tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46895461629455142362024-03-13T02:29:32.695-04:00Charles HawkinsCharles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-8100069441343330032023-11-03T11:16:00.001-04:002023-11-03T11:20:37.964-04:00<p><strong style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This was in USA Today:</strong></p><p><strong style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Our churches are dying. To reach Gen Z, faith leaders must get back to the basics.</strong></p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">If religious leaders do not make some serious adjustments, 20 years from now a whole lot of church buildings are going to be restaurants.</span><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Read in USA TODAY: <a href="https://apple.news/Aj0Zji2nNT-WmI8OlY06SoA">https://apple.news/Aj0Zji2nNT-WmI8OlY06SoA</a></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I believe Hilliard is right about almost every observation made. And, I note what Hilliard describes as desirable is a good description of the Episcopal Church. We are what Hilliard believes the Church needs to become. </p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hilliard wants the Church to ordain women. (We've been doing it since 1976)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hilliard wants the Church to address issues like</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> poverty, trafficking, health care, education, addiction and other moral issue that warrant our concern. (Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheEPPN/" target="_blank">Episcopal </a></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheEPPN/" target="_blank">Public Policy Network</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">My </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">quibble with Hilliard (and it is a quibble) is with the assumption that if you are 25 years old and not going to worship services on Sunday, you will never be going to worship services on Sunday. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">It is true that our parishes are full of senior citizens on Sunday mornings. But, it is also true that I (and everyone else) is getting older every day. We replace those senior citizens who are dying with predictable regularity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The "Baby Boomer" generation was large (hence the name). Generations behind the "Boomers" are smaller. There will be decline in the days to come, but it is not because 25 year olds are not attending worship services. And, for Episcopalians (who are doing everything Hilliard says we all should be doing) it will not be due to climate change denial or gender (or sexual) discrimination.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Some decline is due to all the items Hilliard notes and all the changes Hilliard advocates are correct. But, some decline is just demographics.</span></p><div><br /></div>Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-12662770204482644952023-01-10T16:49:00.005-05:002023-01-10T16:49:43.487-05:00<p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Some thoughts on Holy Week</strong></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></strong></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If you grew up as a Baptist (like I did), you may find it helpful to think of Holy Week in the Episcopal Church as a "Revival Meeting" in a Baptist Church. </span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Growing up, the congregation of my childhood would annually host a revival. The event was to (as the name implies) revive one's faith.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Revivals often followed a pattern. Worship services were held every day for a week (or two sometimes). The themes would change from day to day. I could always count on a sermon on a particular topic on a specific night. And, we prepared. The preparation also meant anticipation. Several weeks before the revival, we would pray that we would be revived and that God would rekindle our faith.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Holy Week in the Episcopal Church is similar in that there are multiple worship services. And each night has a particular theme. And we prepare for Holy Week.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">We begin our preparation with Ash Wednesday. Then, for 40 days (the season of Lent), we "get ready."</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Holy Week in the Episcopal Church is a little like a week-long spiritual retreat. (Except you get to sleep in your bed.) It is a time for you to focus on God.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. We will remember the triumphant procession of Jesus into Jerusalem, and we will retell the passion story (Palm Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday).</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">On Wednesday evening of Holy Week at St. John's, a special liturgy called Tenebrae is prayed. The liturgy is a meditation on the final three days of the life of Jesus. It is very different from anything else we do liturgically at St. John's, and we only pray this liturgy once a year.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Thursday of Holy Week is Maundy Thursday. We recall Jesus washing the disciples' feet, and we remember the institution of the Lord's Supper (Holy Eucharist). On Thursday, we remember the Last Supper.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Friday of Holy Week is Good Friday. On Friday, we remember the crucifixion and the death of Christ. We read the passion narrative from John's gospel each year.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">We do all this in preparation for the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday after sunset. The Great Vigil of Easter is the central act of worship in the Episcopal Church. At St John's, the vigil begins at 8:00 p.m. Every Sunday after that is a little Easter. The Great Vigil is the worship experience we have been preparing for, starting with Ash Wednesday. The Great Vigil is the climax of Holy Week, and experiencing the liturgy of the Great Vigil of Easter is to have a religious experience that revives your soul.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Do you feel the need for a revival of your spiritual life? Do you feel the need for a spiritual retreat? If so, I encourage you to observe Holy Week this year.</span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Preparation begins on Ash Wednesday. </span></p>Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-54090564033815927682022-04-11T14:10:00.001-04:002022-04-11T14:11:24.478-04:00<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Thoughts on <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearABC_RCL/HolyWk/HolyMon_RCL.html#nt1"><span style="color: blue;">Hebrews 9:11-15</span></a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearABC_RCL/HolyWk/HolyMon_RCL.html#nt1"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">There are many ways of thinking about the meaning of the death of Jesus: Peter’s eschatological “dawning of new age,” Paul’s legal musings on “justification,” Athananasius’ notions of “deification,” Anselm’s “vicarious payment,” Calvin’s “vicarious punishment,” Aulen’s “vicarious victor”—all different from each other. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /><span> </span>Our epistle reading for today is a portion of one such reflection. The writer of the book we call “Hebrews” finds the meaning of Christ’s death by exploring temple ritual as an extended metaphor or model.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">The gospels record that Jesus and his disciples traveled on more than one occasion to Jerusalem during pilgrimage time. And, following Jesus’ ascension, the first Christians, who were of course all Jews, continued to participate in the fasts, prayers, and sacrifices of the Temple in Jerusalem. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />But, as time went by some began to question whether it was proper for a follower of Jesus to participate in Jewish ritual practices. And, eventually, the view that Christians ought not participate prevailed. Thus, Christians would become one of the few groups in the Roman world, who did not offer sacrifices. And, the book of Hebrews is a defense of this rather eccentric behavior. <br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Now, the writer of the book of Hebrews has no lack of sympathy with Judaism. In fact, the author is Jewish and is well informed about Temple practices and rituals. The writer reveres the holy scriptures and worships the God of Abraham and Moses (following the practice of Jesus).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />Further, like the temple priests, and everyone else the writer knew, the writer believed forgiveness and the shedding of sacrificial blood were connected. The writer is explicit: “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (chapter 9, verse 22). The writer had, all his life, been immersed in temple rituals. Everyone the writer knows believes blood cleanses. This belief was unquestioned, taken for granted. Nevertheless, the writer rejects the practice of making sacrifices at the temple. His reasoning: Jesus’s death displaced the practice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />We, however, find the notion (“without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”) difficult and alien. It is hard for us to wrap our minds around this metaphor. It makes no sense to us. For this reason, contemporary theologians who want to explore this metaphor spend most of their time explaining <i>how</i> the shedding of blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sin. The notion is not obvious to us.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">But, to understand our epistle lesson for today, you only need to understand that the writer of the book of Hebrews, unquestionably believes “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />For the writer, Jesus’ death was like a temple sacrifice. Paul chooses a different extended metaphor, a different model, to explore. For Paul, God is like a judge and our relationship with God is a legal one. For Peter the extended metaphor or model was “a new age.” The dawning of a new day had been ushered in by the death of Jesus. Peter and his listeners took for granted that in the new age God would grant forgiveness to all, everyone. So, it did not seem strange to think of Jesus’ death as an eschatological event, an event of cosmic importance. Forgiveness and dawning of a new age were (to their minds) self-evidently linked. The metaphor made perfect sense.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">For Paul, Peter, and the writer of the book of Hebrews these three metaphors or models arose, quite naturally (and with all their presuppositions intact) out of a shared culture, a shared, common life.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">We are far removed from that culture, that life—both in space and in time. We tend to feel that sacrifices are repulsive and superstitious; we regard a desire for justification has quixotic or neurotic; and we regard the anticipation of a new age as escapist. <br />I am not suggesting that these metaphors or models or analogies are untrue, quite the contrary; I believe they express profound truths about the meaning of the death of Jesus. But, they do so in terms of the culture and life common to first century Jews living in Palestine—a culture and life we do not naturally share. Twenty-first century people living in Ocean Springs, Mississippi need metaphors, analogies, or models that can speak to us profound truths as these metaphors or models spoke to first century Jews living in Palestine. Providing working metaphors is the task of theologians. So, we get Athananasius’ notions of “deification,” Anselm’s “vicarious payment,” Calvin’s “vicarious punishment,” Aulen’s “vicarious victor” (to name but a few).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />No one model or metaphor can carry all the meaning of the cross. Peter’s model did not exhaust the meaning of Jesus’ death. Paul’s model did not exhaust the meaning of Jesus’ death. Likewise, Calvin’s or Anselm’s musings on the meaning of Christ’s death did not exhaust all the meaning of the cross of Christ. There is always a surplus of meaning. All models or metaphors or analogies have their limitations—stretch them or bend them too far and they break.<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Which brings us back to our second reading today. After the death of Jesus, the first Christians began to question whether it was proper for a follower of Jesus to participate in Jewish ritual practices. (Famously, Paul would say no to the practice of circumcision.) Eventually, the view that Christians ought not participate would prevail. Christians would, thus, become one of the few groups in the Roman world who did not offer sacrifices. And, the book of Hebrews is a defense of this odd behavior. The question asked: “Why don’t Christians make ritual sacrifice like everyone else?” And, the writer of the book of Hebrews answers (and I paraphrase):</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">When Jesus came as the high priest of the new Temple, he entered <i>once for all</i> into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining <i>eternal</i> redemption. