St. John Parish Weblog – Always at the top

This post will always be the first post you see.  To see the rest of the blog posts, just scroll down.  They are in order from newest  posts to oldest posts.

Eagles are most majestic in flight and soaring. Christians are most effective when engaged in ministry in Jesus’ Name and in the power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:7-11; Acts 1:8; Acts 19:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12).

This is the Parish weblog for St. John’s, Tulare, CA.  Here is the website.   If you are interested in assisting with this blog, please leave a message for Robert Sutton or Fr. Eaton.  And feel free to leave comments.

The current pix (posted 1-15-09) in the header shows a moment of proxy prayer during the summer of 2008 as we gathered to pray for the different Provinces of the Anglican Communion. Each person became a “proxy” for intercessory prayer, sitting in for a specific Province while 2 or 3 intercessors prayed with knowledge and in the Spirit for that Province.

Sermon, Aug 16, 2009: Thanksgiving and Praise leads to hearing from God

Thanksgiving and Praise leads to hearing from God

August 16, 2009        St John Episcopal Church, Tulare, CA
The Rev Robert G Eaton, Rector, Preacher
transcription from recording, edited into manuscript.  Sermon time: 20 minutes

Year B (RCL) :
I Kings Chap 2, vv 10-12; and Chap 3, vv :3-14 (Lorraine Zorn)
Psalm 111 (led by Lay Reader Judy Wilds)
Ephesians 5:15-20 (Organist Margaret Sutton – filling in for absent scheduled lector)
Praise the Lord together singing Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia…  (3 x )
John 6:51-58  (RGEaton+)
Jesu esto mihi jesus, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia…  (3 x )

O Lord let your word only be spoken, and your word only be heard.  Amen.

It would not have been good if Solomon had begun his royal career in a more self-centered, God-ignorant manner. In fact, it would have been a disastrous thing.
But  Solomon did apparently do some right things in worshiping the Lord, and answering God’s question rightly, and so we also learn in this scripture reading from First Kings chapter 3 of the benefit to him as King, to him personally, and to the whole Kingdom of God’s People, the Jews;
and even more so as Christians we see Solomon’s question and answer and worship as directly affecting the salvation of the whole world,  for the continuation of the line of David that would lead to the promise of God, in the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.  It’s not quite so simplistic, but for the points from the lessons today we can say, “No Solomon, No Jesus.”

And so we give thanks to God for the grace of these moments given to Solomon and his responses.   We give thanks…….. (“Yeah verily” from the congregation)

Now that is exactly the action, the thanksgiving and worship to God,  that happened right before God spoke to Solomon in his dream, as we heard “Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David” and then in vs 4 “The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar” (see note at end of sermon on why Gibeon).

In fact, as the scripture text clearly implies, these actions of worship predisposed Solomon’s heart and his mind and his spirit to allow him to hear from God, because “that night God spoke to him in a dream.”
And that would be my first point to you, that praise and thanksgiving and adoration as worship do indeed predispose the heart and the soul and the mind and the spirit to hear God’s word spoken to them.  If you will praise him …you will hear him.

No longer is it necessary in Christ, by the way, to offer a thousand burnt sacrifices and offerings on your part in order to hear from God.  Hallelujah!  (Hallelujahs from the congregation)

But start now on the daily worship that is necessary in order for us, for  you to hear from God.

Now, the Liturgy, whether Holy Communion or Morning Prayer, does have praise built into the first moments of our worship together before we ever hear from “the Word of God”, and exactly for that purpose:  Praise, and Word of God.
Sometimes, though, we enter into our worship on Sunday mornings and any other time, with less than predisposed hearts and minds and spirits, – I’m saying that as nicely as I can – and the Word of God goes – I’m saying this as nicely as I can –  right over our heads…., and before you know it, we are praying the Prayers of the People with less than grateful hearts and humble spirits!  And that demands the question of whether we are truly prepared to receive the life-giving Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion on that day.

So just to be sure, and to make this point, we acted that  out this morning when even before our first hymn we held hands or laid a hand on each other together and I offered on your behalf  thanks and praise to God aloud  for God himself, and for each other, and for this parish, and for God’s presence.  This is a “shaking up”sometimes that is necessary in order for us to understand what it means to give thanks and “enter into his gates with thanksgiving.” That action that we did this morning predisposed our hearts and minds and souls and spirits for our act of praise and worship this morning, and is helping you even now to hear the Word of God more clearly.  Hallelujah..

This is an essential part of the message of today’s lessons, and of the essentials of a disciple of Jesus’ life with him.

Let me say it again in different words, If you as a disciple of Jesus, and we as a body of disciples of Jesus, do not make thanksgiving and praise and adoration intentional, priority parts in our worship of God, daily,  then I am afraid we will be less than disposed – perhaps less than capable – of hearing God speak to you , to me, to us, whether in our dreams or in any other manner.

And God help us all if that is the case.

Now, the question in the dream that God brought to Solomon was, “What is it that you want?”
More specifically, in the text, “”Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
What a wonderful statement.  From God, it’s kind of the genie in the bottle in the question, isn’t it.  Do you have something in mind in your own being?

And Solomon answered, “Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.  But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”
(Mind you, Solomon is a full grown adult male.  He is not physically a child.  So you understand the humility and vulnerability that he is bringing before God in this prayer).

“8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
“10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.”

