Throughout the Bible, we see evidence of the human inclination to predict but not prepare.  Think of the story of Noah’s ark. Noah knew a flood was coming. God gave instructions about what to do and Noah got to work.  When people asked why he was building a giant boat in the middle of an arid plain, he told them.  They laughed. What flood? They looked up at the sky, saw no clouds, and moved on with their day.

In the Gospel, Jesus repeatedly says, keep watch, stay awake, you don’t know the day or the hour. The thief will come, the son of man will come, the greatest crisis of your life will come. Jesus wants us to prepare in advance so we are ready. If you are in a posture of stability before the strong wind hits you, you don’t fall. The most complete preparation for crisis is deep faith. Daily trusting, listening and practicing a loving life inside God. That stabilizing stance is foundational all the time. But other practicalities need to be considered.

Climate change warnings have been coming for a long time.  Now the evidence is stark and steady. As Alex Steffan says, we are unprepared for what has already happened.  So, my friend, at this late hour, are you prepared?

Here are some questions for you:

What is the greatest climate risk in my area? If you don’t know, look here. 
What resources do I rely on right now to mitigate that risk for myself and others?
If that resource becomes unavailable to me, what can I do next?
How can I care for myself and others at that point?

The time to think about these questions is now.
 
As Christians, we have an advantage. We know how to share.  We offer shelter from cold and heat. We love and support each other.  In the face of extreme weather, we prepare so we can do more effectively.  One example: we could adapt our church’s solar array to charge a battery. Then we could air condition or heat our building if the grid breaks down.

There are reliable voices to help us with this conversation. Alex Steffan is a national leader thinking about the Climate Crisis and preparing for coming disasters.  He has been featured on NPR, New York Times, Mother Jones, 60 Minutes. He brings a common-sense perspective about what the future will look like. He even offers an online course called “Ruggedization” which helps people prepare within their context.  Here is a link to his most recent (free) substack article: LINK

Since at least the days of Noah, disasters have loomed on the horizon and humans have looked away.  It may be that we as a species are on the edge of extinction but its just as possible that we are at the start of a change that will bring humans and earth to a place of greater wholeness.  This crisis could go many ways. It’s up to us to hold onto Jesus’ vision of Beloved Community and prepare for the future in such a way that our faith and actions speak to that hope.

--Pastor Rebecca

This Monday, after a foot of snow fell, I clomped over to the church to shovel the walks.  Before starting, I took a picture of our beautiful building (shown above). New slate roof, new flat roof, renovated bathrooms and common room (a much more attractive and multi-use space these days!).  What God has done in our midst is nothing short of miraculous and we must not, cannot forget that!

This week, there was an article in the NYT called The Church Fixer.  It featured a Brooklyn minister named Rev. Dr. Katrina Foster and the work she has done in revitalizing congregations.  Katrina’s secret sauce for success might sound familiar to you: engage the surrounding community by holding more community wide events in the building, advocate for improvements in the community, ask for money, and get the building up to date.  The byproduct of this effort has consistently been congregational growth. 

When I began at St. Paul’s there were huge problems with the building.  The bathrooms were notorious for exuding sewer fumes, the common room had 1970s school cafeteria vibes, and the closets were filled with detritus.
With some trepidation, I began emptying the closets.  Soon, the whole congregation, moving in the Holy Spirit, began renovating and restoring the building and our relationship to Carondelet.

God (by way of the Diocese and Church Insurance) provided the funds to make the repairs. Lay leaders made significant sacrifices of time and skill, and the Diocese walked with us through the whole process. As I took the picture shown above and looked at our building so beautiful in the snow, I gave thanks. Then I began to shovel.
I kid you not, in five minutes, one of our neighbors who eats at our free meals and has spent at least a night or two sleeping in our yard, came up and insisted on shoveling. “I can’t pay you,” I said. He didn’t care.  He shoveled the sidewalk up to the Heigham House.  Before he was done, our new tenant, Mr. Amidou arrived home from the store. Immediately, he and his wife insisted on taking over.  They shoveled the sidewalk from the church awning door to the street. If you know our space, you know how far that is!

