The Diaconate
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I have a friend, The Rev. Tom Morelli, who will be at All Angels this Sunday. He is a deacon in the Episcopal Church and is on sabbatical from his home diocese of Los Angeles. I met Tom in San Diego in 2012 when he was not yet a deacon. We have served together; he has mentored me in the best practices of managing a non-profit, and I have mentored him through the ordination process. Above all, and most importantly, we are close friends and often refer to each other as brothers.
Tom has many gifts and has experienced many things in his seven decades on this planet. He is a Marine, a Vietnam combat veteran, a retired financial officer for a multinational corporation (which gave him the opportunity to live in Japan), he has coached athletes in the Special Olympics, he is a prison chaplain, he is a woodworker and plays the ukulele. And, of course, he is a deacon, who deserves a long and relaxing sabbatical. One of the hallmarks of his vocation is to educate the Church on what a deacon is. Following my brother’s example, I’d like to tell you a little about it.
There are three “orders” in the Church – the diaconate, the presbyterate, and the episcopate which are deacons, priests and bishops. I am a priest; in the office of the presbyterate. Many of you have met our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Doug Scharf. He is in the office of the episcopate. But some of you have never met a deacon.
Deacons are the first ordained order in the New Testament. The Apostles needed help serving people in need in the rapidly growing Church. The Apostles chose seven Greek-speaking men to serve as deacons and they laid their hands on them (in the same way that Jesus laid his hands on Peter and then Peter laid his hands on the Apostles). Their names were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon Parmenas and Nicholas. They were identified and selected by the community in Jerusalem based on their reputation, wisdom and being full of the Holy Spirit. In other words, they were already doing the work that God had called them to do; the Apostles recognized it and laid their hands on them.
As the Church grew, the episcopate made the order of presbyterate to consecrate communion, to baptize and to bless. By the end of the first 1000 years of the Church, the diaconate had lost its permanency and was used as a transitional step to the priesthood. Nevertheless, through the reformation, the Church, nearly 2,000 years after the ordination of the Seven, has reestablished the permanent diaconate.
Deacons have a three-fold ministry – ministry of the word, ministry of liturgy, ministry of charity and justice. Ministry of the word is being a living example of the spirit and message of Jesus in the public arena. Instead of being tied down to church governance and maintenance, they are free to show the world about the redeeming power of Christ. The ministry of liturgy is what you are going to see on Sunday. They call the congregation to worship, they read the Gospel, call everyone to confession, they set the table, administer the Sacrament to the people, and they dismiss the congregation. The ministry of charity and justice is something Deacon Tom is quite familiar with. Deacons run food banks, participate in prison ministry, offer support for widows and the lonely, bring communion to those who cannot make it to church, and speak for those in the community who have no voice – the marginalized, the sick, the homeless.
When a deacon is not present, the priest and the congregation take the role of ministry of the word, of liturgy and of charity and justice. This congregation is full of people who are a living example of Jesus’ message in our community. We have many leaders who assist with the liturgy and especially with charity and justice. Our New to You Art Sale is one of those shining diaconal ministries that many participate in.
It is my wish that All Angels has a deacon, or two or three deacons. If you are feeling interested in the order of the diaconate, please let me, or Tom, know.
The Word, the World, Charity and the Church need you.
- Fr. Dave
Tom has many gifts and has experienced many things in his seven decades on this planet. He is a Marine, a Vietnam combat veteran, a retired financial officer for a multinational corporation (which gave him the opportunity to live in Japan), he has coached athletes in the Special Olympics, he is a prison chaplain, he is a woodworker and plays the ukulele. And, of course, he is a deacon, who deserves a long and relaxing sabbatical. One of the hallmarks of his vocation is to educate the Church on what a deacon is. Following my brother’s example, I’d like to tell you a little about it.
There are three “orders” in the Church – the diaconate, the presbyterate, and the episcopate which are deacons, priests and bishops. I am a priest; in the office of the presbyterate. Many of you have met our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Doug Scharf. He is in the office of the episcopate. But some of you have never met a deacon.
Deacons are the first ordained order in the New Testament. The Apostles needed help serving people in need in the rapidly growing Church. The Apostles chose seven Greek-speaking men to serve as deacons and they laid their hands on them (in the same way that Jesus laid his hands on Peter and then Peter laid his hands on the Apostles). Their names were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon Parmenas and Nicholas. They were identified and selected by the community in Jerusalem based on their reputation, wisdom and being full of the Holy Spirit. In other words, they were already doing the work that God had called them to do; the Apostles recognized it and laid their hands on them.
As the Church grew, the episcopate made the order of presbyterate to consecrate communion, to baptize and to bless. By the end of the first 1000 years of the Church, the diaconate had lost its permanency and was used as a transitional step to the priesthood. Nevertheless, through the reformation, the Church, nearly 2,000 years after the ordination of the Seven, has reestablished the permanent diaconate.
Deacons have a three-fold ministry – ministry of the word, ministry of liturgy, ministry of charity and justice. Ministry of the word is being a living example of the spirit and message of Jesus in the public arena. Instead of being tied down to church governance and maintenance, they are free to show the world about the redeeming power of Christ. The ministry of liturgy is what you are going to see on Sunday. They call the congregation to worship, they read the Gospel, call everyone to confession, they set the table, administer the Sacrament to the people, and they dismiss the congregation. The ministry of charity and justice is something Deacon Tom is quite familiar with. Deacons run food banks, participate in prison ministry, offer support for widows and the lonely, bring communion to those who cannot make it to church, and speak for those in the community who have no voice – the marginalized, the sick, the homeless.
When a deacon is not present, the priest and the congregation take the role of ministry of the word, of liturgy and of charity and justice. This congregation is full of people who are a living example of Jesus’ message in our community. We have many leaders who assist with the liturgy and especially with charity and justice. Our New to You Art Sale is one of those shining diaconal ministries that many participate in.
It is my wish that All Angels has a deacon, or two or three deacons. If you are feeling interested in the order of the diaconate, please let me, or Tom, know.
The Word, the World, Charity and the Church need you.
- Fr. Dave
Meekness
I was asked this week to decipher the following phrase: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. It is from the Gospel of Matthew in what is called the Beatitudes. There is a similar story in the Gospel of Luke, but that version does not include the above phrase (and the Gospels of Mark and John do not include the Beatitudes). The person who asked me to decipher it was particularly interested in the word “meek” and if it was a good or bad thing. The second question was this: is inheriting the earth a good or bad thing?
Jesus spoke this phrase (most likely) in Aramaic – the common language of 1st century Palestine. It is a Semitic language that is closely related to Hebrew. It would have been uncommon to write in Aramaic; instead, all the authors of the New Testament wrote in Greek. As we explore this phrase today, our journey will take us into Greek and Hebrew.
Blessed; it’s a good thing. There are two types of blessings in the Bible – blessings from humans to humans and blessings from God to humans. The two blessings are “eulogy” and “makarioi”. Eulogies are blessings from humans to humans and are found most commonly at funerals, at toasts and introductions. “Makarioi”, the second and much less common blessing, comes from God. Makarioi (not eulogy) is the word Matthew (and Luke) used which we translate as “blessed” or “happy”. Jesus begins his sermon with “Makarioi!” The crowd leans in wanting to know who it is that God blesses. Here is the list: the poor in spirit; those who mourn; the meek; those who hunger for righteousness; the merciful; the pure in heart; the peacemakers; those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Humans typically do not bless (eulogize) the poor in spirit, the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted, or those who mourn, or the meek, but God does!
Blessed are the meek. Meek – it doesn’t mean what you might think it means. In modern day English, the meek are seen as submissive, weak, compliant. That’s not what the Greek word means. The Greek word is “praus”, in which there is no direct English equivalent. Praus means strength-under-control. It is someone who has a long fuse. Someone who is so confident in their inner strength that they cannot be provoked to anger or rashness. Lastly, it is someone who is confident-under-injuries. The Hebrew equivalent is someone who does not take advantage of their position/privilege/power. As you can see, this word is contrary to the definition of weak or submissive.
Inherit the earth. The underlying theological belief in Scripture is this: God loves all that God has made. One of my favorite Bible passages is, “The sea is his because he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” (Ps 95) Humans were the last created order. Originating from the mud of the earth, God formed the first human with God’s own hands and blew life into it. We are intricately intertwined with the earth and with all of God’s creation. And God loves it all! Inherit the earth is like a parent who passes their estate to the children. The children who have strength-under-control, who do not take advantage of their position – the meek – those are the inheritors of God’s estate which is the earth. Happy are the meek, indeed!
Instead of looking down upon those who are meek – thinking of it as a word that describes submissiveness – the Greek and Hebrew meaning of that word gives us a high bar to live up to. Have you considered your own meekness? One of the greatest compliments I have received is that I have a long fuse because it takes a lot for me to get angry. Nevertheless, I have lost my temper. I also try to remain calm under pressure, to be confident-under-injury, to not take advantage of power. But, from time to time, I have not been meek. Heck, I even passed a car on the GMD the other day. (So much for a long fuse) The “inheritors of the earth” are not perfect; no one is; and that is not the goal that Jesus was setting out before us. Rather, blessed are those who strive for meekness, for theirs is the blessedness of this beautiful earth.
- Fr. Dave
Jesus spoke this phrase (most likely) in Aramaic – the common language of 1st century Palestine. It is a Semitic language that is closely related to Hebrew. It would have been uncommon to write in Aramaic; instead, all the authors of the New Testament wrote in Greek. As we explore this phrase today, our journey will take us into Greek and Hebrew.
Blessed; it’s a good thing. There are two types of blessings in the Bible – blessings from humans to humans and blessings from God to humans. The two blessings are “eulogy” and “makarioi”. Eulogies are blessings from humans to humans and are found most commonly at funerals, at toasts and introductions. “Makarioi”, the second and much less common blessing, comes from God. Makarioi (not eulogy) is the word Matthew (and Luke) used which we translate as “blessed” or “happy”. Jesus begins his sermon with “Makarioi!” The crowd leans in wanting to know who it is that God blesses. Here is the list: the poor in spirit; those who mourn; the meek; those who hunger for righteousness; the merciful; the pure in heart; the peacemakers; those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Humans typically do not bless (eulogize) the poor in spirit, the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted, or those who mourn, or the meek, but God does!
Blessed are the meek. Meek – it doesn’t mean what you might think it means. In modern day English, the meek are seen as submissive, weak, compliant. That’s not what the Greek word means. The Greek word is “praus”, in which there is no direct English equivalent. Praus means strength-under-control. It is someone who has a long fuse. Someone who is so confident in their inner strength that they cannot be provoked to anger or rashness. Lastly, it is someone who is confident-under-injuries. The Hebrew equivalent is someone who does not take advantage of their position/privilege/power. As you can see, this word is contrary to the definition of weak or submissive.
Inherit the earth. The underlying theological belief in Scripture is this: God loves all that God has made. One of my favorite Bible passages is, “The sea is his because he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” (Ps 95) Humans were the last created order. Originating from the mud of the earth, God formed the first human with God’s own hands and blew life into it. We are intricately intertwined with the earth and with all of God’s creation. And God loves it all! Inherit the earth is like a parent who passes their estate to the children. The children who have strength-under-control, who do not take advantage of their position – the meek – those are the inheritors of God’s estate which is the earth. Happy are the meek, indeed!
Instead of looking down upon those who are meek – thinking of it as a word that describes submissiveness – the Greek and Hebrew meaning of that word gives us a high bar to live up to. Have you considered your own meekness? One of the greatest compliments I have received is that I have a long fuse because it takes a lot for me to get angry. Nevertheless, I have lost my temper. I also try to remain calm under pressure, to be confident-under-injury, to not take advantage of power. But, from time to time, I have not been meek. Heck, I even passed a car on the GMD the other day. (So much for a long fuse) The “inheritors of the earth” are not perfect; no one is; and that is not the goal that Jesus was setting out before us. Rather, blessed are those who strive for meekness, for theirs is the blessedness of this beautiful earth.
- Fr. Dave
Just Reward
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Elijah and I completed a project in our condo. We replaced two toilets which were manufactured in July 1980. I remember the summer of 1980 – I was at camp and spent time sailing on our boat, Patience. I wonder if in 44 years from now, Elijah will remember the summer of 2024 as the time he learned about plumbing and tile work.
Ten years ago, someone remodeled the bathrooms in the condo and instead of lifting the toilets and tiling underneath, they simply tiled to the base of the toilet and left it at that. That meant that I had to break the grout cement that held the toilets to the floor and then tile the floor because the new units have a different footprint (of course). We discovered that tiling is tough work, especially if you don’t own a tile saw. Start to finish, the project took us two days. The actual amount of time it took to lift the old unit off the floor and put a new one in its place is about twenty minutes per bathroom. But that’s how it is with home improvement projects.
My friend Alex is preaching on Psalm 24 this Sunday. We spent some time talking about it on our weekly podcast, A Bridge Between with Alex and Dave (available on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube). One verse from Psalm 24 that caught my attention is this: They shall receive a blessing from the Lord and a just reward from the God of their salvation. The Bible is full of questions and ponderings but the phrase, they-shall-receive is uncommon which is why it piqued my interest.
The psalms are written with this binary approach: there are two types of people in the world, the righteous and the scoffers. The righteous follow the Lord and are like trees planted by streams of water. The scoffers choose to be scornful, to give advice that only helps themselves, makes others stumble, and to walk on paths that feed their egos. According to Psalm 24, both the righteous and scoffers shall receive a just reward. The scoffers receive an empty gift from their god because they believed themselves to be their own salvation. On the other hand, the righteous follow the way of the Lord, they help others, and, as Jesus would say, they treat others how they would like to be treated. They too receive a reward from the God of their salvation which is joy, peace and contentment.
I have found that plumbing and tiling requires a good amount of time on one’s knees. There is also ample time during manual labor to think. The allegorical time-on-one’s-knees is a Jewish and Christian and Muslim concept of humility, prayer, devotion and listening to God. Likewise, spending reflection time to think is a concept of all three Abrahamic faiths as well as many other faith traditions in the world. Admittedly, when the project started, I was not thinking positive or uplifting things about the person who had tiled the toilets to the floor. I thought, if that guy had just spent the twenty minutes it takes to lift the toilet, tile under it, and then place it back, I would be fishing right now. But what lesson would I have learned from that?
Elijah and I learned important lessons from our Independence Day weekend project, and I quelled two fears – not being skilled enough to do plumbing or tiling. If a toilet needs to be replaced at church, I now have the experience to do it and I am blessed with a good and brave helper. The church would probably hire a plumber to do it, but just knowing that I can do it, and that Elijah will help, is a big reward.
Another lesson I learned from this is compassion for scoffers. Those who think only of themselves, live only to better themselves (especially at the expense of others), and trust in their own righteousness, they too will receive a reward from the god of their selfishness. I do not envy that reward. It makes me want to live more into our shared mission of bringing the living Christ, the God of our Salvation, to show others there is a better way of living that brings a reward of peace and contentment. Sometimes that reward reveals itself when doing plumbing and tile work.
- Fr. Dave
Ten years ago, someone remodeled the bathrooms in the condo and instead of lifting the toilets and tiling underneath, they simply tiled to the base of the toilet and left it at that. That meant that I had to break the grout cement that held the toilets to the floor and then tile the floor because the new units have a different footprint (of course). We discovered that tiling is tough work, especially if you don’t own a tile saw. Start to finish, the project took us two days. The actual amount of time it took to lift the old unit off the floor and put a new one in its place is about twenty minutes per bathroom. But that’s how it is with home improvement projects.
My friend Alex is preaching on Psalm 24 this Sunday. We spent some time talking about it on our weekly podcast, A Bridge Between with Alex and Dave (available on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube). One verse from Psalm 24 that caught my attention is this: They shall receive a blessing from the Lord and a just reward from the God of their salvation. The Bible is full of questions and ponderings but the phrase, they-shall-receive is uncommon which is why it piqued my interest.
The psalms are written with this binary approach: there are two types of people in the world, the righteous and the scoffers. The righteous follow the Lord and are like trees planted by streams of water. The scoffers choose to be scornful, to give advice that only helps themselves, makes others stumble, and to walk on paths that feed their egos. According to Psalm 24, both the righteous and scoffers shall receive a just reward. The scoffers receive an empty gift from their god because they believed themselves to be their own salvation. On the other hand, the righteous follow the way of the Lord, they help others, and, as Jesus would say, they treat others how they would like to be treated. They too receive a reward from the God of their salvation which is joy, peace and contentment.
I have found that plumbing and tiling requires a good amount of time on one’s knees. There is also ample time during manual labor to think. The allegorical time-on-one’s-knees is a Jewish and Christian and Muslim concept of humility, prayer, devotion and listening to God. Likewise, spending reflection time to think is a concept of all three Abrahamic faiths as well as many other faith traditions in the world. Admittedly, when the project started, I was not thinking positive or uplifting things about the person who had tiled the toilets to the floor. I thought, if that guy had just spent the twenty minutes it takes to lift the toilet, tile under it, and then place it back, I would be fishing right now. But what lesson would I have learned from that?
Elijah and I learned important lessons from our Independence Day weekend project, and I quelled two fears – not being skilled enough to do plumbing or tiling. If a toilet needs to be replaced at church, I now have the experience to do it and I am blessed with a good and brave helper. The church would probably hire a plumber to do it, but just knowing that I can do it, and that Elijah will help, is a big reward.
Another lesson I learned from this is compassion for scoffers. Those who think only of themselves, live only to better themselves (especially at the expense of others), and trust in their own righteousness, they too will receive a reward from the god of their selfishness. I do not envy that reward. It makes me want to live more into our shared mission of bringing the living Christ, the God of our Salvation, to show others there is a better way of living that brings a reward of peace and contentment. Sometimes that reward reveals itself when doing plumbing and tile work.
- Fr. Dave
Art and Independence
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Historian and author David McCullough gave us a beautiful and stirring look into America’s second, and underappreciated President, John Adams. Thankfully Adams wrote a lot of letters, especially to Abigail, and thankfully we kept them (and thankfully McCullough uses them to illustrate Adams’ amazing life). In a letter, Adams wrote that July 2nd is a “Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.” As I look at the calendar of Independence Day activities in our area, nowhere do I see a parade on July 2nd. Why do we celebrate on the 4th and not the 2nd as Adams had predicted?
As with most historical events, especially revolutionary events (pun intended), they happen over a series of days or years. Looking back, the event seems quick, almost spontaneous, but in reality, these things take time and are usually a result of a lengthy process of change. Declaring independence did not happen overnight. It was a process taken on by the Continental Congress starting overtly in June 1776 and not fully completing until August. The agreement to break free was signed on July 2nd but the formal and public document took two days of edits and was accepted on July 4th. It was then sent to a local Philadelphia printer who made 200 copies (of which 26 remain today).
The artwork shown above is John Trumbull’s most famous painting, “Declaration of Independence.” Placed in the Capitol rotunda in 1826, the iconic painting has come to represent the actual signing of the nation’s most precious founding document. But it didn’t actually happen that way — the signers were not all in the same room at the same time. Art historians point out that Trumbull was capturing a new moment under the sun. Countering the Book of Ecclesiastes; which repeats the phrase, there is nothing new under the sun, all is vanity; Trumbull’s artistic rendering showed that there is something new under the sun and it is liberty! Independence and liberty are not vanity; they are not guaranteed and do not come easy. The trouble for modern day viewers, though, is that it looks like he captured a photo of the event. … of an event that took time and happened in a variety of different places.
You’ve undoubtedly seen Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of the Last Supper. There is a church joke about the painting that goes like this: St. Peter walks into a restaurant and says to the host, “A table for 26.” The confused host looks at Peter and says, “But there are only 13 of you.” Peter replies, “Yes, but we are all going to sit on the same side.”
When I talk about the Last Supper in a sermon or a Bible study, I must remember that most people see da Vinci’s painting in their mind. As a teacher, I start with that artistic rendering and then lead from there. Despite what one sees, or does not see in that painting, Passover celebrations involve one’s families. If this Passover had only Jesus and the twelve as the only participants, it would be a very odd occasion. My favorite artistic depiction of the last supper shows forty people, young and old, male and female, all crowded around a table listening intently to what Jesus is saying.
The Last Supper certainly is something new under the sun. Da Vinci captured that moment in the way he constructed the painting. From the look on Judas Iscariots’ face, and his posture at the table, the viewer also recognizes that the liberty Jesus was proclaiming – He lifted up a chalice and said, “This is my blood, poured out for you, for the forgiveness of sins.” – does not come easily or without a price.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence took a while to process the momentousness of what had occurred (and is occurring). It wasn’t until July 3, 1777, that they remembered the date of the signing and started the process of remembrance. There are many ways to remember and celebrate Independence Day. As we settle into this holiday weekend, let us remember that freedom isn’t free. There is something new under the sun. And, as our prayer for heroic service eloquently states, Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.
-Fr. Dave
As with most historical events, especially revolutionary events (pun intended), they happen over a series of days or years. Looking back, the event seems quick, almost spontaneous, but in reality, these things take time and are usually a result of a lengthy process of change. Declaring independence did not happen overnight. It was a process taken on by the Continental Congress starting overtly in June 1776 and not fully completing until August. The agreement to break free was signed on July 2nd but the formal and public document took two days of edits and was accepted on July 4th. It was then sent to a local Philadelphia printer who made 200 copies (of which 26 remain today).