The Lord was pleased in what Solomon had asked: he asked for a discerning heart to govern God’s people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  And so began the legendary career of justice and discernment for justice that led to the phrase we use to apply to similar judgments even today, “the wisdom of Solomon”   Even though it would be more like “the wisdom of God given to Solomon”.

Now before we get to the final part, here is my question to Solomon.   Why, O King, did you wait until you heard from God in a dream before you prayed your prayer?  What otherwise would have kept you from uttering this otherwise humble prayer for God’s mercy and wisdom?  Why did you wait?!

Solomon might have begun his royal career by presuming that since he was a prince, and since he was his father’s chosen successor, and since the God of his father David wanted Solomon to be the successor to the throne of Israel and rule the People of God, and since his succession to the throne included not a dominion from scratch but a dominion of already great means both financial and political,, and since the enemies of his father were now completely disposed of …
that since all these things were a very visible part of his new identity as king he might have presumed that he didn’t need anything beyond himself to be a successful king.

And all these presumptions might also have been the heavy layering he allowed over a very basic fear he had of actually being the king of Israel.  Despite my speculating on the presumptions,  we can see in the first few words of Solomon’s prayer, that God speaking to him in his dream could easily have had the effect of cutting through those presumptions to his own fears, “I don’t know what to do, and I need your help to do it.”
And, brothers and sisters, I am strongly suggesting to you as implied in this scripture text that it was Solomon’s first instinct, that acted-upon desire to give thanks and praise and worship the Lord which caused him to have the predispostion for this grace-filled  moment  to cut right down to humble pie, rather than ask the Lord instead for the trappings of the office of King.

He heard God speak to him in a dream and it cut right through all of his fears, right down to where he needed to be in the first place.  “God, help me.”
And it all began with praise and worship and adoration and thanksgiving.

How often do we allow the things of our lives to so cover us that we need someone to come in and to wake us up or to shake us up or to bring that hard word that helps us to get through to the right question, when if we were listening to God in the first place he could have very gently said, “Ask me for what you want.”  And our ability to be humble
(from our praise and adoration) knows exactly the kinds of questions we need to ask.

It was the presumption of the day that kept him from asking the question until he snapped out of it by God speaking to him in the dream.  And his praise and worship led to it.

This is a very big lesson to learn for all of us.  Again, do not let the presumptions and fears of our own lives stop you from making, or hiding away, the very prayer that Solomon made to the Lord.   In fact, because you are Christians, followers of Jesus, brought to new life through the Holy Spirit,  you may presume that God is asking you that very question this very moment.  You don’t have to wait for the dream.

Jesus said, “If you abide in me, ask of the Father and he will give it to you.”

Just to remind you, And God said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

And you get to answer.

Now learn from Solomon, and especially from Jesus, how to ask of the Lord.   First remember that The Lord dwells in the praises of his people.   God is jealous for the worship of his people. And he will reward it.   Spending time in God’s word helps us to know God’s will which ultimately informs the priorities of our prayers. And we are able to ask the right questions, offer the right prayers.

11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

Jesus said the same thing, “Ask and it shall be given….seek and you shall find…..knock and the door shall be opened…..do not run after the things the gentiles run after, but seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be given to you as well.”  That’s good news.

God knows our needs, and what pleases US.  Our first step, though, is to please God, and this can be done through  our praise and thanksgiving and adoration which will make us more open to hearing from God, and allow us to make our requests in honesty, vulnerabile humble adoration and submission.

It doesn’t sound too good up front, but the benefits are out of this world.

Yes, as Paul says in Ephesians 5,(which lets us know nothing has changed in the ways of human beings)
….the days are evil.  And you know that.

It is hard enough to contend against the World the Flesh and the Devil, as we see the world around us seem to deteriorate day by day; and as we contend with our own ease of sinning, of working against the life in the Spirit; and as we contend with the spirit world in our prayers and in our witness to Christ.

It’s hard enough to deal with that outside of ourselves as Christians and the Body of Christ. It does not help us IN the Church of the One True and only Lord Jesus Christ to have those with voices of leadership undermine and even desecrate God’s very Word.

So what do we do?   Is that not something we can take to the Lord in prayer as well?

The first and most important action on our part will be to accept the good news of God’s undeserved grace and mercy in Jesus Christ – so, start with, believe in Jesus; be a disciple; choose to learn from him and His Holy Spirit;  receive your nourishment from Him.

And then we must be reminded of how to act in the face of such persecution and heresy, including this priority which we have been pointed to today, start with praise and worship of God:

When in trouble start thanking the Lord;
When you are worried, start Praising the Lord;
When things are not going well, go to worship the Lord God.
That is always the first and foremost thing, and that will predispose your hearts and minds to hear from God about the things that you are struggling with and dealing with in your life.

These lessons today assist us in inspiring us to be such lovers of God, and to expect God to want to hear from us.

Let me turn it around just a minute before I close.

What Solomon did NOT do, what Solomon did NOT ask for, What Solomon had the grace to AVOID asking God was something like this:

“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me King of Israel! , DUH!  And since I am the King and must protect myself, I ask for long life for myself, and I will need all the money and wealth that you can possibly give to me, because I deserve it, and I need you to take care my enemies – all of them – and slaughter them, cut them into a thousand little pieces, and then may the fleas of a thousand camels infest the armpits of their relatives. . Amen….O God, bring it about!”