Walking home, people greeted me and asked about the church.  The love for this place is huge.  People I don’t’ even know are asking about my departure. Will there still be meals? What’s going to happen? The answers to those questions now rest in your hands.   

God has called us to this place and set before us a feast of love and opportunity. The Bible admonishes us to remember God’s faithfulness. The word, remember, is used over 8,000 times in the Bible. Remember, remember, remember! Why? Because we forget so easily!

Remember the Lord.  Remember the work God has done!  We are here for a reason. We are here to be Jesus’ love incarnated in our time and place.  Remember to stand on the promise that the God who began a good work in this community will continue it (I Thessalonians 5:24).  You are a part of this miraculous work!
I’m excited for what God has in store!  Even on these days of snow and short daylight, God has brought us through, and will be with us, strengthening us for what lies ahead. Remember!

-- Pastor Rebecca

This poem is just too beautiful. I had to share it again:

If We Are All Unremarkable Angels  by Anna Elkins
The Remarkables, New Zealand
After a long morning of hiking and getting lost,
I walked to the pebbled edge of the lake to wash my feet.
When I looked up, a toddler with a smile of pure
and fearless joy was running up to me. He stopped
short, bent down to select a stone, and handed it to me,
his face full of a hope so bold it was a knowing--
that I'd think his gift as rich as gems. I smiled back.
Like he had bowed to choose his gift, I bowed to accept it.
I held the stone in my open palm to give it proper honor,
loving not just the give but how it came after the thought
to give. He'd approached me empty-handed, found
what he needed just when he needed it -- nothing
planned or stockpiled, as would be my way.
I said, Thank you, and put the stone in my pocket.
He ran back to his father, mother, sister.
A beauty suffused the whole family. Maybe
they were angels. Maybe we all take turns playing
angel. Maybe I did earlier, for another child
who'd come running down the mountain, crying
Can you help me? I'm lost! So we all are, so often.
And then we're found -- someone appears, leads us
back up the path or offers us a talisman of praise,
and once again, we're good enough for now.
 
Printed in the Christian Century, 2024.

​At an early age, I realized that one of my great joys was organizing groups for a good time. I was usually the one who said “I know! Let’s…”  Generally, folks bought in and I had the fulfillment of seeing my great idea happen, and I carried the brunt, burden, or balloon of happiness afterward.
These days, when the liturgy, music, and sermon all combine to make our worship service feel deeply meaningful, and (cherry on top) I see people moved emotionally, I have such deep satisfaction and joy.  It’s energy in my battery to be a part of drawing people into an experience of going deeper with God and themselves. 
I bet you can name something that is like this for you. Some activity, moment, way of being that is almost guaranteed to bring you deep fulfillment and satisfaction (AKA joy).  What is that for you?  If you haven’t found it, what are you waiting for? Time to treasure hunt! If you have found it, and now, life has made it impossible to do it anymore, there is still good news.
On top of the big joys, there are other ways to let joy have a place in our lives.  Here are some great suggestions from ChatGPT:
Manifesting Joy

1. Practice Gratitude: Start a daily gratitude journal. Writing down three things you're thankful for each day shifts focus toward the positive.
2. Celebrate Small Wins: Take time to recognize and celebrate small accomplishments—completing a task, showing kindness, or simply making it through a tough day.
3. Mindful Moments: Incorporate moments of mindfulness—pause to savor your coffee, feel the sunshine on your face, or breathe deeply.

Discovering Joy

1. Revisit Childhood Hobbies: Explore activities you loved as a child—drawing, dancing, or exploring nature. These often carry an innate sense of wonder.
2. Engage with Community: Volunteer or connect with groups that align with your passions. Relationships and shared purpose can be rich sources of joy.
3. Try Something New: Take a class, visit a new place, or try a new recipe. Novelty can spark joy by igniting curiosity.

