Today's list

"So, what's on your agenda today?" Glad you asked!

• Finish Bible Study prep for this afternoon's session
  
• Lead aforementioned Bible Study
  
• Order Advent devotional materials
  
• Various and sundry phone calls - 5 or 6, at a minimum
  
• Finalize regional calendar for the next two months
  
• One pastoral visit
  
• Write articles for new regional newsletter
• Write stewardship letter, to mail next week.
  
• Brainstorm for a newly needed youth ministry in the region (monthly activities, I'm thinking-- but what?)
• Weights class this evening
• Grocery shopping

And here you were worried that I'd be bored...

Edit: not done; but that's not unusual. Good to know I've got a starter list for tomorrow.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.

This has already been a busy week, here. A hectic pace is not anything unusual around here, of course; but the hectic has been in a good way.

Sunday was a day of gifts! First, an out-of-the-blue offering from a visitor (former treasurer of our diocese, now living out of state) of a new console organ to one church, which will replace one that is dying. Oh, were they excited! We also have begun to talk about some HUGE changes for this congregation, and they are not only willing, but excited about the opportunities those changes might present. (Once I chat with the bishop, I'll tell you more about that).

Then, the appearance at another church of a van-full of folks from the Special K Ranch, who have decided to adopt us as their parish family. This was their third trip out our way, and they plan to be regulars, every other week or so. God bless that little congregation, they were nothing but delighted at the new faces. No one said a word about any disruptions or odd moments; to the contrary, among the comments I heard was that "this is what the Body of Christ should look like." Amen!

Yesterday was the usual liturgical routine: setting up the bulletin for next week, choosing hymns, working on the Bible study I teach on Wednesday afternoons. . . standard administrative clergy stuff. We also had our regular "Lunch with the Vicar," and I ended the day my evening weights class.

And this combination of the joyful and mundane seems exactly the right way to remember the anniversary of my ordination.

Sermon: Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 24
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It’s not often that the scriptures we read on Sunday morning have an obvious common theme; but they do so today. We hear it in the Genesis account of Jacob’s wrestling, and refusing to give up. We hear it in the Psalm, in its expression of God’s ever-present care. We hear it in the epistle, in the encouragement given from a veteran missionary to a colleague. And we hear it in the gospel, in the victory of the widow who would not give up her search for justice.

Perseverance. Persistence. Endurance. Keepin’ on, keepin’ on. However you name it, it’s an important biblical lesson, and a good reminder.

Today I’d like to spend some time looking at this particular virtue, in light of the disagreements we’ve been dealing with in the wider church-- not only in our national Episcopal Church and the Anglican communion, but also in the interactions between Christians of other faith traditions as well. The passage we hear in 2nd Timothy this morning is a good place to start this conversation.

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

This passage is certainly a valid caution; however, it is one which also can be misused. It seems more frequently to be held up by those who are convinced that they and their followers are on The One True Path of Righteousness, and anyone who might have a different view is on the Road to Perdition. There are accusations flying about some in our church supposedly “wanting to rewrite the Bible,” or “ignoring the Word of God.”

Now, I am willing to credit that these are no doubt well-intentioned souls. And I can wholly agree with a faithful concern for upholding the Gospel, and trying to avoid it being twisted to suit cultural standards and desires. However, I find myself parting company with some of my brothers and sisters in Christ, over exactly what that should look like.

One primary example of a faithful difference is the way we as Christians approach scripture. The epistle today notes that “all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Now, if you’ve been listening at all to anything I’ve said in the time I’ve been serving among you, then you’ve heard me on this subject before. So I hope you know by now the value I place upon the holy scriptures. The Bible is many things: "the Word of God, containing all things necessary to salvation," as I testified in my ordination vows. It contains history, allegory, incomparable poetry and praise. It is guide, and instruction, and tradition, and a multitude of examples, good and bad! But with all its importance-- with all that the it is an integral and indispensable part of our faithful walk with Jesus-- the Bible is not the limit to the Gospel, and we need to be careful not to idolize it as such.

Because although we refer to the “the gospels” when we talk about the books of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, that is not The Gospel. Those are only the ways we learn about the Gospel-- the Good news of Jesus Christ.

That’s what the Gospel is, you know. It’s not the Bible, but rather the radical idea revealed there: the scandalous notion that the omnipotent Creator of all that is and ever will be, so loved his creation that he became part of it-- fully human, just like us, right down to bad hair days and dirt under his fingernails. He lived with us, healed and taught us, suffered and died and rose again for us, and continues through the Holy Spirit to guide and support us in a multitude of ways, every day of our lives. Yes, God loves us, each and every one of us, just that much.