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, <i>how much more</i> will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">For this reason Jesus is the High Priest of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #5a5b5e; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p></blockquote>Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-22596810892444378222021-10-05T09:32:00.002-04:002021-10-05T09:32:18.206-04:00<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: Cambria; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt;">Homily for Proper 22 Year B 2021</span></b><b style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> There are no good answers to bad questions. The assumptions and presuppositions of the question itself get in the way of providing an appropriate answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> The Pharisees ask Jesus a bad question. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> Jesus then explains to them that it is a bad question. The assumptions and presuppositions of the Pharisees provide no opportunity for a good answer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> The question arises from a discussion of the meaning of Deuteronomy 24:1-4. The passage is to provide protection to the wife and to give her certain safeguards (possession of divorce papers, right to remarry, prevention of the former husband from interfering in a subsequent marriage). Given the patriarchal nature of the culture, the protections and safeguards are rather remarkable. But, the Pharisees entirely miss that point. They reconstrue the issue at hand, and not surprisingly, make it about them. They wanted to know if they could divorce their wives. I say, “they” divorce “their” wives, because wives did not have the legal ability to “file” for divorce, only men could that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> They found themselves in a situation where the “law of the land” was in tension with the “law of God.” Legally, they were allowed to divorce their wives. But, should they?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> Rabbi Shammai said that a man may not divorce his wife unless if she is unfaithful. Rabbi Hillel said that a man may divorce his wife even if she burnt dinner. Rabbi Akiba said that a man could divorce his wife if he found someone prettier.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> And so, such was the religious debate about if it was religiously permissible to get a divorce. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to weigh in on the subject. What did he think?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> And, Jesus thinks it is a bad question. He disagrees with the assumptions and presuppositions implicit in the question itself. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is not about what grounds you need to get a divorce and you should not be making it about your wants. The Pharisees were looking for some sort of theological rationalization, and Jesus was having none of it. Jesus rejects the assumptions and presuppositions of the question they asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> And, he does so by the use of hyperbole or overstatement (a teaching technique Jesus sometimes employed).<a name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> He gives them a shocking answer. An answer, we, like the Pharisees, still find shocking (some things don’t change).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> And, the Church has been trying to explain Jesus’ answer ever since he said it. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 26.666664123535156px;">(1 Cor. 7:10-11)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">, quotes from the oral traditions of Jesus concerning the subject of divorce and his telling of the story essentially matches that of Mark. But, by the time Matthew was written, some felt need for explanation and elaboration. Matthew, when he tells the story, wants the reader to understand that Jesus was engaging in hyperbole (in case you missed it) and he is not to be taken literally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> But, we, like the Pharisees, want to justify ourselves, our behavior, our choices. (Rationalizations are, as psychologists will tell you, very important.) We aren’t concerned with protecting the vulnerable—we don’t want to be held accountable for our behavior, our choices. So, we read this story from Mark like the Pharisees first heard it, and Matthew worries his readers will read it. We too want to justify ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> So, to answer the question of the Pharisees: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Moses, Paul, and Matthew all indicate various reasons one might seek a divorce. But, Jesus does not want to talk about the exceptions to the rule—he is concerned they have lost sight of the rule itself. Jesus seeks to emphasize the permanence of marriage in an ideal world. A divorce, any divorce, reveals a failure of the ideal. The ideal is a lifelong marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> But Jesus knows, as Moses, Paul, and Matthew know, we don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a world that has gone wrong, is going wrong, and will go wrong. And in a world gone wrong, we can trust in the steadfast love of God. God’s mercy is never ending.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;"> I can imagine someone, after hearing today’s gospel, might be thinking about a previous marriage. Maybe your role in that particular gone wrongness is tiny; maybe it is gigantic. Only God can judge the size of your role in that particular gone-wrongness. It is not for you, or for me, or for anyone else to judge. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">In a few moments, we will pray the General Confession. Know that if you ask God to forgive you for the role you played in the gone-wrongness, God will forgive you. And, that is the Good News. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">When life is less than ideal, God loves you. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">You are a beloved child of God. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">And, God is always working to make something good happen out of the gone-wrongness of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">The good question would have been, "When life goes wrong does God love me?" Jesus would have had a good answer to that question. I can hear him say, “oh, yes. Always.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a> See Robert Stein, <i>Method and Message of Jesus’ Teachings</i> (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978) pp. 7-33.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-40977080726915619532020-03-17T03:03:00.004-04:002020-03-17T03:03:54.661-04:00Homily for Lent 3 Year A 2020<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Do not be afraid. As the Lord said to Lady Julian: ‘All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Dame Julian lived in Norwich in the late 14<sup>th</sup>century, early 15<sup>th</sup>century-- during the time of “Black Death,” the Peasant’s Revolt, and the suppression of the Lollards. It was, to say the least, a difficult moment in history to be alive. There was much to fear. But, from her writings: “Revelations of Divine Love” you do not learn of these things. She does not mention them. What she writes were the words of Jesus to her, words that came to her in a vision: ‘All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt;">“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?......Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">(Matt 6:25, 31, 34) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Do you know what the most oft- repeated command is in the Bible? Not “Be holy” or “Be good” or “Sin not.” It is: “Be not afraid! Fear not!”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #999999;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">In Luke’s telling, the shepherds were told to “Be not afraid, Fear not!” They lived on the fringe of society, like those who subsist on day work. They were the last to be hired, the first to be fired. They were among the most vulnerable in that society. But, the angel—messenger from God--said to <i>them</i>: "Be not be afraid, fear not!” Knowing how close fear lives to our hearts; knowing that to do anything worth doing for ourselves or for the world, we must walk through our fear—God’s message: “Be not afraid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Before the angels delivered God’s message to the shepherds, an angel had appeared to Mary. Mary was an innocent young lady, barely more than a girl, from a pious, God-fearing family, respectable, upright. She was also poor. Young. A woman. Poor. In her world, she was very vulnerable. An angel, a messenger from God, appeared to her. The messenger said: “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.” Fear not. And a few moments ago we sang of her “and blessed is she…blessed is she.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">According to Mark, on Easter morning, three women – Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome – had come to the tomb where Jesus was buried. A young man, dressed in a white robe, was sitting in a tomb. They were, understandably, alarmed. The young man’s first words were, “Don’t be afraid.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Fear most often controls our anxious hearts and minds. It stops us in our tracks, it hides all that is beautiful in the day, it kills our creativity, it keeps us from being who God made us to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">So the young man says, to the three alarmed women, “Be not afraid” – which means more than “be not afraid of me,” but be not afraid of life, of yourself, of all you are about to experience. Of women witnessing the risen Christ, we sang a few moments ago: “and blessed are they…oh, blessed are they…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">In the book of Genesis, we read of Hagar and Ishmael cast off and wandering in the desert. The skin of water that Abraham had given Hagar the day of the departure was now empty. She and her son were about to die of thirst. She placed her son under a bush and walked a distance away and said, I cannot bear to watch the death of my son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">But, God came and spoke to her and said, “Fear not…” God opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well of water. This story tells the beginning of a people, a story dear to the hearts of our Muslim neighbors. God saved Ishmael as God would save Isaac and as God continues to hear the cries of us all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">And, that brings me to another well and another woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Jesus was passing through Samaria. He came to a Samaritan holy place, <i>Jacob’s Well</i>. He was tired and thirsty. So, he asked the woman for a drink of water. The woman, no doubt, was startled by the request. Here is a Jewish man asking a Samaritan woman for a drink. There are at least three boundaries Jesus is crossing here: religion, race, gender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Some boundaries need to be maintained. During the outbreak of a novel virus, we need to follow the counsel of our public health professionals. Helping to mitigate the spread of an infectious disease is not about being afraid. It is about being helpful. You don’t wash your hands because you are fearful. You wash your hands because it is the loving thing to do, out of empathy for those around you. When you are sick, you self-quarantine; not because you are afraid, but because you don’t want to take the chance that you might accidently be spreading a novel virus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">But, not all boundaries are healthy. So, despite (no doubt) being startled by the request, she does not flee; and she and Jesus have a conversation. In the course of the conversation, she says she believes the messiah is coming. Jesus says: “I am he.” The woman becomes the apostle to the Samaritans! And, of her we sang a few moments ago: “and blessed is she…blessed is she.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">In his letter to the Philipians, the Apostle Paul wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt;">Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">(Phil 4:6-7). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">Paul speaks of the calm serenity that characterizes the very nature of God—Peace which transcends understanding. God’s peace, guarding our hearts and our minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 48px;">It was that peace Julian of Norwich found, even as she lived in a tumultuous moment in time, a time when everyone was fearful, afraid. She heard Jesus say to her: “All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">N. T. Wright, <i>Following Jesus</i>(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1994), p. 66.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-36492489966940565932019-10-09T22:25:00.001-04:002019-10-09T22:25:11.931-04:00On Spiritual "Disciplines"<div class="" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<blockquote class="" type="cite">
<div class="">
<br />Someone recently asked me about my use of the word "discipline" in a sermon. They associated the word "discipline" with punishment; a very different use of the word than the one I had in mind.</div>
