We read this Sunday 'I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'
Last week our diocesan delegates to General Convention met with us clergy to share their impressions of General Convention. One of the things they all seemed to agree on was that this convention was more unified, peaceful, and inspiring than the last two or three. They also said the reason for it was that most of those who disagree with the direction the church is headed have left!
It is terribly frustrating to try to row a boat in one direction when the rowers on the left are pulling and the rowers on the right are pushing. No matter what way the tiller is pointed, the boat goes in a circle.
So in a practical way it's great to be moving forward now. It's wonderful to feel the water slapping against the prow. And great work was done. Work of love, justice, and historic note.
And yet...we are diminished. Had we perhaps worked harder at prayer and listening and creative discernment we might all be moving forward in the same boat.
Perhaps. The odds were always long.
So, God bless those who've left. God give the rest of us grace not to be smug and wisdom to know how to keep rowing in the same direction.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
This Sunday is IG!
Church is best as Big Tent!
Melba celebrates art
Sunday we'll cap a week of learning and fun with an intergenerational service. Kids will take part in music and readings, and much of their creative work of the week will be on display.
Newt tells a Jack Tale
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
3 Loaves?
In the booming economy of the early 20th century, American industries needed cheap labor. They looked to newly arrived immig
rants from Southern and Eastern Europe - Italy, Poland and other countries — to provide some of this labor. These immigrants had left behind depressed conditions in the "old country." They said they came to America "for bread" — pane to the Italians, chleb to the Poles.
But life in the United States was full of its own hardships. Some factory owners exploited the newcomers, paying them the lowest wages for the hardest jobs. They often used ethnic tensions to divide workers, paying some immigrant groups lower wages than others and threatening to replace workers of one nationality with workers of another. Executives hoped that creating such rivalries would prevent workers from fo
rants from Southern and Eastern Europe - Italy, Poland and other countries — to provide some of this labor. These immigrants had left behind depressed conditions in the "old country." They said they came to America "for bread" — pane to the Italians, chleb to the Poles.But life in the United States was full of its own hardships. Some factory owners exploited the newcomers, paying them the lowest wages for the hardest jobs. They often used ethnic tensions to divide workers, paying some immigrant groups lower wages than others and threatening to replace workers of one nationality with workers of another. Executives hoped that creating such rivalries would prevent workers from fo
rming unions.
Since the 1800s, many textile cities had sprouted up in New England's green valleys. But Lawrence,
Since the 1800s, many textile cities had sprouted up in New England's green valleys. But Lawrence,
Massachusetts, reigned as queen of the milltowns. Almost a dozen textile factories lined its riverbanks, with more than 40,000 people laboring in the mills (Read More)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Vacation God School
It's Vacation God School this week at St. David's. The kids are immersed in God's creation through storytelling, arts & crafts, movement; and they're following a great program from Teaching Tolerance as well.
They and their families will be involved in Sunday's service too. A Vacation God Sunday. Don't miss it.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Text for 8 Pentecost, July 28, 2009
Ephesians 3:14-21 (All Lessons)
I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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