The artwork shown above is John Trumbull’s most famous painting, “Declaration of Independence.” Placed in the Capitol rotunda in 1826, the iconic painting has come to represent the actual signing of the nation’s most precious founding document. But it didn’t actually happen that way — the signers were not all in the same room at the same time. Art historians point out that Trumbull was capturing a new moment under the sun. Countering the Book of Ecclesiastes; which repeats the phrase, there is nothing new under the sun, all is vanity; Trumbull’s artistic rendering showed that there is something new under the sun and it is liberty! Independence and liberty are not vanity; they are not guaranteed and do not come easy. The trouble for modern day viewers, though, is that it looks like he captured a photo of the event. … of an event that took time and happened in a variety of different places.
You’ve undoubtedly seen Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of the Last Supper. There is a church joke about the painting that goes like this: St. Peter walks into a restaurant and says to the host, “A table for 26.” The confused host looks at Peter and says, “But there are only 13 of you.” Peter replies, “Yes, but we are all going to sit on the same side.”
When I talk about the Last Supper in a sermon or a Bible study, I must remember that most people see da Vinci’s painting in their mind. As a teacher, I start with that artistic rendering and then lead from there. Despite what one sees, or does not see in that painting, Passover celebrations involve one’s families. If this Passover had only Jesus and the twelve as the only participants, it would be a very odd occasion. My favorite artistic depiction of the last supper shows forty people, young and old, male and female, all crowded around a table listening intently to what Jesus is saying.
The Last Supper certainly is something new under the sun. Da Vinci captured that moment in the way he constructed the painting. From the look on Judas Iscariots’ face, and his posture at the table, the viewer also recognizes that the liberty Jesus was proclaiming – He lifted up a chalice and said, “This is my blood, poured out for you, for the forgiveness of sins.” – does not come easily or without a price.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence took a while to process the momentousness of what had occurred (and is occurring). It wasn’t until July 3, 1777, that they remembered the date of the signing and started the process of remembrance. There are many ways to remember and celebrate Independence Day. As we settle into this holiday weekend, let us remember that freedom isn’t free. There is something new under the sun. And, as our prayer for heroic service eloquently states, Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.
-Fr. Dave
Home
Christi, Elijah and I went on vacation to California this past week. Ethan and Mackenzie stayed home, fed the cats, and ran the background systems at church on Sunday. It was the first time Christi and I have traveled to California without Ethan. The feeling was strange, yet it was an important step for all of us.
I grew up in the Seattle/Tacoma area of Washington State and went to college near the state capital of Olympia. Christi grew up in Marin County (northern San Francisco Bay Area). We are a part of an increasingly rare community of kids who went to elementary through High School in the same school district – again, she in California and me in Washington. We have not been able to do that with our kids (we even moved Ethan halfway through his High School career).
Despite the way I grew up, I left my home state after graduating from college. I had a feeling I was being called somewhere else; yet Washington was always home for me. At some point around 2010-ish, we flew up to Washington from our home in the San Diego area and I suddenly had this feeling: Washington is where I am from, it is no longer home. My family, and some very close friends, are there. I still follow Seattle sports. Nevertheless, it is not home, it is where I am from.
One of my favorite places on this planet is “the cabin”. It is a three bedroom, two bath house nestled in the majestic Sierra Mountains of California. At nearly 6,500 feet above sea level, the air is thin and dry. The cabin is surrounded by rugged terrain and towering fir trees. It is near a mountain lake where we swim and paddle around. The cabin is owned by my sister-in-law and her husband. Thankfully they let us use it whenever possible and are wonderful hosts. For a variety of reasons – Covid being number one and living in Florida as a close second – we have not been to the cabin in five years. It was very good to be back.
Seeing California again, despite all its beauty, I realized it was no longer home. California, like Washington, is now a place where I am from. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy spending time with Christi’s family in Sonoma Valley (where the best California wine is grown and produced). I very much enjoyed being with them and hope that we see them again soon. But it was no longer home.
On the flight back to Florida, the route took us along the shoreline of Clearwater. We saw the Skyway Bridge and then followed it to our fair city of Bradenton and then landed in Sarasota. This feeling came over me: I am home. We never expected or dreamed that we would live in Florida; but here it is, our home.
Like seeing Florida from the window of a plane and having the feeling of being home, being on the campus at All Angels also felt home. I was reminded that for many people, All Angels is their spiritual home. Some can only visit their spiritual home once a year. Many are here for a season and then participate online; others are here year-round. There are some who call this home but have never stepped foot here or have not physically been here for more than half a decade. Yet, for all of us, All Angels is home.
St. Paul wrote that our true home is God’s kingdom. Our temporary home is in the body and “We know that while we are living in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight.” None of us who call All Angels home were born on Longboat Key. We have all been led here by faith, not by sight. I left Washington not by sight – by seeing what God had in store for me – but by faith. In faith we are called from one home to another. In that sense, All Angels is our home which prepares us for our One True Home with the Lord.
- Fr. Dave
I grew up in the Seattle/Tacoma area of Washington State and went to college near the state capital of Olympia. Christi grew up in Marin County (northern San Francisco Bay Area). We are a part of an increasingly rare community of kids who went to elementary through High School in the same school district – again, she in California and me in Washington. We have not been able to do that with our kids (we even moved Ethan halfway through his High School career).
Despite the way I grew up, I left my home state after graduating from college. I had a feeling I was being called somewhere else; yet Washington was always home for me. At some point around 2010-ish, we flew up to Washington from our home in the San Diego area and I suddenly had this feeling: Washington is where I am from, it is no longer home. My family, and some very close friends, are there. I still follow Seattle sports. Nevertheless, it is not home, it is where I am from.
One of my favorite places on this planet is “the cabin”. It is a three bedroom, two bath house nestled in the majestic Sierra Mountains of California. At nearly 6,500 feet above sea level, the air is thin and dry. The cabin is surrounded by rugged terrain and towering fir trees. It is near a mountain lake where we swim and paddle around. The cabin is owned by my sister-in-law and her husband. Thankfully they let us use it whenever possible and are wonderful hosts. For a variety of reasons – Covid being number one and living in Florida as a close second – we have not been to the cabin in five years. It was very good to be back.
Seeing California again, despite all its beauty, I realized it was no longer home. California, like Washington, is now a place where I am from. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy spending time with Christi’s family in Sonoma Valley (where the best California wine is grown and produced). I very much enjoyed being with them and hope that we see them again soon. But it was no longer home.
On the flight back to Florida, the route took us along the shoreline of Clearwater. We saw the Skyway Bridge and then followed it to our fair city of Bradenton and then landed in Sarasota. This feeling came over me: I am home. We never expected or dreamed that we would live in Florida; but here it is, our home.
Like seeing Florida from the window of a plane and having the feeling of being home, being on the campus at All Angels also felt home. I was reminded that for many people, All Angels is their spiritual home. Some can only visit their spiritual home once a year. Many are here for a season and then participate online; others are here year-round. There are some who call this home but have never stepped foot here or have not physically been here for more than half a decade. Yet, for all of us, All Angels is home.
St. Paul wrote that our true home is God’s kingdom. Our temporary home is in the body and “We know that while we are living in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight.” None of us who call All Angels home were born on Longboat Key. We have all been led here by faith, not by sight. I left Washington not by sight – by seeing what God had in store for me – but by faith. In faith we are called from one home to another. In that sense, All Angels is our home which prepares us for our One True Home with the Lord.
- Fr. Dave
A Place to Know and Be Known
Last week I wrote to you about friendship and how it makes life worth living. There are a few more thoughts on it that I wanted to share with you, in particular, I wanted to write about ecclesiological friendship. Ecclesiology is a fancy word for the study of the Church. What does it mean to be a church friend and how, if any, does that friendship impact our life?
At Grace Episcopal, the first church I served as Rector, I had a new parishioner, Mary, who previously identified as Roman Catholic. I asked her how she knew that she should join Grace Episcopal Church. She said that one Sunday she arrived at Grace and realized she had left her pocketbook at home. She said, “Thanks be to God” and walked into the church. I asked why she said thanks be to God. She replied: At the (Roman) catholic church, I always made sure I had my driver’s license with me when I went to mass because if I fell, or became unconscious, they could find my license and know my name. But at Grace, these are my new friends; they know my name, they know where I live. And I thank God that I don’t have to bring my driver’s license to church anymore.
Now that’s what I call an ecclesiological friendship. It’s a place to know and be known.
The friendship theme of my last Reflection made some of you think of the hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Written by Joseph Scriven, that hymn was originally a poem to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. For Scriven, comfort for lonely souls comes to us in church through the love of Christ. Jesus is the one who hears every word we pray and in return he shields us and gives us solace. What a great friend we have indeed! But there is more to a church friend than our relationship with Jesus.
A church friend can be someone who we share more with than our regular or secular friends. Looking at this through the lens of an AA meeting (usually held in churches), what one shares in that circle with friends is much more than one would share with typical friends. At church, we share our weaknesses, things we have done and not done, we share our grief as well as our celebrations, our sources of joy and peace.
I have experienced a deeper dimension of friendship through the church which is this: church friends make for better secular friendships. What you hear at church will sink in, eventually. The peace that we share will eventually seep out into other relationships in your life. Have you noticed that once in a while, while talking with a friend outside of church, a theme from church will sneak in? A (church) friend recently told me that he helped a secular friend accept forgiveness from another member of the group. It seems that all the talk about forgiveness – to give and to receive – helped him be a better friend for someone who needed to be nudged to accept an apology.
There is another ecclesiology that I have not talked much about. Some hold the ecclesiology that the two most important people in a church is the individual and Christ. That belief holds that everything the church does is to support those two people in their relationship – individual prayer time, quiet time, lighting an individual candle. Bible studies are geared for individual learning and not getting to know others in the group. That is an important aspect of church to many people, and I do not mean to knock it but the downside to that belief system is that friendship with fellow congregants takes a back seat. As a result, people feel as if they have to bring their identification to church.
We believe God knows us all by name. At All Angels, we strive to know one another by name too. All Christians can rest in the peace and comfort that comes from having a friend in Jesus. But how much sweeter is that friendship when it is shared with someone else.
- Fr. Dave
At Grace Episcopal, the first church I served as Rector, I had a new parishioner, Mary, who previously identified as Roman Catholic. I asked her how she knew that she should join Grace Episcopal Church. She said that one Sunday she arrived at Grace and realized she had left her pocketbook at home. She said, “Thanks be to God” and walked into the church. I asked why she said thanks be to God. She replied: At the (Roman) catholic church, I always made sure I had my driver’s license with me when I went to mass because if I fell, or became unconscious, they could find my license and know my name. But at Grace, these are my new friends; they know my name, they know where I live. And I thank God that I don’t have to bring my driver’s license to church anymore.
Now that’s what I call an ecclesiological friendship. It’s a place to know and be known.
The friendship theme of my last Reflection made some of you think of the hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Written by Joseph Scriven, that hymn was originally a poem to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. For Scriven, comfort for lonely souls comes to us in church through the love of Christ. Jesus is the one who hears every word we pray and in return he shields us and gives us solace. What a great friend we have indeed! But there is more to a church friend than our relationship with Jesus.
A church friend can be someone who we share more with than our regular or secular friends. Looking at this through the lens of an AA meeting (usually held in churches), what one shares in that circle with friends is much more than one would share with typical friends. At church, we share our weaknesses, things we have done and not done, we share our grief as well as our celebrations, our sources of joy and peace.
I have experienced a deeper dimension of friendship through the church which is this: church friends make for better secular friendships. What you hear at church will sink in, eventually. The peace that we share will eventually seep out into other relationships in your life. Have you noticed that once in a while, while talking with a friend outside of church, a theme from church will sneak in? A (church) friend recently told me that he helped a secular friend accept forgiveness from another member of the group. It seems that all the talk about forgiveness – to give and to receive – helped him be a better friend for someone who needed to be nudged to accept an apology.
There is another ecclesiology that I have not talked much about. Some hold the ecclesiology that the two most important people in a church is the individual and Christ. That belief holds that everything the church does is to support those two people in their relationship – individual prayer time, quiet time, lighting an individual candle. Bible studies are geared for individual learning and not getting to know others in the group. That is an important aspect of church to many people, and I do not mean to knock it but the downside to that belief system is that friendship with fellow congregants takes a back seat. As a result, people feel as if they have to bring their identification to church.
We believe God knows us all by name. At All Angels, we strive to know one another by name too. All Christians can rest in the peace and comfort that comes from having a friend in Jesus. But how much sweeter is that friendship when it is shared with someone else.
- Fr. Dave
Friendship
What makes life worth living? When I was young and infatuated with the television show LA Law (when I thought I was going to be an attorney), I assumed that money was what made life worth living. Come to think of it, television programming in the mid-1980s seemed to lift up the prestige of making money, power, and influence. An interesting thing about aging is the shift of what one finds important and specifically, what makes life worth living.
My closest friend from High School, Brian, and I have been doing some catching up this past week. He lives in Minnesota, and I last saw him in 2019, but we work at keeping in touch. He and his wife Julie are facing the realities of an empty nest and physically declining parents. I suppose this is the season of life that we are both in. Friendship holds as a bond through it.
It should be noted that when I was fifteen, I may have thought I had the world all worked out and that I knew what I wanted – which very clearly was to be an attorney and drive a red convertible 911 Porsche. The equation looked like this: attorney + Porsche = happiness. Forty years later, I have a different equation running in my head. None of it has to do with practicing law or driving a convertible. The new equation has more qualities to it. Love + family = happiness. Friendships + serving a healthy and happy church = happiness. Being outdoors and being with those who I love = happiness. Getting a good night’s sleep should be in there too. I have written to you about love and family and church and being outdoors. But what about friendship and happiness?
My wife is my best friend. Thankfully I married my best friend, and we are still friends to this day. That’s enough to equal happiness. Yet, she is not my only friend. I have Brian who has known me for most of my life. I have Alex who is both a clergy colleague, fellow podcaster, and friend. We are making plans to go out on the boat with our families on Friday afternoon. That equals happiness too! I have a new friend, Julia, who is also the senior pastor at the Presbyterian church on Longboat Key. I have made friendships with the business leaders in my Tuesday networking group. And I am blessed to serve in a church where I work side by side for the mission of the church – to bring the Living Christ to those inside and outside the church – with, as St. Paul wrote, friends and fellow coworkers for Christ. I often introduce you all as “friend” instead of the traditional “parishioner” title.
What makes life worth living for Jesus? He is quoted in John’s Gospel saying this: I no longer call you servants; I call you friends. It makes me wonder if having servants makes life worth living. Probably not. But friends, that’s a whole different way of being. It makes me wonder about the theological premise of the Trinity. What if it’s based on friendship and love and happiness. Christi and I are different, but we are one in marriage and in friendship (and our kids seem to think we are interchangeable – tell one something and the other one will know it). Back in High School, Brian and I had a similar, trinitarian, relationship where we knew what the other was thinking and felt what the other felt. Perhaps we still have that today which is why when we talk it feels as if time has not moved in-between conversations.
One of the most beautiful aspects of All Angels by the Sea is our fertile garden of friendship. We have a friend (and parishioner) who recently moved into a memory care center. Her friends from All Angels have been showing up to give her a hug and listen to her wisdom. I have seen friendship blossom at All Angels even with people who only know each other through our online system. Again, friendship is because of our common ties with the mission of the church and our desire to know one another. Clearly this goes way beyond my understanding of happiness in my teens – thinking happiness was about one’s profession and earning a paycheck.
Nowadays I know better, All Angels + friendship = a worthwhile life.
- Fr. Dave
My closest friend from High School, Brian, and I have been doing some catching up this past week. He lives in Minnesota, and I last saw him in 2019, but we work at keeping in touch. He and his wife Julie are facing the realities of an empty nest and physically declining parents. I suppose this is the season of life that we are both in. Friendship holds as a bond through it.
It should be noted that when I was fifteen, I may have thought I had the world all worked out and that I knew what I wanted – which very clearly was to be an attorney and drive a red convertible 911 Porsche. The equation looked like this: attorney + Porsche = happiness. Forty years later, I have a different equation running in my head. None of it has to do with practicing law or driving a convertible. The new equation has more qualities to it. Love + family = happiness. Friendships + serving a healthy and happy church = happiness. Being outdoors and being with those who I love = happiness. Getting a good night’s sleep should be in there too. I have written to you about love and family and church and being outdoors. But what about friendship and happiness?
My wife is my best friend. Thankfully I married my best friend, and we are still friends to this day. That’s enough to equal happiness. Yet, she is not my only friend. I have Brian who has known me for most of my life. I have Alex who is both a clergy colleague, fellow podcaster, and friend. We are making plans to go out on the boat with our families on Friday afternoon. That equals happiness too! I have a new friend, Julia, who is also the senior pastor at the Presbyterian church on Longboat Key. I have made friendships with the business leaders in my Tuesday networking group. And I am blessed to serve in a church where I work side by side for the mission of the church – to bring the Living Christ to those inside and outside the church – with, as St. Paul wrote, friends and fellow coworkers for Christ. I often introduce you all as “friend” instead of the traditional “parishioner” title.
What makes life worth living for Jesus? He is quoted in John’s Gospel saying this: I no longer call you servants; I call you friends. It makes me wonder if having servants makes life worth living. Probably not. But friends, that’s a whole different way of being. It makes me wonder about the theological premise of the Trinity. What if it’s based on friendship and love and happiness. Christi and I are different, but we are one in marriage and in friendship (and our kids seem to think we are interchangeable – tell one something and the other one will know it). Back in High School, Brian and I had a similar, trinitarian, relationship where we knew what the other was thinking and felt what the other felt. Perhaps we still have that today which is why when we talk it feels as if time has not moved in-between conversations.
One of the most beautiful aspects of All Angels by the Sea is our fertile garden of friendship. We have a friend (and parishioner) who recently moved into a memory care center. Her friends from All Angels have been showing up to give her a hug and listen to her wisdom. I have seen friendship blossom at All Angels even with people who only know each other through our online system. Again, friendship is because of our common ties with the mission of the church and our desire to know one another. Clearly this goes way beyond my understanding of happiness in my teens – thinking happiness was about one’s profession and earning a paycheck.
Nowadays I know better, All Angels + friendship = a worthwhile life.
- Fr. Dave
The Gifts and the People
Holy: set aside for a high purpose; belonging to or associated with a divine power.
I was asked recently if the phrase – the gifts of God for the people of God – included him. The look on his face was serious and so was my response. I answered, simply and firmly, “Yes, it includes you.” He replied, “But I don’t feel holy; how can it be for me?”
Does the phrase people of God (which is meant to be inclusive) feel exclusive?
Should one dare consider themselves to be included with the holy people of God?
The answer is a firm yes. Let me explain why.
The Episcopal Church USA has had three prayer book revisions in our 235-year history. The first U.S. prayer book was ratified in 1789. It was a revision of the English book from 1662. The 1789 book was updated in 1892. It was revised in 1928. That prayer book was updated and ratified in its current form in 1979. Interestingly enough, the 1979 prayer book is the first prayer book, written in English, to bear the phrase, The gifts of God for the people of God. Let’s let that sink in a bit; from the first English book of common prayer from 1549 until 1979, the gifts for the people was not included. Did someone just make it up and insert it into the prayer in the late ‘70’s for the fun of it? No, of course not.
Eastern liturgies of the fourth century contained the phrase, The Holy for the holy. Those words were said before administering communion. Other ancient documents show this phrase: holy things for holy people. Bear in mind, Christianity was persecuted during the first part of the 4th century. That means these liturgical documents (they didn’t have “prayer books” back then) represent some of the earliest Christian expressions of worship. Many of the documents from the late first century and much of the second century were burned as a part of the persecution from the Roman empire and are lost to history. This means the eastern liturgies of the fourth century most likely represent what was passed down by the apostles.
In Peter’s first letter, he writes this: You are holy – a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation – God’s own people [and] possession. (2:9)
Many believe Peter was quoting Moses from Deuteronomy – If you keep the Lord’s commandments and walk in his ways the Lord will establish you as his holy people. (28:9)
And from Isaiah: They shall be called, The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord. (62:12)
This means that the phrase, “The holy for the holy”, comes from Scripture – from Peter the chief apostle, from Moses, the giver of the Law, and from Isaiah representing the prophets. We are commanded to continue in the breaking of the bread, of the teaching of the apostles, and in the prayers. When you see the priest lift up the broken bread, you are continuing in the tradition we were given from generation to generation. By participating in the eucharist, you are following what the Lord has commanded and are walking in His ways, thus, you are God’s holy people.
The definition of “Holy” can mean a set aside time, or place, or ritual. It can also mean belonging to or being associated with a divine power. And, because we are Episcopalian, it can mean all of those things and more! With the prayer book revision that started in the 1970’s, they went back to the ancient liturgies to mirror our day with theirs. They found this beautiful phrase that is associated with Peter who received instructions from Jesus himself. You don’t have to feel holy to be included or associated with the Divine. You simply have to see, or hear, it happening. The command to continue in the breaking of the bread, the teaching and the prayers does not have strings attached or prerequisites or metrics for accomplishment and success. The command only requires the willingness to show up, in person or online, and to be a part of it. As such, when I say, “The gifts of God for the people of God,” I’m talking about you.