Is that what Solomon prayed?  (No!)  Do you pray that kind of prayer?  (No!) No? Actually, probably.   Somewhere in your life you have probably said to God, “God, take all my problems and destroy them, and give me everything I deserve.”  (Pause)
Nope, first come before the Lord and say,
“I am not able to handle the things that come my way.  I need your strength to do it.”
And that prayer will come about because you have already been praising and thanking and worshiping and adoring the Lord for you to have the grace to make that prayer.

You see, it is more like “Seek the Lord”, my friends, “while he wills to be found.”

So now we are reminded of all this as Paul sums it up very nicely,

“ ……. the days are evil.”  He said.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  (Hear from God!) :
>  be filled with the Spirit.
>Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
And
> Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Whatever new thing you are embarking upon right now.
Whatever major decision you are entertaining right now.
Whatever struggles are happening in your hearts and minds and spirits right now.
Go to the Lord in prayer and praise, and know that
God loves you and desires your love of him,  now through his Son Jesus Christ.

So first and always, give thanks to the Lord and praise and worship him, not just to get an audience with God in prayer, but as a life discipline and choice of heart..
And now bring your hearts to the Lord in humble adoration and admission of vulnerability and answer his question, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”

Amen.

Note re: Gibeon: The Tabernacle was located at Gibeon for some time, and it was there when David began making preparations for the building the Temple in Jerusalem, a project that was later completed by his son Solomon, as allowed by God.

“And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the Tabernacle of The Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon” (1 Chronicles 16:39 KJV)

“At that time when David saw that The Lord had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite [see Jebusites], then he sacrificed there. For the Tabernacle of The Lord, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. (1 Chronicles 21:28 KJV)

Bishop Lamb’s Lent 5 sermon at St John’s

This is a transcription from tape recording.  Bp Lamb gave his sermon without notes.

It’s good to be a part of this congregation. It’s been a while, although I was here for the funeral of your beloved rector emeritus in October.

Anybody know what today is? The 29^th of March, 2009? You know where we were … a year later? [referencing the Special Convention in Lodi, end of March 2008, where St. John’s made its protest, see the Surrounded weblog] We have come a long way my friends, and I rejoice greatly in the distance that we have traveled together. Thank you to all of you.

In talking over the services this morning Rob asked …..or mentioned the fact that he had read my Friday newsletter [Friday Reflections] and realized that I was probably going to be looking at this opening of the gospel today for my sermon. So he put it on the sign [without asking, the day before, see signboard photo] and he was right on, like usual, absolutely.

The whole context of this Sunday is to really move us into an understanding of the new covenant, the new covenant that is Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. And in this new covenant there is a whole new way of relating to God through the actions of our Lord.

So we have the Old Testament reading [Jeremiah] about the new covenant;

We have Paul’s [Letter to the Hebrews] comments about Jesus being the high priest not of his own choosing but because of the choice of his Father and being sent by his Father.

And then the beginning of his Gospel today that then allowed Jesus to talk about what was going to happen to him and that how his death and resurrection would be the core of the new relationship with God.

That as I shared in the Friday newsletter, I am so much taken by the incident that begins this Gospel reading today.

The Greeks from the area of Galilee were probably very much secular people, very secular people. They were most likely “believers” but believers who had not accepted all of the Jewish tradition. We see these same kinds of people being referred to in the Acts of the Apostles as people who had taken on the moral code of Judaism and lived it; uh, they participated in the Feasts, but they did not become Jews. There are other theories that they were very secular and they were just looking for a way to understand Judaism as a political context.

But it.. it.. it feels to me and seems to me that this is a much more of a context of seekers, of people  seeking a new deeper relationship with God.

They obviously heard about Jesus, they heard him. We know they had listened to him, and they were affected, in a way that was unique to them, by who Jesus was and what he was saying, how he was engaging with the people.

And so they asked if they might come and see Jesus, if they might meet him, if they might have the chance to..to speak with him. And remember, these are Greeks, they are foreigners. Most of the very uh.. conservative Jews of that day would have nothing to do with these people. They were considered foreigners. They were to stay away. They could be on the edges, but you only talked to them when you kinda had to….

And they came to Philip.

And the Gospel mentions clearly that Philip is from Bethsaida, a place in that area of Galilee where there are many people, in different contexts.

Something about Philip invited them to speak with him.   They might have known him, they might have had contact with him, they might have known his second cousin, whoever that was.. But there was something that drew these foreigners to Philip so they could ask this question, “We would like to see Jesus.”

Philip, being Philip, goes and gets his buddy Andrew – and the two of them are really a pair, you rarely see one without the other – And they go to see Jesus.

I think these opening verses are.. are such a statement about evangelism for us as members of this Tradition that I don’t know how we could look away from them.  There is the context of a relationship between Philip and these people that allowed them to risk asking the question. And I think that is such a core of where we need to be, to be open to all of God’s people, to listen to them, and in whatever way they begin asking the question, “We would see Jesus”, we are in position to respond to them.

I believe that the basic core here is that Philip and Andrew have their personal relationship with Jesus. And if we are going to be evangelists, sharers of the word, we have to have that same kind of relationship with Jesus:

We have to know him.

We have to follow him.

We have to believe in him.

And then we need to engage, to open ourselves to Not to be closed, not to live our lives in such a way that people can’t enter into our lives to ask the question.

I think we can learn a lot from this Gospel today.

Not only about the new covenant based in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, but our role in sharing the good news that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came to that we might have life.