</blockquote>
So, I wrote back:<br />
<br />
<div class="">
I don’t use the word “discipline” as a synonym for punishment. I most often use it in the academic sense of "a field of study.” But, in the sermon I used it as “training that molds moral character.” I actually didn’t think about people hearing “punishment” when I said “discipline.” Thank you for pointing out that punishment is one of the ways the dictionary defines the word (even if that it not my own usual usage).</div>
<div class="">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="">
When I was in high school there was a popular book: <a class="" href="https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Spiritual/dp/0062803883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HIRPE7GZGV4O&keywords=celebration+of+discipline+by+richard+foster&qid=1570672698&sprefix=celebration+of+di,aps,382&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Spiritual/dp/0062803883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HIRPE7GZGV4O&keywords=celebration+of+discipline+by+richard+foster&qid=1570672698&sprefix=celebration+of+di%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-1</a></div>
<div class="">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="">
More recently, Diana Butler Bass wrote <a class="" href="https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Congregation-Imagining-New-Church/dp/1566993059/ref=sr_1_13?crid=XX3HV8FG3FIE&keywords=diana+butler+bass&qid=1570673297&sprefix=diana+but,aps,335&sr=8-13">https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Congregation-Imagining-New-Church/dp/1566993059/ref=sr_1_13?crid=XX3HV8FG3FIE&keywords=diana+butler+bass&qid=1570673297&sprefix=diana+but%2Caps%2C335&sr=8-13</a></div>
<div class="">
She uses the word “practices” rather than “disciplines.” Perhaps, I should have used the word practices.</div>
<div class="">
<br class="" /></div>
<div class="">
I was thinking of practices that shape or form us as disciplines. Perhaps I could have used the habits. I was thinking about monastic spirituality <a class="" href="https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Benedict-Spirituality-Century-Spiritual/dp/0824525949/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2XXQX6YU7Q7AK&keywords=benedictine+spirituality&qid=1570673725&sprefix=benedictine+sp,aps,168&sr=8-2">https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Benedict-Spirituality-Century-Spiritual/dp/0824525949/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2XXQX6YU7Q7AK&keywords=benedictine+spirituality&qid=1570673725&sprefix=benedictine+sp%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-2</a> such as one of the things one might do in a “rule of life."</div>
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-73836592937693245172018-10-17T11:41:00.000-04:002018-11-07T11:03:37.722-05:00Turning on the Gloria<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">At dinner with some seminary professors, I asked about the history of the ceremonial practice of the choir "turning on the Gloria." I was currently the Rector of a parish that had this habit and was curious about its origin and unsure of its theological significance. To my surprise, none of the professors were aware of this practice, but another parish minister did indicate that he once had been the</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">priest of a parish that had the same habit. And, he assured the professors gathered that it was a widespread practice. With that, the conversation moved in another direction.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">A few months later, at yet another seminary, I tried again. But, still, none of the professors knew the answer to my question and like before had not even heard of the practice. I informed them that I had served in two congregations in different parts of the country that had this habit and in both there had been consternation as to whether or not the choristers were to "turn on the Gloria."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">From informally interviewing those who had this habit, I already knew that they had no idea why the did <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a>it, or they had a variety of views and thus no consensus opinion. Some believed they were facing the cross, others thought they were facing the altar, many believed they were facing God when directly addressing God in prayer, and most said they did it because everyone else was doing it and not to do it would be odd. Others spoke of reverence, and still, others spoke of the enjoyment of "doing it right" and beauty of the liturgy and being part of a "dance with God."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Various priests had given them multiple answers when they had asked the question over the years, and I was sure that the priests (as priests are prone to do when they don't know the answer) just made stuff up.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">So, doing what any sensible person would do, I went to the library. I spent a day “in the stacks,” sometimes laying the floor and pulling one book off the shelf after another, dipping into and out of numerous tomes. And, it turns out…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">In the mid-nineteenth century, a renewed appreciation for catholic ceremonial practice appeared in the English church. The “Oxford Movement” (or “Tractarianism”) gained a faithful following in the Church of England. (If you are fuzzy on the history, see J. R. H. Moorman’s chapter on the subject in his “A History of the Church in England). Supporting this movement was a group of architects, the Cambridge Camden Society, which promoted the construction of places of worship that were congruent with the ceremonial practices of the Tractarians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">John Purchas’ “Directorium Anglicanum” (1858) is an example of the interest in reclaiming a more catholic theology and practice. Interestingly, Purchas was charged with breaking ecclesiastical law in 1869 for (among other things) facing east at the altar. </span><br />
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">The definitive guide for clergy who desired to adopt these practices was Percy Dearmer’s “The Parson’ Handbook” (1899 with many subsequent editions).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">While the Tractarians were attempting to recapture a lost past, innovations were nonetheless introduced. The Cambridge Camden Society’s preference for chancels with facing stalls was soon populated by choristers in surplices. For instance, in Leeds in 1841, a worship space built in the spirit of the Cambridge Camden Society saw the west gallery disappear, and a vested choir appear in facing stalls between the nave and the sanctuary.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">The style became very popular and Dearmer, via many editions of his handbook, helped shape how the space was used. </span><br />
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">The Oxford Movement coincided with a revival in choral church music. (There is an excellent doctoral dissertation written on the subject by Bernarr Rainbow, “The Choral Revival in the Anglican Church 1839-1872”). So, in parishes experiencing both the choral revival and the Oxford Movement, accommodations had to be made. Since the choristers were vested, they mimicked the movements of the clergy. When the clergy knelt, they knelt. When the clergy stood, they stood. When the clergy turned to face east, so did the choristers.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Cranmer’s rubrics called for the priest to officiate from the North side of the altar, which was why Purchas’ could be charged with breaking ecclesiastical law for facing East (he also placed candles on the altar and formed processions!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Facing east during certain portions of the liturgy, was one of the many ritual practices of the Tractarians<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a>. And, when the ministers would turn, the choristers would also turn. With everyone vested and seated in the chancel correctly performing the choreography, it </span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">is was, no doubt, an aesthetically pleasing sight.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Of course, not all clergy were Anglo-Catholics. So, when a more evangelical, Protestant, or “broad church” priest would follow an Anglo-Catholic priest in a parish, ceremonial practice was apt to change. Or, at the very least, the interpretation (explanation) of the practice was apt to change. For instance, rather than “facing east” the turning might be described as “facing the cross.” Even Anglo-Catholics would become confused in time and begin describing the practice as “facing the altar.” That is, the practice continued, but a new understanding emerged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">The Cambridge Camden Society was enormously successful, and many parishes were built according to</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">it’s <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a>specifications, and others were retrofitted accordingly. But, much to the dismay of</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">its </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">members, many congregations refused to alter their buildings or when building new structures conform to the dictates of the Cambridge Camden Society.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">And, as priests began pulling altars away from the wall and facing west to celebrant Holy Eucharist, some consternation arose amongst choristers sitting in stalls facing each other in the chancels as to what to do. Thus, a period of experimentation ensued in local parishes, depending on the sensibilities of the priest in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">By 1979, when the prayer book allowed a song of praise other than the Gloria to be said at the opening of Holy Eucharist, confusion arose as to when and if to turn. Did one always turn on the “song of praise” or only if the song of praise was the “Gloria.” Some would not turn if it was the “Kyrie” or the “Trisagion” but would only turn if the song of praise was the “Gloria.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Followers of the Oxford</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Movement were often passionate about “doing it right.” Parishioners often absorbed the passion of the Anglo-Catholic priest, but often never knew or soon forgot the theology that drove the practice. So, once such a priest departed the parish, parishioners were often left unsure as to what to do, but very concerned about “doing it right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">This insistence on "doing it right" was not confined to the Anglo-Catholics. Evangelically minded protestants were also very concerned about ceremonial practices, and for them "doing it right" often meant doing what they had been doing before the Oxford </span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Movement began mudding the waters.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Broad Churchmen were not exempt from these ceremonial woes. Temperamentally</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">and theologically comfortable with many of the practices of the Anglo-Catholics on the one hand and the Evangelicals on the other, practice in many parishes became not one or the other but some combination of the two. But, what combination could vary widely from parish to parish.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"></a><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">Further, as parishioners moved from one parish to another, they would take with them the practices of their former congregation. For many parishes' a ceremonial stew was thus served with a sprinkle of this and a dash of that. Such is the nature of the history of institutions as they evolve, develop, and change over time.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";">So, to answer the question: "Why do we do that?" In sum, the choral revival of the mid-</span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="caret-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);">nineteenth century in England, the Oxford Movement of Anglicanism, and the work of the Cambridge Camden Society mark the beginning of the current practice (in some parishes) of "turning on the Gloria."</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-44847595374311155882018-04-06T15:12:00.002-04:002018-04-06T15:12:05.261-04:00Sin<div class="MsoNormal">
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romans 3:23.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a preacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t know anything about politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
I do know a few things about sin (most from personal experience).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve
sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all fallen short of the glory God
intends for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for me, my sins are many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of my sins is that I am a racist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not proud of my sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am ashamed of my sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask God
