September Events

This week, I wanted to write to let you know of some things that are going on in the diocese in September. First is the 9/11 National Day of service. The Obama administration and congress declared September 11th a day of National Service in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which also dramatically increased funding for service programs across the country. Now it's a way of honoring Kennedy's memory, too.

The date still sticks in my mind; I was living in New York City at the time and remember such fear and uncertainty, and also anger at the political and military response to what happened that day. But 8 years later it's past time to let go of some of the anger that "9/11" still brings up in the back of my mind, and start to move forward in a more constructive way. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." That goes for hate toward "haters" as well. Toward that end, the Diocese of Massachusetts is joining the national movement and organizing a day of prayer, service, and reflection.

On Friday (9/11) and Saturday (9/12), there will be opportunity to volunteer at a number of service projects. St Stephen's in the South End, host of the B Safe program, Holy Spirit, Mattapan, St Mary's and St Mark's in Dorchester, and several other places are organizing ways for people to be partners in the ministry that those parishes engage in all year. (as an added connection for me, the 9/11 day is being organized by the diocesan intern program which I participated in before seminary and where Caroline Hunter, a member of our parish last year, is serving now). I hope we can get a group of people together to attend--let me know if you'd be interested, or if you'd like to help mobilize the Christ Church effort.

Another diocesan event happens on the same day as a Christ Church one--on September 26, we'll be having a yard sale here at church (Cathy Hughes is organizing donations--there will be more in next week's Fieldstone Crier about how and what to give)--but it's also the day of the annual diocesan "Resource Day," here at Bentley University. The theme is Discipleship: Being formed and sent in the power of the Spirit into the ministries of our daily lives. Resource Day has great workshops on a number of topics, lead by both regular parishioners of local congregations and diocesan staff. You'll find everything from The Spirituality of Parenting to Transformative Stewardship to Ministry with Veterans. Let me know if you'd like a detailed schedule with descriptions of all the workshops--there's also one posted on the "diocesan events" bulletin board. The cost is 15.00, but the parish can help pay if that's a barrier for you.

Hope to see you at one or all three of these events!

peace,
Sara+

Transformation

Dear People of Christ Church,
Thanks to everyone who turned out last Sunday to hear Bob Wocjik speak about families and the prison system. I was surprised to learn that it was the first time he'd given a presentation like that to a group--it was an excellent one. This week after church, we'll meet for our final book group conversation on Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan's "The First Paul."

In very different ways, Bob and the authors of the book are emphasizing the same thing--transformation. Bob talked about how crime, like other professions, runs in families. Like father, like son--his uncle was his co-defendant in his trial, and it took a while of being away from his environment to imagine living differently. It took a while longer after that to realize that he could not just change himself, but also help change the world for the better in supporting the children of his fellow prisoners (as well as being faithful to his own kids).

Radical, personal change from what we have been to what we will be--what Borg and Crossan call "a spirit transplant." That's what the Christian life is about, and that's what Bob's experience testified to. We're accustomed to cynically dismissing the notion of change; we say that people can't change, or won't change, or can't be asked to change. But if Christ's death has any meaning, it must be that, as one person I know put it, "the future can be different from the past." That's the promise of the Gospel that Bob found in his faith, and that's what we're all looking for.

Rather than "justification" (or "salvation," or any of those other big religious words) being about something that happens in the future, Borg and Crossan talk about how it's about the ways we are changed in the here and now. The direction of that change is justice--justice on both a global and a personal scale. God's justice is what Borg and Crossan call "distributive"--not retributive, based on punishment or threat (act the right way or you go to hell), but equally given out to all, the Spirit freeing us to live new lives, and the forgiveness and love of God creating that new life in us--new life and the joy of freedom in Christ.

One of the ways this happens is baptism-as Paul wrote in the letter to the Galatians, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me" (2:19-20). We are freed and liberated in baptism. Of course, we renew those vows every time we welcome someone new into the community, as we did on Sunday with little Joe Leonardo's baptism. We need to remember and reaffirm our promises--we slip so easily into our old habits and bondage. The people of Israel were freed from slavery in Egypt and we're freed, too, from our own contemporary imprisonments. What do we get imprisoned by? Our desire for success, for material comfort, for power. Addiction, despair, hopelessness. For Bob, liberation happened to come when he was in prison. What gets you stuck? How does your faith help you to find freedom?
Blessings,
Sara+

Back from Vacation

I had a wonderful time on vacation this summer with my family in Maine, but it is also nice to be back in the office catching up with each of you. We spent two weeks in Lubec, near the Canadian border on the Bay of Fundy, and it was beautiful. It feels odd to come back from vacation and already be getting ready for my maternity leave; the baby is due on September 28, so I plan to work up to and including Sunday the 27th (assuming he or she isn't early). I'm glad to have some time to begin the fall before handing over the reigns to the Rev. Cathy Venkatesh, who will be filling in for me until Christmas--I'll be back for our service on December 24.

On the topic of planning, I'd like your help for considering what to do for Advent. Our weeknight worship, supper, and education series will return for those 4 Tuesdays. Rev. Cathy will celebrate the Eucharist but has a toddler to put to bed, so she won't be staying for the second part of the evening. I would love to have a series where parishioners could offer their learning to each other-if you have something you might be willing to share, whether explicitly "spiritual" or not, please give me your ideas so we can put something together! We'll also need someone to coordinate the dinner part of the sessions (you won't have to cook every week; you'd just be the one to order the pizza when no one else signs up).

This Sunday, we welcome Bob Wojcik, founder of Children of Incarcerated Parents. His talk coincides with the last Sunday to bring in school supplies for CoIP's backpack program. Bob is a friend of Sue Burkart's. She wrote in her July Fieldstone Crier article, "Bob has been of great service to many of his fellow inmates and their families over the years and is living proof of how people can change with God's help." Bob was recently given parole after 15 years of incarceration. He will speak on his prison experience, the importance of prisoners maintaining family ties, and the anguish their children go through. I'll close here with our prayer book's prayer for Prisons and Correctional Institutions (BCP 826)

Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment. Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentanceand amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice.Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison, O Lord, we do for you, constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy's sake. Amen.

Blessings,
Sara+