July 8: Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Dear People of Christ Church,
In the Daily Office this morning, we had one of my favorite passages from Romans:

If God is for us, who is against us?. . . For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8: 31, 38-39)

As I read it, though, it seemed so abstract—beautiful, but abstract. I do not, on a daily basis, tend to think about angels and rulers (occasional angry thoughts about the present administration notwithstanding)—but I do get wrapped up in the task at hand, at wondering how it will all get done, the phone calls completed and the bills paid, and that one annoying person who gets under my skin is still bothering me, and wondering why Isaiah finds it so amusing to empty out the salt shaker on the rug. And also wondering if I am a bad mother for allowing him to do so, being grateful that at least he is not trying to eat the computer mouse or climb off the porch, and is also being quiet.

So I thought about a more everyday version of it, with apologies to St Paul.
If God is for us, who is against us?. . . For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor stress, nor dirty dishes, nor humid weather, nor senseless tragedy, nor traditionalist bishops, nor poverty, nor wealth, nor grouchy children, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God.

What would be on your list? What are those ordinary sins and mundane problems that distract you from the love of God? What would it be like to live every moment with a complete awareness of how God’s love encircles you at every turn, how God’s forgiveness follows you, as Psalm 139 says, “presses upon you behind and before?” How can you give those things that worry you to God, to entrust to God’s care those things that sidetrack you from that love?

Take a second right now to enjoy God’s all-abiding delight in you.
Amen, Alleluia!

Blessings,
Sara+

July 2: The Anglican Future

I wanted to write to give you a little update on what’s been going on in the Anglican Communion. You may have seen in the news a recent conference in Jerusalem, “GAFCON” (Global Anglican Future Conference). In a very strongly worded statement, archbishops from the Global South declared a new locus of power separate from the archbishop of Canterbury. They have agreed on what they claim is a new way forward of walking separately from what they perceive is the heresy of the Church in the US and Canada’s inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church. The meeting comes just a few weeks before the Lambeth Conference, a gathering of all the bishops in the Anglican Communion (well, most of them—more on that later) that happens every ten years. Many of the attendees at the GAFCON conference are boycotting Lambeth this year, however, to show their disapproval for what they see as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s capitulation to western liberalism. Unfortunately Bishop Gene Robinson, (the bishop of New Hampshire, who happens to be gay) has been un-invited to Lambeth, in a nod to the anti-gay elements of the communion who oppose his consecration. At the same time, the irregularly consecrated anti-gay bishops (those who are sent by provinces in Africa to be “missionaries” to American churches who are unhappy with recent developments over sexuality) have also been un-invited, so it is clear that the Archbishop is trying to follow what he perceives as a middle way.

In media reports it seems that even the attendees of the conference are divided over whether it represents schism or not—Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria says “There is no longer any hope” for unity; while the archbishop of Sydney, Australia, says that it’s not about breaking up. I wanted to share with you the statement from our own Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori. She is very wise!!

Much of the Anglican world must be lamenting the latest emission from GAFCON. Anglicanism has always been broader than some find comfortable. This statement does not represent the end of Anglicanism, merely another chapter in a centuries-old struggle for dominance by those who consider themselves the only true believers. Anglicans will continue to worship God in their churches, serve the hungry and needy in their communities, and build missional relationships with others across the globe, despite the desire of a few leaders to narrow the influence of the gospel. We look forward to the opportunities of the Lambeth Conference for constructive conversation, inspired prayer, and relational encounters.

Yes—let’s get on with our mission—let’s move forward in worship together, and feeding the hungry, and curing the sick. Amen!

From June 25: The waters flow from God's altar

I had a wonderful time on vacation last week—we were camping on the island of Chincoteague, Virginia, and really enjoyed the time away. I came back to this wonderful prayer in my email in box I’d like to share with you today. It comes from the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer, which is for Brazil this week.

I received it from the Latin American and Caribbean Church News listserv, which you can visit at http://www.alcnoticias.org. Click on the “English” tab at the top right.

And the waters will flow from your altar, Lord
and flood the earth.
And we will be like a garden watered,
cared for,
exposed to life.

Oh! let these waters come,
impetuous and pure,
and destroy the powers
and clean the paths
which my people will take,
singing and rejoicing
in an endless celebration,
the Word, Life, Freedom
and the Resurrection!

And the waters will flow from your altar, Lord,
and clean away the debris
and we will have courage to act,
to serve,
to change the world.

And the waters will flow from your altar, Lord,
life will be rekindled,
and we will see the new creation,
act of your love.

