Have you ever thought about the word "revelation"? How about the word "apocalypse"? In Christian circles, these words have become almost entirely boxed in with particular books of the Bible. Revelation, of course, is a book. It's about a vision that John of Patmos had and wrote down. It's about the end of time. And that end of time is called the apocalypse. BUT both words have so much more to offer. They remind us that reality might be different than how we have understood it. The Greek word that became apocalypse, means uncovering.

We are currently in an apocalypse. An uncovering. One of the revelations is this: The health of our planet and the health of humanity are completely interwoven. The pandemic is a result of environmental degradation. The effect of the pandemic is the death of millions. A majority of those millions have been locked out of proper health care, nutrition and stability. We are now seeing that the people who are paid least and assumed-upon the most are among the most necessary workers in our web of well-being. Farm workers, nursing home workers, grocery store clerks, pre-school teachers, and so many more create the foundation for American prosperity. Yet they are paid so little.

As the Editors of Scientific American wrote this month:
"It is not only the exploitation of nature that undergirds modern civilization but the exploitation of humans. Systemic inequality, injustice and racism resulting from centuries of colonials and slavery provide the scaffolding of the global economy."

I invite you to consider how we at St. Paul's might respond to such a revelation. Your vestry met last night (11/11) and voted to install solar panels on our flat roof. To my knowledge, we are the first church in the Diocese to do so. Solar panels will save us money as they offset our electrical costs. They will also make a small contribution to the huge crisis of climate change.

What else might we do? Could we pool our money into a micro-loan fund to help those in need with small home repairs? Could we join as a parish in advocating a living wage? What do you sense God calling us to do in response to this time? Let's have a conversation and consider our options. The one thing we cannot do is ignore the signs of the times.

In Christ's Love,

Rebecca

​Dear siblings in the Risen Christ, 
As the Church throughout the world celebrates the Feast of All Saints, we are reminded of the holy women  and holy men who have gone before us in faith. They have followed, as best they could, in the footsteps of  our Savior Jesus Christ and sought to love God, love their neighbors, and love themselves. We are now called  for such a time as this to build on the legacy of those who have gone before. 
While none of us could have imagined the times in which we find ourselves, we look to the examples of the  lives of the saints that have reflected the love of God that continues to work in, through, and among us. The  saints have taught us that even in the face of tremendous hardship the love of God behind us is far greater  than the challenges ahead of us.
*****  We continue to see a dramatic increase in cases of COVID-19 in the State of Missouri and across the world and the economic, financial, and mental uncertainty that it has caused. We continue to live in a time of  reckoning with systematic racism in our nation. We continue to see fear and division wielded as a weapon by  political parties and politicians as we approach Election Day. We are tired. We are weary. We are worn. 
Like you, I long to gather with the people of God to join in the symphony of worship as we sing our faith. Like  you, I long for a time when we are all judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. Like  you, I long for a time when civility and decency are a part of our political discourse and fear and division give  way to “ from many, one.”
While we cannot predict what will come of this time of upheaval in our lives, in our communities of faith, or in  the world, we know that the steadfast love of God never ceases. God has been, God is, and God will be our  refuge and strength. We know that this pandemic will end and we will gather in worship and songs of praise.  We know that the work of racial reconciliation and healing will one day be achieved. We know the season of  political division will come to a close.
It is important to us as followers of Jesus Christ to remember and hold fast to the understanding that even in  the midst of fear we are called to be a people of love. St. Paul in his writings reminds, “Love is patient; love is  kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or 
resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,  hopes all things, endures all things.”1 We know that love is the way and that perfect love will cast out fear.  The question is, are we willing to allow ourselves to be people rooted and grounded in a love that is far  greater than our fear?
No matter when this pandemic ceases, no matter at what time we are reconciled one to another, no matter  the outcome of the election, the work of Christ’s Church continues. Like the saints who have gone before us, we must be about the work of bringing good news to the poor, setting the captives free, healing the sick,  clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, loving our neighbors, and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Now more than ever, as people of faith, we are called to be bearers of hope and ambassadors of God’s wild  and radical love. 
As we face these challenges together, bearing one another’s burdens, I encourage you to join with your  siblings in Christ across the Diocese of Missouri and across the Church in being about the work of building the  Beloved Community in this time and place. Over the next few day, weeks, and months I invite you to join me  in doing three things: pray, act, and care. Pray that we may together endure this time of pandemic and safely  gather in worship. Act for the cause of justice and racial harmony. Care especially for those with whom we  disagree.
We may be tired, weary, and worn, yet like the saints who have gone before, we walk together in love as  Christ loved us and gave himself for us. May we in the midst of all that surrounds us, keep our eyes and hearts  firmly fixed on Jesus the Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. 
Let us pray. 
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our  wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always  to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. -Book of Common Prayer 1979 Page 832
May God bless and keep you and those whom you love, and together may we live and know, as St. Julian of  Norwich reminds us, “all shall be well. And all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be well.” 
Yours in Christ, 
The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson 
XI Bishop of Missouri 
1 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New Revised Standard Version 