- Fr. Dave
I was asked recently if the phrase – the gifts of God for the people of God – included him. The look on his face was serious and so was my response. I answered, simply and firmly, “Yes, it includes you.” He replied, “But I don’t feel holy; how can it be for me?”
Does the phrase people of God (which is meant to be inclusive) feel exclusive?
Should one dare consider themselves to be included with the holy people of God?
The answer is a firm yes. Let me explain why.
The Episcopal Church USA has had three prayer book revisions in our 235-year history. The first U.S. prayer book was ratified in 1789. It was a revision of the English book from 1662. The 1789 book was updated in 1892. It was revised in 1928. That prayer book was updated and ratified in its current form in 1979. Interestingly enough, the 1979 prayer book is the first prayer book, written in English, to bear the phrase, The gifts of God for the people of God. Let’s let that sink in a bit; from the first English book of common prayer from 1549 until 1979, the gifts for the people was not included. Did someone just make it up and insert it into the prayer in the late ‘70’s for the fun of it? No, of course not.
Eastern liturgies of the fourth century contained the phrase, The Holy for the holy. Those words were said before administering communion. Other ancient documents show this phrase: holy things for holy people. Bear in mind, Christianity was persecuted during the first part of the 4th century. That means these liturgical documents (they didn’t have “prayer books” back then) represent some of the earliest Christian expressions of worship. Many of the documents from the late first century and much of the second century were burned as a part of the persecution from the Roman empire and are lost to history. This means the eastern liturgies of the fourth century most likely represent what was passed down by the apostles.
In Peter’s first letter, he writes this: You are holy – a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation – God’s own people [and] possession. (2:9)
Many believe Peter was quoting Moses from Deuteronomy – If you keep the Lord’s commandments and walk in his ways the Lord will establish you as his holy people. (28:9)
And from Isaiah: They shall be called, The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord. (62:12)
This means that the phrase, “The holy for the holy”, comes from Scripture – from Peter the chief apostle, from Moses, the giver of the Law, and from Isaiah representing the prophets. We are commanded to continue in the breaking of the bread, of the teaching of the apostles, and in the prayers. When you see the priest lift up the broken bread, you are continuing in the tradition we were given from generation to generation. By participating in the eucharist, you are following what the Lord has commanded and are walking in His ways, thus, you are God’s holy people.
The definition of “Holy” can mean a set aside time, or place, or ritual. It can also mean belonging to or being associated with a divine power. And, because we are Episcopalian, it can mean all of those things and more! With the prayer book revision that started in the 1970’s, they went back to the ancient liturgies to mirror our day with theirs. They found this beautiful phrase that is associated with Peter who received instructions from Jesus himself. You don’t have to feel holy to be included or associated with the Divine. You simply have to see, or hear, it happening. The command to continue in the breaking of the bread, the teaching and the prayers does not have strings attached or prerequisites or metrics for accomplishment and success. The command only requires the willingness to show up, in person or online, and to be a part of it. As such, when I say, “The gifts of God for the people of God,” I’m talking about you.
- Fr. Dave
The Christian Buffet
There is a thought from last Sunday’s sermon that I’d like to consider in this Reflection. It has to do with the Discussion Group reading from Wall Street Journal that claimed the U.S. President was not a good (Roman) catholic but instead was an a la carte catholic. What the guest author of the article Pope Franics Shuts Down the Cafeteria meant by “a la carte catholic” has to do with a recent declaration by Pope Francis. The declaration, called the Dignitas Infinita, is a fixed set of beliefs. No one, not the U.S. President, or anyone else for that matter, can pick and choose from it. In other words, either you take the entire meal, or you have none at all, there is no a-la-carte faith.
I disagree with this ecclesiological and theological approach. Our faith journey by its very nature is a la carte. But first, let’s start with an Organizational Chart to show a chain of command. The Pope can’t tell me, or the Episcopal Church, or the world-wide Anglican Church what to do. Starting in 1534, the English Church makes its own decisions. The Anglican Communion is the second largest religion in the world. The Pope, however, is in charge of the largest religion, the Roman Catholic Church. Most people don’t know there is a difference which is why I am writing about it.
Back to my disagreement. I have a deeper faith in Christianity now than when I first started. This journey began by attending an Episcopal church with my parents. In faith we believe we are God’s children, not God’s grandchildren. That means at some point, we take the faith our parents have and then make it our own. And, for some of you, you take the lack of faith your parents gave you and you turn it into what you now believe. When we are baptized, we are first asked if we renounce the evil powers of this world. Once we say yes to renouncing, we are then asked if we turn to God and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Once we say yes to that we are baptized and received into the household of God. We are invited to “Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share in his eternal priesthood.” From what I have read of the Roman rite, it mirrors our own (of course, because Christ has one Church).
The journey begins in baptism by turning to God. What we do with the faith of Christ crucified, how we proclaim his resurrection, and how we share in his eternal priesthood is an open book. Or, perhaps, a buffet. We get to pick and choose how to live out our faith life. We begin somewhere and we end somewhere else. The way I see it, the Pope’s Dignitas Infinita assumes we all have the same journey and all come to the same conclusions. But that’s just not how faith and life works, at least as I experience it.
In our faith tradition, we can disagree on a whole variety of topics that were addressed in the Dignitas Infinita including human sexuality and identity, reproductive rights, the source of poverty and its cure, war and capital punishment. These are some of the most important topics for us to discuss in the 21st century and, like the Pope, I agree that compassionate Christian voices are vital in the discussion. But we all start somewhere and end somewhere else. Again, I didn’t believe everything at my baptism, or my confirmation, or even my ordination that I believe deeper and more fully now. I can hardly wait to see how my faith develops over the next ten years and for the rest of my lifetime. It’s an exciting journey to be sure. And I see it as a buffet. I was attracted to Christianity because it had an answer for the fear of death. What attracts me most about Christianity now is how to live in peace and harmony today, before death.
Taking it one step further, I see the vast diversity and array of churches in our community and nation as a buffet too. What All Angels by the Sea focuses on, and does well, is different from that of other Episcopal churches in our area. The same goes for St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church on Longboat and other Roman churches in Sarasota. They are all Roman Catholic but have different missions – yet they are one Church. And I believe that we are all One Church with one Shepherd and one faith. While we discuss, and sharply disagree, on several important topics, we believe in one God, the creator of all things seen and unseen. We believe in Jesus Christ, the only son of God. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. How we live out our faith, and how deeply we go into our faith, is still up to each one of us in this grand buffet of life.
- Fr. Dave
I disagree with this ecclesiological and theological approach. Our faith journey by its very nature is a la carte. But first, let’s start with an Organizational Chart to show a chain of command. The Pope can’t tell me, or the Episcopal Church, or the world-wide Anglican Church what to do. Starting in 1534, the English Church makes its own decisions. The Anglican Communion is the second largest religion in the world. The Pope, however, is in charge of the largest religion, the Roman Catholic Church. Most people don’t know there is a difference which is why I am writing about it.
Back to my disagreement. I have a deeper faith in Christianity now than when I first started. This journey began by attending an Episcopal church with my parents. In faith we believe we are God’s children, not God’s grandchildren. That means at some point, we take the faith our parents have and then make it our own. And, for some of you, you take the lack of faith your parents gave you and you turn it into what you now believe. When we are baptized, we are first asked if we renounce the evil powers of this world. Once we say yes to renouncing, we are then asked if we turn to God and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Once we say yes to that we are baptized and received into the household of God. We are invited to “Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share in his eternal priesthood.” From what I have read of the Roman rite, it mirrors our own (of course, because Christ has one Church).
The journey begins in baptism by turning to God. What we do with the faith of Christ crucified, how we proclaim his resurrection, and how we share in his eternal priesthood is an open book. Or, perhaps, a buffet. We get to pick and choose how to live out our faith life. We begin somewhere and we end somewhere else. The way I see it, the Pope’s Dignitas Infinita assumes we all have the same journey and all come to the same conclusions. But that’s just not how faith and life works, at least as I experience it.
In our faith tradition, we can disagree on a whole variety of topics that were addressed in the Dignitas Infinita including human sexuality and identity, reproductive rights, the source of poverty and its cure, war and capital punishment. These are some of the most important topics for us to discuss in the 21st century and, like the Pope, I agree that compassionate Christian voices are vital in the discussion. But we all start somewhere and end somewhere else. Again, I didn’t believe everything at my baptism, or my confirmation, or even my ordination that I believe deeper and more fully now. I can hardly wait to see how my faith develops over the next ten years and for the rest of my lifetime. It’s an exciting journey to be sure. And I see it as a buffet. I was attracted to Christianity because it had an answer for the fear of death. What attracts me most about Christianity now is how to live in peace and harmony today, before death.
Taking it one step further, I see the vast diversity and array of churches in our community and nation as a buffet too. What All Angels by the Sea focuses on, and does well, is different from that of other Episcopal churches in our area. The same goes for St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church on Longboat and other Roman churches in Sarasota. They are all Roman Catholic but have different missions – yet they are one Church. And I believe that we are all One Church with one Shepherd and one faith. While we discuss, and sharply disagree, on several important topics, we believe in one God, the creator of all things seen and unseen. We believe in Jesus Christ, the only son of God. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. How we live out our faith, and how deeply we go into our faith, is still up to each one of us in this grand buffet of life.
- Fr. Dave
Pets
May 23, 2024
I saw this prayer on a coffee mug: Lord, help me to be the person my pet thinks I am.
This past Sunday after Coffee Hour, I did a service in our pet memorial garden. By a statue of St. Francis, we placed in rest the ashes of a much beloved pet named Reba. The black standard poodle, Reba, had a very good life. She was a trained therapy dog, lived on a canal on Anna Maria Island, and had two very good roommates – Ginny and Ed – who kept her fed, groomed and most importantly, loved. Occasionally, Reba would come to All Angels where she did her favorite activity of chasing lizards.
Prior to her passing, Reba visited me for the last time. I was thankful that her chauffeurs (Ed and Ginny) brought her. She was afflicted with sores and a quickly spreading cancer. She was wearing a red shirt so that she didn’t feel the need to lick her fur. As always, Reba was happy-go-lucky and was pleased to see me. We all sat in my office, I offered some prayers, mostly for her handlers, but also for her to have a holy and peaceful ending. The prayer ended with thanksgiving to God for blessing us with such a wonderful creature and that we are now returning her back to our Creator.
The dog had a ministry. She was able to bring comfort and joy to people who were in the last stage of life. Hospice pet-therapy dogs provide people with joy. They also reduce the feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. I have seen where a pet-therapy animal takes a patient’s mind off their situation and the hopelessness they may feel. The presence of a pet encourages family members to share stories and open up about their own feelings. Maybe pet-therapy animals are like a coffee table book that helps break the ice. Or perhaps they have a special, spiritually tuned gift. Reba did both. She had so much positive energy that people would naturally feel uplifted by her presence. She would greet each person and wait to be petted on the head, which would help break the ice of doubt and confusion that hospice can bring.
Pets have a way of being in tune with their owners, or guests, that can help them open up in a safe way. I have had tough days in ministry that were softened greatly by the purr of a cat and a good lap fix. Although I clean the two cat boxes every day and give Oscar and Jellybean their “crunchies”, I think I receive more from our two cats than what I give. In that way, our pets have a ministry to their owners – they bring attention and calm. Jellybean was a Covid cat – we needed/wanted another cat because our much beloved cat, Pancake, was in his final stage of life, and couldn’t imagine going through a pandemic with just one cat, Oscar.
Speaking of Oscar, now in his 14th year, he is starting to say goodbye to us in the way that pets do when they know their time is coming. Normally fastidious about his shiny black coat, he is starting to look a little scruffy. He’s becoming thinner too. Yet, being a cat, he still has energy to play chase with our orange and white cat (Jellybean).
The way I read the Bible, it appears that humans went through “The Fall” but animals did not. We found ourselves separated from God, but I don’t think animals do. Like their human companions, each pet has a particular gift or set of gifts. We call Oscar our Big Baby because he always wants to be on our lap and loves to purr. He also likes guests and will quickly jump on their lap and wait to be petted too. He’s like the welcome party of the Marshall household. And this is what makes saying goodbye to pets so difficult. They give us so much and ask for little in response. They don’t need books for college, or braces, or need driving lessons. Pets are quick to forgive and give lots of love.
While Reba’s ashes were being placed in the Memorial Garden, I said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.” She ran her race on this planet by giving love to others, especially strangers. Our pets give us an example of how to live and love and how to treat one another. May we all be the kind of person our pets think we are.
- Fr. Dave
This past Sunday after Coffee Hour, I did a service in our pet memorial garden. By a statue of St. Francis, we placed in rest the ashes of a much beloved pet named Reba. The black standard poodle, Reba, had a very good life. She was a trained therapy dog, lived on a canal on Anna Maria Island, and had two very good roommates – Ginny and Ed – who kept her fed, groomed and most importantly, loved. Occasionally, Reba would come to All Angels where she did her favorite activity of chasing lizards.
Prior to her passing, Reba visited me for the last time. I was thankful that her chauffeurs (Ed and Ginny) brought her. She was afflicted with sores and a quickly spreading cancer. She was wearing a red shirt so that she didn’t feel the need to lick her fur. As always, Reba was happy-go-lucky and was pleased to see me. We all sat in my office, I offered some prayers, mostly for her handlers, but also for her to have a holy and peaceful ending. The prayer ended with thanksgiving to God for blessing us with such a wonderful creature and that we are now returning her back to our Creator.
The dog had a ministry. She was able to bring comfort and joy to people who were in the last stage of life. Hospice pet-therapy dogs provide people with joy. They also reduce the feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. I have seen where a pet-therapy animal takes a patient’s mind off their situation and the hopelessness they may feel. The presence of a pet encourages family members to share stories and open up about their own feelings. Maybe pet-therapy animals are like a coffee table book that helps break the ice. Or perhaps they have a special, spiritually tuned gift. Reba did both. She had so much positive energy that people would naturally feel uplifted by her presence. She would greet each person and wait to be petted on the head, which would help break the ice of doubt and confusion that hospice can bring.
Pets have a way of being in tune with their owners, or guests, that can help them open up in a safe way. I have had tough days in ministry that were softened greatly by the purr of a cat and a good lap fix. Although I clean the two cat boxes every day and give Oscar and Jellybean their “crunchies”, I think I receive more from our two cats than what I give. In that way, our pets have a ministry to their owners – they bring attention and calm. Jellybean was a Covid cat – we needed/wanted another cat because our much beloved cat, Pancake, was in his final stage of life, and couldn’t imagine going through a pandemic with just one cat, Oscar.
Speaking of Oscar, now in his 14th year, he is starting to say goodbye to us in the way that pets do when they know their time is coming. Normally fastidious about his shiny black coat, he is starting to look a little scruffy. He’s becoming thinner too. Yet, being a cat, he still has energy to play chase with our orange and white cat (Jellybean).
The way I read the Bible, it appears that humans went through “The Fall” but animals did not. We found ourselves separated from God, but I don’t think animals do. Like their human companions, each pet has a particular gift or set of gifts. We call Oscar our Big Baby because he always wants to be on our lap and loves to purr. He also likes guests and will quickly jump on their lap and wait to be petted too. He’s like the welcome party of the Marshall household. And this is what makes saying goodbye to pets so difficult. They give us so much and ask for little in response. They don’t need books for college, or braces, or need driving lessons. Pets are quick to forgive and give lots of love.
While Reba’s ashes were being placed in the Memorial Garden, I said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.” She ran her race on this planet by giving love to others, especially strangers. Our pets give us an example of how to live and love and how to treat one another. May we all be the kind of person our pets think we are.
- Fr. Dave
Orca Alley
May 16, 2024
My first interaction with a whale was at the Vancouver Aquarium in British Columbia. They had an underwater viewing area with a thick glass wall that allows for viewers to see the whale in its environment. What first caught my attention was the sheer size of the creature. I had been around horses and one elephant (thanks to a traveling circus that came to Tacoma) but nothing prepared me for something that big to effortlessly swim by. The second thing, which I remember vividly, was the whale’s eye. It was looking at us while we were looking at it. This was no fish eye – which I had seen plenty of thanks to a childhood full of fishing – that doesn’t seem to have intelligence behind it. The whale’s eye showed me that it is intelligent, curious, and (this might sound weird) compassionate. My mom was caught up in the experience. She placed her left hand on the glass and the huge creature swam up and placed its head where my mom was touching. They stood there staring at each other. Mom started to tear up. I had a feeling that she was going to say to us, “Get comfortable, this is our new home.”
Where I grew up, in Puget Sound, there are three residential pods of Killer Whales, named J, K and L. I have seen the J pod, they are the rock stars of the Orca world. As you can imagine, I am interested in whales. There is a storyline that I have been following for a few years about a sub-pod of Orca whales in the Strait of Gibraltar. Called the Orca Thugs, or the Gibraltar Gang, this pod is known to attack sailing vessels in the region. Years ago, I read a harrowing story of a couple that was harassed by them over an 18-hour period. The juvenile orcas started pushing on the 48’ sailboat’s keel, tipping it back and forth by five to ten degrees. It made it difficult to be on deck because they were worried they would fall off. The couple went below deck to hold on. As soon as they were out of sight, the orcas started making high pitch sounds and then would continue to push on the hull. The sounds made it painful to stay below. They took the sails down and drifted. The orcas then started to hit their rudder; eventually damaging it enough that they could not sail.
Reports like this have been coming more frequently. Two people were rescued this past Sunday after a group of orcas caused enough damage to sink their boat. It was the fifth sinking in waters off the Iberian Peninsula in recent years. The earliest recorded episode was taken in Spain in 2020. Since then, there have been around 500 incidents with physical damage occurring 20% of the time. The motivations of this pod are unclear, but their actions are obvious.
Orcas are some of the most studied whales (although they are technically dolphins, not whales). They do not intentionally harm humans; despite their name. SeaWorld has stopped their orca encounters because of the death of the trainer, Dawn Brancheau. Again, it is believed she was not killed intentionally but because of what has been described as juvenile mischief. The parallel is that the sub-pod in the Strait of Gibraltar is also made up of fifteen juvenile orcas.
A favorite hymn at All Angels goes as follows: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small… the Lord God made them all. We have been gifted with memory, reason, and skill. We are tasked to be stewards of the earth. One of the difficult tasks of that responsibility is to remove our human way of thinking and to study with curiosity and openness all creatures great and small. When we label this sub-pod of orcas as the bullies-of-the-Maghreb, or the gangsters-of-Gibraltar, or the hoods-of-Morocco, those are all human attributes which might allow us to treat the orcas harshly. This sub-pod is in distress. Their food sources are becoming scarce. They are not reproducing in the numbers as they used to. While I don’t think they are taking-it-out-on-passing-ships, as some have suggested, they are opening our eyes to explore their world. In doing so, we will see our world, our interactions with one another, and our role as stewards of the environment, in a new way.
- Rev. Dave
Where I grew up, in Puget Sound, there are three residential pods of Killer Whales, named J, K and L. I have seen the J pod, they are the rock stars of the Orca world. As you can imagine, I am interested in whales. There is a storyline that I have been following for a few years about a sub-pod of Orca whales in the Strait of Gibraltar. Called the Orca Thugs, or the Gibraltar Gang, this pod is known to attack sailing vessels in the region. Years ago, I read a harrowing story of a couple that was harassed by them over an 18-hour period. The juvenile orcas started pushing on the 48’ sailboat’s keel, tipping it back and forth by five to ten degrees. It made it difficult to be on deck because they were worried they would fall off. The couple went below deck to hold on. As soon as they were out of sight, the orcas started making high pitch sounds and then would continue to push on the hull. The sounds made it painful to stay below. They took the sails down and drifted. The orcas then started to hit their rudder; eventually damaging it enough that they could not sail.
Reports like this have been coming more frequently. Two people were rescued this past Sunday after a group of orcas caused enough damage to sink their boat. It was the fifth sinking in waters off the Iberian Peninsula in recent years. The earliest recorded episode was taken in Spain in 2020. Since then, there have been around 500 incidents with physical damage occurring 20% of the time. The motivations of this pod are unclear, but their actions are obvious.
Orcas are some of the most studied whales (although they are technically dolphins, not whales). They do not intentionally harm humans; despite their name. SeaWorld has stopped their orca encounters because of the death of the trainer, Dawn Brancheau. Again, it is believed she was not killed intentionally but because of what has been described as juvenile mischief. The parallel is that the sub-pod in the Strait of Gibraltar is also made up of fifteen juvenile orcas.
A favorite hymn at All Angels goes as follows: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small… the Lord God made them all. We have been gifted with memory, reason, and skill. We are tasked to be stewards of the earth. One of the difficult tasks of that responsibility is to remove our human way of thinking and to study with curiosity and openness all creatures great and small. When we label this sub-pod of orcas as the bullies-of-the-Maghreb, or the gangsters-of-Gibraltar, or the hoods-of-Morocco, those are all human attributes which might allow us to treat the orcas harshly. This sub-pod is in distress. Their food sources are becoming scarce. They are not reproducing in the numbers as they used to. While I don’t think they are taking-it-out-on-passing-ships, as some have suggested, they are opening our eyes to explore their world. In doing so, we will see our world, our interactions with one another, and our role as stewards of the environment, in a new way.
- Rev. Dave
The Community of John
May 9, 2024
I wrote to you earlier about the experience I had reading the First Letter of John in Greek and how it got me hooked into reading Scripture in its original language. As I continue my studies in John, and other Gospel writers, I am beginning to consider something new. John’s writing has an edginess that seems out of place today. I am wondering what we should do with it.