It has normally been my custom to stop what I’m saying and to see if anyone has a comment that they would like to make either on the reading or on what I said or should have said.

Signboard for Bp Lamb’s Pastoral Visit

From Fr. Eaton -

I took the liberty of creating a message on the signboard what I felt was going to be at least part of the focus of Bp Lamb’s preaching on his Pastoral Visit to St. John’s, Lent 5, 2009.  

The Gospel lesson from John 12 is the search by certain Greeks for Jesus, and they ask the question of Philip (who then tells Andrew, who then tells Jesus), “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”   The bishop had written in the recent “Friday Reflections” of his intrigue in this favorite set of verses.  So it seemed logical that we would be hearing some of that theme.

The rest of the signboard refers to the rest of the story.   Somehow the Greeks seeking him out was a signal for Jesus to say what he did about dying, and why.  Jesus’ response could be bluntly summarized as, “Now I must die.”   And he uses an agricultural common fact to illustrate, that the kernel of wheat, falling on the ground, dies, and yet produces a crop. 

The Greeks in this vignette, according to ancient custom of Cyril, and others, is a reference to gentiles of Galilee (Her0d’s territory, an inheritance from the Greek Empire).   They might have seen in Philip a fellow countryman by dress or habit, giving some explanation as to why him.   Cyril, and then Proclus, say that it was not surprising to find “Greeks” attending to certain larger Jewish national feasts, as an honoring of their God.  Perhaps they were also drawn at this particular time due to hearing claims of a new king (Jesus!).   The point is that these gentile Greeks, coming to honor the God of the Jews, turn to seek out Jesus -  who really is the King of the Jews (!), but so many of the Jews have failed to see.   So even to the spiritually undiscerning, those are able to see and seek out the Son of God.    The fulfillment of all things, thus, has begun.   And the only way for all the world to see – and all the world to participate in – their salvation, is for Jesus to die so he might also have victory over all death through and by his resurrection.

And that is how it is done for us, as well.    John 12 is a reminder of the message heard previously, that 1) only if you lose your life for His sake will you find (save) it, and 2) if you are to be a disciple of Jesus you must pick up your own cross and follow him.   So, we too must die (daily) that Jesus’ resurrection power might be our life.

A First and a Last: 2008 Nativity of Jesus Pageant

Some of the pictures made me laugh until I cried, a couple are quite endearing as they should be.  Put all together the scenes and message of the Christmas Pageant (which we stage on Advent IV) once again reminded us of the upcoming celebration and awe of the anniversary of the nativity of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.   Lorraine did a nice job with many closeups.   You can see them all at her photo blog.  A number of the pictures are fun just trying to recognize people in the background.

On the matter of the  wisemen/kings/magi:  we had two that actually came from the east.  One is Corky Mills, a tribal leader in her own right, hailing from Pine Ridge rez in South Dakota.   Well, she wasn’t a king in the play, but that tribal business ought to count anyway, right?   

The other was Cal Sisto who came in from Kentucky with his wife Mary last year.   This is the “First” mentioned:   Cal has never before even been in a Christmas pageant, much less a wiseman/king/magi (perhaps a portent of his eventual election at the Annual Meeting to fill the last year of a remaining term?).   And he fills the royal robe well.  All we can say is, you people in Paduca should be ashamed.

 

 

Angela introduces the pageant, and gives notice. Uh-huh.

The Last?   It has been uttered before, but she says she really means it now, that the First Lady of the parish announced at the completion of the pageant and the passing of the Peace (complete with quivering chin) this would be her last pageant to direct.   Time will tell.   Thank you, Angela, for a pageant pulled off again.   It was the best one ever.

Parish Advent/Christmas Dinner/Boutique 2008

The Burdicks, Glenn and Enola, were earlybirds and helped decorate tables

The plans for the annual Advent Holiday Season Luncheon and Boutique which had been held at the Tulare Community Church (Dutch Reformed) were scrapped this past year due to a loss of members resulting from the decision not to stick with the diocesan decision to leave The Episcopal Church.  This was a major fundraiser not only for the Episcopal Church Women’s Christmas outreach to families and the parish scholarship fund for both women and H.S. grads, but also benefitting the parish Building Fund.   The Rector, however, recommended that the ECW host a Parish dinner, invite guests if you want to, bring any boutique items you had been working on anyway, and sing, eat, fellowship, and celebrate our parish family.   It worked.  Not only did the boutique items unexpectedly net about $600 for ECW projects, but with only 50 people in attendance we proved once again that we need to double the size of the parish hall (which we hope to do in 2009).   Donations to the Building Fund gladly accepted!   Included here are a couple of teaser photos.   Then click here to see all of Lorraine’s photos of the event.