In Donald Miller’s Business Made Simple Daily, he provided three indicators that a person is not a leader. He said, people are often put into leadership positions when really, by temperament, they are not leaders. When a leadership role is not a good fit, this is what happens:

• The person does not grow in the role.
• It is difficult for them to delegate responsibility.
• They only do what they are told is required.

There’s a connection here with being a Christian. Almost by default, discipleship is a kind of leadership. Risk is involved. We are called to speak to others about our convictions, to model the fruit of the Spirit, and to live in community. Those are actions of leadership – at least sometimes.
When we don’t take the risks involved in our faith, similar indicators are present.

• We stop growing in healthy ways.
• We fail to share the hope within us.
• We flatten out and go through the ritual without embodying the transformation. 

My friend, how are you doing as a Christian? When you look at your faith-walk, can you see that you are more whole, healed and alive than you were years ago? Can you think of people whom you have encouraged, inspired, lifted up in the last six months? Is your participation in spiritual activities still reaching you deep within? Or, has it become habit only?

It is important for us each to reflect on these things. We are all different and how we “do faith” is different. But my role as your pastor is to make sure you are growing. Like the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Church in Ephesus (3:16-17), "I pray that from God's glorious, unlimited resources the Spirit will empower you with inner strength. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (NLT)

Together, we are the body of Jesus in our community, time, and place. Please reach out me if you would like to reflect on your faith walk. Your growth in faith brings God great joy!
​                                                                                                         --Pastor Rebecca

This week, the national news was buzzing with a feature about a jogger who was chased by a cougar. He accidentallyran up on her cubs. The video records as he is backing up and the cougar is loping then lunging toward him.

During the whole four minutes of footage, we see the jogger responding to every movement the cougar made. The man yelled at her, waved his arms, and never turned his back to her. Clearly, he was focusing on his fear: the cougar. But, he was also filming. It seems there were two things he wanted: 1. to survive 2. to become a viral video star. Fortunately for him, both goals were achieved.

All along the road be he was jogging, there were the rocks. Big ones! Four minutes in, the guy finally picks up a big rock and throws it at the cougar, and the cougar leaves. Four minutes! The rocks were along the path the whole time.

We are like this too. We see our fears. We ruminate on them. We watch and worry, backing away with our eyes glued on them. We anticipate the very worst, the whole time sharing our anxieties when in fact, there are rocks beneath our feet. These rocks are waiting for us to pick them up.

Now, maybe you are thinking, "Yeah, but the rock might not work. It may not scare off the threat (metaphorically speaking). Maybe it will just make the threat worse." The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7. The rocks under our feet are prayer and thanksgiving. When we make the choice to pray and praise, we actually allow God to be in control. We let go of trying to survive or trying to become whatever we hope to become, and we let God guide our steps. When we do that, we stop surviving, and we start thriving.

I long for that. Don't you? I can assure you, it's not a pipe dream. Our relationship to God in Christ Jesus really can free us from fear and anxiety. As Jesus promised us, "If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32.

So beloved, if you are feeling the fear of the future, and watching it stalk you down the path of your day, pick up the rock of your salvation and throw it with all the weight of your prayer and thanksgiving. Be free!

                                                                                                                                       -- Pastor Rebecca

     The more confrontational and heated, sexy and attractive, self-centered and opinionated a post is, the more we are biologically designed to fall into the rabbit hole of engaging it.
     The Social Dilemma, is a recently released documentary about this issue. Over 10 former social media executives talked about their concerns. After watching it, I decided to delete my Facebook profile. It felt like what I needed to do. I want to strongly message my 1,300 "friends" that I have real concerns about this platform. And as a Christian, you should too. I'm not saying you should also delete it all. But learn more, pray more, and make your own decision.
    Jesus modeled for us a way of being together that fostered genuine inclusion. As a Jesus follower, I want to be 100% giving my time for what moves us toward what is good, true, and gracious for our world. Until social media is reformed to stop imperiling democracy, truth, and societal integrity, I want little part of it. Join me in learning more and evaluating what your faith calls you to do.
                                                                          -- Pastor Rebecca
The Social Dilemma
How the Facebook Newsfeed Works (The guy featured in this FB created video is also in the documentary)
"What Facebook did to American Democracy" Atlantic Monthly Article