Let’s start with what we think we know about John. He is a part of the 1st century Jewish faith tradition. There are five New Testament documents ascribed to him – the Gospel (of John), three pastoral letters and the Book of Revelation. It is debated which of these are of his own hand. It’s also debated whether or not that is important. He refers to himself in the Gospel as “the disciple that Jesus loved”, he outran Peter to the empty tomb, and he took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Tradition says that he was the youngest and was the only apostle not to be martyred – he was exiled on the Island of Patmos which is where the Book of Revelation was written.
This author believes that the first pastoral letter he wrote, called 1 John, was most likely the first “Christian” document ever. I believe it predates Paul’s letters. I also believe that parts of his Gospel were also the first written. It is nearly undisputed that his Gospel was the last of the four to be completed; but again, I think parts of it were the first written. The contrast of light (of the world) and dark (of sin) is very important to him. John is also the Gospel that uses the phrase, “The Jews” the most, and never in a flattering way. It appears that John is writing to an audience that is not familiar with Jewish traditions and practices. This leads many to believe he was writing to a Gentile audience.
In his first letter, John writes extensively about false teachers (who he calls “anti-Christs”) who are trying to lead people astray. Likewise, Revelation features a major character called the anti-Christ. John seems to write in a black and white fashion – either you believe and you are in, or you don’t believe and you are out. If you take that writing style, add the unflattering way he refers to “The Jews”, and the concern about anti-Christs, the reader can come up with a rather un-Christian way of looking at people. I am not calling John un-Christian because he clearly is writing in support of the mission and ministry of Jesus in our daily lives. Unfortunately, his writing has been used by some, antisemites in particular, for horrific actions against people of the Jewish faith. During this week, we observed Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is why I am writing this to you.
Based on all that I have read about John and his community, it seems likely that an expulsion was happening within the faith tradition. Jesus taught in the synagogues and on the streets, in homes, in fields and in the Temple. Peter and the rest of the apostles did the same. History shows that sometime during the mid-late 1st century, those who talked about Jesus as the Messiah were closed out from speaking in synagogues and in the Temple. Was it because the movement had reached the Gentiles? Had it grown too big? Were religious authorities angry that their power was being usurped by the Jesus movement? Did the Roman guard infiltrate the synagogues and intimidate the leaders until they kicked out the followers of Jesus? No one really knows for sure; but we do know at some point the apostles and their disciples shifted into preaching in homes and other places – and not in houses of prayer. I think this expulsion affected John and his writing. Perhaps this is why he takes a negative view of religious leaders in his tradition.
The big question is this: How do we read John today? I have a commentary on the New Testament that is written from a 1st century Jewish perspective. The authors in that book have suggested John was writing with divisiveness to make the movement stand on its own. So what about our day? In the 21st century, I’d say the movement is standing on its own. I also believe that the Spirit of unity and wisdom is seeking the leaders in our tradition to be working side by side with people of the Jewish faith and other faith traditions.
Does this mean we stop reading John? Absolutely not. I invite us, however, to read him differently. I suggest we look through the lens of his own faith tradition and understand what was happening around him, and how that affected his spirituality and his writing about it. And I suggest we live into the belief system he was establishing in his writing which is summed up in this passage (from John 12:32):
Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
Christ is drawing everyone with love. He calls for us to have love and concern for one another. We are called to be the light of the world in contrast to the darkness of isolation, fear and loneliness. Let us continue to set ourselves apart, as the early Church did, by loving one another and helping our neighbor in need.
- Rev. Dave
Let’s start with what we think we know about John. He is a part of the 1st century Jewish faith tradition. There are five New Testament documents ascribed to him – the Gospel (of John), three pastoral letters and the Book of Revelation. It is debated which of these are of his own hand. It’s also debated whether or not that is important. He refers to himself in the Gospel as “the disciple that Jesus loved”, he outran Peter to the empty tomb, and he took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Tradition says that he was the youngest and was the only apostle not to be martyred – he was exiled on the Island of Patmos which is where the Book of Revelation was written.
This author believes that the first pastoral letter he wrote, called 1 John, was most likely the first “Christian” document ever. I believe it predates Paul’s letters. I also believe that parts of his Gospel were also the first written. It is nearly undisputed that his Gospel was the last of the four to be completed; but again, I think parts of it were the first written. The contrast of light (of the world) and dark (of sin) is very important to him. John is also the Gospel that uses the phrase, “The Jews” the most, and never in a flattering way. It appears that John is writing to an audience that is not familiar with Jewish traditions and practices. This leads many to believe he was writing to a Gentile audience.
In his first letter, John writes extensively about false teachers (who he calls “anti-Christs”) who are trying to lead people astray. Likewise, Revelation features a major character called the anti-Christ. John seems to write in a black and white fashion – either you believe and you are in, or you don’t believe and you are out. If you take that writing style, add the unflattering way he refers to “The Jews”, and the concern about anti-Christs, the reader can come up with a rather un-Christian way of looking at people. I am not calling John un-Christian because he clearly is writing in support of the mission and ministry of Jesus in our daily lives. Unfortunately, his writing has been used by some, antisemites in particular, for horrific actions against people of the Jewish faith. During this week, we observed Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is why I am writing this to you.
Based on all that I have read about John and his community, it seems likely that an expulsion was happening within the faith tradition. Jesus taught in the synagogues and on the streets, in homes, in fields and in the Temple. Peter and the rest of the apostles did the same. History shows that sometime during the mid-late 1st century, those who talked about Jesus as the Messiah were closed out from speaking in synagogues and in the Temple. Was it because the movement had reached the Gentiles? Had it grown too big? Were religious authorities angry that their power was being usurped by the Jesus movement? Did the Roman guard infiltrate the synagogues and intimidate the leaders until they kicked out the followers of Jesus? No one really knows for sure; but we do know at some point the apostles and their disciples shifted into preaching in homes and other places – and not in houses of prayer. I think this expulsion affected John and his writing. Perhaps this is why he takes a negative view of religious leaders in his tradition.
The big question is this: How do we read John today? I have a commentary on the New Testament that is written from a 1st century Jewish perspective. The authors in that book have suggested John was writing with divisiveness to make the movement stand on its own. So what about our day? In the 21st century, I’d say the movement is standing on its own. I also believe that the Spirit of unity and wisdom is seeking the leaders in our tradition to be working side by side with people of the Jewish faith and other faith traditions.
Does this mean we stop reading John? Absolutely not. I invite us, however, to read him differently. I suggest we look through the lens of his own faith tradition and understand what was happening around him, and how that affected his spirituality and his writing about it. And I suggest we live into the belief system he was establishing in his writing which is summed up in this passage (from John 12:32):
Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
Christ is drawing everyone with love. He calls for us to have love and concern for one another. We are called to be the light of the world in contrast to the darkness of isolation, fear and loneliness. Let us continue to set ourselves apart, as the early Church did, by loving one another and helping our neighbor in need.
- Rev. Dave
The Final Final
May 2, 2024
My son Ethan has taken his final final – it is his last exam to achieve his undergraduate degree. Prior to this week, I gave him some advice. I did not savor my final final. During the exam, it dawned on me that this was it. There are no other exams, or tests, or papers due. A weird feeling stirred in my stomach – both joy and grief, hopeful expectation, and as if I was falling off a cliff. I asked Ethan to take time this week to ponder his entire educational career. And, as such, I am doing that now.
Ethan’s first teacher was Ms. Cathy at Head Start at Christ Episcopal Church, Alameda California. An inspiring woman of African descent who loved all her students as if they were her own children, who had strict rules to follow, and a heart big enough to swallow up the entire city block. She put Ethan on the right path for inquisitive learning, knowledge, and care for others. After graduation from seminary, we were called back to our home diocese. He enrolled in the Lutheran Academy of the Master in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. As a “LAM” they taught extensively about Jesus our great shepherd. Again, he had a fantastic teacher who gave the children a thirst for knowledge and a caring heart for those around them.
When the Spirit called, we moved to the San Diego area during his kindergarten year. He enrolled in a public school; it was a difficult environment for him. It wasn’t clicking the way Head Start and LAM did. I shared this with my bishop. That conversation led me to accept his invitation to lead and serve at Saint John’s Episcopal Church and School (pre-k through 8th grade). Although this was by far the hardest pastoral assignment I had received, it was the best academic environment for Ethan. Starting in 4th grade, Christi and I watched him come out of his shell. Episcopal education is special and so were his teachers. They challenged, encouraged, pushed, and rewarded him. He was the salutatorian at his 8th grade graduation. From there he attended a Roman Catholic High School and continued to excel.
Halfway through his sophomore year, the Spirit called again – this time to southwest Florida. He said goodbye to his San Diego friends and started the spring semester at Bradenton Christian School. He remarked that the teaching style from a Catholic school to BCS was substantially different, but he excelled with the diversity of style. At BCS, four years ago, he met Mackenzie, his soon-to-be wife. During his time at BCS, the world struggled through a global pandemic. Yet, Ethan found that he could thrive in an online environment. After graduating with honors, he started his freshman year at the University of South Florida at the Sarasota campus. Over the last three years, Ethan has taken classes at all three USF campuses. They say one’s GPA normally drops a full point in college. Ethan’s has not. In fact, from my perspective, many of his classes seemed easy when compared to his rigorous High School experience. One thing Christi and I observed was that Ethan was way ahead of many of his classmates when it came to academic preparation and performance.
I have felt guilty for moving-with-ministry because it interrupted his academic life. Yet, as I reflect on his final final, I can see that he has learned how to adapt to changing scholastic situations. Moving from one USF campus to another did not faze him. As you can imagine, I am more proud of him than I am able to express. I am thankful for Ms. Cathy and all of his teachers who have helped him along his journey. This is probably not his last final in academia. But it is a life-changing, permanent step that he has taken. I thank God that I have the privilege of walking with this amazing man and calling him my son who has taught me about love, connection, and has given me a thirst for knowledge and helping others.
- Rev. Dave
Ethan’s first teacher was Ms. Cathy at Head Start at Christ Episcopal Church, Alameda California. An inspiring woman of African descent who loved all her students as if they were her own children, who had strict rules to follow, and a heart big enough to swallow up the entire city block. She put Ethan on the right path for inquisitive learning, knowledge, and care for others. After graduation from seminary, we were called back to our home diocese. He enrolled in the Lutheran Academy of the Master in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. As a “LAM” they taught extensively about Jesus our great shepherd. Again, he had a fantastic teacher who gave the children a thirst for knowledge and a caring heart for those around them.
When the Spirit called, we moved to the San Diego area during his kindergarten year. He enrolled in a public school; it was a difficult environment for him. It wasn’t clicking the way Head Start and LAM did. I shared this with my bishop. That conversation led me to accept his invitation to lead and serve at Saint John’s Episcopal Church and School (pre-k through 8th grade). Although this was by far the hardest pastoral assignment I had received, it was the best academic environment for Ethan. Starting in 4th grade, Christi and I watched him come out of his shell. Episcopal education is special and so were his teachers. They challenged, encouraged, pushed, and rewarded him. He was the salutatorian at his 8th grade graduation. From there he attended a Roman Catholic High School and continued to excel.
Halfway through his sophomore year, the Spirit called again – this time to southwest Florida. He said goodbye to his San Diego friends and started the spring semester at Bradenton Christian School. He remarked that the teaching style from a Catholic school to BCS was substantially different, but he excelled with the diversity of style. At BCS, four years ago, he met Mackenzie, his soon-to-be wife. During his time at BCS, the world struggled through a global pandemic. Yet, Ethan found that he could thrive in an online environment. After graduating with honors, he started his freshman year at the University of South Florida at the Sarasota campus. Over the last three years, Ethan has taken classes at all three USF campuses. They say one’s GPA normally drops a full point in college. Ethan’s has not. In fact, from my perspective, many of his classes seemed easy when compared to his rigorous High School experience. One thing Christi and I observed was that Ethan was way ahead of many of his classmates when it came to academic preparation and performance.
I have felt guilty for moving-with-ministry because it interrupted his academic life. Yet, as I reflect on his final final, I can see that he has learned how to adapt to changing scholastic situations. Moving from one USF campus to another did not faze him. As you can imagine, I am more proud of him than I am able to express. I am thankful for Ms. Cathy and all of his teachers who have helped him along his journey. This is probably not his last final in academia. But it is a life-changing, permanent step that he has taken. I thank God that I have the privilege of walking with this amazing man and calling him my son who has taught me about love, connection, and has given me a thirst for knowledge and helping others.
- Rev. Dave
Thanks to Karen
April 25, 2024
I met Karen Hensel in the parking lot of All Angels in April 2020. She was in the driver’s seat of her silver Honda SUV and her husband was next to her. They were driving around on Sunday morning to see what the pandemic lockdown had done to the island. When they drove by the church, they saw people outside sitting in lawn chairs participating in the service that was being broadcast on loudspeakers. They pulled up and listened. The next week, she was greeted by Debi, one of our ushers, who passed them a bulletin through their open window using our pool sweep basket (to keep distant). As the year went on, we became more sophisticated – eventually live-streaming on YouTube. Each week, Karen and her husband faithfully attended, remotely.
Two years ago, she asked if I could meet her at the hospital. Her husband was on a breathing machine (non-Covid related) and it was time to say goodbye. We participated in Last Rites, and then they disconnected the machine. A few months later, she attended All Angels in person, via her walker (some of you may remember Karen), but she found it was better for her to participate at home.
Some of you know that I attend a weekly business networking group called BNI. There are many reasons why a priest would participate in a networking group, but the main one for me is thanks to Karen. At one point, she needed computer help. There was a local guy who had been by the church a couple times to market his in-person IT business for seniors, so I passed his card to Karen. Unfortunately, it was not a good fit for her. That showed me I need to have a strong network of business professionals to be able to make good referrals. Shortly after that, my friend, and parishioner, Tryla, invited me to BNI and the rest is history – thanks to Karen.
Six months later, Karen passed away. I was contacted by her estate attorney because All Angels was named as a beneficiary in her will. This week, we deposited a large check from her estate. Our finance committee will review our capital needs and make recommendations to the Vestry. My gut feeling, however, is that we are going to use a portion of it to improve the campus; perhaps resurfacing the parking lot and upgrading our live-streaming system; and the rest will go into the endowment for growth and future use. I feel that way because the parking lot and our A/V system is what Karen depended on to receive the good news about the living Christ. I think she’d approve.
The early Church (before the Gospels were written down) went through persecution. As a result, they met in the homes of wealthy widows. Without these faithful and brave women, the Church today would be dramatically smaller. If you have ever wondered why we use a silver plate and chalice for communion, it is to remind us of the widows who opened their home to the Church and used their finest serving ware for the Holy Eucharist. The Church went through a hard time in the pandemic lockdown. Yet, just like in the early Church, faithful and brave people stepped forward and continued the tradition of offering peace and community in the name of Jesus.
I don’t think Karen would consider herself a wealthy widow, but she certainly opened her heart to the mission and ministry of All Angels which is to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church. She has left a substantial sum for us to invest for the future and to improve our campus today. She has joined a long tradition of people who have given to the Church of the future by remembering All Angels today in their will. I look forward to the improvements that are coming, and I will be sure to give thanks to God, and thanks to Karen too.
- Rev. Dave
Two years ago, she asked if I could meet her at the hospital. Her husband was on a breathing machine (non-Covid related) and it was time to say goodbye. We participated in Last Rites, and then they disconnected the machine. A few months later, she attended All Angels in person, via her walker (some of you may remember Karen), but she found it was better for her to participate at home.
Some of you know that I attend a weekly business networking group called BNI. There are many reasons why a priest would participate in a networking group, but the main one for me is thanks to Karen. At one point, she needed computer help. There was a local guy who had been by the church a couple times to market his in-person IT business for seniors, so I passed his card to Karen. Unfortunately, it was not a good fit for her. That showed me I need to have a strong network of business professionals to be able to make good referrals. Shortly after that, my friend, and parishioner, Tryla, invited me to BNI and the rest is history – thanks to Karen.
Six months later, Karen passed away. I was contacted by her estate attorney because All Angels was named as a beneficiary in her will. This week, we deposited a large check from her estate. Our finance committee will review our capital needs and make recommendations to the Vestry. My gut feeling, however, is that we are going to use a portion of it to improve the campus; perhaps resurfacing the parking lot and upgrading our live-streaming system; and the rest will go into the endowment for growth and future use. I feel that way because the parking lot and our A/V system is what Karen depended on to receive the good news about the living Christ. I think she’d approve.
The early Church (before the Gospels were written down) went through persecution. As a result, they met in the homes of wealthy widows. Without these faithful and brave women, the Church today would be dramatically smaller. If you have ever wondered why we use a silver plate and chalice for communion, it is to remind us of the widows who opened their home to the Church and used their finest serving ware for the Holy Eucharist. The Church went through a hard time in the pandemic lockdown. Yet, just like in the early Church, faithful and brave people stepped forward and continued the tradition of offering peace and community in the name of Jesus.
I don’t think Karen would consider herself a wealthy widow, but she certainly opened her heart to the mission and ministry of All Angels which is to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church. She has left a substantial sum for us to invest for the future and to improve our campus today. She has joined a long tradition of people who have given to the Church of the future by remembering All Angels today in their will. I look forward to the improvements that are coming, and I will be sure to give thanks to God, and thanks to Karen too.
- Rev. Dave
Metron
April 18, 2024
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131503194/published/alex-and-dave.jpg?1713561565)
I am excited for my friend Alex. He is the new Rector of St. John The Divine in Sun City Center (near Ruskin and Apollo Beach on the east side of Tampa Bay). Back when I was introduced to the diocese, Alex was the first clergy person to ask me out to lunch. We became fast friends and, flash-forward five years, we are now in Season 2 of our podcast, A Bridge Between with Alex and Dave (available on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube). I have walked with him during his time of transition – being called from Rector of a smaller parish in St. Petersburg to the larger St. John’s. He has asked me to preach at his installation service coming up on May 2nd. I am thrilled to do so.
The lessons Alex has chosen for his installation service – and the ones I will be preaching on – include a reading from the Letter to the Ephesians where the author, presumably St. Paul, writes about the gifts that God gives each person: some are apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry. As you would expect, I read the passage in Paul’s original language of Greek. There is a word in it that I’d like to share with you. The word is “metron”. It’s a fun word to say. But, there is a lot more to it than what we see at first glance. In English, metron is a description of a major city or a subway (metro); it is a device used by musicians to give time to music; and it is a repeating section, 3 to 6 syllables long, of a poetic meter. How can English have these three different definitions of the same word? In Greek, the primary use of “metron” is in measurement. We can measure a great number of things – the size of a city, of a transportation system, of music and of written word. It can all be metron-ized if you will.
Metron popped out at me because it was repeated; but, it had two entirely different English words – measure and properly. Yes, you are reading that right, metron is written in one sentence as “measure” and another sentence as “properly”. Here is the first sentence from chapter 4, verse 13: to the measure of the full stature of Christ. The second sentence from verse 16: as each part is working properly promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
How can this be? Verse 13 – metron – according to my Greek dictionary, is described this way: “the required measure, the due, fit, measure.” Verse 16 – metron – is this: “in proportion to measure.” One is required measure, the other is measure-in-proportion. What does this mean in our life of faith?
You may have heard the phrase, “all fall short of the glory of God.” In comparison to that, we are to measure [metron] our lives with living into the full stature of Christ. That’s the goal, or, in this case, the measurement. At a funeral of a notoriously sinful person, the preacher said, “All fall short of the glory of God; the deceased fell shorter than most of the full measure of Christ.” That’s metron in action.
The second use of metron, in verse 16, I find particularly valuable. It harkens back to the Greek philosophical question of can love be measured? Love can be felt, received and given, but is love measurable? And, once one measures love, does it disappear? Perhaps in response to those questions, Paul is asserting that although love is without measurement, when people are working together in faith, in proportion [metron] love grows.
Alex and his family are feeling proportional love from their new parish home. It warms my heart and reminds me of the love the Marshall family has felt, is feeling, and will feel at All Angels. When people are working together in faith, in metron, love grows as a result.
- Rev. Dave
The lessons Alex has chosen for his installation service – and the ones I will be preaching on – include a reading from the Letter to the Ephesians where the author, presumably St. Paul, writes about the gifts that God gives each person: some are apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry. As you would expect, I read the passage in Paul’s original language of Greek. There is a word in it that I’d like to share with you. The word is “metron”. It’s a fun word to say. But, there is a lot more to it than what we see at first glance. In English, metron is a description of a major city or a subway (metro); it is a device used by musicians to give time to music; and it is a repeating section, 3 to 6 syllables long, of a poetic meter. How can English have these three different definitions of the same word? In Greek, the primary use of “metron” is in measurement. We can measure a great number of things – the size of a city, of a transportation system, of music and of written word. It can all be metron-ized if you will.
Metron popped out at me because it was repeated; but, it had two entirely different English words – measure and properly. Yes, you are reading that right, metron is written in one sentence as “measure” and another sentence as “properly”. Here is the first sentence from chapter 4, verse 13: to the measure of the full stature of Christ. The second sentence from verse 16: as each part is working properly promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
How can this be? Verse 13 – metron – according to my Greek dictionary, is described this way: “the required measure, the due, fit, measure.” Verse 16 – metron – is this: “in proportion to measure.” One is required measure, the other is measure-in-proportion. What does this mean in our life of faith?