What can we say? Sometimes ECW officers get a little testy about the kitchen : Janet, Susan, Sandy make last minute food preparations

St. Nicholas Eve at St. John’s

We gathered on the Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, to celebrate the source of our culture’s fascination with Ol’ St. Nick, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Sinter Klaus, Santa Claus, whose very source of ministry and mission was Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
There are several connections we attempt to make with the children who attend between St. Nicholas and the Christmas feast, between this patron saint of children (and sailors) and the Church today. We do that without losing the sense of wonder and delight in things “beyond the veil.” So we allow the old custom (most faithfully carried out these days by the northern Europeans, especially the Dutch) of one shoe left outside the door – in this case of the nave – hoping that ol’ St. Nick will indeed make a stop with his horse, in visiting children around the globe.
In the meantime, we worship by singing some fun songs (like “Kids of the Kingdom” and “Jesus loves me this I know”), praying together, hearing Jesus speak to us about loving each other, just as he has loved us, and that this is his new commandment, by hearing the application of that commandment in the life and ministry of Bishop Nicholas. We take some time to learn that the vestments brought back to the Anglican Communion through the Anglo-Catholic movement in the 1800’s, and now the default vesting uniform in The Episcopal Church and other Provinces, is most likely in essence the same as what Bp Nicholas might have worn. The first photo – although blurred, sorry – shows Fr. Eaton proclaiming, “Behold, the cincture!” … or “rope” as they all said in response to the question, “What is this?”
This year, just as we finished saying the Lord’s Prayer together, we hear the horse bells outside the door, and we all ran out to catch a hoped-for glimpse of the good bishop himself. We did see him, as he glided around the corner of the office building in the dark, and then out of sight. Two of our youngsters are convinced they saw him go into the rector’s office — but upon investigation he proved nowhere in sight.

one half of St. Nick's Advance Team

Some of the kids waiting for the worship to begin, having left one shoe at the door.

After the excitement of nearly catching up with St. Nicholas, noting that the carrot and apple left for the horse had been gnawed on, and the waffle left for the bishop had been partially consumed, and seeing all the goodies piled up in our shoes, we went into the parish hall (Rankin Hall) and had a little party with our goodies, the super balls, the tops, the necklaces, some hot chocolate and cider, and conversation.
A good time was had by all. May good memories be retained that our parish is a good place, a safe place, a fun place, and most importantly where we make connections to Jesus, and are challenged to be His disciples.

Enjoying the party and shoe surprises that St. Nick left

About marriage (again)

Recently, Dear Eagles, the bishop of Central New York, Skip Adams, sent out a memo regarding a resolution that had been passed at their fall diocesan convention. It had to do with marriage. “Eagles that Pray” is for all ages so I’ll limit my vocabulary in describing the content of the memo. Basically, the bishop said that if you are a candidate for ordination and you are married and you “engage in a relationship” outside that marriage, then you will be immediately dropped from consideration for ordination. He didn’t say how that carnal knowledge becomes apparent, but I would presume either by admitting to it, or by being caught.
And that is how it should be.
I might add that any member of the Church, whether ordained, in process for ordination, or not ordained, would be sinning in this situation, that is, acting in direct opposition to God’s will for men and women and their “engaging in a relationship”. The 10 commandments are still in force, and Jesus said nothing to undermine them, and everything to uphold them.
So far, so good.
But then the bishop goes on to say that since the state of New York had yet to clarify the ability of those of the same gender to “marry”, then a potential ordinand who is “engaged in a relationship” with another person of the same gender, and who has shown this relationship to be monogamous, will be considered to be for all intents and purposes married. So, then, if the candidate for ordination in this scenario “engages in a relationship” with someone else other than the person in that previous declared monogamous relationship, they will also be immediately removed from the ordination process and program.
Again, the bishop didn’t say how that carnal knowledge becomes apparent, but I would presume either by admitting to it, or by being caught. And – all things considered equal – this how it should be.

If all things were considered equal between these kinds of relationships.
But they are not; not in God’s eyes.

The scripture is clear; and by that I mean the will of God expressed unilaterally, and by prophets and teachers, and by Jesus himself. All “engaging in a relationship” is to only take place within the bonds of Holy Matrimony, marriage. And further proclaimed, marriage demands a man and a woman.
Without enumerating all the various benefits and joys that come from marriage, the basic message regarding marriage and this particular issue is that if you have a desire to “engage in a relationship” then getting married in order to “engage” is your only option. All other “engaging” is a sin, or is sinning.

As my colleague, Deacon Phil has commented, “Even if the State of New York allows for gay “marriage” there is nothing in TEC’s Constitution or Canons that allow for marriage as anything between man and woman. Even the BCP’s blessing of a civil marriage speaks of “husband” and “wife” not “partner” and “other partner.”

Let’s be clear once again: Christian Marriage is not possible between two persons of the same gender. Thus, even if they think they are, they aren’t married in the eyes of God. Thus, any “engaging in a relationship” between them is still the breaking of the appropriate Commandment and, thus, they are not eligible for ordination.

That’s it, plain and simple.
As your Rector, my signature must accompany the application for ordination of any parishioner. There may certainly be persons who are validly called to the ordained ministry who might be of any persuasion. But if they are “engaged in a relationship” outside of marriage, then they are being unrepentantly disobedient to God’s will and the definitions of marriage upheld by The Episcopal Church’s Constitution and Canons, and the Book of Common Prayer, and I will withhold my approval and signature. My pastoral response at that time would be to help them correct their “engaging” through repentance and confession, assist them as an agent of God’s healing of their misperceptions, and, hopefully, bring them back around to the ordination process when correction and healing have been accomplished.

It may seem strange to you, but I do appreciate – in a stringent sort of way – the clarity of Bp Adams in spelling out what he is willing to accept and not accept. He is totally wrong regarding marriage. But at least everyone knows what they are dealing with in him.

Again, this is not just a matter for candidates for ordination. If you are “engaged in a relationship” outside of marriage (in any of the ways noted above), then you are in a sinful relationship. Stop it, now. Repent, confess your sin, and be restored to full relationship with Heavenly Father, though your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

pastoring in love,

Fr. Rob Eaton

new post at Surrounded

Eagles,
I’ve posted a new article on the weakness of evangelism in our Church, and the need to pray for and look for and discover the Spirit-gifted evangelists in our midst. It is at my weblog, Surrounded.