Good news indeed-- and wholly radical enough that people for millennia have struggled to grasp the enormity of such a love, and wrestled with trying to live up to the best that it inspires within us. Now, being people, we come up with different ways to try to do this-- and sometimes we fall into error. We read "what the Bible says," and then understand (or misunderstand) in ways that can be confusing and wrong-headed.

That is why it behooves us to remember that it is God we worship, and not (as vitally important as it is) the Bible. And in light of that, we do need to be persistent: in study, and in prayer, and in relationship-- yes, even (or maybe especially) in the company of those with whom we disagree.

So this is how I would challenge you this day, my brothers and sisters: Read the scriptures, but do not stop there. Persevere. Think, and struggle, and pray, and question. Use the hearts and minds God gave you to good purpose, that you may be “equipped for every good work.” That's what discipleship is-- in Jesus’ name.

Friday 5: Food, glorious food!

(I'm glad that the Rev Gals do this Friday Five thing; it's a way to get back into my blog, when I've been delinquent!)

If you were a food, what would you be?

• That's a hard question. Perhaps I'd be a hearty stew: on one hand, simple and straightforward and dependable; but also a blend of a whole lot of different (and sometimes unexpected) things that make up the whole.

What is one of the most memorable meals you ever had? And where?

• When I was a child, I loathed salmon-- largely due to my grandmother. Please don't misunderstand, Gram was generally an excellent cook. But there were exceptions, and high on that list was a Lenten favorite of hers: salmon loaf. Even thinking about it makes me cringe. And I'm not alone-- to this day, the mention of that dish among my siblings will generate a visceral response. Made with canned salmon and bread crumbs, it looked like meat loaf, except that it was a disturbing shade of pink... and dry... and just plain nasty. *shudder*
  
  I grew up, got married, and moved away-- safely away, I thought, from ever having to be in the presence of that nasty pink fish ever again. Then it happened that we went out to dinner at a lovely restaurant with one of my husband's co-workers, who insisted I try some of the glazed salmon she had ordered. I took one bite, in order to keep the peace.
  
  Oh. My.
  
  Turns out that salmon is one of my favorite foods. Who knew?

What is your favorite comfort food from childhood?

• For a meal, probably pot roast, covered and baked forever with potatoes, carrots and onions. We called it "stringy meat," because of the way the roast falls apart in the gravy. Mmmm....

• But "comfort" also makes me think of when I had been sick, and my mother would make me toast with apple butter, and my own pot of tea in a little brown teapot. I still like to recover that way.

When going to a church potluck, what one recipe from your kitchen is sure to be a hit?

• I like making desserts-- and homemade pie never fails. Fruit pies are my favorite: apple, or strawberry, or cherry.

What’s the strangest thing you ever willingly ate?

• Calamari-- which looks like what it is, rubbery little tentacles all curled up... no, I'm not a fan.

• On the other hand, my father used to put brains in his scrambled eggs... and that was actually pretty tasty.
  

Bonus question: What’s your favorite drink to order when looking forward to a great meal?

• A really nice glass of wine. Pinot grigio, or maybe a nice shiraz, depending on what's on the menu.

Convention

This weekend was our annual diocesan convention, held over in Butte this year. There was much that was good about it-- primarily the renewing of connections with people across this far-flung diocese, and making new ones. I wasn't brand new this year, and I enjoyed seeing familiar faces, and catching up with what is happening around our corner of the world.

Another Good Thing: Organizers had developed a wide variety of projects for Christian outreach, and we had our choice of opportunities for work and witness. (Yes, our House of Bishops did something similar in New Orleans-- but we were not emulating them; this has been planned for many months. You might say they were following our example!) Saturday morning the delegates were dispersed around the conference center, and out into the community. I was part of a crew that made some "energy efficiency" improvements in low-income homes. We installed weatherstripping around doors, caulked around windows, wrapped hot water heaters and pipes, added insulation to outside wall outlets, installed low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, etc. Another delegate (Tommy, from Libby) and I spent about 2 hours in one house, and hopefully left it better than when we found it.

Of course, there were also some Not-So-Good things. The church is made up of human beings, and so there was some of the inevitable attempts at petty politicking (fortunately, kept at a minimum, I think). Organization of the event left a LOT to be desired. And worship... well, let's just say that, if my liturgics professor had been in attendance, I'm thinking her head might have exploded (Example, for Episco-liturgy geeks: a sung Rite I sursum corda offered with Eucharistic Prayer B. No, I am not making this up).

But it ended, and we drove home through God's country. We don't have snow here, yet-- but most of the western side of the state does. We stopped and took this picture just east of Bozeman.