You may have heard the phrase, “all fall short of the glory of God.” In comparison to that, we are to measure [metron] our lives with living into the full stature of Christ. That’s the goal, or, in this case, the measurement. At a funeral of a notoriously sinful person, the preacher said, “All fall short of the glory of God; the deceased fell shorter than most of the full measure of Christ.” That’s metron in action.
The second use of metron, in verse 16, I find particularly valuable. It harkens back to the Greek philosophical question of can love be measured? Love can be felt, received and given, but is love measurable? And, once one measures love, does it disappear? Perhaps in response to those questions, Paul is asserting that although love is without measurement, when people are working together in faith, in proportion [metron] love grows.
Alex and his family are feeling proportional love from their new parish home. It warms my heart and reminds me of the love the Marshall family has felt, is feeling, and will feel at All Angels. When people are working together in faith, in metron, love grows as a result.
- Rev. Dave
First John
April 11, 2024
This Sunday we are reading from the First Letter of John. I love this letter because it got me interested in studying Greek. I want to tell you about that but first we have to start with the basics – who is John and what is his First Letter.
John is most likely the Apostle John – the one whom Jesus loved, the youngest, the one who outran Peter to see the empty tomb, the one to whom Jesus said from the cross, “John, this is your mother [Mary],” and, “Mom, this is your son [John].” It is believed that the author John also wrote the Gospel attributed with his name. And some people (like me) believe he was exiled on the Island of Patmos where he had the vision which was written down as The Book of Revelation. In other words, John is one of the most influential and important of all the Apostles.
Many believe his letter was one of the first written Christian documents. It is not addressed to any particular congregation or region but rather the entire assembly or gathering of the followers of Christ. It is written in an easy-to-read version of Greek. There are even a couple of grammatical mistakes which have been carried forward for centuries. Clearly, the letter is written by someone who has taken Greek as a second language. More on that in a moment.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, John is passing along a message that is timeless. He is writing about the things that he has seen, heard, touched and understood as the Word of Life. It is a first-person account of Jesus in the flesh as the Logos (Word). Secondly, he is issuing a warning: there are detractors of the faith who he calls “anti-Christs” which should be taken literally – as people who are the opposite of Christ – and not demonically. Third, he is writing with hope – we are loved so much that we are called God’s children. The world did not “see” Christ so they therefore cannot “see” us. But, keep this hope: we are seen by God, loved by God and we are God’s own.
John’s First Letter is used by seminaries to teach the basics of understanding Greek. After a couple of months of doing a graduate level study of his letter, I distinctly remember holding the Greek New Testament version, in an easy chair with the soft afternoon California light shining on my lap, and just reading it. No translation needed. I read word by word. And then something miraculous happened: I understood it! I “saw” what John himself was writing. I grasped it. I was holding onto the Word that he himself held. That spark of the Word of Life has remained with me to this day.
John wrote about what he saw and touched and heard. He was compelled to write; just like I am compelled to write. And what a gift he has given us – a simple written expression about the miraculousness of God in the flesh that he knows. This written testimony may have been what caused him to be arrested and placed in exile on the Island of Patmos. But, he had to do it. I am thankful that he did. And so is the Episcopal Church. The number one name for an Episcopal Church is “Christ” with 527 churches bearing that name. The second is St. John with 524 churches bearing his name. Number three is Trinity at 520 churches.
John wrote about what he saw and touched. He also gave the early Christians this two-fold warning: there are some who did not see Jesus who therefore cannot see us; and there are people in the world who are the exact opposite of him. But, do not lose heart. Remember that God so loved the world that he sent Jesus, his only son, to redeem it. Remember that you are loved by God. Remember that you are a child of God. And even when things look dim, the light that shines through Christ shines in you and will illuminate the whole world.
- Rev. Dave
John is most likely the Apostle John – the one whom Jesus loved, the youngest, the one who outran Peter to see the empty tomb, the one to whom Jesus said from the cross, “John, this is your mother [Mary],” and, “Mom, this is your son [John].” It is believed that the author John also wrote the Gospel attributed with his name. And some people (like me) believe he was exiled on the Island of Patmos where he had the vision which was written down as The Book of Revelation. In other words, John is one of the most influential and important of all the Apostles.
Many believe his letter was one of the first written Christian documents. It is not addressed to any particular congregation or region but rather the entire assembly or gathering of the followers of Christ. It is written in an easy-to-read version of Greek. There are even a couple of grammatical mistakes which have been carried forward for centuries. Clearly, the letter is written by someone who has taken Greek as a second language. More on that in a moment.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, John is passing along a message that is timeless. He is writing about the things that he has seen, heard, touched and understood as the Word of Life. It is a first-person account of Jesus in the flesh as the Logos (Word). Secondly, he is issuing a warning: there are detractors of the faith who he calls “anti-Christs” which should be taken literally – as people who are the opposite of Christ – and not demonically. Third, he is writing with hope – we are loved so much that we are called God’s children. The world did not “see” Christ so they therefore cannot “see” us. But, keep this hope: we are seen by God, loved by God and we are God’s own.
John’s First Letter is used by seminaries to teach the basics of understanding Greek. After a couple of months of doing a graduate level study of his letter, I distinctly remember holding the Greek New Testament version, in an easy chair with the soft afternoon California light shining on my lap, and just reading it. No translation needed. I read word by word. And then something miraculous happened: I understood it! I “saw” what John himself was writing. I grasped it. I was holding onto the Word that he himself held. That spark of the Word of Life has remained with me to this day.
John wrote about what he saw and touched and heard. He was compelled to write; just like I am compelled to write. And what a gift he has given us – a simple written expression about the miraculousness of God in the flesh that he knows. This written testimony may have been what caused him to be arrested and placed in exile on the Island of Patmos. But, he had to do it. I am thankful that he did. And so is the Episcopal Church. The number one name for an Episcopal Church is “Christ” with 527 churches bearing that name. The second is St. John with 524 churches bearing his name. Number three is Trinity at 520 churches.
John wrote about what he saw and touched. He also gave the early Christians this two-fold warning: there are some who did not see Jesus who therefore cannot see us; and there are people in the world who are the exact opposite of him. But, do not lose heart. Remember that God so loved the world that he sent Jesus, his only son, to redeem it. Remember that you are loved by God. Remember that you are a child of God. And even when things look dim, the light that shines through Christ shines in you and will illuminate the whole world.
- Rev. Dave
Solomon's Gift
April 4, 2024
Heidi Haverkamp in her article, The Wisdom of Not Knowing, wrote, “An infinite, all-inclusive buffet for the mind is now spread before us online. We can find out just about anything we have ever wondered about, at any time, and at almost any place on earth.” This was our discussion group article and to start the conversation, I read from the Bible about the young King Solomon (who took over from his dad, King David). In a dream, God asked Solomon what he wished for. The response: Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern without your help. God granted him a discerning mind and now Solomon is known for his wisdom.
Discernment is different than knowledge. While it is probably true that we live in an infinite, all-inclusive buffet for the mind, it won’t give us wisdom or discernment – especially knowing good from evil. If anything, that buffet-for-the-mind makes discerning good from evil all the more difficult.
A parishioner on Tuesday responded to a popup on her computer from Microsoft. It said that her computer was vulnerable to attacks. She called the phone number on the screen and a helpful person answered almost immediately. He asked for permission to take over her computer. Once it was granted, he discovered that she had been hacked. When he asked for her home address and information off her credit cards, she backed away from the conversation. Thankfully, at the same time, the internet on Longboat Key went dead – it was a helpful coincidence. After the encounter, she asked me if I thought it was legitimate. I did this Google search: “Does Microsoft alert me if I have been hacked?” The answer: No, that’s a fake so-called Tech Support scam. Real error messages from Microsoft, or other big tech companies, never include phone numbers.
One of my neighbors is a skilled tradesman from a family of law enforcement in New Jersey. The other day, he asked if I received a phone call from the power company about changing out our meters. I had not and asked what happened. He said he was out on a job, ankle deep in hydraulic fluid, and his phone rang. Thinking it was his boss, he answered it and it was “the power company”; they were at his house and needed to reset the meter so they could install a new one. They asked him to verify information. He did, and even gave them his social security number. I said, “You did what?!” He dropped his head, said some unpublishable words, and then walked inside to make some phone calls to his bank and other institutions. I’m telling you this because if the scam happened to him, it can happen to any of us.
The most common crime you’ll encounter is white collar. At the same time, it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish good from evil. This means we need to be wise, like Solomon, and ask for a discerning mind to help us navigate this all-inclusive buffet for the mind.
I will never send you an email, a text, or a voice mail that asks for money or gift cards. At the same time, All Angels asks for contributions because we depend completely upon the generosity from our congregants and friends of the church. If at any time you think you may have received something from us, but you are not sure, please (please please) ask. Also, remember these two things: 1) Good will remain; evil is impatient. If there is someone at your electric meter, he’ll wait while you verify. Evil, on the other hand, will not wait for you to verify, it’ll move on to the next potential victim. 2) Wisdom and discernment happen when two or three are gathered together. If at any time, you receive a popup, a text, an email, a phone call and are wondering if it is good or evil, be sure to ask someone else.
- Rev. Dave
Discernment is different than knowledge. While it is probably true that we live in an infinite, all-inclusive buffet for the mind, it won’t give us wisdom or discernment – especially knowing good from evil. If anything, that buffet-for-the-mind makes discerning good from evil all the more difficult.
A parishioner on Tuesday responded to a popup on her computer from Microsoft. It said that her computer was vulnerable to attacks. She called the phone number on the screen and a helpful person answered almost immediately. He asked for permission to take over her computer. Once it was granted, he discovered that she had been hacked. When he asked for her home address and information off her credit cards, she backed away from the conversation. Thankfully, at the same time, the internet on Longboat Key went dead – it was a helpful coincidence. After the encounter, she asked me if I thought it was legitimate. I did this Google search: “Does Microsoft alert me if I have been hacked?” The answer: No, that’s a fake so-called Tech Support scam. Real error messages from Microsoft, or other big tech companies, never include phone numbers.
One of my neighbors is a skilled tradesman from a family of law enforcement in New Jersey. The other day, he asked if I received a phone call from the power company about changing out our meters. I had not and asked what happened. He said he was out on a job, ankle deep in hydraulic fluid, and his phone rang. Thinking it was his boss, he answered it and it was “the power company”; they were at his house and needed to reset the meter so they could install a new one. They asked him to verify information. He did, and even gave them his social security number. I said, “You did what?!” He dropped his head, said some unpublishable words, and then walked inside to make some phone calls to his bank and other institutions. I’m telling you this because if the scam happened to him, it can happen to any of us.
The most common crime you’ll encounter is white collar. At the same time, it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish good from evil. This means we need to be wise, like Solomon, and ask for a discerning mind to help us navigate this all-inclusive buffet for the mind.
I will never send you an email, a text, or a voice mail that asks for money or gift cards. At the same time, All Angels asks for contributions because we depend completely upon the generosity from our congregants and friends of the church. If at any time you think you may have received something from us, but you are not sure, please (please please) ask. Also, remember these two things: 1) Good will remain; evil is impatient. If there is someone at your electric meter, he’ll wait while you verify. Evil, on the other hand, will not wait for you to verify, it’ll move on to the next potential victim. 2) Wisdom and discernment happen when two or three are gathered together. If at any time, you receive a popup, a text, an email, a phone call and are wondering if it is good or evil, be sure to ask someone else.
- Rev. Dave
Swallowing Up Death Forever
March 28, 2024
On this mountain, the Lord will prepare for all peoples a rich feast and choice wines. He will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe tears from all faces; the Lord has spoken. – Isaiah 25:6-8
The first lesson for Easter Sunday is from Chapter 25 of Isaiah from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). This is a popular reading for funerals and yet here it shows up on Easter Sunday too. I’d like to walk you through why it is good news for both funerals and Easter.
On this mountain. The first mention of a mountain in the Bible is during Noah’s flood. The water rose above the mountains and, as the water receded, the Ark rested on one. The second reference was when Abraham was told to go sacrifice his son Isaac (on a mountain; and, thankfully, God stopped him from going through with it). The burning bush Moses saw was on a mountain. The Ten Commandments were given on a mountain. The Promised Land is outlined by mountains. If you have been to Jerusalem, you will know it’s on top of a mountain. In the New Testament, mountains play an important role including the Transfiguration (when Jesus’ clothes turned dazzling white), the Sermon on the Mount, and when Jesus ascended to heaven, his disciples were on a mountain. In other words, mountains are places of transformation where, metaphorically speaking, heaven and earth touch. Isaiah’s “On this mountain” highlights a time of great transformation.
All peoples. “All” in Hebrew is the same in English, it means all. “Peoples” means the different groups, tribes, languages, ethnicities of the world. “All” is an intentionally repeating word in this passage – all faces, all people, all the earth. In other words, no one is left out.
A great feast. The food and wine, as described in detail in Hebrew, take a long time to prepare. Likewise, it takes a long time to eat. This passage is why we believe in heaven there is a great feast for all people.
Swallow up death forever. Most likely an intentional play on words; while all people are eating and drinking (swallowing) what is God eating? The answer: death. When: forever.
Wipe tears from all faces. God is the Feast Preparer, the Inviter of all people, the Swallower of Death, and God is the Great Comforter. Wiping away tears is an intimate, individualistic act. Probably an intentional play on words, the text switches from “all people” to the eyes of each individual. As a loving, compassionate parent wipes away tears from the face of a crying child, so too will God do with you.
The Lord has spoken. A trivia question for you: what’s the first thing God said in the Bible? If you answered, “Let there be light,” you are correct. That light, once spoken, is still active and present and will be here tomorrow and all the tomorrows forever. What God speaks happens; now, and in the future. The feast; swallowing up death; wiping away tears – God has spoken (and is speaking and will speak for every tomorrow for ever). In other words, if you see light in the day and the stars at night, God too will do this on the mountain.
We read this at funerals and on Easter Sunday because it is a summary of the Good News. God has/is/will prepare a feast for you, and for everyone you include in your “all”, and for everyone outside of your “all” too. Therefore, we fear death no more and we rely on God our Great Comforter. The food is being prepared; let us meet God on the mountain and celebrate!
- Rev. Dave
The first lesson for Easter Sunday is from Chapter 25 of Isaiah from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). This is a popular reading for funerals and yet here it shows up on Easter Sunday too. I’d like to walk you through why it is good news for both funerals and Easter.
On this mountain. The first mention of a mountain in the Bible is during Noah’s flood. The water rose above the mountains and, as the water receded, the Ark rested on one. The second reference was when Abraham was told to go sacrifice his son Isaac (on a mountain; and, thankfully, God stopped him from going through with it). The burning bush Moses saw was on a mountain. The Ten Commandments were given on a mountain. The Promised Land is outlined by mountains. If you have been to Jerusalem, you will know it’s on top of a mountain. In the New Testament, mountains play an important role including the Transfiguration (when Jesus’ clothes turned dazzling white), the Sermon on the Mount, and when Jesus ascended to heaven, his disciples were on a mountain. In other words, mountains are places of transformation where, metaphorically speaking, heaven and earth touch. Isaiah’s “On this mountain” highlights a time of great transformation.
All peoples. “All” in Hebrew is the same in English, it means all. “Peoples” means the different groups, tribes, languages, ethnicities of the world. “All” is an intentionally repeating word in this passage – all faces, all people, all the earth. In other words, no one is left out.
A great feast. The food and wine, as described in detail in Hebrew, take a long time to prepare. Likewise, it takes a long time to eat. This passage is why we believe in heaven there is a great feast for all people.
Swallow up death forever. Most likely an intentional play on words; while all people are eating and drinking (swallowing) what is God eating? The answer: death. When: forever.
Wipe tears from all faces. God is the Feast Preparer, the Inviter of all people, the Swallower of Death, and God is the Great Comforter. Wiping away tears is an intimate, individualistic act. Probably an intentional play on words, the text switches from “all people” to the eyes of each individual. As a loving, compassionate parent wipes away tears from the face of a crying child, so too will God do with you.
The Lord has spoken. A trivia question for you: what’s the first thing God said in the Bible? If you answered, “Let there be light,” you are correct. That light, once spoken, is still active and present and will be here tomorrow and all the tomorrows forever. What God speaks happens; now, and in the future. The feast; swallowing up death; wiping away tears – God has spoken (and is speaking and will speak for every tomorrow for ever). In other words, if you see light in the day and the stars at night, God too will do this on the mountain.
We read this at funerals and on Easter Sunday because it is a summary of the Good News. God has/is/will prepare a feast for you, and for everyone you include in your “all”, and for everyone outside of your “all” too. Therefore, we fear death no more and we rely on God our Great Comforter. The food is being prepared; let us meet God on the mountain and celebrate!
- Rev. Dave
Where is Heaven
March 21, 2024
Last week I wrote to you about the opposite of Heaven (you know, that other place). It figures that this week I should write to you about Heaven. In particular, is Heaven a place? Is it a state of mind? Is it a fabrication to control the masses? Or, is it something else entirely.
Let me ask you a question: if you were asked to point to Heaven, where would you point?
A recent survey of Americans showed that nine out of ten believe heaven is real. 85% of those surveyed believe they are going there. A friend of mine said, “I find it strange that 85% believe they are going to Heaven because with America’s declining belief of Christianity how do people think they are going to get there?” Come to think of it, how can we get nine out of ten Americans to agree on anything? Perhaps that’s a part of the unity of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, my friend’s question assumes that heaven is a place (how do they think they’ll get there). But is it a place?
How many of you, when asked to point to where heaven is, would point up? The Old Testament points to heaven being in the sky or beyond the skies. If you point up, you’d be following the model found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Instead of pointing up, would you point to heaven being inside your heart? Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is around, near, and in us. By pointing inward, you’d be following the New Testament model.
When asked about where Heaven can be found, how many would point to their family or friends? How many would point to their pets? Actor and social commentator, Will Rogers, said this about heaven: if dogs are not in heaven, I want to go to where they are. Speaking of dogs, it is said that within some Native American tribes, they believe heaven is where we will dance with our dogs.
Where is Heaven? Some would point to good work being done in their community. We recently had a group from All Angels and Temple Beth Israel tour the Turning Points facility in Bradenton. They saw firsthand the good work being done to help those experiencing homelessness and what is being done to keep people from experiencing it. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who do the will of God the Father. He expanded on that theme by saying that when you heal the sick – both mental and physical – you proclaim (through your actions) that the Kingdom of God has come near.
Some point to heaven with their hands folded in prayer. For those folks, Jesus would say the Kingdom is around, near, and within when people love, when they sacrifice for one another, when they pray, and when they serve one another. That’s heaven.
When pointing toward Heaven, some would point to the Church (and All Angels in particular). We are building the beloved community here; and that, to this author, feels like heaven. Going back to the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), it is written that heaven is not big enough to hold God’s presence. In the New Testament, Jesus said that not even the gates of hell can withstand the growing presence of the Church. That’s reassuring to know that God is bigger than heaven which means God’s presence is in all the places where one would point – up, or inside, or toward those helping people, to the Church, and to hands that are folded in prayer. It seems that Heaven is wherever you would point because it is all around, and inside, and outside too.
- Rev. Dave
Let me ask you a question: if you were asked to point to Heaven, where would you point?
A recent survey of Americans showed that nine out of ten believe heaven is real. 85% of those surveyed believe they are going there. A friend of mine said, “I find it strange that 85% believe they are going to Heaven because with America’s declining belief of Christianity how do people think they are going to get there?” Come to think of it, how can we get nine out of ten Americans to agree on anything? Perhaps that’s a part of the unity of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, my friend’s question assumes that heaven is a place (how do they think they’ll get there). But is it a place?
How many of you, when asked to point to where heaven is, would point up? The Old Testament points to heaven being in the sky or beyond the skies. If you point up, you’d be following the model found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Instead of pointing up, would you point to heaven being inside your heart? Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is around, near, and in us. By pointing inward, you’d be following the New Testament model.
When asked about where Heaven can be found, how many would point to their family or friends? How many would point to their pets? Actor and social commentator, Will Rogers, said this about heaven: if dogs are not in heaven, I want to go to where they are. Speaking of dogs, it is said that within some Native American tribes, they believe heaven is where we will dance with our dogs.
Where is Heaven? Some would point to good work being done in their community. We recently had a group from All Angels and Temple Beth Israel tour the Turning Points facility in Bradenton. They saw firsthand the good work being done to help those experiencing homelessness and what is being done to keep people from experiencing it. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who do the will of God the Father. He expanded on that theme by saying that when you heal the sick – both mental and physical – you proclaim (through your actions) that the Kingdom of God has come near.
Some point to heaven with their hands folded in prayer. For those folks, Jesus would say the Kingdom is around, near, and within when people love, when they sacrifice for one another, when they pray, and when they serve one another. That’s heaven.
When pointing toward Heaven, some would point to the Church (and All Angels in particular). We are building the beloved community here; and that, to this author, feels like heaven. Going back to the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), it is written that heaven is not big enough to hold God’s presence. In the New Testament, Jesus said that not even the gates of hell can withstand the growing presence of the Church. That’s reassuring to know that God is bigger than heaven which means God’s presence is in all the places where one would point – up, or inside, or toward those helping people, to the Church, and to hands that are folded in prayer. It seems that Heaven is wherever you would point because it is all around, and inside, and outside too.
