This Summer, I will have the opportunity to fire a gun for the first time. Our family is going to a “Dude Ranch” for my mom and dad’s 80th birthday party. I’m imagining myself putting a rifle to my shoulder – and possibly changing my mind! Oh the loud bang! The idea of learning to target shoot is fun! Skeet shooting, hunting, target shooting, collecting antique guns… these reasons to own or use a gun seem completely acceptable and even important rights. Yet, we Americans are paying a tremendous price in lives lost because of the availability, abuse and right to use guns.
The Bible:
Guns + Bible = Sword Since the gun did not exist during Biblical times, the best equivalent is the sword. Interestingly, the sword makes its appearance most often in three ways: 1. Jesus’ arrest (Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-50, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:11) 2. As a metaphor for faith in Jesus and its divisive power (Matthew 10:28-39, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17) 3. Literal use (Romans 8:35, Revelation 13:10) I understand these scriptures to mean: weapons and acts of violence are always with us, but they are not a part of the Christian life. Jesus never condoned the taking of a life – not even for criminals (ie. woman caught in adultery). Read these texts and consider them for yourself. The Tradition: Christians in the first three hundred years after Jesus, were persecuted in large part because they were pacifists. They refused to join the military, they refused to pick up a weapon even to defend themselves against an attacker. They died in large numbers in the Roman Coliseum because they wouldn’t fight the gladiators. Instead, they were fed to the lions instead. Their relinquishment and faith in the face of a violent death in front of literally thousands of witnesses did more to evangelize the Roman Empire than almost anything else. Hence, eventually, Emperor Constantine in 312 CE decided, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Christians only became militant as Christianity became a part of the empire. Scripture is replete with reminders that those who live by the sword, die by the sword. A country that lives by the gun, dies by it. Over and over. This is not a simple issue. People feel deeply about it. I, personally, do not. So, from my place, it looks obvious that gun control should take precedence over access. But you may feel differently. Reason: I think we all know that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We all agree in theory that giving a depressed person a gun is a horrible idea. But what if that person is your brother? You know him, he’s complicated, and he wants a gun for his birthday. What if your friends is a hunter and has guns? When she starts getting paranoid and ranting about a government conspiracy to take her guns, what is your obligation? It all gets murky really fast. As your pastor, I beg you, bring your passion and ideas about gun ownership and legislation to God. Ask your higher power, Jesus Christ, what God’s will is for you in this area? Prayerfully place your position about guns before God. Ask that trivial but incredibly deep question, “what would Jesus do?” and listen for the answer. Then, go and do likewise. --- Pastor Rebecca
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Our short life-span, limited bodies and brains, inevitably doom us to ignorance and some level of inaction. We simply don't KNOW everything, and we certainly can't DO everything. We have to make choices about what to focus on and learn about. So how do we avoid ignorance and apathy?
Short answer: Good luck with that. We can't. My favorite prayer of Jesus is the one he gives from the cross. As the ignorance, apathy, hatred and violence of humans has caused his execution, Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Emphasis mine). Luke 23:34 What we know or don’t know, what we do or don’t do, carries unbelievable implications. In the face of climate change, a global refugee crisis and famines, the more we learn, the more overwhelming it can be. Which can lead to apathy! This Sunday, the sermon speculates on what it meant to be an Egyptian during the time of the Exodus. What were the regular folks doing and thinking? How come it took them 10 plagues, boils, death and darkness to finally make an appearance? And how do we learn from their mistakes? St. John Crysostom gives us words of hope: Sin is followed by shame. Repentance is followed by boldness. We see that kind of boldness in the disciples. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they showed courage, in even when persecuted by the powerful. In a world of wars and wildfires, as tornadoes tear through and waters rise, we can’t allow ignorance and apathy. It’s our time for courage. There is no need for fear. There is only need for informed and purposeful action steeped and sustained by love. Let’s be disciples who listen, follow and act for justice in our places and spaces. That’s exactly what the world needs! Join us on Sunday, and see where the Holy Spirit calls you to act. -- Pastor Rebecca In Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, author, Amanda Montell, describes the rise of a demographic group called “Remixers”. The above quote gives you a description.