Fr. Rob

Box Notes – 11/27/2008 : Thanksgiving Revisited

Back in November, 2003, while I and many of my local pastoral colleagues were writing articles for a religious column, I was on the schedule for the article that would be published at Thanksgiving.  While looking for some notes for my Thanksgiving Day sermon this year I came across it in my computer harddrive archives.   With some comments of reflection now 5 years after, here it is:

 

Rehearsing Thanksgivings

Thanksgiving Day sermon, 2003, and Local Newspaper Pastor Column the same weekend

The Rev. Robert G. Eaton,  Rector, St. John Episcopal Church, Tulare

Musicians know _ sometimes from embarrassing experience _ that rehearsal is extremely important for the satisfactory quality of the final performance. Any quality performance requires rehearsal. Football teams _ well, at least coaches _ know that practice (rehearsal) is extremely important in being ready for your opponent on the field. Any athletic endeavor demands practice to have the hope of a winning season. If families are going to “win” during those moments of stress and crisis that inevitably arrive, they need to have “rehearsed” the skills of being family. You know, listening, caring, forgiving, cooperation, “team effort”, personal responsibility, loving, respecting…… Any family that’s going to even just survive has to “rehearse” these action_values on a daily basis.

In the same way, I’m telling you that “thanksgiving” is going to be demanded of you in greater and greater measure _ especially as people of Faith _ even in this amazing nation of ours, the United States of America. We are beginning to wonder if we really believe any more, “In God we Trust.”

I can’t think of a Thanksgiving Day service in recent memory where I or someone else didn’t say aloud something like this: “We should be grateful, and give thanks to God, that we live in this great nation, where we are free to worship as we choose, and to proclaim our faith as our boldness allows, without fear of governmental reprisal,” which would then be followed by some example of another place in another nation somewhere on the globe where terrible persecution has taken place, or where personal liberties have been trampled.

We would go on to share how Christians, for example, despite some horrific situation had the unreal strength to “give thanks to God”, and proclaim their faith in the risen Jesus Christ, and how we would hope to have the same ability if we were standing in their footprints.

What I’m warning you about is that the times of crisis, and the moments of personal pain, and the need for courage and boldness, and the environment of “free and easy” society for people of Faith, are very gradually coming upon us. We need to rehearse being people that give thanks, so when that unimaginable time is upon us, we know how to be thankful to God even then. I’m warning you because it’s still way too easy to “give thanks” and at the same time take it all for granted.

We are seeing in our lifetime the consequences of a major shift in the basic priorities of how we do business in our nation, and of the privileges of Christian life that have for too long simply been presumed. Now, you’ll never catch me saying that there has ever truly been any “good ‘ol days.” But we have long taken for granted that the institutions of our lives – such as government, our judicial system, education, and even of the institution of marriage – are what they are because that’s what they are”supposed to be.” You fill in the blanks. You just can’t take any of it for granted any more.

You might not agree with me regarding the State of the Union, or western civilization in general; nor might you agree with my conviction that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and thus has the answers for the degradation of society. But you cannot disagree if you have any understanding of the personal demands made in times of oppression, that what is demanded can only be produced by what is known and rehearsed _ and those occasional moments of pure Grace.

Another way to say it is, “You get out of it what you put into it.” Combined with God’s amazing grace.

Christians are called to be people of Thanksgiving. “In every situation….” said St. Paul. Every situation. If you practice now, soon you will begin to appreciate the spectrum difference between giving thanks over a large, juicy turkey, and giving true thanks to God over a can of beans because without it you wouldn’t have anything. What a witness. But if you don’t rehearse your thanksgivings now, you won’t be able to see it then. What a miserable life.

Become a thanks giving person now, so you can be one then.

 END OF ARTICLE ****

 

So now, 5 years later, having gone through so much in our Church, our parish, and quite recently in our national economy and specifically the stock market severe decline, the question is, did those who read my article back then practice over those 5 years so that they could express their thanks to God in every situation?  

And even if you didn’t read my article, surely you have read Paul’s words on your own where he proscribes giving thanks always, and in the same way, giving thanks in every situation?  In all things?

But if you didn’t follow my exhortation, and you didn’t heed the Word of God, surely five years of increase in age has also provided you with an increase in natural wisdom so that – with a sense of patient endurance – you are able to still give thanks for all the little things and the bigger things?

Some will shake their heads.  In my own life i recognize issues and areas of life and relationship and work where my own resolve to not let them get the best of me has failed.

Apparently, practice still makes perfect.

Apparently, there is still the need to rehearse.

The Christian response is to not just give thanks to the prevailing winds,
but to poinpoint the source of every good andperfect gift, that being God,

In our National life we gain respect by showing and giving respect, and so we can share around the table what we are thankful for and with insight that befits our age we can expand our thanks for the national life, the environment of freedom, the society which affirms our pursuit of dreams and hopes.   And then pray that these will continue.

In our relationship with God we gain not just respect for God but also train ourselves to continue to give thanks for the presence of God and his love for us in every and any situation by giving thanks now, the daily rehearsal providing the discipline necessary to give thanks when it seems not so elicited by bad circumstances.   We give thanks for yesterday, today and yes, tomorrow, for we know that the promise of Jesus is true, “and, behold, I am with you now and for evermore.”