to forgive me of things I’ve done and things I’ve left undone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After confessing my sin, I repent of it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pledge not to continue doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often I fail.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With regard to racism, I have in the past referred to myself
as a “recovering racist.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both words
“recovering” and “racist” are important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a sinner, and I
am, by the grace of God, called to change.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the modes of the manifestation of sin can be the
“blindspot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The analogy is to driving
on I-10 and beginning to change lanes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You check your mirrors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You turn
your head and look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You begin to change
lanes, when suddenly into your line of sight you see that you are soon to
collide with a car in the other lane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You had a blindspot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note that you looked to see if there was anyone driving in
the other lane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You checked your
mirrors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You turned your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You did not intend to collide with another
vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a good person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your intentions are good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, nonetheless, you had a blindspot and
sometimes collisions happen because of blindspots.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have friends who tell me when I’ve spilled lunch on my
shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know I haven’t noticed it,
maybe because of its location, I can’t see it without looking in a mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends do that for each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is embarrassing when I spill something on
my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am embarrassed when I am
told that I have spilled something on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, friends don’t let you go around all day with a food stain on your
shirt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These two different analogies are important to the current
nature of my own sin of racism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friends who have skin that is darker than mine, tell me I
am a good person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would never use a
racial or ethnic slur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It upsets me when
others do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not conscious of any
racist thoughts or feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite the
contrary, I am appalled when I see someone engaging in racist behavior or
speaking in racist language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can even
imagine people who know me protesting:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You are no racist.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, I
certainly do not want to think of myself as a racist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, at this point in my life, I am a racist
because I have blindspots.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The thing about a blindspot—you don’t see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By its nature, you do not see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a “spot” of blindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are “blind” to that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“spot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have a blindspot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, with
regard to race, I have blindspots.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am continually learning the many ways in which I am
enmeshed in the sin of racism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
my blindspots cause collisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes I narrowly escape a wreck.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which brings me back to my second analogy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends sometimes tell me when I’ve
spilled lunch on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, my
friends sometimes tell me when I am engaging in racist behavior or using racist
language.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things I had never thought about before are brought to my
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that it does not matter
that I did not intend to spill lunch on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor, does it matter that I don’t often spill
lunch on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps, I have a
long history of being very good at not spilling lunch on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, in this case, despite my exemplary
history and best intentions, I have, in fact, spilled lunch on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, it does not matter that I did not
intend a particular action to be racist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It does not matter that I have a history of not being overtly racist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not matter than people think of me as
a generally good person and I like to think of myself as a well-intentioned
generally good person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because, I
discover, much to my surprise, that I have, in this case, despite my exemplary
history and best intentions, engaged in racist behavior or used racist
language.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes sin can be related to “blindspots” and “food stains.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sin of racism is no different.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I saw the mayor of Ocean Springs, the Honorable Shae Dobson,
on T.V. today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked that we give the
aldermen of Ocean Springs and himself, the benefit of the doubt, that they are good
people who are well-intentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
citizens of Ocean <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Springs should have no problem believing their good
intentions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those unknown to you
personally, you should have no problem believing that if you did know them, that
you would find them to be genuinely good people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should give each other the benefit of the
doubt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know it is a blind spot for many, but the current design
of the state flag of Mississippi is, in fact, a racist symbol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean
it is not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is the nature
of a “blind spot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a friend, you tells you you’ve spilled something on
your shirt, fellow citizens of Ocean Springs have pointed out the “stain” on
our civic “shirt.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ve sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve all
sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my current struggles with
sin (I have several), is with the sin of racism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I beg my friends whose skin is darker than my
own, to bear with me, giving me the benefit of the doubt with regard to my good
intentions, but, nonetheless, never failing to tell me when I have fallen into
the sin of racism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve been told we have erred and gone astray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect it is a civic blindspot for
many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a friend, telling you that
you have spilled something on your shirt; in the love of Christ and as a
friend, I need to tell Ocean Springs that we are flying a symbol of racism over
our city hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, unintentional it
may be, it is nonetheless sinful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
need to confess our sin and repent of our sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Until the state legislature removes the battle flag of the confederacy
from the state flag, we should not fly the state flag over our city hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to confess our sin and then we need
to stop flying the state flag in its current design.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>906</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5168</o:Characters>
<o:Company>St. John's Episcopal Church</o:Company>
<o:Lines>43</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>12</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6062</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-60334277357694183032017-11-22T16:48:00.001-05:002017-11-22T16:49:15.002-05:00My thoughts today on hearing that the Board of Alderman of the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi voted last night to fly the current state flag of Mississippi over city hall<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps";">Symbols are powerful. And, s</span></span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12pt;">ymbols are particularly important to the life and practice of people of faith. Symbols are important to us, because we know the power of symbols.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps";">The </span></span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Baptismal Covenant of the Book of Common Prayer calls Episcopalians to “<a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/baptismal-covenant" target="_blank">respect the dignity of every human being</a>.” Further, we Episcopalians have been called to <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/4th-mark-mission" target="_blank">“transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.”</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps";">The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi</span></span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: small;"> considers <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3240761/Resolution_to_Remove_the_Confederate_Battle_Flag_from_the_State_Flag.pdf" target="_blank">"the continued inclusion of the Confederate Battle Flag in the state flag of Mississippi to be at odds with a faithful witness to the reconciling love of Jesus Christ." </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps";">In 2016, t</span></span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;">he Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi called upon the legislature of the state of Mississippi to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from the state flag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 12.000000pt;">I will be sad to see such a divisive </span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">emblem flying over the City Hall of Ocean Springs.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-24070962163421320622016-07-29T21:02:00.002-04:002016-07-29T21:02:43.555-04:00My working thesis of the moment:<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