Do you know a “Remixer”? Maybe it’s a friend or relative who has decided against “organized religion” but still participates a variety of religious practices. Jesus, in Matthew 13, told a parable about a sower who threw seeds for planting. Some fell on rocky ground, some on the path, some in a weedy area, and some in fertile ground. Jesus explains the parable. And he says this: “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." (Matthew 13:20-21). A lot of remixers I know are really into the spiritual power of rocks. No problem with that. But a bespoke spiritual practice may not be robust enough to hold someone through seasons of suffering and sorrow. As Jesus puts it, they might, "quickly fall away." Our role as the church is to welcome the spiritual seekers in our world by sharing the hope we have in Christ, our Good Shepherd. It's not about forcing others to conform with our expectations, it's about sharing the bread we've found with others who are hungry. As you spend time with the remixers in your life, prayerfully discern how to “root” with them in the grace, love and joy of a relationship with God, their Higher Power. Remixers may use a name for God that we're not used to. The name that matters most is love - and love is found most perfectly in Jesus. So, whether the people we connect with need a remix, reboot, or re-up, let’s share the joy we know – through the door of organized religion, yes, but more importantly in our relationship to the person of Jesus Christ. -- Pastor Rebecca Christians have always gone all out for Easter. Not long ago, all the churches were packed out at Easter and everyone had on their Sunday best. Probably, any church that could manage it had a big choir anthem and recruited members of the local brass band. Afterward, folks went home to big meals and kids gleefully searched for Easter eggs in the back yard.
This Easter, St. Paul’s is returning to the heart of the celebration: Jesus’ resurrection. We’re focusing on the sweetness of old-fashioned community. We’ll have a reception and egg hunt (hopefully on the lawn), and we’ll savor being together and being a part of Easter hope. It’s an Easter to celebrate in our own creative and honest ways. If you wear shorts and a T-shirt to the service, that’s perfectly fine. You won’t be alone. If you feel like bringing some flowers from your yard to decorate the altar area, great! If you want to bring your (small) pooch disguised as a rabbit, no problem. What makes Easter precious and joyful is that we are together in the love and life-giving power of God. We don’t need a brass choir to hype that, it’s already extraordinary. So if you have a post-Christian friend who might not come to the big to-do, invite them to St. Paul’s. It’s gong to be a very special day. --Pastor Rebecca An imagined letter from Simon. (as recounted in Luke 7:36-50)
To Joseph bar Benjamin, my dear brother From Simon the Pharisee Greetings in the name of the Lord most High. As you have heard rumors of what went on in my house And sent inquiries about it, I am writing to set the story straight. Indeed it was the most extraordinary dinner I have ever hosted and I am happy to tell you about it. The rumor you have heard though is wrong on several accounts. I urge you to correct the falsehoods that are circulating and, as much as it may upset you to do so, set the record straight. First off, let me be clear. The angels appearing in the sky over the house? That part did not happen. There was no celestial activity whatsoever. I assure you. And no shepherds appeared with their sheep. I don’t know where that came from. So let me start from the beginning. I had been fascinated by this Jesus of Nazareth for some long while as you know. The other Pharisees on the council speak of him with deep scorn and ridicule, but I was curious. I’d heard of his miracles and wanted to give him a fair hearing. So I sent a servant to invite him to dine with me when he was in town. I was careful not to treat him in high regard, knowing that every move I made would be watched. If I treated him too well, with too much respect, my council would come down hard. You know how they are, Joseph. I invited a few of the more influential among them to join me at the dinner. It was a small affair, maybe forty people or so. As the meal ended, we were all reclined there at the table. I was sitting on one side of Jesus, the head of the council on the other. I could not help but be offended by him. This Jesus is a peasant, unlearned, poorly dressed, and homely, yet he treated me and the head of the council as if we were equals! As if he could speak to us from a learned place! At times, it was all I could do not lean over and slap him. I confess to you, there was something about him that made me feel so deeply uneasy. Even before, the incident with the woman, he was difficult. He made one feel as if they were standing on uneven ground. And yet, at the same time, he was fascinating. Do you know, we had a small quartet between the final courses of the meal. They were lively in their playing. And he asked me would I dance? As if I would dance, there in front of the head of my council? Of course I said no. But he signaled to his friends, (I had the courtesy to invite some of them) and they rose and danced. As if it was their own house and they could do what they wanted! He even laughed out loud! Loudly! With great pleasure. As if it was his house not mine! Scandalous. Then he sat down and looked at me as if this was all perfectly fine. I remember thinking he must be possessed of the devil to not know right behavior from wrong. It was all quite…upsetting. And this woman slipped in. All who dwell in this town know her. Or, more correctly, I should say, know of her. You know her too. Remember Sarah’s daughter? The one who was sold to that Roman Merchant? The one with the scars on her arms? Yes, it was her. It’s