Dear Friends in Christ -
Summer is the time when priests plan the worship services for the coming year. It's a time when I reflect on our successes and failures, tune things up, gather ideas, and pray for inspiration. It's a time when the voice of God comes to me - guiding, directing, shaping.
For us Episcopalians, some things in worship are tradition, things we "always" or "never" do, things we love and can't live without. Of course, there must be Scripture and prayer, or it's not a Christian worship service. Of course, we must regularly share the sustaining, invigorating Body and Blood of Christ. MOST things do NOT fall in that category, however. We have more flexibility in our worship together than you and/or I have probably imagined.
Because we have the preferences and needs and expectations of so many people to take into consideration, planning for our weekly times of worship together is a daunting task. It's also daunting because no matter what we do or don't do, we can't meet the preferences/needs/expectations of everyone. Fundamentally, worship is about our connection with God, and therefore NOT to be primarily driven by whims and fads, NOT to be changed up constantly just for the sake of enteretainment.
All that said, I WONDER . . . why is it that more people don't make (and keep!) the commitment to worshipping together EVERY WEEK?? I know, I know . . . . busy lives, family demands, sports, etc. . . . but all of us MAKE time for the things that are most important to us. I was looking at photos from the 1960s recently, and I was remembering that Sunday School as so big in those days (in most churches across the country) that MOST kids in the whole country were in church on Sunday mornings. What happened to change that? Can we - should we - change back to that?
Soooo . . . I'm scared to ask, but I'm dying to know, WHAT WOULD GET YOU TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY MORNING? What would make two hours each week with God and your Christian brothers and sisters (on Sunday or Wednesday) an absolute priority on your calendar? These are NOT rhetorical questions; I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW! If you want to share your answers with me, please do! I'm all ears at revjanet@stpaulsct.org.
Thanks, in advance, for sharing your thoughts with me.
Blessings,
Janet+
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
How much is enough?
Dear Friends in Christ -
It's something I struggle with often, this question of "how much is enough?" I can always imagine new things to reach for, better things for the world. I think it may be that too many days end for me in a sigh of sadness rather than a cry of victory because I don't have a clear sense of when there is "enough."
The car that is parked next to mine here at the retreat center has a bumper sticker that says, "We can't cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy." Hmmm . . . It occurs to me, then, that part of choosing to live in joy may involve understanding when it is time to work on cures for the sorrows and when it is time to ponder and to marvel, to worship and to rest. And when not to take it all so seriously and just to laugh!
I encountered this quote today, which has encouraged my heart. The great irony of it is that the person who said it (Albert Einstein) was PROFOUNDLY, MIRACULOUSLY productive and did MUCH to better the world:
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tried merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day."
May we all be so full of wonder . . . and contribute "enough"!
Blessings,
Janet+
It's something I struggle with often, this question of "how much is enough?" I can always imagine new things to reach for, better things for the world. I think it may be that too many days end for me in a sigh of sadness rather than a cry of victory because I don't have a clear sense of when there is "enough."
The car that is parked next to mine here at the retreat center has a bumper sticker that says, "We can't cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy." Hmmm . . . It occurs to me, then, that part of choosing to live in joy may involve understanding when it is time to work on cures for the sorrows and when it is time to ponder and to marvel, to worship and to rest. And when not to take it all so seriously and just to laugh!
I encountered this quote today, which has encouraged my heart. The great irony of it is that the person who said it (Albert Einstein) was PROFOUNDLY, MIRACULOUSLY productive and did MUCH to better the world:
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tried merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day."
May we all be so full of wonder . . . and contribute "enough"!
Blessings,
Janet+
Thursday, July 15, 2010
What am I doing today on retreat? . . .
. . . Well, I'm trying to "harness for God the energies of love," the love that is all around me. It's in you, the dear people of St. Paul's and Shelton. It's in my family. It's in the glories of nature - earth and sky and sand and sea. It's in the words on the page and in the Word made flesh. It's out there. And this is the time when I pray, in the most focused way, that all those energies of love may be gathered within me in some unique and powerful way, that they may flow out again in some new way into our community and the world.
This summer may there be times and places for the gathering of love in you, as well.
Blessings,
Janet+
"Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire."
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
This summer may there be times and places for the gathering of love in you, as well.
