Sermon - Pentecost 7 2008

For Sunday's Sermon I decided to do some teaching around Christian leadership. In general, I don't think we do enough to empower lay leadership in the church, and I do think being leaders in the world is part of the call of all Christians to be not just disciples, but apostles as well.

So this sermon borrows heavily from Judy Paulsen as well as from Edwin Friedman and others. In the end it lasted an astonishing 22 minutes! I'm still not sure how that happened! Definitely the longest sermon I've given at COTM so far! But for those that asked for more teaching in church, there you go!



Here's a direct link to the MP3 file...

-t

A Rare Note About Schismatics

I normally don't comment much on this blog about the ongoing unpleasantness in the Anglican Communion. But the latest news from Jerusalem is just too juicy to pass up: a group of conservative Bishops meeting in Jerusalem have decided to redefine what makes them "Anglican."

The conservatives’ statement said that although they acknowledged Canterbury’s historic position, they did not accept the idea “that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

They said that membership in their conservative alliance within the Communion would be determined by 14 principles of theological orthodoxy laid out in a manifesto they released on Sunday, which they called the “Jerusalem Declaration.” (source)

Funny how they are willing to abandon traditions like the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury or the the Lambeth Conference (which they wanted to undermine by meeting ahead of) when it suits them. Also significant that they are framing this as an anti-Colonial movement. (Note, by the way, that they met in Jerusalem despite the objections of the Anglicans there who feared the impact this would have on the delicate relations they have with their Christian and Muslim and Jewish neighbours.)

But perhaps most troubling and non-Anglican is this weird "Jerusalem Declaration": Since when is communion determined by passing a test of theological orthodoxy? Note that they want to return to the 1662 BCP as the standard of worship and the "plain reading" of the Bible (modern scholarship be damned!) They also, of course, make male-female marriage one of their founding doctrines. It's so odd to me--if you are going to define a church with 14 principles, to make one of them about sex and none about, for instance, economic justice. Jesus had very little to say about sex or marriage (avoid divorce, adultery is bad, weddings need booze, etc.) but lots to say about the evils of wealth. Sigh.

So they are taking their toys and going home. Fine. Let them split off like all the other splinters from the Anglican Communion. All I know is that I have a very nice little Garden that God wants to me to do something with. And boy are those tomato plants getting tall!

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Pride Parade

I marched in the Gay Pride Parade today. It was a real blast. I didn't realize it would be so much fun. Lots of Anglicans to march with. Someone even brought sashes to wear that read "Proud Anglicans." I marched with a handful of clergy and about 20 or 30 lay folks and one Archbishop (Terry Finlay). Before we marched he asked me some questions about Messiah, a parish he knows relatively well. When David Miller (the Mayor--a good Anglican) went by us with the city council he gave us a hearty wave and pointed the Archbishop with a look of recognition. As we went across Bloor and then down Yonge Street our float got lots of cheers and waves from well wishers. I was shocked by how many people were lining the route. Apparently the Toronto Gay Pride parade attracts a tonne of people from all over the region.

But the walk was also exhausting--I spent something like 4 1/2 hours on my feet. I didn't think ahead enough to bring water, but I did remember my camera and took plenty to interesting shots. I'll post a few the next time I'm in the office.

Worship was good. People got a kick out of singing "God Save the Queen" and "O Canada" (in honour of Canada Day tomorrow). I preached about leadership, borrowing heavily from Judy Paulsen's presentation but adding a dash of Edwin Friedman for good measure. We talk about he "priesthood of all believers" frequently enough, but about the "Apostleship of all believers"?

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Istanbul...

Today I went to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board offices for a meeting related the Christ-Centred Character Curriculum that we've been working on. The School Board has done a lot of work on character development for their students, but there is very little of this going on at the parish level--so we make a good partner as we develop this stuff.

After that I made a pastoral visit and that finished off my work day. At home I did a bit of yard work and helped Betsy plan part of our Istanbul trip. Hard to believe we are going to Istanbul for two weeks! I'm still getting used to that idea. I think we are going to love it. I'm especially interested in visiting some of the old churches and mosques. Needless to say, I'll be bringing our camera(s)!