Sermon: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 22, Year C
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
Psalm 37:1-10
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I don’t know of anyone who remembers learning to walk as a child. It’s something we do long before our brains grow to the point of long-term memory retention. However, most adults have had the pleasure of watching a child learn to walk independently. Between our two children, and (at last count) 18 nieces & nephews, I’ve observed the milestones for lots of kids. Isn’t it a remarkable process? First, rolling becomes creeping, which becomes crawling. Then standing, then walking along while holding a hand or the edge of the furniture. Finally a momentous day comes, and the baby takes those first wobbly steps out into open space. The infant is now a toddler! It seems like a miracle, and it is.

Pretty soon, however, it’s a miracle we take for granted—until we trip over a crack in the sidewalk, or a bit of clutter on the floor. And then, either through injury, illness or simple old age, walking can become a struggle, and some of us need help getting around.

But for most folks, walking is something most folks do every day, and putting one foot in front of the other is simply the routine way we get from one place to the next. We don’t even stop to consider the intricate coordination of muscle movements it actually entails, and how many months of practice and preparation it took to develop that skill in the first place.

I think it will help us to keep that reality in mind as we consider today’s Gospel. The reading is a short one. Luke puts two lessons in the same brief conversation and, at first glance, they do not seem to fit together very well.

First, in response to the apostles’ request for an increase in faith, Jesus replies by comparing faith to a mustard seed, and indicating what the power of such a small bit of belief can accomplish. Then, in a seeming non sequitur, he goes on to remind them of the duty that a slave owes his or her master— hard work and service not done for any reward other than the knowledge that one has done what is expected.

One might wonder if they were simply unrelated bits of instruction, or if they were perhaps two conversations that just got slapped together when Luke was writing things down. Perhaps… but I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I think it’s entirely possible that Jesus was continuing to respond to their request.

It’s true that faith can accomplish amazing things. But it takes regular use to build it up, and to maintain it… just like walking. As babies in the faith, we have to work at it, to “step out in faith” until through practice and development it grows stronger.

It’s a circular, self-perpetuating gift. As we act on that tiny mustard seed of faith in our hearts, it begins to increase, which then allows our faith to grow, which increases the ability to offer loving service, which increases our faith even further…

Yes, sometimes we stumble. Things happen in our lives that can make it hard to be faithful, and to trust in God’s love for us. I think that’s when the importance of being in community becomes apparent. When our “faith muscles” are weak, we have one another to lean on.

So, just as Jesus told his apostles, he tells us today. If we are to be faith-filled disciples, we have to practice. Sometimes it feels like hard work, but it’s also work that will strengthen us, support and uphold us in troubled times.

So, practice your faith. Reach out in support and encouragement of one another. Give a bit more than you think you can afford. Take the risk of working for God’s justice in this world. Plant the seed for the Kingdom of God in our midst.

After all, it’s no more than our duty… and our privilege—in Jesus’ name.

Friday 5: Thankfulness

The RevGals Friday Five is a challenge this week - only because the number seems more like a limit than anything. I am blessed to have more than five things to be thankful for (a good reminder to have!); so some are going into groups.

List at least five things (people, places, graces, miracles...) for which you are thankful. You may elaborate as you wish, or keep it simple.

People...

• Family-- one patient, hardworking, considerate husband, and two children who are better people than I could ask for or deserve.
  

• Friends - A few close and dear confidantes who comfort and challenge and entertain in frivolous and holy ways.

Places...

• The incredible, austere beauty of the mountains in Big Sky Country, and the trees filling the Hoosier landscape, currently painting the world with a matchless blaze of colors. I am thankful to have been able to live among both.

Graces...

• The gift of what I do-- this crazy juggling act that is rural cluster ministry among small churches no one's ever heard of-- is so imbued with grace as to be inexpressible. I couldn't manage without the unmerited favor of a gracious God, who makes good things happen here almost every day. Sometimes in spite of me!

Miracles...

• This certainly is a minor sort of miracle, but it's the first one to occur to me. I am currently in an exercise group (a free weights class for women, offered at our local high school). I haven't mentioned anything on this blog because, quite frankly, I wasn't sure that that my back (surgery several years ago) and lack of upper body strength and crazy schedule wouldn't cause me to drop out after the first class. I didn't want to be blogging about the failure. But it's been three weeks, and I'm still going, and I've even begun to be able to increase the size of the weights I've been using on some exercises! This is amazing.

Presents!

This is a cool one, because I like presents-- giving and getting.

By the end of the calendar year, I will send a gift to each of the first five people to comment here, so long as each of those five people are willing to make the same offer in their own blog.

Comment away!

Captain Chaplain

The officer on the right is a seminary classmate and dear friend. Please note the shiny new insignia on the shoulders. Note also the small cross over the left breast pocket.

The combination of the two indicate an air force chaplain, newly promoted to captain.

Over and above how one may feel about the current efforts of our military, the fact remains that it is made up of men and women who need spiritual support and guidance. Given what they can be asked to do, the need is great. I am proud to say that one of the finest people I know has been called by God to render that sort of service.