more psalms of joy and thanksgiving. It seems as if we need to have the lament to then have the joy. What if God reacts to things in that manner and perhaps in that order. Like the alcoholic that celebrates more than 30 years of sobriety, or the stage 4 cancer survivor giving thanks for the sunrise; there are victories of God in and around us. So, with our pandemic, where is God in all of this? I see God showing up in all sorts of signs and actions of people helping one another and of finding new and innovative ways to connect, even though we must remain apart.
Jesus’ last words were not, “Why have you forsaken me.” The joy of his resurrection came shining through in the way that he revealed his resurrected self by baking fish for the disciples on a lake shore. The joy of his resurrection came when he was ascending and told his followers to take his peace and “Go, to the ends of the earth.” … which they did, and are still doing. God further revealed the power of resurrection on the Day of Pentecost which shines through at every baptism today. The words Jesus said on the cross were not his last words and neither will our laments about Covid-19 be God’s last word on us.
The Book of Psalms ends with this:
Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah! (Ps 149:1;150;6)
We are singing new songs, and old songs in a new way, and giving praise to God. Although it is different, because of the pandemic, we are gathering together in unique ways to praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
May the Peace of the Lord be with you,
- Fr. Dave
How long, Lord? Will you ever remember me?
How long will you hide from me?
How long must I wrestle with internal thoughts and have sorrow in my heart? Daily?!
How long will this enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13:1-2
Of the 150 psalms, 42 are of lament – 30 of which are personal. These laments ask where God is in a particular situation, or where is God in the center of government, or in our communities. Quoting the first verse of Psalm 22, Jesus famously said from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.”
It seems these days we are writing our own psalms of lament. How long will we have to live like this? Why is God allowing this to happen? Has God forsaken us? What is next for us and will God be there with us? Although I do not have a definitive answer for these laments, I do have some thoughts and some faith.
Although non-believers use times of challenge, like the current pandemic, to “prove” that God doesn’t exist. They will even say that ancient writings in the Bible show that people have historically reached out to a non-existent being with no solace. But, if that were actually the case, wouldn’t our faith traditions have ended long ago.
We often wonder why God allows for evil to happen; but, what if God is a response to evil? I wonder this because it seems like after a bad thing happens, something good happens. Now, I understand there is no way to know of the evil that God stops before it happens, but what if we have it in reverse. Would you look at the news differently if God was a reaction to bad news instead of the gatekeeper who allows it? Would that make you look at God differently too?
Intertwined in the bad news of the day, there are shining bright spots. The images of children holding home-made signs of love for their grandparents; health care professionals working as hard as they can to help; compassion coming from neighbors helping other neighbors; weddings that are still happening; Sunday’s in-home concert by today’s top performers to raise money for those in need; houses across the country putting their Christmas lights back up so they can shine a light of hope at night; congress unanimously passing a bill; animal shelters bringing adoptee pets out to perspective fur-ever homes; Germans singing songs on their balconies in tribute for those in Italy; free-book libraries turning into free-food pantries. What if this is God’s reaction to Covid-19? What if this is the Spirit of God blowing through individuals to do their best to help others.
For every psalm of lament, there are more psalms of joy and thanksgiving. It seems as if we need to have the lament to then have the joy. What if God reacts to things in that manner and perhaps in that order. Like the alcoholic that celebrates more than 30 years of sobriety, or the stage 4 cancer survivor giving thanks for the sunrise; there are victories of God in and around us. So, with our pandemic, where is God in all of this? I see God showing up in all sorts of signs and actions of people helping one another and of finding new and innovative ways to connect, even though we must remain apart.
Jesus’ last words were not, “Why have you forsaken me.” The joy of his resurrection came shining through in the way that he revealed his resurrected self by baking fish for the disciples on a lake shore. The joy of his resurrection came when he was ascending and told his followers to take his peace and “Go, to the ends of the earth.” … which they did, and are still doing. God further revealed the power of resurrection on the Day of Pentecost which shines through at every baptism today. The words Jesus said on the cross were not his last words and neither will our laments about Covid-19 be God’s last word on us.
The Book of Psalms ends with this:
Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah! (Ps 149:1;150;6)
We are singing new songs, and old songs in a new way, and giving praise to God. Although it is different, because of the pandemic, we are gathering together in unique ways to praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
May the Peace of the Lord be with you,
- Fr. Dave