Blessings,
Janet+
"Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire."
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
From a bumper sticker . . .
Honk if you love Jesus.
Text while driving if you'd like to meet him.
:-)
Janet+
Text while driving if you'd like to meet him.
:-)
Janet+
Monday, July 12, 2010
Retreat Week
Dear Friends in Christ -
Ever been on a retreat? Ever been on a retreat longer than a couple of days?
For most people, the answer is no - to one or both of those questions. And you might wonder: why would Christians who are supposed to be praying all the time go away to pray? Doesn't that just increase our carbon footprint?
Even before I wore the white collar, I went away on retreat pretty much every year, beginning in college. The first time, I went on a whim at the invitation of a girl in my dorm. Mary, a Catholic girl who lived down the hall, introduced me to a monastery in the rolling hills of Oregon's Willamette Valley with breathtaking views, wonderful walking trails, gentle monks, delicious food and services of chanted prayers. I was hooked.
There really isn't any substitute for leaving "it" all behind and going away to a place you know for sure is going to be quiet. The "it" I leave behind me varies from year to year; basically it's whatever is weighing me down at the time. Depending on the needs of my body, mind and spirit, sometimes I take my computer, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I allow myself to read the newspaper; sometimes I go news-free. Sometimes I make it a point to sleep in every morning; other times I rise early and exercise before the first bell calls us to morning prayer.
In place of the things I leave behind, there are long, slow (this week, sweaty! - there's no AC here) periods of quiet in which I can think a whole thought in a row. Space in which God and I can get to the bottom of things. By the end of the week, it's like my soul has had a chiropractic adjustment and massage.
Since I've lived in Connecticut, I go on retreat every year to the same place: Adelynrood in Byfield, Massachusetts. It's the "mother house" of the "Companions" (Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross), a group of vowed prayer warriors with a rule of life that includes prayer, simplicity, justice and mission.
So here I am on my retreat week. I'm praying for you. One of my prayers is that, when the time is right, you'll know the quiet joys of being on retreat.
Please pray for me, too.
Blessings,
Janet+
Ever been on a retreat? Ever been on a retreat longer than a couple of days?
For most people, the answer is no - to one or both of those questions. And you might wonder: why would Christians who are supposed to be praying all the time go away to pray? Doesn't that just increase our carbon footprint?
Even before I wore the white collar, I went away on retreat pretty much every year, beginning in college. The first time, I went on a whim at the invitation of a girl in my dorm. Mary, a Catholic girl who lived down the hall, introduced me to a monastery in the rolling hills of Oregon's Willamette Valley with breathtaking views, wonderful walking trails, gentle monks, delicious food and services of chanted prayers. I was hooked.
There really isn't any substitute for leaving "it" all behind and going away to a place you know for sure is going to be quiet. The "it" I leave behind me varies from year to year; basically it's whatever is weighing me down at the time. Depending on the needs of my body, mind and spirit, sometimes I take my computer, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I allow myself to read the newspaper; sometimes I go news-free. Sometimes I make it a point to sleep in every morning; other times I rise early and exercise before the first bell calls us to morning prayer.
In place of the things I leave behind, there are long, slow (this week, sweaty! - there's no AC here) periods of quiet in which I can think a whole thought in a row. Space in which God and I can get to the bottom of things. By the end of the week, it's like my soul has had a chiropractic adjustment and massage.
Since I've lived in Connecticut, I go on retreat every year to the same place: Adelynrood in Byfield, Massachusetts. It's the "mother house" of the "Companions" (Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross), a group of vowed prayer warriors with a rule of life that includes prayer, simplicity, justice and mission.
So here I am on my retreat week. I'm praying for you. One of my prayers is that, when the time is right, you'll know the quiet joys of being on retreat.
Please pray for me, too.
Blessings,
Janet+
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Safe Home . . . and . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our team of 18 missionaries is SAFE HOME, thanks be to God! And they come bearing tales of transformation - in the people they went to serve and, most significantly perhaps, in themselves. Mission trips are crucibles of hard work, community and sleep-deprivation where extraneous stuff gets pushed to the edges and GOD is found.
Come tomorrow morning - to the 8:00 a.m. OR 10:00 a.m. worship service - and hear our missionaries tell their stories. I know one thing for sure: we'll be blessed for showing up to hear the witness of those who were blessed for daring go!