Amen, alleluia!

From June 16:Henri Nouwen on Hospitality

Our Old Testament reading for this past Sunday came from the book of Genesis. During these days of Pentecost, we have the opportunity to read consecutively from Genesis all summer—through most of August. The lectionary allows us to delve more deeply into these stories of our faith—stories that Jesus himself would have heard taught in the synagogues where he also taught. This past Sunday, we met Abraham and Sarah as they are visited by angels bringing a wonderful promise—that they will have a son, even in their old age. The author of the letter to the Hebrews comments on it: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Heb 13: 2). In my sermon, I was reflecting with you about the importance of hospitality—for us to be both givers and receivers of it. I quoted a passage from the writer Henri Nouwen, which I’d like to share again with you here.

[Hospitality] means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. It is not to lead our neighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment. It is not an educated intimidation with good books, good stories and good works, but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit. It is not a method of making our God and our way into the criteria of happiness, but the opening of an opportunity to others to find their God and their way. rich and poor. . . The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances.

This week, keep your eyes open for those angels you find occasion to entertain, “unaware.” Keep your heart open for times that you become an angel of God to others, as they share the gift of hospitality with you.

Prayers for the Church in Zimbabwe

This week, I wanted to share some news of our bishop, The Rt. Rev M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE. The SSJE means that he’s a monk—a brother in the Society of St John the Evangelist, a monastery in Cambridge (SSJE is a great resource—see www.ssje.org for more on their ministries). Bishop Shaw is our diocesan bishop, and his work is supported by two suffragan (assisting) bishops, The Rt. Revs Gayle Harris and Bud Cederholm. Gayle will be visiting us next fall, in September (she was also here in the spring of 2006), and Bud was here in March of 2007.

Tom just came back from a trip to Zimbabwe, taken at the request of our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori and with the invitation of Sebastian Bakare of the Diocese of Harare. This is from his statement about the trip:
I was asked to travel to Harare to express the church’s solidarity with our Anglican brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Harare who are under profound oppression and to gather information for the presiding bishop about the political situation there. I interviewed some 50 priests, lay people and human rights lawyers in Harare over the course of my one week stay. I can report that the situation in Zimbabwe is indeed grave. There are widespread violations of human rights, daily reports of murder and torture and an economic and humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions. The inflation rate is one million percent and unemployment ranges between 80-90%. There are long lines for gas and at banks, limited electricity and clean water and virtually empty shelves in supermarkets. . . . Thousands of Anglican worshipers have been locked out of their churches, their church properties have been occupied by government-backed allies and their personal automobiles have been confiscated. A local priest must move from house to house every night to avoid possible arrest. A nine-year-old boy and a widowed mother of five children were beaten by police for failing to leave the church site.

In an article in the Boston Globe about his trip, Bishop Shaw talked about the inspirational faith of the Church there:
Sunday I went to this really poor township, and over 400 people were worshiping in this yard of this person's house, spilling out into the road. It was an unbelievable experience. The enthusiasm, the joy that these people have is pretty profound. . . I preached about the fact that they are not isolated in the Anglican Communion, and that there were literally millions of people around the globe that . . . are praying for them…. And I preached about that they were a real model for the rest of us around the world, in the way that they are standing up against oppression, and not letting it get in the way of their worship for God.

We’ll hear more about the international church in the coming weeks as Anglican bishops across the globe prepare to travel to the Lambeth Conference, a meeting of all the bishops that happens every ten years (the conference is from July 16 to August 3). Please take a moment now to pray for Christians everywhere, especially the church in Zimbabwe, and for fair elections there later this month.

For a short video and the Boston Globe article, visit http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2008/06/06/bishop_finds_flock_tormented_in_zimbabwe/?page=full

For more background on the situation for the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe, see
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/world/africa/16zimbabwe.html?sq=zimbabwe%20anglican&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=all

Eating Locally (from March, 2007)

God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. (Genesis 1: 29-31)

This week, a lot of events around environmental issues and food have come across my desk. Earth day isn’t until April 22, but a lot of things are happening now. You can see some of the events listed below. On a very close-to-home note, Waltham Fields Community Farm is selling shares in their Community Supported Agriculture Program. I don’t think I’ve every used this space to encourage you consider buying anything, so I hope you’ll excuse it just this once.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a movement that started here in Massachusetts in an effort to help local farmers, the environment, and to improve food quality. Right here in Waltham, on Beaver Street, Waltham Fields Community Farm grows a wide variety of vegetables (some fruits, but mostly veggies). As a CSA shareholder, you take on a portion of the risk—and the benefit—of your local farm. Noah and I were shareholders for the first time last year—some of you may have heard me talk about it. You pay a fee for the season and pick up delicious, fresh vegetables and fruit for 20 weeks, from June to October. You also get “pick your own” privileges on the farm for special treats like cherry tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, and flowers. The food is delicious and an excellent value (about 20 dollars a week for enough veggies to feed 2 adults and children, plus leftovers—one week we had ten pounds of tomatoes!). Moreover, the positive environmental impact of eating locally and pesticide-free is tremendous. (WCF, while they use organic practices, are not officially certified “organic.”)