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Prayer of the Week - Pentecost 7

Beloved Parishioners,

Jan Richardson, an artist who maintains a blog in which she reflects on the upcoming Sundays readings, had a remarkable thing to say this week about hospitality. She was reflecting on the story of the unnamed Shunammite woman that shows hospitality to the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37). In recognition of her act of generosity, Elisha prays (successfully) for her to have a child despite old age. Jan writes:

I think of the Shunammite woman as I ponder Jesus’ words about how those who welcome a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Which at first doesn’t hold a lot of appeal, given the usual “rewards” bestowed upon prophets. For their efforts, they are dangerously prone to imprisonment. Beheading. Crucifixion. Slaughter by various methods. But in the land of Shunem, a woman welcomed a prophet with a room, a bed, a table, a chair, a lamp. Looking for no reward, the woman provided a sacred space for a holy man. And within the space of her own self, an unexpected child began to grow.

It’s a strange economy, this kind of hospitality. We can’t know what we will set in motion when we offer some space to the ones whom Jesus tells us to welcome. We offer a cup of cold water, or a place to rest, or an extra room, or a corner of our heart; we cede some precious territory to one who comes with a word from God; we open ourselves to remembering who it is God put us here to be, and all of a sudden, we’re carrying something we never expected to carry. Maybe it’s not a literal child, as it was for the Shunammite woman. But this kind of hospitality always makes room for new life to take root in us and to come through us in ways that we can’t predict. That’s part of the strange economy, the curious ecosystem of hospitality: open a space to the holy stranger, and God creates a sacred space within our own selves. An extra room in our own souls. A place for God to grow. (source)

Hospitality is something we offer not just because it's a "good" thing to do, or even because God tells us to do it. Hospitality is something that transforms us into being more God-like, as it was God who made the ultimate gesture of hospitality in the creation of the world. A world created to accommodate us. When accommodate others with generosity of heart and wealth, we imitate the God of creation.

Let us, beloved, therefore outdo one another in showing honor and mutual affection (Romans 12:10). This is, too, is our calling as followers of Christ.

Gracious God, you created a world for us, your children. Help us to show hospitality that we, too, may accommodate others. Fill us with love for our neighbors and the courage to make room for them out the blessings you have given us. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

-t

"Communication Begins in Song"

Donald Schell contributed this piece about liturgical music to the Episcopal Cafe Blog. I found the following paragraph particularly striking:

In all the fractious debate in our Anglican communion, we have managed, at least sometimes, to remind ourselves that ‘communion’ isn’t something we make or earn. Sometimes, at least, we remember that communion is what we do together that makes us one. I hope bishops at this summer’s Lambeth Conference will remember that communion is neither an enforced human artifact of pure unity nor a reward for agreeing that everyone like us is right and everyone not like us is wrong. But can we find our way without singing together when music is an essential nutrient in the fertile ground from which communion springs? Does this sound like overstatement? I do mean it. (source)

It's such an Anglican/Episcopal idea: let's figure out how to worship together and let God deal with our conflicts. It's one of great contributions to Christian theology: Lex orandi,lex credendi. What am I talking about? Here's a snippet from Wikipedia to explain:

Given its locus in the worship of the Church, Anglican theology tends to be pragmatic and strongly liturgical and ecclesiological, placing a high value on the traditions of the faith. It acknowledges the primacy of the worshipping community in articulating, amending, and passing down the Church’s theology; and thus, by necessity, is inclined toward a comprehensive consensus concerning the principles of the tradition and the relationship between the Church and society. In this sense, Anglicans have traditionally viewed their theology as strongly incarnational. (source)

This is a very difficult thing for many non-Anglicans to understand. I think our Brothers and Sisters that come from Reform Traditions, in particular, have a hard time with Anglican wishy-washiness. Bishop N.T. Wright was asked by Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report, "What do Anglicans believe, anyway?" The Rt. Rev. responded, "If it's true, Anglicans believe it." Or perhaps more accurately, some Anglican(s), somewhere, believes it!

I love being an Anglican.

-t

This Makes Me Sad

Seen on Craig's List...

Blue Recliner Chair - $50 (Avenue/St. Clair)

Reply to: sale-732157066@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-25, 1:41PM EDT

Are you tired and stressed out at the end of the day? Do you need a place to put up your feet and stretch out?

This Lane "Relaxor" recliner is designed to melt away your stress. Not only is it super comfy and soft, but it also comes with a built-in massage function! Just lift the cover on the armrest and use the attached controller to adjust the intensity and speed of the massage. The armrest also has a cup/bottle holder and a deeper bin for remote controls or snacks. No more reaching or bending over to rest your drink on the coffee table or floor. All this luxury and comfort can be yours for just $50!