Seeing what we are thankful for is one thing; Giving thanks now in order to be prepared for hings to come is another.

So, with all that is going on around us, How’s that going for you?

Be prepared,  give thanks.

 

 

Box notes – 11/21/08, Friday in Proper 28

St. John’s Cycle using the BCP Daily Lectionary for 2008 through Advent 1, Year Two

 at Morning Prayer – use the Venite; Psalm 102; James 5:7-12

at Evening Prayer – use the Magnificat; Psalm 107:1-32; Luke 18:1-8

for End of Day (using Compline, or “At the Close of Day”)- use Psalm 134; Malachi 3:1-12

 Luke 18:1-8 (NRSV)

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”‘
6And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

 

Thought:  Justice.  A word used so haphazardly these days, and with less respect for the power of its meaning.   A Supreme Court justice.  The political process of selection of a Justice itself provides for room to deride or exalt, usually depending upon not the hoped for wisdom of a ruling, but upon whether the ruling satisfies the needs of an individual’s or group’s opinion.  I suppose that’s always the way its been wherever “appointments” to the bench are made.

 Still, even in this parable where Jesus does indeed recognize the imperfect human capacity of a judge to be self-serving (or serving someone else’s agenda in return for lining the pocket with gold) and He himself disdains what value of justice could come from such a judge, Jesus reveals that true justice – and that which comes inspired (in the NT sense of that word) by God the Father’s Love and Concern for what is right for His People – can and will be given, ruled.  At this point, turning now to the word in the greek (ekdikesis) that is used several times in this short paragraph we are faced with the power that is unleashed in justice, and that in direct confrontation with how our society has lessened the meaning.   Here Jesus says the widow has not just an “opponent” (like in checkers, or in quilt making) but an adversary (probably more like a cheating landlord, or some societal parasite) taking advantage of a widow’s less than secure and less than protected place in that society.  And she is looking for “justice”, that is, a revenging, vengeance, punishment.

extension: God will bring this kind of justice — vengeance, punishment — for his people who are crying out.  “Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?”  Yes. Revenge.  Very consistent, don’t you think?  Remember, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord”?  That doesn’t just mean I can’t take vengeance into my own hands.  It also means God will take vengeance.  And if that is the case, then my job – with the exercising of my faith – is to wait for God to get the job done.

challenge:  the Church today must see that working for justice (“for all”?) doesn’t simply mean trying to make things right.  In harsh words, it means “taking out” those who you claim offended you in such a way that you have deemed them your enemy, your adversary.  And that is exactly the reason God claims the role of justice for himself, because He is the true judge, and he makes no mistakes in making sure the right people get the right punishment.  To make it clear, human beings constantly fail to “get it right”, and we allow so many unjust thoughts, emotions, passions, etc., (the self) to inform or should I say corrupt OUR attempt to handle justice.

So what are we to do?  Cry out to the Lord for Justice, and wait for Him to accomplish it.  And that takes Faith.   Even more sobering than waiting upon the Lord for justice, is that Jesus, in the same way that he is not naive about the fact there are obviously unjust judges who only give in to the irritation of badgering, also is not naive about our ability – should I say inability –  to exercise the kind of Faith he asks of us.   But that is not an exemption on his part to us.  Rather, it sets the standard, and exhibits his frustration and skepticism of even the People of God.  That alone should put us on our faces before him.  Our prayer:  “Lord, my situation is unjust.  I am sorely tempted to take matters into my own hands.  But by your grace and assistance, I can live with this.  You will take revenge for me.  Just get here quickly.”

Box Notes – 11/20/08, Thursday in Proper 28

St. John’s Cycle using the BCP Daily Lectionary for 2008 through Advent 1, Year Two

 at Morning Prayer – use the Venite; Psalm 105, Part 1; James 4:13 – 5:6

at Evening Prayer – use the Magnificat; Psalm 105, Part 2; Luke 17:20-37

for End of Day (using Compline, or “At the Close of Day”)- use Psalm 134; Malachi 2:1-16

 

Mal. 2:1-16 (NRSV)

And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings;  indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. 4Know, then, that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts. 5My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.  

 Thought:  a set of verses that every ordained person should take seriously.  I did, and as soon as I applied it to me, a reason  a sinful pattern on my part – immediately popped into my mind.   Thank you, Lord, for delivering me.

The baptism of Miracle

Miracle’s family came to us as the result of a community-wide outreach effort, where a parishioner and neighor’s lawn sign (“Walk This Way”) became the subject of a discussion, and then invitation.  That was last year, about this time.  With a grace-filled measure of Jesus’ Love, we have cared for them, prayed with them, assisted them, made room for them, visited them, and encouraged them.  They have responded with a great deal of involvement both in worship and program, and service.

Miracle was received by her aunt at the very moment of her birth, and has lived with her ever since.  Her mother was incapable of caring for her.  Pre-natal drug abuse, and being HIV positive should answer your curiosity.   Now 4 years old and showing miraculously little emotional or physical difficulties, it was time to bring her to the sacrament of Holy Baptism.   Without the capability of her birth mother to provide any sort of personal blessing to the event due to an induced coma and hospitalization 4 hours away, with All Saints being an ideal time, and a sudden internal family situation taking away other scheduling options for the near future, we made the plans in just a couple of days.  Miracle and Miracle’s aunt had already identified the Godparents the week before not knowing that any baptism was imminent.