Blessings,
Janet+
Our team of 18 missionaries is SAFE HOME, thanks be to God! And they come bearing tales of transformation - in the people they went to serve and, most significantly perhaps, in themselves. Mission trips are crucibles of hard work, community and sleep-deprivation where extraneous stuff gets pushed to the edges and GOD is found.
Come tomorrow morning - to the 8:00 a.m. OR 10:00 a.m. worship service - and hear our missionaries tell their stories. I know one thing for sure: we'll be blessed for showing up to hear the witness of those who were blessed for daring go!
Blessings,
Janet+
Friday, July 2, 2010
Friday's "devo"
Dear Friends in Christ -
Can you believe it? It's the last day of our youth mission trip!!! Please pray through this "devo" (devotional) with them - and then pray them safe home!
Faithfully,
Janet+
THEME: More vs. Less
Take some time to think back over the daily themes from these "devos" this week.
Prayerfully think about (or even write down in a journal or on a note for your bathroom mirror) one or two things from each day that you learned or
want to remember.
More Jesus/Less Me - Luke 18:18–30
“Jesus must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30
More Courage/Less Fear - Matthew 14:22–33
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27
Less Do/More Be - Luke 10:38–42
“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42
Less Here/More There - Matthew 6:1–6, 19–21
“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
Less Ego/More Love - John 13:1–17
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
Is there something you want more of? Is there something you need less of?
Maybe choosing to gossip less will give you more opportunities to build others up.
Maybe having more time to talk to Jesus means taking less time on the computer.
Maybe if you choose to be less worried about what you need, you’ll be better at seeing what the people around you need.
What do you need more or less of? Write a few of those things in the spaces below. (You can do this on a separate sheet of paper or even print this off and fill in the blanks!)
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
What will you do to have more or less of these things?
After setting an example for his disciples by humbly serving them, Jesus told his
disciples this:
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
It’s not enough just to know what you should do. Jesus says you need to do it!
What will you do here at home, at work, at church, in Bridgeport?
How will you love others more?
How will you serve others more?
How will you have more Jesus in your life?
JESUS MUST BECOME GREATER; I MUST BECOME LESS. - JOHN 3:30
Can you believe it? It's the last day of our youth mission trip!!! Please pray through this "devo" (devotional) with them - and then pray them safe home!
Faithfully,
Janet+
THEME: More vs. Less
Take some time to think back over the daily themes from these "devos" this week.
Prayerfully think about (or even write down in a journal or on a note for your bathroom mirror) one or two things from each day that you learned or
want to remember.
More Jesus/Less Me - Luke 18:18–30
“Jesus must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30
More Courage/Less Fear - Matthew 14:22–33
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27
Less Do/More Be - Luke 10:38–42
“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42
Less Here/More There - Matthew 6:1–6, 19–21
“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
Less Ego/More Love - John 13:1–17
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
Is there something you want more of? Is there something you need less of?
Maybe choosing to gossip less will give you more opportunities to build others up.
Maybe having more time to talk to Jesus means taking less time on the computer.
Maybe if you choose to be less worried about what you need, you’ll be better at seeing what the people around you need.
What do you need more or less of? Write a few of those things in the spaces below. (You can do this on a separate sheet of paper or even print this off and fill in the blanks!)
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
More ________________ / Less ________________
What will you do to have more or less of these things?
After setting an example for his disciples by humbly serving them, Jesus told his
disciples this:
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
It’s not enough just to know what you should do. Jesus says you need to do it!
What will you do here at home, at work, at church, in Bridgeport?
How will you love others more?
How will you serve others more?
How will you have more Jesus in your life?
JESUS MUST BECOME GREATER; I MUST BECOME LESS. - JOHN 3:30
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday's "devo"
Dear Friends in Christ -
Today, our youth missionaries are reading and praying through these devotions . . . thanks for taking a few minutes to join them in ministry by praying with them this way!
Blessings,
J+
THEME: Less ego, More love!
Think about this statement:
This week is not about me and what I can do;
it’s about Jesus and what Jesus’ love is doing.
Do you believe that?
EGO (ee - goh): An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.
Sometimes our view of our own importance, or our ego, can get in the way of fully
loving others.
Is your ego keeping you from fully loving others?