Pollsters mislabel and thus misunderstand an important segment of the electorate. What they often call “Evangelical” in polls about American politics, should more properly be labeled “Jacksonian.” It puzzles outsiders that “Evangelicals” would give their political support to Trump, but if you change that label to “Jacksonians,” then no puzzlement is necessary. See Walter Russel Mead’s, “The Jacksonian Tradition.” <span style="color: #e4af09;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-5-JeCa2Z7hZmU2ZTg0OTktYTRlNC00NzA2LThlOWItYzg5ODU4NTViYTE0/view?pref=2&pli=1">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-5-JeCa2Z7hZmU2ZTg0OTktYTRlNC00NzA2LThlOWItYzg5ODU4NTViYTE0/view?pref=2&pli=1</a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-81251321494012770812016-06-30T11:21:00.002-04:002016-06-30T11:21:22.521-04:00<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">In </span>prepping for this week's sermon I ran across a sermon I preached for Proper 9 Year C in 2010.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Homily for Proper 9 Year C 2010 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Louisville</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Episcopal Church has set aside July 4 of each year as a day of prayer for our nation. Proper Psalms, Lessons, and Prayers were first appointed for this observance in the Proposed Prayer Book of 1786. They were deleted, however, by the General Convention of 1789, primarily as a result of the intervention of Bishop William White. Though himself a supporter of the American Revolution, he felt that the required observance was inappropriate, since the majority of the Church’s clergy had, in fact, been loyal to the British crown.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Writing about the Convention which had called for the observance of the day throughout “this Church, on the fourth of July, for ever,” White said, “The members of the convention seem to have thought themselves so established in their station of ecclesiastical legislators, that they might expect of the many clergy who had been averse to the American revolution the adoption of this service; although, by the use of it, they must make an implied acknowledgment of their error, in an address to Almighty God. . . . The greater stress is laid on this matter because of the notorious fact, that the majority of the clergy could not have used the service, without subjecting themselves to ridicule and censure. For the author’s part, having no hindrance of this sort, he contented himself with having opposed the measure, and kept the day from respect to the requisition of the convention; but could never hear of its being kept, in above two or three places beside Philadelphia.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was not until the revision of 1928 that provision was again made for the liturgical observance of the day. Since 1928, however, this observance has been an official day on the Church calendar. For the last decade, we have held a special service on the fourth day of July, here at St. Mark’s, in observance of this special day. At these services, we have sung hymns--musical prayers--asking for God’s blessing upon our country and giving thanks to God for the many benefits we enjoy as citizens of this country. We have offered up prayers to God for ourselves as citizens, and for those who serve us in the government--Administrative, Judicial, and Legislative.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The service has become part of the community’s celebration of this day. We have had nearly as many persons from the neighborhood as we have had members of this parish in attendance.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This year, however, we will have no special observance. I figured since the day of the observance this year, did not fall on the fourth of July, that no one would attend. This year, the observance of Independence Day, falls on the fifth day of July. So, I canceled the service. It is hard enough to get people to come to a special service for our nation when it falls on the fourth of July. I knew it was pointless to attempt it on any other day. Next year, however, when the fourth day of July falls on a Monday, we will once again liturgically observe Independence Day.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As for today, our nation and its founding, rest heavily upon our hearts and minds. We will, therefore, include in our prayers (both sung and said) particular petitions for our country and its citizens. I am particularly aware of those members of our parish who cannot be with us today, because their service to this nation has taken them to Afghanistan or Iraq. While they are continually in my prayers, on this day, I am very aware of the burden upon my heart that concern for their welfare has created.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We have many prayers to make, as we contemplate the state of our union. Environmental disaster on our southern coast, an economic crisis in its third year, two wars that are proving very difficult to end. While our petitions are many, so are our thanksgivings. Even in economic crisis, we enjoy a prosperity others can hardly imagine. We enjoy liberty and freedom few in the history of the world have ever known. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All of this, however, is but prologue to my sermon--a sermon for when “Proper 9 of Year C” happens to fall on the fourth of July. In fact, the sermon is not on the “propers”--as is typical. The sermon is, rather, a meditation on the annomoly of it being Proper 9 of Year C on the fourth of July, 2010.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As many of you know, all Feast Days appointed on fixed days in the Calendar, when they occur on a Sunday, are</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">transferred to the first convenient open day within the week. There are some exceptions to this rule. Easter and Christmas are such exceptions. Given the importance of the observance of the Lord’s Day, few other observances are to take precedence. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now I know that this rather strict adherence to the rules of the Church calendar sometimes annoys you. I remember being chastized a few years ago when Holy Week fell during March Madness. I was asked, “Can’t you plan Good Friday on another day?”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had to explain that I lacked the authority to do so. To change the Church calendar is “above my pay grade.” But we can learn a great deal about ourselves when such conflicts arise. What are our priorities? What are our values? Is the object of our worship the creator, or merely some part of the creation?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today is an object lesson. Is today the Lord’s Day or is it Independence Day? What we learn from the Church calendar is that the observance of Independence Day does not take precedence. We enflesh that rule by the choice of readings and collects for today. But, I ask myself--how do I enflesh that rule in my life--not just my liturgical observance? Maybe the answer is easy for you, but it is not for me. Historically, it has not been easy for persons of conscience.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As I indicated earlier, most clergy of the Episcopal Church were loyal to the English throne during the Revolutionary War. At their ordinations, they had taken a vow of loyalty to the King and they took their vows seriously.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those who take their faith and their allegience to any earthly realm seriously must always struggle with the tensions such convictions bring. Its why Rome fed Christians to the lions two thousand years ago. Christians said their ultimate loyalty could never be to the state. Its why Bonhoffer was imprisoned and killed. He said his ultimately loyalty was to God, not his country. Even today, in too many places, governments continue to persecute Christians precisely because we refuse to give our ultimate loyalty to any earthly power.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I suppose their are persons who worship America. Some of them may even think of themselves as Christians. We can’t forget that the vast majority of the citizens of Nazi Germany were church-going Christians. Most clergy, both Catholic and Protestant, supported Hitler and his government. But I don’t know any personally who worship America (at least not of which I am aware). But what we say and what we do are not always in sync. So, I wonder, in the living of my life, when the Lord’s Day conflicts with Independence Day (as it were)--what will I do?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-49287500999393118432016-01-29T10:11:00.003-05:002016-01-29T10:11:37.471-05:00When an animal companion diesFor we who live closely with animals, the death of these companions is a time of grief. From time to time, I am asked to "say a few words" over the burial of a beloved pet.<br />
<br />
Below I have posted a service created by the Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Georgia.<br />
<br />
<div>
<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-54219965030116411412016-01-29T10:00:00.001-05:002016-01-29T10:00:17.748-05:00A Liturgy for the Burial of a Pet<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;">A
Liturgy for the Burial of a Pet</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The service which
follows is for use with the burial service of a pet. Please adapt the service
as needed to fit the needs of the particular service you are conducting. The <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">N.</span> marks the places where you will
need to insert either the pet's name or the owner's name as is appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A
Liturgy in Remembrance of <i>N.</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Officiant<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father, and the God of
all consolation, who comforts us in our sorrows, so that we can offer others,
in their sorrows, the consolation that we ourselves received from God. -</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">2
Corinthians 1:3-4</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">All</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">God
is with us; God's love unites us, God's purpose steadies us, God's Spirit
comforts us. Blessed be God forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Officiant<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Merciful
and compassionate God, we come to you with <b><i>N.</i></b> in grief and ask
for her the strength to bear the loss of their companion <b><i>N.</i></b>. We
bring you our thanks for all you give us through our pets; and we bring you our
prayers for peace of heart in the knowledge of your mercy and love, in Christ
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Amen.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Psalm 121<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Reader</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
lift up my eyes to the
hills: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">but
where shall I look for help?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> My
help comes from the
Lord: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">who
made heaven and earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The
Lord will not let your foot
stumble: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">the
one who guards you will not sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The
one who keeps watch over this
people: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">shall
neither doze nor sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The
Lord is the one who will guard
you: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">the
Lord at your right hand will be your defense,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> so
that the sun shall not strike you by
day: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">nor
yet the moon by night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The
Lord shall preserve you from all
evil: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">yes
it is the Lord who will keep you safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The
Lord shall take care of your going
out, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">and
your coming
in: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">from
this time forth and forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Reader<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
if thy heart be straight with God, then ever creature shall be to thee a mirror
of life and a book of doctrine, for there is no creature so little or so vile,
but that sheweth and representeth the goodness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Thomas à Kempis <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Reader<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
reason why God's servants love his creatures so deeply is that they realize how
deeply Christ loves them. And this is the very character of love to love what
is loved by those we love</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Catherine of Siena<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>583</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3328</o:Characters>
<o:Company>St. John's Episcopal Church</o:Company>
<o:Lines>27</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3904</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">All
Creatures Great and Small</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chorus</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">All
things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">all
things wise and wonderful, the lord God made them all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Each
little flower that opens, each little bird that
sings,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chorus<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
purple headed mountain, the rivers running
by,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">the
sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chorus </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer
sun,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">the
ripe fruits in the garden, he made them every one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chorus</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might
tell
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">how
great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chorus<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Prayers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Officiant<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Almighty
God, your Son taught us that though five sparrows could be bought for two
pennies, they are not forgotten before you. We thank you for <i>N.</i>,
and for the companionship <b><i>N.</i></b> offered to <b><i>N.</i></b>.