This is not how we usually plan out baptisms at St. John’s.  But with the above scenario we made it happen.  Even after the baptism was over, new family information shared made it clear this had been the right Sunday.  Praise the Lord.

Just in case, and with the prayer that Miracle’s mother survives, Fr. Eaton brought his Olympus C-765, 4.0 Megapixel, Digital Camera with movie and sound function, and asked one of the ushers to record the baptism.  It was recorded in three files for easier download, but were too large for WordPress to include here. Two segments have been posted at the “TeamEaton” family weblog.

We invite you to celebrate Miracle’s baptism, and offer your prayers for her mother, her older brother, and the brand new baby sister, also in the same hospital as her mother, and now also diagnosed HIV positive.

Box Notes – 11/19/08, Wednesday in Proper 28

St. John’s Cycle using the BCP Daily Lectionary for 2008 through Advent 1, Year Two

at Morning Prayer – use the Venite; Psalm 101, 109; James 3:13 – 4:12

at Evening Prayer - use the Magnificat; Psalm 119; Luke 17:11-19

for End of Day (using Compline, or “At the Close of Day”)- use Psalm 134; Malachi 1:1,6-14

 

Thought:  this section from Luke is so packed:

“14 When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they
were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.”

Yes, Jesus ministered to the non-Jew, the implications being extended by inference to ministry to the marginalized, although it should be said in this case that Jesus did not seek out the Samaritan.  The Samaritan – both as one of a group that looked for healing, and as the one who came back and praised and worshipped Jesus – sought Him out.

Of course, the Power of God through Jesus was enough to cause healing without Jesus’ physical touch.  That in itself puts us to shame in that Jesus said we should go and do likewise, and yet how often do we shrink back for whatever reason from even the physical laying on of hands and boldly pronouncing healing! – much less proclaiming it across the field.

More to the point is that the “marginalized” Samaritan, and all his leperous buddies received their healing by obeying Jesus when he said, “Go show yourselves to the priest…”  That is, they found their healing in obeying the Word of God.

challenge: Are you?

Obeying the Word of God?

Box Notes – 11/18/08, Tuesday in Proper 28

St. John’s Cycle using the BCP Daily Lectionary for 2008 through Advent 1, Year Two

at Morning Prayer - use the Jubilate; Psalm 97, 99; James 3:1-12

at Evening Prayer – use the Magnificat; Psalm 94; Luke 17:1-10

for End of Day (using Compline, or “At the Close of Day”)- use Psalm 95; Habakkuk 3:1-10(11-15)16-18

 

Thought:  In the reading from James today, there is the painfully obvious and self-convicting exhortation regarding the power of the tongue.  Where does the tongue get its information?  If the tongue were to be cut out, the damage to another person would not be done.  But that does not mean that what prompted the wagging of the tongue in the first place wouldn’t still be in operation.  And so James says at the end of the reading that fresh water does not come from a salty spring.  I think there is a matter of will and discipline that is of James’ first concern, and that not of the individual disciple’s overall spiritual, mental and emotional health, although the self-reflective part is very clear.  The matter is that you do damage to others, and your love for others is your faith in action.  If your tongue wags, thus, hurting and damaging others, bringing question by others to your obedience to God through the first four commandments (at the least), causing others to be less disciplined in their own walk with God and love for others, then you can rightly assume that your Faith is corrupted — or to be nicer about it, your Faith is less than it should be.  

Extension: But here is where James is quite realistic, not naive about human nature.   There is no command, there is no strong imperative in this section.   The tongue is such a loose thing even those of great discipline can fail in its wagging.   It is quite clear, still, that James is pointing out what the disciple of Jesus must guard against.  If there is no command as such (because such commands are so easily failed, perhaps?), then it becomes a sign.  That is, if you catch your tongue wagging, then you must also question your Faith in Jesus, and at the least, the resolve or strength of that Faith.   If you have to ask the question, “But what if I can’t tell?”, then you probably are in denial about what’s coming out of your mouth (although I would allow for the Christian with such personal holiness that they have no idea what it means for their tongue to wag in an evil manner).   

Challenge/Application: Will you pray about it, then?  And I mean specifically.   Not just, “God help me keep my tongue in check (if that’s a problem)”, but the harder prayer, “Lord, does my tongue wag?  (remember to pause for an answer!) I don’t want my Faith in Christ to be in immortal danger.  Show me what I have said that was obnoxious, snotty, hurtful, spiteful, unnecessary,  slanderous, disdainful, smug, a put down, overbearing, manipulative, lashing, false, a lie, unholy, faith deriding, and blasphemous.  And if not in word, then in tone and manner.  And while I’m working on getting a hold on my tongue, give me help, Lord, to know its okay just to keep my mouth shut.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen”

Oh, how much better the Church, the Body of Christ, would fare if only to excercise this discipline.

RGE+

What about 8?

Father Eaton authorized the saying in the message board outside, the Sunday prior to the vote regarding the California Constitution defining marriage as between a man and woman.  It says:

God defines marriage with essential factors.

Some in The Episcopal Church are having a great amount of difficulty holding to a clearly defined understanding of marriage as found in the Holy Scriptures.

Now that the Measure passed, which asserts what those essential factors are, What do you think, Eagles?  Bible?  Marriage?  Church?  Societal norms?   Personal “rights”?