- Rev. Dave
The Opposite of Heaven
March 14, 2024
King of Horror, American author of supernatural fiction, Stephen King, wrote this: Alone. It is the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it and hell is only a poor synonym.
Alone.
I have read one of his books – Pet Sematary which scared me so much I have not read another. Feeling alone is the horror of that book; alone in death and in life. In the pet cemetery, reanimated animals were completely opposite from what the beloved pet was like in life. The reanimated pet made their owners feel isolated and alone with no possibility of reunion.
In the second chapter of Genesis, the speaker, presumably God, says, “It is not good for the human to be alone. I will create another. That will help.” The surgeon general has declared that there is a loneliness epidemic in the United States. One researcher has concluded that widespread loneliness poses health risks as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes daily.
Although there is a distinct difference between being alone and lonely (some can be by themselves and feel happy. Others can be surrounded by people and feel lonely), Stephen King believes that hell is a synonym of alone. Interestingly enough, the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church agrees. It is written that hell is a complete separation (aloneness) from God.
At our discussion groups this past week, we discussed an article from the Wall Street Journal about hell. I was asked two main questions:
Is hell a physical place or a state of mind?
Is hell present now, on earth, or is it experienced after death?
In Anglican theological tradition, I answered with this: yes. Is it physical or a state of mind – yes. Is it present now or after death – yes.
My understanding of hell has been shaped by pastoral relationships with addicts. Whether by drugs or alcohol, the user experiences isolation from family, friends, and, frankly, their own sanity. An alcoholic who gave me permission to share his story said this about hell: I am not afraid of hell because I lived it. The only thing I fear is slipping back into my addiction which will again separate me from everyone I love.
I have witnessed addicts turn their life around. There is a lot of good news there. In this sense, their present experience of aloneness/hell can be transformed into connection and sanity.
One of the difficulties of the doctrinal premise of hell is God’s mercy, love and grace. How can hell exist since God is all loving and merciful? British writer, literary scholar, and Anglican lay theologian, C.S. Lewis, wrote this about hell:
All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek, find. Those who knock, it is opened.
Using Jesus’ words of “ask; knock; seek”, the author believes the soul that seeks joy will find it. Lewis also writes that at the entrance to hell there is a bus with an open door. It is headed to heaven. The bus is waiting for anyone who is willing to receive God’s grace and love. Hell is a place where people choose not to love and therefore remain separated. They are there not of God’s will but of their own.
English poet, civil servant, and author of the 1667 poem Paradise Lost, John Milton, wrote this:
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.
I have met people who can make the sunniest day feel cloudy and gloomy. Conversely, I surround myself with people who can take a gloomy day and make it shine.
In comparison, hell is often described as an isolated dark jail cell; heaven is an open field full of people you love. Hell is alone; Heaven is connection. We can do things on this earth to separate and make our own jail cell. We can also ask, seek, and find connection with one another, with God and even with our own sanity.
- Rev. Dave
Alone.
I have read one of his books – Pet Sematary which scared me so much I have not read another. Feeling alone is the horror of that book; alone in death and in life. In the pet cemetery, reanimated animals were completely opposite from what the beloved pet was like in life. The reanimated pet made their owners feel isolated and alone with no possibility of reunion.
In the second chapter of Genesis, the speaker, presumably God, says, “It is not good for the human to be alone. I will create another. That will help.” The surgeon general has declared that there is a loneliness epidemic in the United States. One researcher has concluded that widespread loneliness poses health risks as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes daily.
Although there is a distinct difference between being alone and lonely (some can be by themselves and feel happy. Others can be surrounded by people and feel lonely), Stephen King believes that hell is a synonym of alone. Interestingly enough, the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church agrees. It is written that hell is a complete separation (aloneness) from God.
At our discussion groups this past week, we discussed an article from the Wall Street Journal about hell. I was asked two main questions:
Is hell a physical place or a state of mind?
Is hell present now, on earth, or is it experienced after death?
In Anglican theological tradition, I answered with this: yes. Is it physical or a state of mind – yes. Is it present now or after death – yes.
My understanding of hell has been shaped by pastoral relationships with addicts. Whether by drugs or alcohol, the user experiences isolation from family, friends, and, frankly, their own sanity. An alcoholic who gave me permission to share his story said this about hell: I am not afraid of hell because I lived it. The only thing I fear is slipping back into my addiction which will again separate me from everyone I love.
I have witnessed addicts turn their life around. There is a lot of good news there. In this sense, their present experience of aloneness/hell can be transformed into connection and sanity.
One of the difficulties of the doctrinal premise of hell is God’s mercy, love and grace. How can hell exist since God is all loving and merciful? British writer, literary scholar, and Anglican lay theologian, C.S. Lewis, wrote this about hell:
All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek, find. Those who knock, it is opened.
Using Jesus’ words of “ask; knock; seek”, the author believes the soul that seeks joy will find it. Lewis also writes that at the entrance to hell there is a bus with an open door. It is headed to heaven. The bus is waiting for anyone who is willing to receive God’s grace and love. Hell is a place where people choose not to love and therefore remain separated. They are there not of God’s will but of their own.
English poet, civil servant, and author of the 1667 poem Paradise Lost, John Milton, wrote this:
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.
I have met people who can make the sunniest day feel cloudy and gloomy. Conversely, I surround myself with people who can take a gloomy day and make it shine.
In comparison, hell is often described as an isolated dark jail cell; heaven is an open field full of people you love. Hell is alone; Heaven is connection. We can do things on this earth to separate and make our own jail cell. We can also ask, seek, and find connection with one another, with God and even with our own sanity.
- Rev. Dave
Yada & Rafah
March 7, 2024
I’d like to get two pieces of Scripture to have a conversation: Psalm 46:10 and John 13:12. I would also like to read them in light of the prayer I pray over the congregation every Sunday in Lent, which is this: Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind.
Here are the passages:
‘Be still, and know that I am God! Jesus asked, “Do you know what I’ve done for you?”
I am exalted among the nations, John 13:12
I am exalted in the earth.’
Psalm 46:10
Psalm 46 was most likely written by descendants of Levite priests a little more than a century after Solomon’s Temple was destroyed (around the year 700 BCE). It is believed to be written as a reassurance that God is their savior and deliverer when they call on him in difficult times. Around 732 years later, Jesus was at a table with his friends. He took off his robe and washed their feet. Sometime later, John 13 was written to remind people of what Jesus said during what is now called the Last Supper. After he washed their feet, he put on his robe, sat down, looked at them all, and asked: Do you all know what I’ve done for you?
At this point, these two don’t seem to have much to say to each other, but let’s listen in a little closer.
“Be still” in Hebrew (the language the psalm was written in) is “rafah”. A rather popular word in the Old Testament, rafah can mean to become limp, to let one’s hands fall at one’s side, to relax. As used in the sentence, “Be still and know that I am God,” it is a command. A hypnotist could command people to rafah, or go limp/relax, but for everyone else, it is something that we have to make an intentional decision to do so. That is what I believe this psalm is trying to convey to its readers – relax, let go, let your hands fall and know that I AM is here. The word that follows rafah is “know”; which in Hebrew is yada and is one of my favorite Hebrew words. What I take from this passage is that we can relax and know that God is I AM; or, conversely, learning to know that God is I AM will help us to let go, to relax, or let our minds go limp for a little while.
Jesus’ question at the Last Supper, “Do you know [yada] what I have done for you?” reminds me that from the manger, to the cross, to the empty tomb it is nearly inconceivable to know the totality of what Jesus has done for us. Yet, in Aramaic/Hebrew, his question could be read this way: “Are you learning (yada) what I have done for you?” Reading it that way, I’d say the question is much easier to answer yes to. I’d say, we are yada (learning) what he has done for us.
If Psalm 46:10 could talk to John 13:12, I’d hear them saying that knowing I AM, and beginning to learn what Jesus has done for us, will make us relax.
Each week in Lent, I earnestly pray over the congregation that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve the Lord with a quiet mind. I believe this is the purpose of both rafah and yada – to know is to relax and to relax is to know. The end result is a quiet mind. Perhaps the command, “be still” is a command not of our physical body but that of our mind. I am still learning (yada) what Jesus has done for me. One lesson is that Jesus, the one who washes feet, participates in the process of cleansing which can result in a quiet, peaceful mind.
-Rev. Dave
Here are the passages:
‘Be still, and know that I am God! Jesus asked, “Do you know what I’ve done for you?”
I am exalted among the nations, John 13:12
I am exalted in the earth.’
Psalm 46:10
Psalm 46 was most likely written by descendants of Levite priests a little more than a century after Solomon’s Temple was destroyed (around the year 700 BCE). It is believed to be written as a reassurance that God is their savior and deliverer when they call on him in difficult times. Around 732 years later, Jesus was at a table with his friends. He took off his robe and washed their feet. Sometime later, John 13 was written to remind people of what Jesus said during what is now called the Last Supper. After he washed their feet, he put on his robe, sat down, looked at them all, and asked: Do you all know what I’ve done for you?
At this point, these two don’t seem to have much to say to each other, but let’s listen in a little closer.
“Be still” in Hebrew (the language the psalm was written in) is “rafah”. A rather popular word in the Old Testament, rafah can mean to become limp, to let one’s hands fall at one’s side, to relax. As used in the sentence, “Be still and know that I am God,” it is a command. A hypnotist could command people to rafah, or go limp/relax, but for everyone else, it is something that we have to make an intentional decision to do so. That is what I believe this psalm is trying to convey to its readers – relax, let go, let your hands fall and know that I AM is here. The word that follows rafah is “know”; which in Hebrew is yada and is one of my favorite Hebrew words. What I take from this passage is that we can relax and know that God is I AM; or, conversely, learning to know that God is I AM will help us to let go, to relax, or let our minds go limp for a little while.
Jesus’ question at the Last Supper, “Do you know [yada] what I have done for you?” reminds me that from the manger, to the cross, to the empty tomb it is nearly inconceivable to know the totality of what Jesus has done for us. Yet, in Aramaic/Hebrew, his question could be read this way: “Are you learning (yada) what I have done for you?” Reading it that way, I’d say the question is much easier to answer yes to. I’d say, we are yada (learning) what he has done for us.
If Psalm 46:10 could talk to John 13:12, I’d hear them saying that knowing I AM, and beginning to learn what Jesus has done for us, will make us relax.
Each week in Lent, I earnestly pray over the congregation that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve the Lord with a quiet mind. I believe this is the purpose of both rafah and yada – to know is to relax and to relax is to know. The end result is a quiet mind. Perhaps the command, “be still” is a command not of our physical body but that of our mind. I am still learning (yada) what Jesus has done for me. One lesson is that Jesus, the one who washes feet, participates in the process of cleansing which can result in a quiet, peaceful mind.
-Rev. Dave
Learning Curve
February 29, 2024
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131503194/published/learning-curve-5.png?1709338533)
During our weekly podcast, A Bridge Between, my friend, Fr. Alex Andujar and I discussed the story of Jesus throwing the money changers out of the Temple. We both believe that Jesus did this because of the barrier that existed within the Temple marketplace that kept the faithful from participating in that particular part of the Passover. In our conversation, we asked what sort of barriers the Church puts up today that keeps people from participating. After suggesting a few, we quickly realized we were talking about two different things: barriers and learning curves.
Barriers are things like steps to get into church. Ramps are better – and both of our churches have them – but Alex and I realized we both serve churches that require their clergy to be able to climb a stair to be at the altar. Another barrier is the need to hear and to see in order to participate in worship. We also talked about more subtle barriers – like liturgical language and reading four passages from Scripture each Sunday. Our beautiful and longstanding tradition can be seen by some as a barrier to worship. Alex quickly interjected and said that our tradition is not a barrier, it is a learning curve. There was a time when even our most active congregants and church leaders did not know the ins and outs of our liturgical tradition. Someone had to teach them. Metaphorically speaking, they walked up the learning curve; but not by themselves, they had a guide.
In the United States, there is a great diversity of Christian tradition and worship. Some of those traditions have a slight learning curve; for example, watching TD Jakes or Joyce Meyer – they are designed for a very broad television audience. In contrast, if you were to attend a Greek Orthodox service, it would have a very steep learning curve. Somewhere in between televangelists and the Greek Orthodox church is the Episcopal Church. In our diocese, there are services in Creole, Mandarin, American Sign Language, Spanish and English. There are outdoor services, children’s services and Rite 1 services with incense. Yet, each one has a learning curve, to a greater or lesser degree, associated with it.
The Sunday bulletin is a way to help with the learning curve. We used to have to juggle a bulletin, an announcement sheet, a Scripture leaflet, the Book of Common Prayer, and the blue hymnal. Nowadays, it’s a little simpler (with larger print). The best way to navigate our service, however, is to walk the learning curve with someone. I am pleased to no end when I see parishioners who have climbed the curve, see the view from the top (which is marvelous, I’d like to add), and then help others walk with them. This past Sunday, we had a couple that was at All Angels for the first time. The ushers welcomed them and handed them a bulletin, but, just as important, the people sitting next them greeted them and made sure they were following along in the service. That makes me very happy to see.
Our beautiful and meaningful worship service is not meant to be a barrier, like the money changers. We are carrying on the Anglican tradition (as Scripture says) to a generation yet unborn. At the same time, we rely on fellow travelers to help one another along our Episcopal learning curve.
- Rev. Dave
Barriers are things like steps to get into church. Ramps are better – and both of our churches have them – but Alex and I realized we both serve churches that require their clergy to be able to climb a stair to be at the altar. Another barrier is the need to hear and to see in order to participate in worship. We also talked about more subtle barriers – like liturgical language and reading four passages from Scripture each Sunday. Our beautiful and longstanding tradition can be seen by some as a barrier to worship. Alex quickly interjected and said that our tradition is not a barrier, it is a learning curve. There was a time when even our most active congregants and church leaders did not know the ins and outs of our liturgical tradition. Someone had to teach them. Metaphorically speaking, they walked up the learning curve; but not by themselves, they had a guide.
In the United States, there is a great diversity of Christian tradition and worship. Some of those traditions have a slight learning curve; for example, watching TD Jakes or Joyce Meyer – they are designed for a very broad television audience. In contrast, if you were to attend a Greek Orthodox service, it would have a very steep learning curve. Somewhere in between televangelists and the Greek Orthodox church is the Episcopal Church. In our diocese, there are services in Creole, Mandarin, American Sign Language, Spanish and English. There are outdoor services, children’s services and Rite 1 services with incense. Yet, each one has a learning curve, to a greater or lesser degree, associated with it.
The Sunday bulletin is a way to help with the learning curve. We used to have to juggle a bulletin, an announcement sheet, a Scripture leaflet, the Book of Common Prayer, and the blue hymnal. Nowadays, it’s a little simpler (with larger print). The best way to navigate our service, however, is to walk the learning curve with someone. I am pleased to no end when I see parishioners who have climbed the curve, see the view from the top (which is marvelous, I’d like to add), and then help others walk with them. This past Sunday, we had a couple that was at All Angels for the first time. The ushers welcomed them and handed them a bulletin, but, just as important, the people sitting next them greeted them and made sure they were following along in the service. That makes me very happy to see.
Our beautiful and meaningful worship service is not meant to be a barrier, like the money changers. We are carrying on the Anglican tradition (as Scripture says) to a generation yet unborn. At the same time, we rely on fellow travelers to help one another along our Episcopal learning curve.
- Rev. Dave
Metanoia
February 22, 2024
I’d like to share an experience with you that I had (am having and will have) with the Holy Spirit. This past Sunday, I gave what some folks are calling the Metanoia Sermon. After dropping a hint about it in a previous sermon, I gave it my full attention. In case you missed it, or, if you’d like a refresher, here it is:
According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus was baptized, then tempted in the desert for 40 days, he returned and said, “The Kingdom of God is here. Metanoia and believe in the Good News!” It is the first thing Jesus said and, I opine, that the entirety of Mark’s Gospel should be heard through this declaration. But what does “metanoia” mean?
It is the combination of two Greek words, “meta”, which means beyond (or a bird’s eye view) and “noia”. Common words that begin with meta are metamorphosis, metaphysics, and metaphor. All of them have a meaning of going above or beyond or taking a higher view. The second half of the word, “noia”, has to do with the way we think. Other words with that root are paranoia and annoyed – all which have to do with how or what we think. Combine the two and you get “beyond-thinking”. Some think that a 21st century phrase of metanoia is this: think outside of the box. Technically, it would be “think above the box” or “think beyond the box”. In the terms of the Kingdom of God, this writer believes that Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is here” and followed it with metanoia because we have to think outside of ourselves to see it.
Before I tell you about my Holy Spirit experience, I need to tell you one more thing. I believe all words have meaning; some words have power. You’ve heard the phrase the pen is mightier than the sword. I believe that words are mightier than the pen. The mightiest words are spiritual. The mightiest spiritual words are names. The name of Jesus Christ is the name above all names, the name in which all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth must bow and obey, has been given to us for prayer, protection, peace, healing, salvation and joy. I speak His name carefully and thoughtfully. He is the Living Word. He is the Word incarnate (made flesh). And, he declared the Kingdom is among us; metanoia and believe the Good News. His words have power.
Here is how I experienced his power through the Holy Spirit: I have had over twenty conversations about metanoia in the days that followed the message. Each person has had a beyond-the-box thinking experience. And; here is what I found surprising; each experience is different. Some had an inkling of the reality of God’s Kingdom which is right at our fingertips. It’s not up in the sky, or in some distant galaxy, but it is right here. All we have to do is open the eyes of our mind and heart (to think beyond ourselves) and experience it. For some, their metanoia was experiencing the very-present-God in nature. Others found the peace of the Kingdom within themselves by changing the way they thought of their present circumstances. And yet others came to the realization that their loved ones, for whom we see no longer, are with them now, and they are in the Kingdom, and that the two are both parallel and beyond. And, that by metanoia with them, we too are in the Kingdom with them.
When I gave the thinking-beyond message, I thought each metanoia experience would be the same because one of the marks of the Holy Spirit is unity. Yet, my own personal metanoia experience showed me that each person has had (is having, will have) a tailor-made way of thinking. In other words, the Kingdom of God is here and each person has their own unique way of thinking about it. What is held in unity of the Spirit is that the Kingdom brings peace and joy to everyone, although it is uniquely and individually experienced. Also held in unity is this: The Kingdom is here for everyone who thinks beyond themselves.
- Rev. Dave
According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus was baptized, then tempted in the desert for 40 days, he returned and said, “The Kingdom of God is here. Metanoia and believe in the Good News!” It is the first thing Jesus said and, I opine, that the entirety of Mark’s Gospel should be heard through this declaration. But what does “metanoia” mean?
It is the combination of two Greek words, “meta”, which means beyond (or a bird’s eye view) and “noia”. Common words that begin with meta are metamorphosis, metaphysics, and metaphor. All of them have a meaning of going above or beyond or taking a higher view. The second half of the word, “noia”, has to do with the way we think. Other words with that root are paranoia and annoyed – all which have to do with how or what we think. Combine the two and you get “beyond-thinking”. Some think that a 21st century phrase of metanoia is this: think outside of the box. Technically, it would be “think above the box” or “think beyond the box”. In the terms of the Kingdom of God, this writer believes that Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is here” and followed it with metanoia because we have to think outside of ourselves to see it.
Before I tell you about my Holy Spirit experience, I need to tell you one more thing. I believe all words have meaning; some words have power. You’ve heard the phrase the pen is mightier than the sword. I believe that words are mightier than the pen. The mightiest words are spiritual. The mightiest spiritual words are names. The name of Jesus Christ is the name above all names, the name in which all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth must bow and obey, has been given to us for prayer, protection, peace, healing, salvation and joy. I speak His name carefully and thoughtfully. He is the Living Word. He is the Word incarnate (made flesh). And, he declared the Kingdom is among us; metanoia and believe the Good News. His words have power.
Here is how I experienced his power through the Holy Spirit: I have had over twenty conversations about metanoia in the days that followed the message. Each person has had a beyond-the-box thinking experience. And; here is what I found surprising; each experience is different. Some had an inkling of the reality of God’s Kingdom which is right at our fingertips. It’s not up in the sky, or in some distant galaxy, but it is right here. All we have to do is open the eyes of our mind and heart (to think beyond ourselves) and experience it. For some, their metanoia was experiencing the very-present-God in nature. Others found the peace of the Kingdom within themselves by changing the way they thought of their present circumstances. And yet others came to the realization that their loved ones, for whom we see no longer, are with them now, and they are in the Kingdom, and that the two are both parallel and beyond. And, that by metanoia with them, we too are in the Kingdom with them.
When I gave the thinking-beyond message, I thought each metanoia experience would be the same because one of the marks of the Holy Spirit is unity. Yet, my own personal metanoia experience showed me that each person has had (is having, will have) a tailor-made way of thinking. In other words, the Kingdom of God is here and each person has their own unique way of thinking about it. What is held in unity of the Spirit is that the Kingdom brings peace and joy to everyone, although it is uniquely and individually experienced. Also held in unity is this: The Kingdom is here for everyone who thinks beyond themselves.
- Rev. Dave
New Life and New (to You) Art
From the Desk of Ethan Marshall
February 15, 2024
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131503194/published/new-to-you-art-sale-2024-gallery.jpg?1708119544)
The New to You Art Sale is my favorite activity at All Angels. Let me tell you why.