And we thank you for all the pets who share our homes and our
lives. We ask for comfort for this family in their loss, knowing that you
grieve with them for you care for all of your creation as you care for us. May
we live more peacefully because of today, and come at last, in the fellowship
of all your people, to the haven where we long to be; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The
Lord's Prayer</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Officiant</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">May
Christ the Good Shepherd enfold us with love. Fill us with peace, and lead us
in hope, this day and all our days. <i>Amen.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Service
created by the Rev. Frank Logue.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-86796684666022548132015-07-28T15:32:00.003-04:002015-07-28T15:32:55.645-04:00What is a Rector? What does a Priest do? What is a Priest? What does a Rector do?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<i>All Rectors are priests, but not all priests are rectors.</i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Priest in charge vs. Rector</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The vestry called the Rev. Dr. Charles Hawkins to be the Priest in charge of St. John’s beginning July 1, 2013 and continuing until June 30, 2015. During the two years of the contract (called a “letter of agreement”) Charles was the ecclesial authority of St. John’s.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The vestry has now called the Rev. Dr. Charles Hawkins to be the Rector of St. John’s. Like “Priest in charge,” the Rector is the ecclesial authority of the parish, but a rector’s contract has no termination date—it is open ended. The rector is said to “have tenure.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Charles’ day to day duties have not changed with his change of title. His canonical responsibilities remain the same.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The change is simply in the length of the contract between the priest and the parish.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<b>On the Word "Rector"</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
Episcopalians love obscure vocabulary! We don’t have a Music Director, we have a Choirmaster. Likewise we have sextons, vergers, wardens, and a vestry! So, now that the vestry of St. John’s has called a “Rector”—you might be curious as to what exactly that is!</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
From <i>An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church</i> by Don Armentrout: “Rector. The priest in charge of a parish. Typically, a rector is the priest in charge of a self-supporting parish, and a vicar is the priest in charge of a supported mission. The rector is the ecclesiastical authority of the parish. The term is derived from the Latin for “rule.” The rector has authority and responsibility for worship and the spiritual jurisdiction of the parish, subject to the rubrics of the BCP, the constitution and canons of the church, and the pastoral direction of the bishop. The rector is responsible for the selection of all assistant clergy, and they serve at the discretion of the rector. The church and parish buildings and furnishings are under the rector’s control. The rector or a member of the vestry designated by the rector presides at all vestry meetings.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Orders of Ministry</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The “orders of ministry” in the Episcopal Church are bishops, priests, deacons, and laity.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">There are four orders of ministry recognized by the Episcopal Church.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">“Bishop” is from the Greek word episcopos, or “overseer”; “priest” is from the Greek word presbyteros, or “elder”; “deacon” is from the Greek word diakonos, or “servant”; and “lay” comes from the Greek laos, which means “the people.” !</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Each order is to be represented in the liturgy each Sunday. In the absence of one or more of the orders (for instance when we have no bishop present) others take their place. For example, when no deacon is present, a priest will introduce the confession of sin, read the gospel, etc.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Bless--What a Priest Does</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The first of the three tasks for a priest is to pronounce God’s blessing. You will notice that it is always someone the Church has ordained to the priesthood who pronounces the blessing at the end of Holy Communion.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Celebrate--What a Priest Does</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The second of the three tasks for a priest is to celebrate holy eucharist. You will notice it is always someone the Church has ordained to the priesthood who presides at a service of Holy Communion. The presider is called the “celebrant” and what the presider does is “celebrate.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Absolve--What a Priest Does</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The third of the three tasks for a priest is to absolve sin. You will notice that it is always someone the Church has ordained to the priesthood who pronounces the absolution of sin after a confession of sin in our liturgy. !</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">To bless, to celebrate, and to absolve—the three tasks of priests. All priests, whether Curates, Vicars, Rectors, Associate Rectors, or Assistant Rectors, et al are charged by the Church to do these three tasks.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Ecclesial Authority of a Parish</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">A rector is the ecclesial authority of a parish (in the same way a bishop is the ecclesial authority of a diocese). There are, however, other names for the ecclesial authority of a parish. Vicar, Parson, or Priest in charge are also titles given to the ecclesial authority of a parish.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;"><b>"Rector" or "Vicar"?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">A Rector is the priest in charge of a parish. In some congregations, the head priest is called a Vicar. The difference is that a congregation with a Rector is a self-supporting congregation and has more say in the choosing of the priest. A congregation with a Vicar is receiving some form of support from the Diocese and the Bishop is primarily responsible for the appointment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Trivia. Did you know?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Another name for “Rector” is “Parson.” “Parson” comes from “Person in charge;” as in “I need to talk to the person in charge?” In a particular moment in time, if you wanted to conduct business with a parish in England you had to see “the Parson.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The technical definition of a parson is “an incumbent of a parochial benefice.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The house a parson lives in is called the “parsonage.” Likewise, the house a rector lives in is called the “rectory.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Of Bishops, Rectors & Vestries</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Canon law in the Episcopal Church is a careful system of checks and balances. Bishops have certain rights and responsibilities. Rectors have certain rights and responsibilities. And, vestries have certain rights and responsibilities.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">With regard to the exercise of power within the church, each serves as a check and balance to the other.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The bishop, the rector, and the vestry are partners in the mutual discernment of mission and ministry of the parish.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 8px; text-indent: -8px;">
<br /></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-64631861685309247612015-06-07T13:57:00.001-04:002015-06-07T13:59:01.371-04:00Homily for Proper 5 Year B 2015<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="letter-spacing: 0px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Several years ago, I received a grant from the CF Foundation to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The CF Foundation has been sponsoring a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for ministers since the 1990s.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The program brings together a pilgrimage with study, lectures, shared discussions, and worship with other ministers.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The purpose of the pilgrimage (to quote from the promotional materials) was to renew the spiritual life of mid-career ministers.”</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My pilgrimage to the Holy Land followed another pilgrimage: a pilgrimage into illness, brokenness, sickness. The two pilgrimages form, for me, the two sides of a single coin. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Before the first of the two pilgrimages I took, I did not know the meaning of papilledema. I had never heard of fungal meningitis. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Standing near the Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem, I look at what remains of the pools of Bethesda. Bethesda: “House of Mercy” or “House of Grace.” For the Roman soldiers it would have been a secure water source, easily defended if attacked. The Roman’s dedicated the pools: one to the Roman god of good fortune and the other to the Roman god of healing. The site was once offered to England as a gift. The Archbishop of Canterbury lobbied Queen Victoria to accept. Instead, she asked for Cyprus. Anglicans can, however, make a pilgrimage to west transept of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis, Tennessee and view a stone that was once part of one of the columns that surrounded the Pool of Bethesda. No one waits by the pools for healing now. They contain no water. It was but a temporary “House of Grace.” Pilgrims seeking living water and an eternal house, must continue their pilgrimage.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Several months before, I was sitting in the waiting rooms of the Mayo Clinic, and I would look around at all the sick people. Each had made this pilgrimage, not on the Camino de Santiago (that ancient pilgrim’s path), but rather on some other path; a path that would take them to Rochester, a cathedral of modern medicine. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We, the sick, gathered in waiting rooms not unlike the sick that gathered by the pool of Bethesda: a great multitude of impotent folk, the blind, the halt, the withered. We waited, as underneath five porticos, not for the water to stir, but for our name to called. You see, the way the system worked was also like the pool of Bethesda. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At the Mayo Clinic, appointments are made for you, to see particular doctors or to have certain tests. They give you an itenary, but it is ever evolving as one doctor sends you to see another, and all the appointments are reshuffled to keep them in the most efficient order. Sometimes, however, even in the most efficient order, there may be several days between appointments. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you wanted, you could sit in the waiting room and if there was an unexpected opening (if the water was troubled), the doctor would go ahead and see you. You had to be present when the opening occurred. If you had gone to the restroom when your name was called, your name was taken off the waiting list for that day. So, many sat, waiting; afraid to leave, even for a moment. While you were gone, the angel might stir the water. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sitting all day in a waiting room is harder than it sounds. The sicker you are, the harder it is to tolerate the <i>ordeal of the waiting room.</i> More than once, I waited all day to no avail, my name not called that day. And, as I waited, I watched as the most ill, give up and go home for the day. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I thought of the lame man who laid by the pool of Bethesda thirty-eight years and who told Jesus: “Sir, I have no one, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: and while I make my way to the pool, another steps in before me.” I thought of a nurse, calling his name, but before he could make his way to the front desk, the nurse would assume he was not present and the nurse would call the name of another. The nurse as an angel who stirred the still waters.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pilgrimage is both a modern metaphor for our life with the Divine and an ancient practice that unwraps the life of one devoted to the Holy. My dual pilgrimages were both. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I started writing a book about my two pilgrimages, but this sermon is all I have to show for it. I preach it today because of the words we heard from the Apostle Paul.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“But, do not lose heart,” Paul admonished the Corinthians. We are more than our suffering, our mistakes, our choices. And, we are not alone. That mystery called resurrection is at work in us, even now, shaping us into a new reality that we cannot see but one that will be everlasting. Look beyond our crumbling selves and see a re-creation!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Over the hill from Nazareth, a first century city lies unearthed by archaeologists. Modern day pilgrims can walk its streets. The city was being built when Jesus was a child. Joseph, his father, the carpenter, may have helped build this city named Sephoris. I wondered if Jesus, as a little boy ran in these streets, upon the very pavement I now trod. I wonder if Jesus, as a young man, watched its occupants live out their day to day lives. I wonder if scenes he remembered from this place would be the material from which he would craft some of his parables. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Later, on the Sea of Galilee, crossing by boat, we drink from a cup and break bread and we remember. A journey in time as well as in space. On the opposite shore, I stand in a museum and before a boat. Well, it once was a boat. Two thousand years ago it was a boat that regularly crossed the Sea of Galilee. It is a fisherman’s boat. Found buried in mud, not far from the village where Peter lived. I study how carefully some fisherman of yore used scraps of wood from this or that to keep his boat afloat. I imagine him mending his nets and I make a mental pilgrimage to his side. I ask him to show me how it is done.