Although everything about it still works, it is well worn. The upholstery has some damage from our cat's claws around the front corners. The chair comes apart into two pieces for moving.



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Sigh, goodbye old friend...
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COTM Does Gospel

In all the busy-ness lately, I haven't had chance to post about the choir's recent adventure. They went to a one-day Gospel Music workshop on Saturday. The event ended with a concert that I attended. Our choir even got to do a special piece on their own that was really nice. It was great to see our choir shine, and I think they got something out it. Matthew is already thinking about next year!

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Video of Paperless Singing

Here's a video taken at the All Saints Company conference "Music that Makes Community," St. Paul's Chapel, New York City, April 2008. It's an example of the style of "Paperless Music" that I've been thinking about. You can find a bunch more videos like this by going to You Tube and searching for "Paperless Music."


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Your Full Ministry

On my mind, this passage from this upcoming Sunday's lectionary:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

It's the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul and the lessons are all about pastoral leadership. Appropriate, perhaps, that I just attended a (Momentum) workshop about church leadership. One of the interesting things that Judy pointed out there was that conflict is absolutely necessary for church leadership, and that one should actually "mine" for conflict. Conflict is where the growing edges and creativity are. So one important metric of group effectiveness is its capacity to tolerate the anxiety produced by conflict. I think a lot of clergy get themselves into trouble by avoiding and then occasionally reacting to conflict.

This is a pretty obvious observation is make. Most people will tell you this. But taking to the next level--application--is much trickier. The proverb I hear a lot in church leadership circles is "you have pick which ditches to die in." Meaning that while conflict is good, it takes resources to engage and you can't do it all (at least, not simultaneously). Perhaps this is why Paul says we need to have "patience in teaching." Anybody who has taught anyone anything knows something about that.

So for me "Full Ministry" has something to do with that active and awkward-making moment when you, the priest, choose a path that makes people a bit uncomfortable. The alternative, making everyone happy, is neither holy nor really possible. Comfortable is for the easy chair you use to watch football and nap on Sunday afternoon. We are called to intentionally make ourselves uncomfortable!

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Meditation as the Craft of Thought

Deirdra Good (NT prof. at General Theological Seminary in NYC) points out this interesting book on her blog:

This astonishing book was the subject of one of our workshops: Mary Carruthers, The Craft of Thought. Meditation, Rhetoric, and the Making of Images, 400-1200. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Pp. 399. ISBN 0-521-58232-6. $59.95....

For medieval monastic culture, meditation, and not rational argument, is the path to proper remembrance. And for monks as for artisans, the notion of "craft" implies the proper use of the body as well as a craftiness of mind. So, this is a book about meditation as a "craft" that presupposes the mastery of all of the mind's "tools" that are appropriate to the soul's own special vocation, which is to employ proper books, "places" and buildings, and images (all of which involve as well the participation of a pure and well trained body) in the quest to know God. (source)

So much of the work of Christian spirituality is about proper remembrance--it makes sense to see meditation as the craft that makes this possible. I'm struck that we don't teach this nearly enough in church on Sundays. I mean, meditation is often one of the next things Christians are exposed to in their developing spiritual lives once they look beyond Sundays, but we don't look at it much on Sundays. Sometimes we'll have silence in liturgy or sing in a contemplative manner. But that isn't really teaching meditation, per se.

Once I gave a children's sermon at SMM in which I taught them about meditation and even did a five minute sit with them. Perhaps I should do something similar at COTM...

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Sermon - Pentecost 6 2008 (Kerrie's First!)

This Sunday was our monthly family service--which means that the kids stay the whole time with the assembly, and that there are some liturgical choices made to engage them. Usually the sermon is designed with the kids in mind.

Since we have a new Director of Children's and Youth Ministry--Kerrie Fulton--I thought this would be a good chance to give her a shot at preaching. It was her first time, so I basically just threw her into the pool--but really, is there any other way to learn?

She decided that since the kids were doing a special musical anthem after communion, she would show she is teaching the kids to use their bibles to find answers to questions like, "why do we sing?"

Very nice for a first attempt! I love her fearlessness, many people would have looked at me like I was nuts if I asked them to preach!



Here's a direct link to the MP3 file...

-t