true she was cruelly treated. Thrown into the street after that merchant was jailed. But her sins! They are a stench in the nostrils of the Almighty! Prostituting in this city all these years! Drunken and passed out in corners. Half naked and filthy! My wife has always been especially offended by these vile women. She has taken the honorable path of leading the women’s guild in finding such women in acts of abomination and bringing God’s swift justice for their sins. I’m not sure how Sarah’s daughter escaped death. But there in the midst of our dinner, she appeared. A hush fell over the whole large space. The shadows flickered, the oil lamps gave off their smoke and fumes, only their hiss could be heard. She knelt at Jesus’ feet. I won’t disgust you with the details of her wretched behavior. It was enough to make us all wish to vomit. I have never in my life had such an abomination happen under my roof. My wife ran from the room, as you can imagine. But this man, this charlatan posing as a representative of the most High, Watched her calmly. As if she was removing a splinter or sweeping up the floor. He did not blush, he did not kick her in the face, (as he should have). He let her touch him. He even looked at her with love. As if he knew her. Do you hear me? Knew her! And then he asked me that question. I’m sure you heard all about that interchange. Oh, I wish to heaven that I had never invited this man into my house. How dare he ever have the nerve to ask me! Obviously, he did not know who I am. I, the second most influential man in this town. Of a long heritage of righteous and godly rabbis. Faithful to honor the Sabbath. Faithful in keeping every command. And he compared me to a prostitute. Let me be clear. He watched this filthy woman for a long while in silence. While everyone else watched in horror. And then he said. Out loud, in front of everyone. He asked to me: A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed 500 denarii and the other owed 50. When they could not pay he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” “Of course it is the one with the greater debt forgiven.” I answered. Jesus agreed. But then he went on to shame me in front of all my guests. He said, Simon, when I arrived here, you did not kiss me, or wash my feet, you did not anoint my head, and yet this woman has done so much more. She has washed my feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, she kissed my feet, which is disgusting indeed, and she anointed me with perfume. He let that foul woman be honored over me in my very own house! And then, may heaven forgive me for the abomination I brought upon my household, He pronounced the forgiveness of that woman’ s sins. My brother, what you heard is true. This man had the audacity to say to that Harlot, Your sins are forgiven. Right there on my dining room floor. Then she stood up, bowed, and left. I admit we were all so astonished, so offended, there was not one who could move. He told her to go in peace. But there have been none of us who remain in peace in my house Joseph. He sowed the whirlwind. That woman walks the street with her head high. There is no way to remove her now. She has not committed another offense. My wife has become obsessed with a desire to destroy her, to catch her in some act of wickedness. It is shameful how she cannot stop talking about Sarah’s daughter. Yet I will confess, I cannot stop this anger in my heart. I ushered Jesus out as quickly as I could. I apologized to the Council members. We have talked over the matter. It is all settled, his heresy, his appalling behavior. But the ground continues to shake. The way he looked at her. The way he treated me as an equal. The things he said. For the whole thing. I will not forgive him. Recently, Deacon Barbi and I joined four other Christian ministry groups from the east side of Carondelet. When we went around the room describing the strengths of our communities, Deacon Barbi gave her assessment of St. Paul’s. The words she used struck a chord among all of us in the room. She said that St. Paul’s greatest strength was its “unbridled joy”.
Wow. I had not thought of us as unbridled in our joyfulness. Unhinged perhaps, but unbridled? What a beautiful thing to think about! To me, unbridled means, we’re getting over ourselves and our need to project a competence and perfection that is untrue of any human being. We’re not hiding behind a façade of being "under control". Instead, we feel free to roam in the wideness and mercy of God’s love and forgiveness for us. We have fun, play and laugh, even in the midst of our pain and the seriousness of the situation. Joy is that sweet treasure that doesn’t require the perfect environment in order to grow. It is able to shine through the prism of our tears; it surprises us in the midst of our challenges. Thank you for being a part of the joyful life of St. Paul’s. It is a gift to journey with you and celebrate the freedom and love God bestows so generously on us all! I’m so grateful to be your pastor, Rebecca A Poem Written In response: At St. Paul's we have found unbridled joy to behold. Within our hearts love for each other does unfold. No one is better than and no one is seen as less. Our church is filled with lots of love and happiness. We have abundant love for every man, woman, girl or boy. We come through get her with God's glory to employ. We give helping hands, ready hugs and we smile a lot. Come to us as a stranger, but when you leave, you're NOT. Written by Sue Steptoe 3/17/22 (Inspired by Barbi) As may be typical in this life, one crisis got elbowed out by another. Goodbye frontpage COVID news, hello frontpage War in Ukraine news. Not to mention so many other concerns that haunt our days. As is also typical of this life, one beautiful thing gave way to another. The stark beauty of winter is softening into the great glory of spring.