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In his coming of age story, <i>The Wise Man’s Fear</i>, Patrick Rothfuss writes “…If you want to know the truth of who you are, walk until not a person knows your name. Travel is the great leveler, the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueler than mirror-glass. A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet introspection.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I love the scene from the movie Forrest Gump as he runs, after he has suffered a heartbreak, down a long stretch of road. “Run Forrest, run” I mutter under my breath when I spy a fellow pilgrim with a long stretch of road ahead.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hear again the words from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“...this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“...we look not at what can be seen </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but at what cannot be seen; </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">for what can be seen is temporary, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but what cannot be seen is eternal”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“For we know </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">we have a building from God, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a house not made with hands, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>eternal in the heavens”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“...do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Run Forrest, Run.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chaucer quoted this scripture at the end of his epic poem, <i>Canterbury Tales</i>: (from the book of Jeremiah)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thus says the LORD:<br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I close with a blessing.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">May the love of God carry you through every storm </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and bring you peace;<br />
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>point you in the direction of home and bring you joy;<br />
May the presence of the Holy Spirit </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>surround you with a cloud of witnesses </span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and give you courage.<br />
May it be so. Let it be so. Now. And, forever.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-40254682731100797932015-04-04T13:32:00.003-04:002015-04-04T13:34:00.975-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv8B5ZfFlnR39KRD-c8U-nun1TkHKn_2NCUXG-7bl2rO9z40HHRGWvolSCS_31JpEMDRKh16DDfIe_8pn_JepV9LISjs0V1uTU_noN8CZ3-o83INwJhRc-8p4ZARUcpc0o0gAJMPndAo/s1600/Holy+Saturday+Episcopal+Dictionary.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv8B5ZfFlnR39KRD-c8U-nun1TkHKn_2NCUXG-7bl2rO9z40HHRGWvolSCS_31JpEMDRKh16DDfIe_8pn_JepV9LISjs0V1uTU_noN8CZ3-o83INwJhRc-8p4ZARUcpc0o0gAJMPndAo/s1600/Holy+Saturday+Episcopal+Dictionary.tiff" height="484" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Homily for Holy Saturday</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Holy Saturday, the Saturday of Holy Week, the day between Good Friday and Easter is a day of waiting. Most of my life has been lived on Holy Saturday. Good Friday is behind me. Easter lies ahead. Now, I wait.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We strip the altar bare on Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday, the church looks, barren, forsaken, without its adornments. In its emptiness, it echoes. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>During day of Holy Saturday, anticipating Easter, we decorate the holy space--adornments galore. But, it is “not yet.” We know how the story ends. We are eager with anticipation, but Easter has not yet dawned. We keep this space dark. We wait for the light of that Easter dawn. And in our waiting, we experience a longing.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Holy Saturday is special in the Church year, it is a day set aside to feel and to express our longing for God, for the “more” we have hoped to experience and have not yet experienced. Like the season of Advent, it is legitimized longing, a validated ache, a lack that is not a wrong.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Again, our Holy Saturdays can be long. So, it is nice, therefore, to have that ache validated, that longing legitimized, to acknowledge our lack is not wrong.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m reminded of an expression in Hebrew, <i>bat qol</i>; it mean means echo of a voice, or literally “daughter of a voice.” We cannot hear God’s Voice directly, but we hear an echo of a voice. We do not hear God’s Voice directly, but who cannot be grateful for its echo, however faint?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anglican theologian, N. T. Wright believes there is a universal longing for God, and we experience it as the echo of God’s voice in four longings: The longing for justice, of spirituality, of beauty and of relationship.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>1</sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The longing for justice is a Holy Saturday longing and our cry for justice, in the time of injustice, is God’s own cry. On Friday, we are painfully aware of injustice. We await the day of Justice to come. For now, living in the not yet, we long for justice.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our longing for spirituality is exemplified in Reynolds Price’s novel <i>Kate Vaiden</i>, Kate has suffered the violent deaths of her parents and is being raised by extended family. In the novel, Kate writes about her spirituality. She says, </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Prayer took a big share of my time then. I’ve said I didn’t enjoy church a lot, that I went with Caroline twice a month when the circuit rider passed. What I really had was long talks with God, Christ, angels, trees, the Devil, birds, and dogs. Anything seemed liable to turn sacred on me, and I’d worship it freely till it faded off.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>3</sup></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 21px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On those long Holy Saturdays of our lives, we long to hear God’s voice, not just an echo; we long to talk to God--trees and birds and dogs are liable to turn sacred on us; to become sacraments for us--outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace. We look forward to the grace. For now, we relish the visible sign of its coming.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> There is also the echo of God’s Voice in beauty. From the church’s beginnings, we saw beauty as a window to God. We built the most beautiful places of worship we could imagine. We enter into this sacred space with its elegant simplicity, and rich visual symbolism. The worship conducted in this space, the liturgy employed and the ritual performed, seeks to worship God in the beauty of holiness. With its seasonal rhythms, vestments and song, flowers and frontals and language and stillnesses.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In our architecture and in our use of art, in our liturgy and sacred music--we are engaged in the holy work of reflecting the beauty of God. As Gerard Manley Hopkins expressed this calling: “Give beauty back, beauty, beauty, beauty, back to God, beauty’s self and beauty’s giver.”</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>4</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Or, in the words of George Herbert: “Wherefore with my utmost art I will sing thee, and the cream of all my heart I will bring thee”.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>5</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> As Albert Camus put it so memorably (speaking of this longing we have for both justice on the one hand and beauty on the other): “In this world there is beauty and there are the humiliated, and we must strive, hard as it is, not to be unfaithful, either to the one or the other.” On Holy Saturdays, we strive, not to be unfaithful; either to one or the other.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And there is relationship as an echo of God’s Voice. We were made to live in communion and community, with God and with one another. The first creation story says that when God formed us in the divine image God formed us male and female, which reminds us that the divine partakes equally of male and female, and it also suggests that we were made to live in communion with one another, in deep, abiding relationships. So marriage, and friendship, and community are gifts of God without which life cannot be as full or rich as God intends. Relationships cannot cure all our ills and all our incompleteness. As Wendell Berry says: “Some wishes cannot succeed; some victories cannot be won; some loneliness is incorrigible.”</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>7</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> But being in relationship with each other is part of God’s intended goodness to us. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Justice, spirituality, beauty, relationships: they are windows we can peep through and see Easter on the other side, they are echos of the divine Voice.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But they are not God; they are only echos. Without the transcendent dimension justice can become fanaticism, spirituality a solipsism, the self as object of worship, beauty a false god, and relationships idolatry. They are good, but they are not God.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So we long for something more, not an echo of a Voice, but the Voice itself. And thus, we await Easter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We are thankful for the echo, but we long to shout the Easter proclamation--do I dare speak it now, must I wait. We banish the proclamation during Lent. No, to say it now, while it is still Saturday, while we live in the “not yet” would not be right--the words would ring hollow. No, to shout the Easter proclamation, we must wait and live with our longings. We say in our hearts “be patient” “it won’t be long now” And, we wait.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-64694048871644024422015-01-02T11:01:00.001-05:002015-01-02T11:01:19.689-05:00On "Loopers"<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>With cable companies now offering “on demand” viewing of a host of television shows and major motion pictures, you can find yourself watching something no one else has seen in awhile. I recently found myself watching “Looper.” In the film (now two years old), criminals send victims back through time to be killed by hit men living in the past. One of the hit men gets sent back in time to a younger version of himself. But, the older version escapes “the hit.” So, the younger version finds himself in the strange position of having to chase and kill his older self.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But, as in all time travel narratives, actions and consequences get all mixed up and are difficult to disentangle.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Looper” refers to time, but there is also a loop of violence in the film. They are all caught in a seemingly endless loop, not only of time, but of violence. Murder, killing, hit men, power, victims that later become perpetrators. How will it ever end? It is a circle--a vicious circle.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In a moment of insight, (we pray we all will have such moments), the lead character becomes a most unlikely Christ figure. He realizes that he can change the seemingly endless circle--if he sacrifices himself for the others. He realizes that, not by using violence on others, but by allowing himself to be the victim, he can end the loop. He can make a difference, but only if he gives up power, only if he is willing to suffer, only if he will give his life.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Seeing the religious themes in pop culture is an occupational hazard for me--I am a preacher. So, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that Christians often quote Jesus: “to be the greatest, you must be the least.” “To save your life, you must lose your life.” And I couldn’t help but reflect on it--a paradox full of irony.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was this way about Jesus: A pouring out of himself for others. Once, referring obliquely to himself but directly to God’s plan for us all, Jesus said,<br />
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-9362370503994563512014-12-22T18:09:00.000-05:002014-12-22T18:09:48.663-05:00A Recent Article in the Ocean Springs Gazette Turn on the radio of late and you are likely to hear Taylor Swift singing “Shake It Off.” Swift dedicates the song to her detractors. She says you cannot control what other people say or do, you can only control your own reaction. Swift admonishes us not to let what others do or say “get under our skin,” but rather we should “shake it off.” That phrase, “shake it off” is evocative. The phrase is reminiscent of one of the admonitions of Jesus: “...shake the dust off your feet.” British theologian John Oman called this admonition of Jesus "The Forgotten Sacrament.”<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When Jesus sent his disciples out on mission, he said “When people refuse to welcome you and the gospel you preach, refuse to offer hospitality, shake the dust off your feet.” Shake the dust off your feet and move on.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus knew his disciples would face rejection and failure. We run into our own limitations and the limitations of others. We do our best and our best is not good enough. Others do their best and their best is not good enough. And, sometimes our worst gets involved too, and so do others’ worst. To untangle the knot of responsibility is beyond our capabilities.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So Jesus, in his wisdom and mercy, has given us this sacrament, the shaking off of the dust, what Oman called "The Sacrament of Failure." It is an acknowledgment that we have done all we can do, all we should do, and it is time to let go and move on.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sometimes we are tempted to move too quickly. The desert fathers and mothers advised: "Leave no place easily." There may be still much to learn there. But, there are times when the most redemptive thing for you and for the other is to shake the dust off your feet and move on. It is a mercy to us and it is a mercy to them. It gives them and us another chance. We acknowledge the failure, ours and theirs, and move on.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Taylor Swift, whether she knows it or not, is giving sound theological advice when she sings to us: “Shake it off.”Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-80708499839965939932014-11-03T20:04:00.001-05:002014-12-22T18:16:30.650-05:00Article for the Ocean Springs Gazette<blockquote style="font-family: Helvetica;" type="cite">