Have you ever considered how much energy it takes to drive a cucumber from California to Massachusetts? A lot! Why do that, when we can grow cucumbers right here? Remember that E. coli bacteria scare last year when the California spinach was contaminated, but the farm and packaging systems were so large it took weeks to figure out where the illness came from? By eating straight from the farm, such risks are significantly minimized. And it tastes better, too. A tomato that was harvested last week has significantly more flavor than one that was picked before it was ripe, and spent weeks in a truck or grocery store distribution center. In addition to which, WCF donates hundreds of pounds of food to local hunger relief organizations. (If you were at the Waltham Interfaith Thanksgiving service last November, you heard from Janet, who distributes vegetables at the Salvation Army).

Of course, being a CSA member isn’t the only way to respond to environmental food issues. Buying from the Waltham farmers market has much of the same impact, without the commitment to the whole growing season and up front financial investment. But I have to say, visiting the farm every week and seeing and smelling the ground where your food came from is simply a spiritual experience. As modern people, it is easy for us to lose sight of how God’s creation nourishes us directly, and how intimately we really are connected to God’s creation. We are given dominion over the earth, but we are also charged to be caretakers. We each have a part to play in that work.

For more on the farm, visit http://www.communityfarms.org/ or call 781-899-2403.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the impact of local food systems, ask one of our youth. Last October, we spent the day at the Lincoln Food Project, another local farm that works for hunger relief and local agriculture

Question Authority

This past Sunday for our usual first-Sunday-of-the-month children’s service at Christ Church, our youth group took parts of our service. Thanks to Caroline Beermann, who lead a reflection with the children, Emma Scalisi who read the Gospel, Devon Franklin who wrote and read the Prayers of the People, and MaryAnn Murray, who lead the psalm and read the second reading. Thanks, too, to Suzanne Hughes, our talented youth group leader (who is also our very talented treasurer) who shepherded them in their preparations for the day.

It didn’t occur to me at the time, but the readings were especially appropriate for a young person to reflect on. There’s one line, which on reading the text for the first time it’s easy to skip over: Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Watching Caroline sit with our kids, I was struck by how important it must be for kids to see other kids in leadership—in the same way as it was important for me to have a woman priest growing up, to see that I could do that, too. Our kids need to have that example of being included in the leadership and witness of God in this church. Caroline had the authority to teach with them because she is a member of this community. We have something to learn from everyone. Caroline talked about how the authority of Jesus came from love—not (and here I’m extending what she said a little) from the power of institutional authority or worldly respect, like the scribes.

Authority is a tricky thing—I once had a bumper sticker that said, “Question Authority.” Of course, anyone who has ever been sixteen years old probably feels that sentiment at one time or another, but I don’t think it’s just about adolescent rebellion. Being a Christian is about trying to see how God sees, not how the world sees—and that means that status in the world is not of ultimate value. It can be nice to be successful in the world’s eyes, but it’s not what we’re called to do. In his letter to the Galatians Paul writes: Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant^* of Christ. (Gal 1: 10)

But we want to be nice. We want to have others’ approval. We want, especially, to have the approval of those who can benefit us. We judge each other. And so we might be more interested in talking to the well-dressed person at coffee hour than the one who looks like they slept outside. We want our kids to be friends with the “right” kind of people. We stereotype people, categorizing them by sexual orientation, race, gender, politics. I know I do this—I feel so strongly about the things I believe, sometimes it can be hard to imagine that any sane person could disagree. Do they have their heads in the sand? Are they blind? Or am I?

A bishop can be respected for his or her depth of education, or experience, or sensitivity, but God’s love is not any more present with those wearing purple shirts than with those wearing sarcastic T shirts or dirty overcoats. The Gospel is just as likely to be heard out of the mouth of a teenager as it is the archbishop, however many more resources he might have at his disposal to articulate them. The challenge to each of us, of course, is to listen.