Dear People of Christ Church,
Lots going on in the coming weeks, with this Sunday being back to our usual first Sunday of the month children’s sermon, May 8 the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace, and May 15, Pentecost Sunday! This year at Pentecost we’ll have our parish jazz ensemble (let Daniel know if you want to play), and the baptisms of the O’Toole family, and even, if the altar guild sets it up, a rare Sunday morning appearance of incense! We also read the Pentecost story in all our various languages, so please let me know if you want to contribute to the reading.
We were talking about all of the varieties of Christian denominations in the Episcopal Church class last week. We are not a “Pentecostal” church, with speaking in tongues and dramatic worship, but we do celebrate in the light of Pentecost. On that first Pentecost, told in the book of Acts, the diversity of human community was all in one place. We think Waltham is diverse! Jerusalem had more cultures, more languages, more beliefs than we could imagine, all in one place. Even more people than usual were in Jerusalem for Pentecost on that day 2000 years ago—50 days after Passover, they gathered to give thanks to God for Mt Sinai, when God called the people of Israel into covenant. So it wasn’t only the ordinary diversity of Jerusalem, it was every last breed of traveler and pilgrim, on top of all the year round inhabitants of Jerusalem, pagan, Jewish, Christian, all there to give thanks.
All there, and all very seriously divided by substantial issues—the question of circumcision, of women, of dietary laws—all of these topics were incredibly contentious. We argue over different issues today, but they are no less—and probably no more—fervently debated. Last week’s story of Peter being told that no one should call profane what God has called clean is a prologue to all of the astonishing unity given in Christ. The lives of all God’s people are treasured. No one is “unclean,” a fact our brothers and sisters would do well to remember in conversations about gender and bathroom usage!
Even in the midst of Jerusalem’s diversity, a glorious outpouring of the Spirit gave birth to the church. Pentecost teaches us that Church is more of a verb than anything else. Church happens when each of those different people heard what the other was saying, even though they spoke different languages, even though they came from different places, and probably believed pretty different things. Pentecost teaches us that church isn’t a club. It’s not about like minded people coming together to improve themselves, or even coming together to improve the world. Pentecost is about a new reality, a reversal of those old divisions and desires for ownership and control that came to be at the tower of Babel, that ancient precursor of division. Pentecost is about our souls and bodies being a home for Jesus Christ.
On Pentecost, each could understand the other; but each understood in his or her own language. The languages—the differences—were preserved. The Gospel is about unity, not homogeneity. We are unified in our love of God, in the grace of the Holy Spirit that we have each received at baptism. But the song of that love is sung with different words in all of our lives.
One of my favorite prayers in the prayer book shows up in some different places—
—at the Easter Vigil, but also Good Friday, and the liturgy for ordinations. Our church is a “wonderful and sacred mystery.” We don’t quite know how it really works, or why. How some relationships begin, how others end. So much comes down to mystery—an invitation to us for humility, I think, to remember we don’t have it all figured out. How is it that we in the Anglican Communion can share a faith and be so different? What would it be like, really, to truly trust in God?
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by the One through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Blessings,
Sara+
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Dwelling Closer to the Ground
Dear People of Christ Church,
This week we had a terrific first “Intro to the Episcopal Church” class, with about 9 people gathered to talk about our questions, curiosities, and longings for God’s “new thing” happening in our spiritual lives. It’s so exciting to see how the parish changes and grows—almost none of the 9 people gathered at that table were members a year ago, and there they all were, from Catholic and Evangelical and Lutheran and Methodist and all backgrounds in between. This thing that is the church is a living body, not a building or a list of names.
In my sermon on Sunday I was talking about how, in the Gospels we hear the story of Jesus being Jesus Christ, in the book of Acts, which we read every Sunday in Easter season, we hear the story of the church becoming the church. Rather than one single appointed leader taking the place of Jesus, it’s the church—the whole gathered body—that takes on his ministry and presence in the world. Peter and Paul and Mary Magdalene were all important, but it wasn’t just one of them who carried on the work of God in the risen Christ…that takes a whole church.
The church is the Body of Christ, and it needs all of us to be that.
God in the church needs the curiosity of those returning to faith after a time away.
God in the church needs the hunger for community of those who are looking for a place of transcendence and belonging.
God in the church needs the attentiveness to justice and peace of those who dare to ask the hard questions and sit with the hard answers.
God in the church needs your passion for the environment, for children, for elders.
Maybe most important, and first, God in the church needs just your presence. God needs your love, your reverence, your longing for stillness and simplicity.
This past Sunday in our Episcopal Church class we talked about how the basic impulse of Anglicanism, all the way back to King Henry VIII and his somewhat sketchy motivations, is about trying to dwell closer to the ground. In our governance, in our thinking, in our theology, we are all about trying to think and pray in response to the world as it is. When Christ Church developed our parish vision statement a number of years ago we settled on a description of the parish as “grounded in tradition, yet open to the world.” This Sunday, we’ll hear the story in Acts about how the early church grappled with its diversity—Jews and non-Jews didn’t eat together, ever, in ordinary life, much less form a whole community around sharing a meal! But God gives the church a vision of broad inclusion that makes space for every kind of person and every kind of food. One of the best lines in all of Scripture is in this story—“Who was I to hinder God?” Who are we to hinder God? Where is God breaking through your barriers and obstacles this week? Where are you becoming more deeply part of God’s church that needs all of you?
Blessings,
Sara+
This week we had a terrific first “Intro to the Episcopal Church” class, with about 9 people gathered to talk about our questions, curiosities, and longings for God’s “new thing” happening in our spiritual lives. It’s so exciting to see how the parish changes and grows—almost none of the 9 people gathered at that table were members a year ago, and there they all were, from Catholic and Evangelical and Lutheran and Methodist and all backgrounds in between. This thing that is the church is a living body, not a building or a list of names.