<div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> J. B. Phillips, famous for his translation work (he translated the “New Testament in Modern English,” 1958), was the author of a book entitled “Your God is Too Small” (published in 1961). “Your God is Too Small” begins with these memorable words: “The trouble with many people today is that they have not found a God big enough...” Not much has changed since 1961 with regard to the “size” of our conceptions of God. We still tend to think “too small.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The problem of a God who is too small is not, however, relegated to the middle of the Twentieth Century (or the beginning of the Twenty-First). The prophet Isaiah challenges the “size” of God as imagined by his contemporaries. And, he told them that their God was too small. He speaks of their attitude toward “foreigners” and speaking for God says: “...my house shall be called a house of prayer for <i>all peoples</i>.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Isaiah’s vision is still challenging us. Turns out, not much has changed in this regard since the Tenth Century.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A few weeks ago St. John’s Episcopal Church hosted the viewing of the documentary “Besa.” The film concerns the Muslims who saved Jews during the holocaust. The audience included a Rabbi, a Priest, and an Imam. Afterward, the Imam and I had our picture taken in front of a bulletin board entitled “Children of Abraham.” Everyone in attendance wrote their name on a “star” and the stars were pinned to the bulletin board. Each and everyone a child of Abraham. Jews, Christians, Muslims--one and all--a child of Abraham. It was a good night for Ocean Springs and for people of faith.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Such evenings, however, stretch our theology. And, truth be told, our theology needs stretching. Isaiah knew the theology of Israel in exile needed stretching. Jesus came, still stretching the theology of his day. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Rome, would need to stretch their theologizing upon such matters. Our conceptions of God have to be stretched because, time after time, our conceptions of God are, as J. B. Phillips suggested, “too small.”</span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-29935942481412850212014-06-07T20:20:00.003-04:002014-06-07T20:26:00.084-04:00The "Priest-in-Charge" and the "Priest Associate" of St. John's, Ocean Springs are happy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyPTkucw5uaRtavr3elXdPUJ5PBf-vgA1xvQYISn5JFRdtPekls_7YLA6_knZkSJMn1o_r5HLuU6BQO_Y_m' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100674569878364&l=6034065047131156521" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10100674569878364&l=6034065047131156521</a>Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-22536450846188713102014-05-24T23:00:00.002-04:002014-05-24T23:00:32.706-04:00A prayer for Memorial Day<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">From the Book of Common Prayer</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">O Judge of the nations,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">we remember before you with grateful hearts</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">the men and women of our country who in the day of decision</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Thanksgiving for Heroic Service, BCP 1979</span>Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-30678313690289341702014-04-28T18:54:00.002-04:002014-04-28T18:59:05.384-04:00Working on my sermon for Easter 3<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
The Servant-Girl at Emmaus (a painting by Velasquez) by Denise Levertov</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<br />
She listens, listens, holding<br />
her breath. Surely that voice<br />
is his – the one<br />
who had looked at her, once, across the crowd,<br />
as no one ever had looked?<br />
Had seer her? Had spoken as if to her?<br />
<br />
Surely those hands were his,<br />
taking the platter of bread from hers just now?<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4689546162945514236" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="<La_mulata,_by_Diego_Velázquez.jpg>" apple-height="yes" apple-inline="yes" apple-width="yes" border="0" class="Apple-web-attachment" height="16" id="4DE51197-FE36-444A-8641-6BB0F81B8397" src="cid:E3BE41F7-DE7C-461F-935B-8140C8C66144@gateway.2wire.net" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Hands he’d laid on the dying and made them well?<br />
<br />
Surely that face-?<br />
<br />
The man they’d crucified for sedition and blasphemy.<br />
The man whose body disappeared from its tomb.<br />
The man it was rumored now some women had seen this morning, alive?<br />
<br />
Those who had brought this stranger home to their table<br />
don’t recognize yet with whom they sit.<br />
But she in the kitchen, absently touching the winejug she’s to take in,<br />
a young Black servant intently listening.<br />
<br />
swings round and sees<br />
the light around him<br />
and is sure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/La_mulata,_by_Diego_Vel%C3%A1zquez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/La_mulata,_by_Diego_Vel%C3%A1zquez.jpg" height="158" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-51461314514442665572014-04-14T15:01:00.001-04:002014-04-14T15:01:20.421-04:00Tenebrae
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 74">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'Sabon'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The name </span><span style="font-family: 'Sabon'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Tenebrae </span><span style="font-family: 'Sabon'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows”) has
for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early
morning services (Matins and Lauds) of the last three days of Holy
Week, which in medieval times came to be celebrated on the preceding
evenings.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Sabon'; font-size: 10.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Sabon'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Apart from the chant of the Lamentations (in which each verse is
introduced by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet), the most conspicuous
feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles and other
lights in the church until only a single candle, considered a symbol of our
Lord, remains. Toward the end of the service this candle is hidden,
typifying the apparent victory of the forces of evil. At the very end, a </span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 10pt;">loud noise is made, symbolizing the earthquake at the time of the
resurrection (Matthew </span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 10pt;">28</span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 10pt;">:</span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 10pt;">2</span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 10pt;">), the hidden candle is restored to its place,
and by its light all depart in silence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;">In [<i>The Book of Occasional Services</i>], provision is made for Tenebrae on Wednesday evening only,
in order that the proper liturgies of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
may find their place as the principal services of those days. By drawing
upon material from each of the former three offices of Tenebrae, this
service provides an extended meditation upon, and a prelude to, the
events in our Lord’s life between the Last Supper and the Resurrection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Sabon'; font-size: 10.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;">--from the </span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;"><i>Book of Occasional Services, </i>p. 74.</span><span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;">Come and experience the service of Tenebrae this Holy Week: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Sabon; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-43529312037522163052014-04-12T12:52:00.002-04:002014-04-12T12:52:47.380-04:00What is "Palm Sunday"?<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Palm Sunday</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">is a Christian</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">moveable feast</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">that falls on the</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Sunday</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">before</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Easter</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">. The feast commemorates Jesus’ </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">triumphal entry into Jerusalem</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">, an event mentioned in all four</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">canonical Gospels</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
In the accounts of the four canonical Gospels, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalemtakes place about a week before his Resurrection.<br /><br /><div>
The symbolism is captured in Zechariah 9:9 "The Coming of Zion's King – See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”.<br /></div>
<div>
According to the Gospels, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and the celebrating people there laid down their cloaks in front of him, and also laid down small branches of trees. The people sang part of Psalm 118: 25–26 – ... Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord ....<br /><br />In many lands in the ancient Near East, it was customary to cover in some way the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honour. The Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 9:13) reports that Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, was treated this way. Both the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John report that people gave Jesus this form of honour. However, in the synoptics they are only reported as laying their garments and cut rushes on the street, whereas John specifies fronds of palm (Greek phoinix).<br /><br /><div>
In Revelation 7:9, the white-clad multitude stand before the throne and Lamb holding palm branches.<br /></div>
<div>
In the Episcopal and many other Anglican churches and in Lutheran churches, as well, the day is called "The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday"; in practice, though, it is usually termed "Palm Sunday."</div>
</div>
</div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4689546162945514236.post-73058224469965919102014-04-03T12:22:00.003-04:002014-04-03T12:22:58.785-04:00Science and Faith in the News ("On Sceptics")<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A couple of weeks ago, scientists announced findings consistent with the so-called “Big Bang Theory.“ Gravitational waves, dating back to the “birth” of the universe, 13.7 billion years ago, were recorded.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A few weeks prior, a televised debate between Ken Ham and Bill Nye made the news. The bow-tied Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is familiar to television-viewing audiences, but Ken Ham was a new name to many. Ham is a biblical literalist who heads both the Creation Museum and Answers in Genesis (AiG), the leading voice of “young Earth” creationism. I met Ham once when I was doing a short documentary on the museum for a class I was taking at the time.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ham is a skeptic when it comes to the claims of science. Nye is a skeptic when it comes to Ham’s religious notions.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">David Hume, the 18th century Scottish philosopher, also questioned science’s findings. Hume identified, what he called, “the problem of induction.” On the predictive value of observational data, he wrote: “Although the sun arose every single morning of my life, I cannot assume that it will necessarily do so tomorrow.” Why not? Because “if we proceed not upon some fact, present to the memory or senses, our reasonings would be merely hypothetical.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">The problem of establishing an </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">incontestable</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> link between cause and effect, in Hume’s view, relates to the credibility of past events. Both prediction and historical accounts require a certain degree of trust.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hume’s insistence that we cannot definitively prove causal relationships notwithstanding, practically speaking, most of us cannot live comfortably without trust, even if we recognize that some cause-event-connections and witnesses are more trustworthy than others.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Skeptics endure doubt-filled lives since there are many claims about the nature of reality that we cannot test and confirm for ourselves.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">See</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> <a href="http://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/science-vs-bible-reasons-why-debate-will-never-be-settled-"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/science-vs-bible-reasons-why-debate-will-never-be-settled-</span></a>—-peter-han. Han is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago. His recent article inspired my blog entry above.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
Charles Hawkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10741773124719033768noreply@blogger.com0