Cultivating Joy

1. Invest in Relationships: Deepen connections with friends and family by spending quality time together and expressing appreciation for one another.
2. Create a Joyful Environment: Surround yourself with things that uplift you—photos, music, scents, or colors that spark happiness.
3. Reflect on Meaning: Consider what brings you a sense of purpose or aligns with your values, and prioritize those activities.

These suggestions offer something for everyone!  As we light the pink candle of Joy on Sunday, I hope you’ll come to that moment with a sense of where that light shines in your life. Hold onto it in this season of short days and barren landscapes. Joy is God’s breath blowing in your life.  Breathe it in!

As a kid, my family moved a lot.  As soon as the news dropped, my mind went to the future: new place, new friends, new school; those realities loomed large.  Every move also meant leaving behind a life that felt meaningful and permanent.  So, one would think that I’d be an expert at saying goodbye.  And yet, as I come to the end of serving as your rector, it’s the goodbye part that’s hardest to focus on. 

Here are some suggestions for those of us who struggle with GOOD byes:

Recognize the Goodbye. I’m doing that as I write this. I recognize that for me to grow, and for our community to grow into spiritual maturity, we must make room for sadness and loss.  It’s a transition time and that feels unsettling.  I’ve already jumped into thinking about the coming interim who will serve you. I’ve gotten happy thinking about how that person will enrich your common life.  But stop!  It’s time to recognize this moment. The season of good bye. Allowing it to be good and meaningful.

Reflect on the past.  I’m taking time to remember the amazing adventure of being a part of our community. Your beautiful faces, a person’s distinct laugh, a moment of sweetness, a time of utter wonder.  So many memories are sitting with me right now.  I’m grateful for that.  If you need a refresher on the seven years we’ve had together, there are photobooks in the Common Room. Emily O’Chiu created several of the them and they are fantastic.

Release the Feelings.  It’s really  important to acknowledge the loss and sadness.  Even if you are only sad because it’s a change and your not all that fond of me personally, it’s okay to just be sad for the change. Or irritated.  Don’t feel bad about it, just release it.  For some of us, grief is more easily expressed through anger. That’s what makes community transitions tough. Between the stress of anticipated change, the power vacuum caused by the departing rector, and people reacting in anger instead of processing grief, things can go easily go bad and balloon into big things when their root is just loss.  Choose to release the feelings.

Return to the present.  This goodbye is a threshold. It’s a new door opening for our community. We don’t know what it will bring, but we know it will be guided and held by the Holy Spirit who has brought us this far.  We are in good hands with the Bishop and Canon Doris, we are in good hands with the lay leaders we have at St. Paul’s.  God is in the midst of us, we need not fear.

I am committed to a Good Bye. I hope you will be too.  I’m not trying to make this bigger than it is. You have plenty of other issues in your life beside my departure and they are certainly more important. But that doesn’t diminish the importance of this common task.  Let’s do it and do it well. Recognizing, reflecting, releasing, and returning. May it be a sweet and holy process.

​Pastor Rebecca

In this season of terrible climate disasters and relentless concerns politically and globally, I am reminded of the advice of Mr. Rogers: Look for the helpers. Millenia ago, these words were sung, spoken and liturgized by the psalmists who said, My help comes from the Lord. ​

Sometimes the help we need is rescue, protection, or intervention. But sometimes, help comes from re-orienting our focus.

Yesterday, help arrived in the form of a giant bumble bee that flew in my back door. The process of liberating that beautiful insect, felt freeing to my spirit too. I had to quit doom-scrolling current affairs and focus on saving a life.

Who are your helpers when you are overwhelmed? Who helps you get grounded in what is really important? Turn toward them.