It all started a few weeks ago when Fr. Dave (my dad) discussed in his sermon about seeing God in the rear-view mirror. To recap, God is ever-present in our lives, however, it can be very hard for us to see God working in the present. Upon reflection, however, we can clearly see how God has blessed us, protected us, guided us, and loved us. Fr. Dave mentioned that he could see things happening in the now but cannot quite connect the dots together. I may be of assistance connecting the dots; I believe this church is doing two things: bringing new life and the light of Christ to others.
At the University of South Florida, I am in my senior year studying Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Urban Studies. Through my studies I have learned and experienced how community action and sustainability projects are reshaping how people live in positive ways. Urban centers are becoming more sustainable. At the same time, city living is becoming more livable – through a renewed focus on parks, city beautification, recreation and multi-system public transportation. This is good news for the climate as well as for the individuals living in the city. Each step towards sustainability makes life better for the inhabitants and the environment.
I see sustainability and community outreach happening at All Angels. By supporting our New to You Art Sale, your purchase keeps art displayed and not shoved away into an attic, under a bed, or worst yet, put in a landfill. Recent city planning has focused on beauty in structure and purpose. It is believed that art makes for better living. So, by bringing art out of the attic, and displaying it for others to see, you are making life more livable. At the same time, your contribution to the New to You Art Sale helps Turning Points – an organization that breaks the cycle of poverty by offering resources to those who are on the brink of homelessness. Turning Points also helps those who are trying to find jobs and they help people who are experiencing homelessness. By donating and purchasing art, you bring new life to this church – by displaying and showing art – and you are bringing new life to our community; especially those who are in need.
New life is what God is showing me at All Angels. My mom repurposed left-overs from the Christmas Tea, and other events; she even reused metal tins from the Spring Fling; to make Epiphany Sandwiches at a recent coffee hour. Each time we have fellowship, we improve the life of our community. Fellowship also creates something new.
Whether it is from displaying and reusing art, or repurposing Christmas ham for Epiphany Sandwiches, I encourage you to reflect on three things: how can you bring new life into this church; how do we continue to bring the light of Christ to others; and how can we support simple activities in our communities and neighborhoods to make more sustainable and more livable? Reflecting and acting on these will bring new life to the church, our community, and new life in our personal lives.
This church refreshes and brings new life to me every Sunday. Just seeing you here, or when you participate online, refreshes me and brings me new life. Do not think that any act is too insignificant to make a difference. I assure you, we all bring new life with God’s help.
The New to Art Sale is my favorite activity this parish does because it brings together sustainable actions, community development, new life, and the light of Christ to our communities and our hearts.
- Ethan Marshall
It all started a few weeks ago when Fr. Dave (my dad) discussed in his sermon about seeing God in the rear-view mirror. To recap, God is ever-present in our lives, however, it can be very hard for us to see God working in the present. Upon reflection, however, we can clearly see how God has blessed us, protected us, guided us, and loved us. Fr. Dave mentioned that he could see things happening in the now but cannot quite connect the dots together. I may be of assistance connecting the dots; I believe this church is doing two things: bringing new life and the light of Christ to others.
At the University of South Florida, I am in my senior year studying Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Urban Studies. Through my studies I have learned and experienced how community action and sustainability projects are reshaping how people live in positive ways. Urban centers are becoming more sustainable. At the same time, city living is becoming more livable – through a renewed focus on parks, city beautification, recreation and multi-system public transportation. This is good news for the climate as well as for the individuals living in the city. Each step towards sustainability makes life better for the inhabitants and the environment.
I see sustainability and community outreach happening at All Angels. By supporting our New to You Art Sale, your purchase keeps art displayed and not shoved away into an attic, under a bed, or worst yet, put in a landfill. Recent city planning has focused on beauty in structure and purpose. It is believed that art makes for better living. So, by bringing art out of the attic, and displaying it for others to see, you are making life more livable. At the same time, your contribution to the New to You Art Sale helps Turning Points – an organization that breaks the cycle of poverty by offering resources to those who are on the brink of homelessness. Turning Points also helps those who are trying to find jobs and they help people who are experiencing homelessness. By donating and purchasing art, you bring new life to this church – by displaying and showing art – and you are bringing new life to our community; especially those who are in need.
New life is what God is showing me at All Angels. My mom repurposed left-overs from the Christmas Tea, and other events; she even reused metal tins from the Spring Fling; to make Epiphany Sandwiches at a recent coffee hour. Each time we have fellowship, we improve the life of our community. Fellowship also creates something new.
Whether it is from displaying and reusing art, or repurposing Christmas ham for Epiphany Sandwiches, I encourage you to reflect on three things: how can you bring new life into this church; how do we continue to bring the light of Christ to others; and how can we support simple activities in our communities and neighborhoods to make more sustainable and more livable? Reflecting and acting on these will bring new life to the church, our community, and new life in our personal lives.
This church refreshes and brings new life to me every Sunday. Just seeing you here, or when you participate online, refreshes me and brings me new life. Do not think that any act is too insignificant to make a difference. I assure you, we all bring new life with God’s help.
The New to Art Sale is my favorite activity this parish does because it brings together sustainable actions, community development, new life, and the light of Christ to our communities and our hearts.
- Ethan Marshall
Hunting Jesus
February 8, 2024
I have some good news from an obscure Greek word that I’d like to share with you. The New Testament was written in Greek. One thing I like about Greek is the ability to combine words to make a new meaning. We do this in English too. My favorite is “brunch” (lunch + breakfast). Another one is “email” (electronic + mail) or “guesstimate” (guess + estimate) and “internet” (interconnected + network).
In last Sunday’s lesson, the Gospel writer Mark used this phrase “Simon (Peter) and his companions hunted for Jesus.” The translation we use for the Sunday Gospel lesson will occasionally use a strange word as a clue to preachers and theologians to take a closer look; in this case, “hunted”. Taking their clue, here is what I found.
First, it’s an aorist tense (of course), so it should be read this way: Peter hunted, is hunting, will hunt for Jesus. In other words, the hunt goes on! Second, when Peter found Jesus, he said, “Everyone is searching for you.” Notice the verb change from “hunting” to “searching”. It’s as if Mark was hinting at something. (And, just in case you were wondering, “searching” has the present-active-indicative tense which shows an action that happened in the present time.) So, by using a different verb and a different tense, I think Mark really wants us to reflect on what Peter and his companions were doing by “hunting” for Jesus.
The Greek word translated as “hunting” is katadioko. Found only once in the New Testament, it is the combination of two words – kata and dioko. Kata means “down”. Dioko means to “run or flee”. The literal-to-English translation, down-run or run-down, has several meanings in English – “I had to run him down”, “the house looked run down,” “the squirrel was run down by the car” and “give me the rundown.” It’s obvious then why our English translations didn’t use the literal translatio
Why is it translated as “hunting”? Looking at how that word is used historically, I think Mark’s word is similar to “tracking” a hunting term which is to look down while pursuing a particular purpose. I have a friend who is a deer hunter. He can find deer footprints and track them easily. Peter and his companions did exactly that – they looked with intent for Jesus. If I were writing it today, I’d say that Peter “tracked him down”.
Mark is telling us that Jesus has been on the move, is moving, and will be moving; thus, it is our job to track Jesus. So, let me ask you this: do you see the footprints of Jesus in your life? Can you track him in our community and in the world?
The New to You Art Sale started this week. I am tracking Jesus to it. When neighbors donate art, when neighbors purchase art, when volunteers from All Angels and Temple Beth Israel bond together in unity to raise money for Turning Points, I feel like I am seeing where Jesus has walked (is walking and will walk). The search for Jesus was completed. But, tracking him through our lives and in our community is ongoing.
One more thing, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew but a long time ago it was also translated into Greek. There is another example of katadioko found in Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd), verse 6: Surely goodness and mercy shall katadioko me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. In other words, goodness and mercy has tracked, is tracking, and will track-me-down all the days of my life.
If I can combine Mark’s Gospel and Psalm 23, it seems that we are tracking and being tracked all at the same time.
- Rev. Dave
In last Sunday’s lesson, the Gospel writer Mark used this phrase “Simon (Peter) and his companions hunted for Jesus.” The translation we use for the Sunday Gospel lesson will occasionally use a strange word as a clue to preachers and theologians to take a closer look; in this case, “hunted”. Taking their clue, here is what I found.
First, it’s an aorist tense (of course), so it should be read this way: Peter hunted, is hunting, will hunt for Jesus. In other words, the hunt goes on! Second, when Peter found Jesus, he said, “Everyone is searching for you.” Notice the verb change from “hunting” to “searching”. It’s as if Mark was hinting at something. (And, just in case you were wondering, “searching” has the present-active-indicative tense which shows an action that happened in the present time.) So, by using a different verb and a different tense, I think Mark really wants us to reflect on what Peter and his companions were doing by “hunting” for Jesus.
The Greek word translated as “hunting” is katadioko. Found only once in the New Testament, it is the combination of two words – kata and dioko. Kata means “down”. Dioko means to “run or flee”. The literal-to-English translation, down-run or run-down, has several meanings in English – “I had to run him down”, “the house looked run down,” “the squirrel was run down by the car” and “give me the rundown.” It’s obvious then why our English translations didn’t use the literal translatio
Why is it translated as “hunting”? Looking at how that word is used historically, I think Mark’s word is similar to “tracking” a hunting term which is to look down while pursuing a particular purpose. I have a friend who is a deer hunter. He can find deer footprints and track them easily. Peter and his companions did exactly that – they looked with intent for Jesus. If I were writing it today, I’d say that Peter “tracked him down”.
Mark is telling us that Jesus has been on the move, is moving, and will be moving; thus, it is our job to track Jesus. So, let me ask you this: do you see the footprints of Jesus in your life? Can you track him in our community and in the world?
The New to You Art Sale started this week. I am tracking Jesus to it. When neighbors donate art, when neighbors purchase art, when volunteers from All Angels and Temple Beth Israel bond together in unity to raise money for Turning Points, I feel like I am seeing where Jesus has walked (is walking and will walk). The search for Jesus was completed. But, tracking him through our lives and in our community is ongoing.
One more thing, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew but a long time ago it was also translated into Greek. There is another example of katadioko found in Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd), verse 6: Surely goodness and mercy shall katadioko me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. In other words, goodness and mercy has tracked, is tracking, and will track-me-down all the days of my life.
If I can combine Mark’s Gospel and Psalm 23, it seems that we are tracking and being tracked all at the same time.
- Rev. Dave
Awareness Raising
February 1, 2024
You’ve heard of fundraising but have you heard of awareness raising? It’s like fundraising but instead of asking you for money, we ask for awareness and understanding. Raising awareness is another way to describe the Church season of Epiphany. Each week, during the Eucharistic prayer, I say these words: “Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts, to give the knowledge of your glory in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” In other words, Epiphany is awareness raising. The Church believes that through awareness raising, we can set people free.
Quantum mechanics is just beginning to show that objects under observation behave differently than when not under observation. This was already understood by researchers who have tried to observe the life of house cats because cats act differently when they are being observed than when they are not. Every kindergarten class in America exhibits this observation tendency – the kids act differently when the teacher is in the classroom. In the spiritual sense, I believe that awareness brings knowledge; knowledge is a light that shines in the darkness and that shining light can change reality and set people free. For instance, in sales, I was taught that when I have a customer I don’t get along with, all I need to do is think I like you, I like you, I like you, when I talk with them and the relationship will change. I’ve tried it, many times, and it works.
Another way to look at this is what I call the Camry principle. Christi and I have owned three different Toyota Camrys. The first one we bought, almost by happenstance, led me to have Camry awareness which is this: once I bought one, I saw Camrys everywhere. I had never paid attention to them before – why would I – but once I owned one, I saw them everywhere.
Gerry Fox, of Christ Church Presbyterian, Longboat Key, has brought an awareness to the religious leaders on the island. Through his gentle, and persistent, communication and kindness, he has raised the awareness of human trafficking in our community (and yes, even on our island). The Outreach groups from each house of prayer have been meeting for almost a year to address what we can do. And, just like what I learned at the luncheon addressing anti-Semitism in Sarasota, the first, and most important, thing to change a community is to have the citizens become aware of the situation around them. As soon as we are aware of hate in our community it cannot grow and then starts to fade.
I am aware that on Longboat Key, the potential for human trafficking exists. I’d sure like it to be different, but, the potential exists. And, according to law enforcement, if the potential exists, it probably does exist. Here’s an example that we were given: someone may rent a corporately owned home on Longboat; have a big golfing event, and, in the evening, a car with girls shows up and stays for a couple of days. Again, I’d like this to be different; but, I have to tell you what I have become aware of.
On Saturday, February 24, there is an awareness raiser happening at Christ Church. Each house of prayer is bringing people to it. The public at large, through advertisements, leaflets and social media is also encouraged to attend. At this 90-minute event, the reality of human trafficking in our communities will be addressed. The keynote speaker is the leader of Selah Freedom – a place for girls, women and boys to escape trafficking in Sarasota. The program has a 90% success rate. According to Selah, the first and most important step for the community is to be aware that trafficking can and does exist. We will not be asked to do sting operations, or confrontation, or even surveillance. Instead, like the Camry principle, if you are aware of it, you might see it. By raising awareness of trafficking, a new light will shine, and that light will set people free.
- Rev. Dave
Quantum mechanics is just beginning to show that objects under observation behave differently than when not under observation. This was already understood by researchers who have tried to observe the life of house cats because cats act differently when they are being observed than when they are not. Every kindergarten class in America exhibits this observation tendency – the kids act differently when the teacher is in the classroom. In the spiritual sense, I believe that awareness brings knowledge; knowledge is a light that shines in the darkness and that shining light can change reality and set people free. For instance, in sales, I was taught that when I have a customer I don’t get along with, all I need to do is think I like you, I like you, I like you, when I talk with them and the relationship will change. I’ve tried it, many times, and it works.
Another way to look at this is what I call the Camry principle. Christi and I have owned three different Toyota Camrys. The first one we bought, almost by happenstance, led me to have Camry awareness which is this: once I bought one, I saw Camrys everywhere. I had never paid attention to them before – why would I – but once I owned one, I saw them everywhere.
Gerry Fox, of Christ Church Presbyterian, Longboat Key, has brought an awareness to the religious leaders on the island. Through his gentle, and persistent, communication and kindness, he has raised the awareness of human trafficking in our community (and yes, even on our island). The Outreach groups from each house of prayer have been meeting for almost a year to address what we can do. And, just like what I learned at the luncheon addressing anti-Semitism in Sarasota, the first, and most important, thing to change a community is to have the citizens become aware of the situation around them. As soon as we are aware of hate in our community it cannot grow and then starts to fade.
I am aware that on Longboat Key, the potential for human trafficking exists. I’d sure like it to be different, but, the potential exists. And, according to law enforcement, if the potential exists, it probably does exist. Here’s an example that we were given: someone may rent a corporately owned home on Longboat; have a big golfing event, and, in the evening, a car with girls shows up and stays for a couple of days. Again, I’d like this to be different; but, I have to tell you what I have become aware of.
On Saturday, February 24, there is an awareness raiser happening at Christ Church. Each house of prayer is bringing people to it. The public at large, through advertisements, leaflets and social media is also encouraged to attend. At this 90-minute event, the reality of human trafficking in our communities will be addressed. The keynote speaker is the leader of Selah Freedom – a place for girls, women and boys to escape trafficking in Sarasota. The program has a 90% success rate. According to Selah, the first and most important step for the community is to be aware that trafficking can and does exist. We will not be asked to do sting operations, or confrontation, or even surveillance. Instead, like the Camry principle, if you are aware of it, you might see it. By raising awareness of trafficking, a new light will shine, and that light will set people free.
- Rev. Dave
To Fear or Not To Fear
January 25, 2024
If I could change one thing about cats, it would be to take away their fear response. The worst cut I ever received from a cat was when Harpo (my sassy, long haired tuxedo cat) went from a dead sleep on my lap to full-on freak-out. As she jumped off my lap, her back claws dug deep into my leg. A few minutes later, she decided there was nothing to fear and that it was time for another nap. My lap was not available because I was in the bathroom with wound care and a bandage. She stood in the doorway with her long tail swishing back and forth as if to say, “I’m waiting…”
If it were up to the angels in the Bible, I think they’d like to remove our fear response too. The most common command in the Holy Scriptures is this: be not afraid. Yet, psalm 111, appointed for Sunday morning, tells us to fear. Here is a passage from verse 10:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever.
Alex, my close friend and clergy partner on our weekly podcast, A Bridge Between, shutters when he hears this passage because the nuns in his school used this passage as a way to instill fear into the students. Some of you know what Alex experienced. How do we balance the phrase – fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom – and the most often repeated phrase fear not?
The psalm was originally written in Hebrew. The word translated “fear” has no direct English equivalent. What I have read by Hebrew theologians and scholars is this: to translate the word into English, you would have to combine three elements – respect and obedience combined with reverential affection. As you can see, we have no such word in English. Somewhere along the line, the English word “fear” was chosen.
Although I cannot remove the fear response in cats, I can make a difference in my community. For this Sunday, I have gone with a different English translation of this psalm passage which reads as follows: To respect and obey the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Another translation says this: “The wise respect, obey and have affection for the Lord.”
The psalms paint a contrast between the wise and the foolish, the happy and the wicked, the upright and those who hide in the shadows, the righteous and the doomed. Psalm 111 highlights the marvelousness of God’s works which are compassion, graciousness, faithfulness, and justice. As such, it is wise to respect and obey the Lord. The foolish, on the other hand, do not obey or respect the Lord.
Another way to look at this is that wisdom is not about book knowledge or even street-smarts. Wisdom, in God’s Kingdom, begins with respect and obedience. On the other hand, fear drives out wisdom. Fear makes us act out, run, fight, fall into binary thinking (us vs. them), be easily swayed, or completely shut down. None of those actions are manifestations of wisdom in God’s Kingdom. It is wise to respect and obey the Lord. I think it is also wise to look at Biblical translations and to ask questions about fearing, or, in this case, not fearing.
I eventually let Harpo back up on my lap but I was wiser. You see, the chair I was sitting on had a wooden handle that made it recline and, at the same time, a foot rest would pop up. Sometimes, when releasing the lever, it would make a loud “Boing!” sound. The “boing” startled the cat which gave me a deep cut. In addition to respecting and obeying the Lord, perhaps the beginning of wisdom is also to change one’s actions (like quietly releasing the reclining lever); because, as we all know, you can’t change a cat’s behavior.
- Rev. Dave
If it were up to the angels in the Bible, I think they’d like to remove our fear response too. The most common command in the Holy Scriptures is this: be not afraid. Yet, psalm 111, appointed for Sunday morning, tells us to fear. Here is a passage from verse 10:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever.
Alex, my close friend and clergy partner on our weekly podcast, A Bridge Between, shutters when he hears this passage because the nuns in his school used this passage as a way to instill fear into the students. Some of you know what Alex experienced. How do we balance the phrase – fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom – and the most often repeated phrase fear not?
The psalm was originally written in Hebrew. The word translated “fear” has no direct English equivalent. What I have read by Hebrew theologians and scholars is this: to translate the word into English, you would have to combine three elements – respect and obedience combined with reverential affection. As you can see, we have no such word in English. Somewhere along the line, the English word “fear” was chosen.
Although I cannot remove the fear response in cats, I can make a difference in my community. For this Sunday, I have gone with a different English translation of this psalm passage which reads as follows: To respect and obey the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Another translation says this: “The wise respect, obey and have affection for the Lord.”
The psalms paint a contrast between the wise and the foolish, the happy and the wicked, the upright and those who hide in the shadows, the righteous and the doomed. Psalm 111 highlights the marvelousness of God’s works which are compassion, graciousness, faithfulness, and justice. As such, it is wise to respect and obey the Lord. The foolish, on the other hand, do not obey or respect the Lord.
Another way to look at this is that wisdom is not about book knowledge or even street-smarts. Wisdom, in God’s Kingdom, begins with respect and obedience. On the other hand, fear drives out wisdom. Fear makes us act out, run, fight, fall into binary thinking (us vs. them), be easily swayed, or completely shut down. None of those actions are manifestations of wisdom in God’s Kingdom. It is wise to respect and obey the Lord. I think it is also wise to look at Biblical translations and to ask questions about fearing, or, in this case, not fearing.
I eventually let Harpo back up on my lap but I was wiser. You see, the chair I was sitting on had a wooden handle that made it recline and, at the same time, a foot rest would pop up. Sometimes, when releasing the lever, it would make a loud “Boing!” sound. The “boing” startled the cat which gave me a deep cut. In addition to respecting and obeying the Lord, perhaps the beginning of wisdom is also to change one’s actions (like quietly releasing the reclining lever); because, as we all know, you can’t change a cat’s behavior.
- Rev. Dave
Kingdom Eye
January 18, 2024
O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, increase upon us thy mercy so that we may pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord.
Chances are, if you are reading this, you have sight. That should be celebrated. Sight is a wonderful (and miraculous) thing. So, if you are reading this, join me by sticking your index finger in the air and saying, “Delight!” It is a delight to participate in life with sight; to read, to drive, to fish, to golf, play tennis, to see the smile on a loved one’s face, to see the sunset over the gulf. The list goes on and on. So many delights come in through our sense of sight.