In my sermon on Sunday I was talking about how, in the Gospels we hear the story of Jesus being Jesus Christ, in the book of Acts, which we read every Sunday in Easter season, we hear the story of the church becoming the church. Rather than one single appointed leader taking the place of Jesus, it’s the church—the whole gathered body—that takes on his ministry and presence in the world. Peter and Paul and Mary Magdalene were all important, but it wasn’t just one of them who carried on the work of God in the risen Christ…that takes a whole church.
The church is the Body of Christ, and it needs all of us to be that.
God in the church needs the curiosity of those returning to faith after a time away.
God in the church needs the hunger for community of those who are looking for a place of transcendence and belonging.
God in the church needs the attentiveness to justice and peace of those who dare to ask the hard questions and sit with the hard answers.
God in the church needs your passion for the environment, for children, for elders.
Maybe most important, and first, God in the church needs just your presence. God needs your love, your reverence, your longing for stillness and simplicity.
This past Sunday in our Episcopal Church class we talked about how the basic impulse of Anglicanism, all the way back to King Henry VIII and his somewhat sketchy motivations, is about trying to dwell closer to the ground. In our governance, in our thinking, in our theology, we are all about trying to think and pray in response to the world as it is. When Christ Church developed our parish vision statement a number of years ago we settled on a description of the parish as “grounded in tradition, yet open to the world.” This Sunday, we’ll hear the story in Acts about how the early church grappled with its diversity—Jews and non-Jews didn’t eat together, ever, in ordinary life, much less form a whole community around sharing a meal! But God gives the church a vision of broad inclusion that makes space for every kind of person and every kind of food. One of the best lines in all of Scripture is in this story—“Who was I to hinder God?” Who are we to hinder God? Where is God breaking through your barriers and obstacles this week? Where are you becoming more deeply part of God’s church that needs all of you?
Blessings,
Sara+
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Great News About the Roof
A version of this message is also going out to the parish mailing list—we really want to be sure you get it!
We write with amazing news on several fronts.
First, we are thrilled to let you know that we have received 32 pledges for our roof campaign, for a total of $106,038 committed over the next several years toward the work so desperately needed at Christ Church this year. From our newest to our oldest members, from graduate students to professional families to retirees, it is only through the strength and diversity of our congregation that we have met this incredible milestone.
We write with thanks for the generosity of this parish, but also with the equally astonishing (and perhaps even less expected) news that our insurance provider, Church Insurance, has agreed to pay for the roof replacement itself due to a catastrophic hail storm over the summer that further impacted our already fragile roof. Because we did not know what the outcome of the insurance evaluation would be or the scope of the covered repairs, we began our campaign at the same time as we began pursuing that claim. The good news is that much of what is required is covered. The vestry authorized Wellesley Roofing to pursue the claim on our behalf, and they have successfully navigated that process along with our building committee and wardens. An independent adjuster has approved the work for the roof proper totaling $203,000 and the work is scheduled to begin in early to mid-May.
We also knew, as has become clear, that a roof isn’t “just a roof.” In addition to the roof itself, siding, under roof decking, gutters, and downspouts will also need to be replaced. At this moment, we are in discernment over an additional $61,000 of work that has been proposed for things like gutters, siding, and an additional decking system for water sealing and insulation. More structural issues may come up as we begin demolition, as well.
If you’d like to talk more about what is to come or share any concerns, please contact wardens Chris Leonardo or Sasha Killewald. Doug Whittington can answer any questions about the roof process as well. Given that the project is happening very soon and pledges are given over a period of years, we are in contact with the Diocese to discuss our financing options. And, of course, our 2011 capital campaign continues, with renovations of downstairs bathrooms and more to come.
All thanks to you and to God for the amazing things happening at Christ Church!
We write with amazing news on several fronts.
First, we are thrilled to let you know that we have received 32 pledges for our roof campaign, for a total of $106,038 committed over the next several years toward the work so desperately needed at Christ Church this year. From our newest to our oldest members, from graduate students to professional families to retirees, it is only through the strength and diversity of our congregation that we have met this incredible milestone.
We write with thanks for the generosity of this parish, but also with the equally astonishing (and perhaps even less expected) news that our insurance provider, Church Insurance, has agreed to pay for the roof replacement itself due to a catastrophic hail storm over the summer that further impacted our already fragile roof. Because we did not know what the outcome of the insurance evaluation would be or the scope of the covered repairs, we began our campaign at the same time as we began pursuing that claim. The good news is that much of what is required is covered. The vestry authorized Wellesley Roofing to pursue the claim on our behalf, and they have successfully navigated that process along with our building committee and wardens. An independent adjuster has approved the work for the roof proper totaling $203,000 and the work is scheduled to begin in early to mid-May.
We also knew, as has become clear, that a roof isn’t “just a roof.” In addition to the roof itself, siding, under roof decking, gutters, and downspouts will also need to be replaced. At this moment, we are in discernment over an additional $61,000 of work that has been proposed for things like gutters, siding, and an additional decking system for water sealing and insulation. More structural issues may come up as we begin demolition, as well.
If you’d like to talk more about what is to come or share any concerns, please contact wardens Chris Leonardo or Sasha Killewald. Doug Whittington can answer any questions about the roof process as well. Given that the project is happening very soon and pledges are given over a period of years, we are in contact with the Diocese to discuss our financing options. And, of course, our 2011 capital campaign continues, with renovations of downstairs bathrooms and more to come.
All thanks to you and to God for the amazing things happening at Christ Church!
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