Somewhere close by, I pray there is a smiling baby, a wagging tail, a bush aglow with autumn radiance, a smile and a hug waiting for you. These are some of the many ways God infuses our lives with grace, hope and mercy.
​
Our help comes from the Lord. Let's not forget to look for it!

-- Pastor Rebecca

Did you know that St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, may have been the first to understand the power of not 'yucking someone’s yum'? St Ignatius didn’t use those terms. He called them desolations and  consolations and offered them as guidelines for deepening one’s spiritual life and making decisions.  I find these categories to be hugely helpful for both big decisions and daily life. It's important to know what replenishes us and what depletes! 

But it's not always obvious which is which. Maybe this will help:
Consolation/Yum!
In Ignatian spirituality, consolation refers to experiences that move a person closer to God and help them recognize God's presence. Signs that a person, event, ritual or place provides you with consolation might include:

• A feeling of being in harmony with God's will.
• Increased faith, hope, and love.
• Inner peace, even in the face of difficulties.
• A sense of spiritual vitality and energy even in tense times.
• Greater compassion and tolerance of others.
• Increased imaginative and creative capacity

Desolation/Yuck!
On the other hand, desolation refers to experiences that pull a person away from God, leaving them feeling distant or disconnected. People, places, activities or rituals that cause desolation leave us feeling

• separated from God
• Angry, doubtful, depleted, or despairing .
• a desire to nurture selfishness, apathy, or harmful tendencies.
• confused restless, or perseverating on difficulties.
• isolated from others.

​Ignatius taught that desolation is part of the spiritual journey, but it should not be allowed to become permanent. It is an opportunity for growth. At the very least, we get ourselves out of the yuck and then evaluate what it was we just stepped in.  We reflect on why we are having that reaction, what it reveals about our inner selves. After we examine it, we may need to avoiding that thing, or address that person, or and create a boundary around our level of exposure.
On the flip side, when we know our consolations, we know how to access replenishment when the yuck is too much.

Both our consolations and our desolations are means to know ourselves and God better.  I encourage you to do as St. Ignatius taught his followers. Examine your life and name your yums and yucks.  The more you do it, the more you will know yourself and grow yourself.  Always a good thing!  

Pastor Rebecca

*this essay began with ChatGBT and was lovingly massaged for personalization and clarity.

In my devotions recently, I was struck by the Psalmist urging us to ‘be of good courage. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:24). What does it mean to BE of good courage? 

Being of good courage means having the inner strength to face danger and difficulty without fear, and instead with confidence, calmness, and trust. It can also mean having the determination to not let fear stop you from doing something.  That can only be achieved if you trust that someone greater, more capable, and more prepared has got your back. People of faith name that person as God.

Here are some ways to cultivate BEING of good courage:

• Believe in God's promises.

God never promised us an easy life, but God promised to equip and support us through what comes.

• Remember how God has supported you in the past.

We so easily forget the past in the fast paced life of the present. But looking back reminds us of God’s faithfulness and the growth we’ve experienced through difficulty.

• Resist the temptation to overestimate what threatens you

This is the heart of what the Psalmist is shooting for: be of good courage is a choice. It means keeping a reality check on our fears. I find that having people to do the “real? Not real?” check in with supremely helpful in this process. Also, focusing on the scary things in daytime and putting them to bed at night helps too!

• Refuse to listen to inner lies and outer voices that diminish faith in God’s presence and love.

Truth is, our greatest risk isn’t listening to lies about God, it’s not listening at all. When we are fearful, most of us just avoid. We move from being of good courage, to being distracted, diverted, or in denial.  These coping mechanisms are no help whatsoever. In the long run, the things we fear will come anyway. Whether we are ready or not. 

An influential Rabbi from the 19th Century, Israel Salanter, said that courage must be cultivated daily.  This list is a start in that direction. There are so many things to fear, but God is able to hold us steady in the midst of them. May we not be dismayed or afraid, because God is always with us, always upholding and sustaining.

Be of good courage!