Read the paraphrase of part of 1 Corinthians 13 below:
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a
martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere.
So, no matter what I say, what I believe,
and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us
toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.
And the best of the three is love.
– 1 Corinthians 13:3–7, 12–13, The Message
Go back and read that passage again – slower this time. Take note of any part of “loving others” that you have a hard time doing. Be honest with yourself.
Ask God to help you love others better.
Where do you need less ego – less “me” things – to better “love extravagantly” today?
How can you love people better in the places you spend time every day - at work, at home, at the gym, at the PTO . . .?
Today, our youth missionaries are reading and praying through these devotions . . . thanks for taking a few minutes to join them in ministry by praying with them this way!
Blessings,
J+
THEME: Less ego, More love!
Think about this statement:
This week is not about me and what I can do;
it’s about Jesus and what Jesus’ love is doing.
Do you believe that?
EGO (ee - goh): An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.
Sometimes our view of our own importance, or our ego, can get in the way of fully
loving others.
Is your ego keeping you from fully loving others?
Read the paraphrase of part of 1 Corinthians 13 below:
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a
martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere.
So, no matter what I say, what I believe,
and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us
toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.
And the best of the three is love.
– 1 Corinthians 13:3–7, 12–13, The Message
Go back and read that passage again – slower this time. Take note of any part of “loving others” that you have a hard time doing. Be honest with yourself.
Ask God to help you love others better.
Where do you need less ego – less “me” things – to better “love extravagantly” today?
How can you love people better in the places you spend time every day - at work, at home, at the gym, at the PTO . . .?
Update from Rev. Eric - Day 4 - Wednesday
Rev. Eric's update (sent at 12:10 a.m. Thursday!):
Our second to last day in Steubenville crept up on us so fast! Everyone else is sleeping now after a late night session of silly card games.
We've all gotten pretty tired but we still gathered together instead of going straight to bed because we just haven't had enough us-time relaxing and laughing. The group has really gel-ed (sp?). And there is nothing like the spirit of all of us just being ourselves and having a good time. But we've accomplished so much work on top of that, and found some real peace in moments with God.
You'll definitely hear more from the others about what work we did, but here's my day: I helped lead kids club in gorgeous weather and with much higher energy than yesterday. That was good. The kids were tougher to handle but also more friendly since we've gotten to know each other a little. More and more we've seen the incredible poverty in their lives--days without meals, teeth that are never brushed, ...
Today we got around Steubenville more. We did a prayer walk around a few blocks for an hour that was well received by people we met. We went to a black nondenominational church. We met and went out to icecream with the gentleman whose house some of us have been painting.
Tomorrow, our last day before the ride back, will be crazy and powerful, I know. Kids club will open a fire hydrant for a water-day, and our final worship and sending out service is going to bring a lot of us to tears--I am already sure.
Thanks so much everyone for all your prayers and support! We'll have tons of pictures for everyone and come Sunday morning to hear some of the stories our youth will tell about this great week on mission.
Peace,
Eric
Our second to last day in Steubenville crept up on us so fast! Everyone else is sleeping now after a late night session of silly card games.
We've all gotten pretty tired but we still gathered together instead of going straight to bed because we just haven't had enough us-time relaxing and laughing. The group has really gel-ed (sp?). And there is nothing like the spirit of all of us just being ourselves and having a good time. But we've accomplished so much work on top of that, and found some real peace in moments with God.
You'll definitely hear more from the others about what work we did, but here's my day: I helped lead kids club in gorgeous weather and with much higher energy than yesterday. That was good. The kids were tougher to handle but also more friendly since we've gotten to know each other a little. More and more we've seen the incredible poverty in their lives--days without meals, teeth that are never brushed, ...
Today we got around Steubenville more. We did a prayer walk around a few blocks for an hour that was well received by people we met. We went to a black nondenominational church. We met and went out to icecream with the gentleman whose house some of us have been painting.
Tomorrow, our last day before the ride back, will be crazy and powerful, I know. Kids club will open a fire hydrant for a water-day, and our final worship and sending out service is going to bring a lot of us to tears--I am already sure.
Thanks so much everyone for all your prayers and support! We'll have tons of pictures for everyone and come Sunday morning to hear some of the stories our youth will tell about this great week on mission.
Peace,
Eric
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