In the Bible, there are guidelines for marking transitions. Many of them are holy days (holidays) or sacramental celebrations. But there are other ways as well. God seems insistent that we take note of transitions. Over and over, God calls us to remember. Remember that we are dust. (Remember that one?!?) Remember the exodus, remember me, says Jesus. Marking and honoring these milestones is important! Are you doing it? When the people of Israel crossed the Jordan, when Jacob woke from a divine dream, they marked their experience is a specific way. As a part of our spiritual formation, we follow their pattern. Doing so deepens our faith and serves our mental health. Perhaps today you have the blues because the event you looked forward to for soooooo long happened. And it was great, but now there are just memories. Perhaps you are past the anguish of grief or illness but are unsure how to name where you are. Our tradition offers you resources to make meaning. Here are a few steps to help you name the transition and honor it as a place God has brought you to-and-through. Adapt these steps to your own interests, skills and proclivities:
On January 26, I participated in a conversation with bishops, priests and lay People from across the Episcopal Church listening to reports from our delegates to COP 21 – the climate summit in Glasgow.
The reports were fascinating and hopeful. But the sense of urgency is acute. The message the church needs to be sharing and standing on is: We’ve got 8 years to prevent warming beyond 1.5 degrees celsius. That’s good news! 8 years is do-able. It’s manageable. Plus, the movement has already begun. Corporations, governments and communities are finally seeing that it is in their self-interest to pivot and change. Think of how much growth a human experiences in 8 years. We’re talking about billions of people, ready for that kind of change. Here at St. Paul’s, we are also already on the move. We’re making changes and adjustments to our way of life so that we can do our part to mitigate climate change. Here are some more things we can do together:
Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and our strength…though the earth be moved, and waters rage and foam, the Lord is our stronghold.” The Holy One is in the midst of us, let’s do all we can to support the life and abundance that God created and human hands have harmed. It’s holy work! -- Pastor Rebecca Last month, your vestry unanimously supported a new outreach to our neighbors called, La Misa.
La Misa is a program, initiated by TryTank/Virginia Theological Seminary and the national church, that equips congregations to invite neighbors who are culturally shaped by ancestry or immigration from South or Central America or Puerto Rico. St. Paul’s is located in the center of a vibrant and growing community that includes these neighbors. La Misa, will equip us to welcome and incorporate those who are specifically looking for liturgical worship with progressive social policy and theology. That's us! We anticipate that this ministry will begin to unfold during the spring through training in cultural sensitivity, and the raising up of a team that will lead us in the invitation and incorporation component. In addition, we may be receiving a newly ordained priest to assist us in this project. Please be prayerful about your role in this new ministry. James Ammon is serving as interim team captain. Speak to him about ideas and ways you want to participate. I am delighted to be a part of St Paul’s during this important time. This is our year to widen our welcome to all of God’s people! --Pastor Rebecca St. Paul’s is so blessed to have received several significant bequests that have been invested and monitored through a fund called the Diocesan Investment Trust (DIT). The total value of these funds as of November 30, 2021, is $480,533. This amount fluctuates with the market, but we have diversified between stocks and bonds as a way of protecting our investment from the vicissitudes of the market while optimizing our interest income.
Now, speaking as possibly the most mathematically challenged member of the congregation, (better perhaps than Iris and Charles of the 2 year old department), here’s the deal: we are spending into the principal of our investment fund. The way I think about it, it’s like eating the lettuce in your garden. If you take bits of it off, it will keep growing and replacing itself. If you take too much, it doesn’t grow as well and takes longer to replace what was lost. If you pull it out by the roots, no more lettuce. Same deal with this fund. We have been withdrawing from the principal because we’ve had to. By faith, we’re believing that our congregational giving will continue to increase so that the practice can stop. So far, year after year, our giving is growing. And significantly. Last year was the first time the Vestry and Treasurer conveyed the reality of our financial situation to the whole parish. This year, at Annual Meeting, our treasurer will again make this situation really clear. And she will use math! As your Rector, I’m not losing any sleep over our situation. St. Paul’s is in God’s hands, and even if we were to lose all the money in our bequest, we would continue, by faith, to survive. However, it’s important that we all know our financial status, because we share the responsibility for our life together. Let’s continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us and grow us. All that we have and all that we are is a part of our life in Christ. With that clear commitment at our center, we will be well. -- Pastor Rebecca |
AuthorMost of the blog articles are written by our Rector, The Rev. Rebecca Ragland Archives
April 2024
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