All the while I am delighting in sight, I have two friends who are losing their sight due to macular degeneration. Walking with them through it gives me pride in how they are handling it and it also makes me appreciate my sight. They remind me to relish in sight – something we often take for granted.
During my stint as a chaplain in the V.A., I got to know an Episcopal priest, named David, who was blind. In his words: I went to ‘Nam with sight, and I returned without it. As a disabled American veteran, he used the V.A. to live into his new reality. David is a stellar chaplain. Using what he calls his Kingdom eye, or inner eye, he could “see” much deeper into a pastoral conversation than the rest of us. David believes the Kingdom eye is seeing with our heart.
The Kingdom of God, which we pray every week will be on earth as it is in heaven, is not easily perceived by our eyesight. In Eastern spiritual practices (especially in Hinduism and Buddhism), the inner eye is how we perceive higher consciousness and enlightenment. In the West, the inner eye is how we see those in need and respond in compassion and mercy. It “sees” the spiritual side of life whereas our eyes see only the physical world. For Chaplain David, and perhaps others who have lost their physical sight, they can see more of the spiritual world with the eyes of the heart.
Us sighted folks can switch between what is seen in our heart (the Kingdom eye) and what is seen with our eyes. We use sunglasses to diminish the brightness of the sun and to protect our eyes. Are you using a different type of sunglasses to shield your heart? I have to admit, I skip over parts of the news that show the effect of the Israel/Hamas war on children. I wonder if I am doing that so I don’t become jaded or am I shielding the eyes of my heart. It is with my heart, with my inner eye, that I pray for war to cease and for children in Israel and Gaza to be in school and to live in peace.
Chaplain David insists that the Kingdom eye is what we will use when we all (eventually) meet Jesus face to face. It is the eye that is used when people have near-death experiences. Perhaps it is also that eye that is awake when we dream of joy and peace. Another way to look at this is that our Kingdom eye is the permanent eye; or, in the words of Thomas Cranmer (who is credited with the above prayer), our eyesight is temporal and our inner eye is eternal. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, our eyesight, which is vitally important in our physical world, is liminal. It is passing – not what it was and not what it will be.
Perhaps the great design of the human body, in which eyesight develops last and is often the first sense to diminish, is that as we age we need to focus more on the Kingdom eye – on the things that are eternal – as we pass through things temporal.
- Rev. Dave
Chances are, if you are reading this, you have sight. That should be celebrated. Sight is a wonderful (and miraculous) thing. So, if you are reading this, join me by sticking your index finger in the air and saying, “Delight!” It is a delight to participate in life with sight; to read, to drive, to fish, to golf, play tennis, to see the smile on a loved one’s face, to see the sunset over the gulf. The list goes on and on. So many delights come in through our sense of sight.
All the while I am delighting in sight, I have two friends who are losing their sight due to macular degeneration. Walking with them through it gives me pride in how they are handling it and it also makes me appreciate my sight. They remind me to relish in sight – something we often take for granted.
During my stint as a chaplain in the V.A., I got to know an Episcopal priest, named David, who was blind. In his words: I went to ‘Nam with sight, and I returned without it. As a disabled American veteran, he used the V.A. to live into his new reality. David is a stellar chaplain. Using what he calls his Kingdom eye, or inner eye, he could “see” much deeper into a pastoral conversation than the rest of us. David believes the Kingdom eye is seeing with our heart.
The Kingdom of God, which we pray every week will be on earth as it is in heaven, is not easily perceived by our eyesight. In Eastern spiritual practices (especially in Hinduism and Buddhism), the inner eye is how we perceive higher consciousness and enlightenment. In the West, the inner eye is how we see those in need and respond in compassion and mercy. It “sees” the spiritual side of life whereas our eyes see only the physical world. For Chaplain David, and perhaps others who have lost their physical sight, they can see more of the spiritual world with the eyes of the heart.
Us sighted folks can switch between what is seen in our heart (the Kingdom eye) and what is seen with our eyes. We use sunglasses to diminish the brightness of the sun and to protect our eyes. Are you using a different type of sunglasses to shield your heart? I have to admit, I skip over parts of the news that show the effect of the Israel/Hamas war on children. I wonder if I am doing that so I don’t become jaded or am I shielding the eyes of my heart. It is with my heart, with my inner eye, that I pray for war to cease and for children in Israel and Gaza to be in school and to live in peace.
Chaplain David insists that the Kingdom eye is what we will use when we all (eventually) meet Jesus face to face. It is the eye that is used when people have near-death experiences. Perhaps it is also that eye that is awake when we dream of joy and peace. Another way to look at this is that our Kingdom eye is the permanent eye; or, in the words of Thomas Cranmer (who is credited with the above prayer), our eyesight is temporal and our inner eye is eternal. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, our eyesight, which is vitally important in our physical world, is liminal. It is passing – not what it was and not what it will be.
Perhaps the great design of the human body, in which eyesight develops last and is often the first sense to diminish, is that as we age we need to focus more on the Kingdom eye – on the things that are eternal – as we pass through things temporal.
- Rev. Dave
Delight!
January 11, 2024
My New Year’s resolution for 2023 was to be kinder to myself. I can be my own harshest (and quite unfair) critic. Thankfully, my new habit worked. For 2024, I’m trying a new habit.
I call it, Delight.
Based on Catherine Price’s guest columnist piece in the New York Times, from January 1st, she invited her readers to make 2024 the year of delight. Based on Ross Gay’s essay collection, The Book of Delights, the premise of making 2024 the year of delight is a simple, three-step process. First make a point to notice things in your daily life that delight you. Second (and this is the hard part), when you see something that delights you, stick your index finger in the air and say, out loud, “Delight!” The third step: share your delight with someone else.
Step one: notice something that gives you delight. Here are four delightful experiences I have had in the past 24-hours: driving across the Longboat Pass bridge this morning, the sun was breaking through grey clouds and cast a yellow shimmering light on the bay. Delight! I had two delightful discussion group experiences about this article. At Publix, Evan, the friendly bagger, made a point to tell me what the saint of day is. It was a delight to see his enthusiasm. And, just before heading home, I saw a red-headed woodpecker perched on an oak tree branch at All Angels. I stood next to my car and savored the sight.
Step two: raise your index finger in the air and say, “Delight.” This might sound silly; and, it might look even sillier; but, I can tell you from experience, this is just as important as noticing something that delights you. One must say it out loud for the experience to take effect otherwise it will be one of many fleeting moments that we all have every day. I can also tell you from experience that neither the discussion groups, nor the sunrise, nor Evan or the woodpecker found my practice to be silly.
Step three: share your delight. After writing to you about the four delights I experienced, I am in a better mood (and frankly I was in a good mood when I sat down to write). I felt the corners of my mouth turning into a smile as I was writing to you about Evan and his excitement about the saint of the day (St. Theodosius).
In her article, Price wrote that making a point to notice and share things we find delightful can improve our moods, relationships and even physical health. It’s hard to believe, but clinical study after clinical study shows that people who savor delightful moments have better heart health (and other related physical benefits). Who knew that sticking your finger in the air and saying delight will help your heart. But, apparently it will. And, sharing your delights with others will help lift their moods which will also impact their physical health as well.
After trying this habit out for a week, I have come to the conclusion that God has wired us to delight in delights. Conversely, I watched twenty-two minutes of a television news program last night and did not lift my finger once to say delight. After noticing my lack of delight, I used my finger to find a program that would give me a delight (which was Name That Tune. It featured one of my favorite singers, Belinda Carlisle, as a contestant. She spontaneously sang a song from my youth. I raised my index finger and said, “Delight!”).
The calendar has given us an opportunity to make a new spiritual habit in the form of a New Year’s resolution. I would be delighted if you too resolved to make 2024 a year of delight.
- Rev. Dave
I call it, Delight.
Based on Catherine Price’s guest columnist piece in the New York Times, from January 1st, she invited her readers to make 2024 the year of delight. Based on Ross Gay’s essay collection, The Book of Delights, the premise of making 2024 the year of delight is a simple, three-step process. First make a point to notice things in your daily life that delight you. Second (and this is the hard part), when you see something that delights you, stick your index finger in the air and say, out loud, “Delight!” The third step: share your delight with someone else.
Step one: notice something that gives you delight. Here are four delightful experiences I have had in the past 24-hours: driving across the Longboat Pass bridge this morning, the sun was breaking through grey clouds and cast a yellow shimmering light on the bay. Delight! I had two delightful discussion group experiences about this article. At Publix, Evan, the friendly bagger, made a point to tell me what the saint of day is. It was a delight to see his enthusiasm. And, just before heading home, I saw a red-headed woodpecker perched on an oak tree branch at All Angels. I stood next to my car and savored the sight.
Step two: raise your index finger in the air and say, “Delight.” This might sound silly; and, it might look even sillier; but, I can tell you from experience, this is just as important as noticing something that delights you. One must say it out loud for the experience to take effect otherwise it will be one of many fleeting moments that we all have every day. I can also tell you from experience that neither the discussion groups, nor the sunrise, nor Evan or the woodpecker found my practice to be silly.
Step three: share your delight. After writing to you about the four delights I experienced, I am in a better mood (and frankly I was in a good mood when I sat down to write). I felt the corners of my mouth turning into a smile as I was writing to you about Evan and his excitement about the saint of the day (St. Theodosius).
In her article, Price wrote that making a point to notice and share things we find delightful can improve our moods, relationships and even physical health. It’s hard to believe, but clinical study after clinical study shows that people who savor delightful moments have better heart health (and other related physical benefits). Who knew that sticking your finger in the air and saying delight will help your heart. But, apparently it will. And, sharing your delights with others will help lift their moods which will also impact their physical health as well.
After trying this habit out for a week, I have come to the conclusion that God has wired us to delight in delights. Conversely, I watched twenty-two minutes of a television news program last night and did not lift my finger once to say delight. After noticing my lack of delight, I used my finger to find a program that would give me a delight (which was Name That Tune. It featured one of my favorite singers, Belinda Carlisle, as a contestant. She spontaneously sang a song from my youth. I raised my index finger and said, “Delight!”).
The calendar has given us an opportunity to make a new spiritual habit in the form of a New Year’s resolution. I would be delighted if you too resolved to make 2024 a year of delight.
- Rev. Dave
Fellowship Chair
January 4, 2024
I wrote to you last week about a new fire panel. This week, I am writing to you about new chairs. All Angels does three things: worship, fellowship and outreach. It’s our trinity. One flows into the other and, at times, it is hard to distinguish one from the other. For instance, worship draws us into a space where we pray for those who are in need. Prayer also makes us do things to help others which is outreach. When we help others, we naturally give thanks to God. It makes me wonder where outreach ends and worship begins; and vice-versa. But what about fellowship?
Going out on an ecclesiological limb here, I’d say that fellowship is the most important thing we do at All Angels. The gym I go to does outreach (they have a bin for food that goes to the food bank). As far as worship, I have talked with folks who worship God while walking on the beach and one fellow stated that he finds God while fishing. In other words, people can participate in outreach and worship individually. Fellowship, however, is something distinctly different.
The United States is in an ever-increasing state of loneliness. This was happening before Covid-19 and has been growing ever since. We are not alone. It is happening in Canada, the UK and in all developed nations. There are many causes to blame; none of which I focus on because there is nothing I can do about the causes. But, at All Angels, we can counter loneliness with fellowship.
There is a particular sound that fellowship makes. I hear it during the Peace in worship. I hear it during Coffee Hour. It is present before and after our discussion group gatherings; I hear it before and after choir practice, in the kitchen, in Vestry meetings, on Zoom, in the parking lot and in the gallery. The sound is of conversation – greetings, salutations, well-wishes, acknowledgements. It’s a sharing and listening of one to the other. Ask any of the people on the Party Planning Committee and they will tell you what fellowship sounds like. To me, it is music. The music of fellowship is what heals the lonely soul. Fellowship fuels our desire to worship God and to help others.
If you look up online how to “cure” loneliness, the advice out there is to eat nutritious foods, spend time in the sunshine, get enough sleep and exercise. Nowhere in these recommendations does it say to go to the Parish Hall and talk to someone or to join a discussion group online and listen and share with others. Yet, in my experience, this is a very good way at counteracting loneliness. Oddly enough, the most popular food at Coffee Hour is not diet food; it is served indoors (away from sunshine); while we are awake; and sitting. Our fellowship is counter to the very advice given to “cure” loneliness. Yet, it works.
And that brings me back to talking about chairs. The blue chairs in the Parish Hall are over 25 years old. We have definitely received our money’s worth on them. Yet, during the Caring Angels fraud prevention presentation, while sitting on one of those chairs, I crossed my legs and felt the chair break underneath me. I didn’t fall through (thankfully!) but the backing under the seat did crack and settle a couple of inches lower. You have probably sat in a chair in the Parish Hall that felt like that. Because of the increasing number of broken chairs, the Vestry decided that it was time to replace all our blue chairs. The new ones are now in place (and the Parish Hall has that “new chair” smell).
The new chairs will help our mission of fellowship. They are more comfortable so I imagine people will talk longer. They match; which, let’s face it, is important to us in the Episcopal Church. And, the chairs will also be used by the ever-increasing number of groups who, from time to time, use our Parish Hall. All Angels has a beautiful location which, frankly, is a little hard to find. However, each group that meets in our Parish Hall is another group of people who have found us. Whether it is on a Sunday, or Tuesday, or whenever people gather at All Angels, they now have comfortable (and matching) chairs on which to sit. These fellowship chairs are one way that we are making an impact in our community in countering loneliness and making connections along the way. Most importantly, those connections bring us to worship which helps us to help others.
- Rev. Dave
Going out on an ecclesiological limb here, I’d say that fellowship is the most important thing we do at All Angels. The gym I go to does outreach (they have a bin for food that goes to the food bank). As far as worship, I have talked with folks who worship God while walking on the beach and one fellow stated that he finds God while fishing. In other words, people can participate in outreach and worship individually. Fellowship, however, is something distinctly different.
The United States is in an ever-increasing state of loneliness. This was happening before Covid-19 and has been growing ever since. We are not alone. It is happening in Canada, the UK and in all developed nations. There are many causes to blame; none of which I focus on because there is nothing I can do about the causes. But, at All Angels, we can counter loneliness with fellowship.
There is a particular sound that fellowship makes. I hear it during the Peace in worship. I hear it during Coffee Hour. It is present before and after our discussion group gatherings; I hear it before and after choir practice, in the kitchen, in Vestry meetings, on Zoom, in the parking lot and in the gallery. The sound is of conversation – greetings, salutations, well-wishes, acknowledgements. It’s a sharing and listening of one to the other. Ask any of the people on the Party Planning Committee and they will tell you what fellowship sounds like. To me, it is music. The music of fellowship is what heals the lonely soul. Fellowship fuels our desire to worship God and to help others.
If you look up online how to “cure” loneliness, the advice out there is to eat nutritious foods, spend time in the sunshine, get enough sleep and exercise. Nowhere in these recommendations does it say to go to the Parish Hall and talk to someone or to join a discussion group online and listen and share with others. Yet, in my experience, this is a very good way at counteracting loneliness. Oddly enough, the most popular food at Coffee Hour is not diet food; it is served indoors (away from sunshine); while we are awake; and sitting. Our fellowship is counter to the very advice given to “cure” loneliness. Yet, it works.
And that brings me back to talking about chairs. The blue chairs in the Parish Hall are over 25 years old. We have definitely received our money’s worth on them. Yet, during the Caring Angels fraud prevention presentation, while sitting on one of those chairs, I crossed my legs and felt the chair break underneath me. I didn’t fall through (thankfully!) but the backing under the seat did crack and settle a couple of inches lower. You have probably sat in a chair in the Parish Hall that felt like that. Because of the increasing number of broken chairs, the Vestry decided that it was time to replace all our blue chairs. The new ones are now in place (and the Parish Hall has that “new chair” smell).
The new chairs will help our mission of fellowship. They are more comfortable so I imagine people will talk longer. They match; which, let’s face it, is important to us in the Episcopal Church. And, the chairs will also be used by the ever-increasing number of groups who, from time to time, use our Parish Hall. All Angels has a beautiful location which, frankly, is a little hard to find. However, each group that meets in our Parish Hall is another group of people who have found us. Whether it is on a Sunday, or Tuesday, or whenever people gather at All Angels, they now have comfortable (and matching) chairs on which to sit. These fellowship chairs are one way that we are making an impact in our community in countering loneliness and making connections along the way. Most importantly, those connections bring us to worship which helps us to help others.
- Rev. Dave
A Fire Panel for Christmas
December 28, 2023
Late on a Thursday afternoon, ten days before Christmas, I was playing Handel’s Messiah. As I was wrapping things up and getting ready to head out the door I heard these words: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light! That particular passage was based on the Prophet Isaiah’s proclamation about the coming Messiah. The music stirred me so I stopped what I was doing and listened for a couple of minutes. Just then, I was startled by the ringing of the church phone. I picked it up and almost immediately regretted doing so. It sounded like a sales pitch. This is what I heard the caller say: “Hello, this is so-and-so from some-company-you’ve-never-heard-of. How are you today? (Me: fine) That’s good; good to hear. (uncomfortable silence) So, how is your fire panel working? (It is fine, we are happy with our existing service.) Are you sure it is working fine? (uncomfortable silence) … because you ordered a new panel two years ago. It just came in.” I was shocked and surprised at the news. I then asked the caller to start over from the beginning.
During the pandemic, the leadership at All Angels commissioned much needed maintenance to the campus. As it turned out, this was one of the wisest moves in our parish history. Since that time, prices have doubled (tripled, maybe) and the availability of contractors has diminished.
At the same time that we were doing our upgrades, Longboat Key Fire Department upgraded their incoming alert system from a dial-in service to a digital cellular network. We needed to follow suit. Back in 2021, with all the other changes we made, we ordered this new fire alert panel. What we didn’t realize back then is that the panel needed parts produced in China; they were in a lockdown so we had to wait. Imagine my surprise when I received the phone call late on Thursday; two years later; that our panel was ready. The following Monday it was installed. Although it is reasonable to assume the old system would have worked, we will enter 2024 more secure.
This was a Christmas surprise. The hard work we did a couple of years ago, that we all forgot about, suddenly showed up just in time for the Nativity of our Lord. Thankfully, our fire monitoring company (that I almost hung up on) did not forget about us. They were faithful and now we are better off.
I’ve never compared a fire alarm company to God’s Grace before, but, we’re entering a new year so why not. We pray to God about something that seems imminent and scary at the time and then the moment passes. But, God, who is faithful, who does not sleep or slumber, will respond when the time is right. And, speaking of grace, we did not need a fire alarm, or a monitoring company, these past couple of years. We did not know that at the time, but we rejoice and give thanks for it now.
This whole experience got me thinking about prayer and grace. I’m wondering what I prayed for two years ago. How about twenty years ago? In faith, I believe God hears every time we pray and will answer when the time is right. Isaiah tells us that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. It took over 700 years from the time that Isaiah spoke those words for the Messiah to be born. That’s a lot of walking. Nevertheless, when the time was ready, God responded.
Knowing that God hears all prayers and responds when the time is right is comforting to me. It also gives me hope that small businesses, like the one who handles our fire alarm monitoring, are also keeping watch and responding when the time is right. For this New Year, and with a new fire alarm panel, I enter it with a feeling of awe, expectation and wonder of what this year will hold.
- Rev. Dave
During the pandemic, the leadership at All Angels commissioned much needed maintenance to the campus. As it turned out, this was one of the wisest moves in our parish history. Since that time, prices have doubled (tripled, maybe) and the availability of contractors has diminished.
At the same time that we were doing our upgrades, Longboat Key Fire Department upgraded their incoming alert system from a dial-in service to a digital cellular network. We needed to follow suit. Back in 2021, with all the other changes we made, we ordered this new fire alert panel. What we didn’t realize back then is that the panel needed parts produced in China; they were in a lockdown so we had to wait. Imagine my surprise when I received the phone call late on Thursday; two years later; that our panel was ready. The following Monday it was installed. Although it is reasonable to assume the old system would have worked, we will enter 2024 more secure.
This was a Christmas surprise. The hard work we did a couple of years ago, that we all forgot about, suddenly showed up just in time for the Nativity of our Lord. Thankfully, our fire monitoring company (that I almost hung up on) did not forget about us. They were faithful and now we are better off.
I’ve never compared a fire alarm company to God’s Grace before, but, we’re entering a new year so why not. We pray to God about something that seems imminent and scary at the time and then the moment passes. But, God, who is faithful, who does not sleep or slumber, will respond when the time is right. And, speaking of grace, we did not need a fire alarm, or a monitoring company, these past couple of years. We did not know that at the time, but we rejoice and give thanks for it now.
This whole experience got me thinking about prayer and grace. I’m wondering what I prayed for two years ago. How about twenty years ago? In faith, I believe God hears every time we pray and will answer when the time is right. Isaiah tells us that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. It took over 700 years from the time that Isaiah spoke those words for the Messiah to be born. That’s a lot of walking. Nevertheless, when the time was ready, God responded.
Knowing that God hears all prayers and responds when the time is right is comforting to me. It also gives me hope that small businesses, like the one who handles our fire alarm monitoring, are also keeping watch and responding when the time is right. For this New Year, and with a new fire alarm panel, I enter it with a feeling of awe, expectation and wonder of what this year will hold.
- Rev. Dave