From the Vicar...
Listening now for "Word of the Lord"
One of the interesting things about serving two different congregations is that they do things differently in their liturgical lives. One example of this is the versicle and response with which we end our scripture readings. At Trinity Church, we use the Prayer Book versicle and response: "The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God." At Christ Church, the version from Enriching our Worship is the norm: "Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people: Thanks be to God."
The Rev. Russ Dean, a South Carolina pastor, has started using yet a third version in his church: "You have heard the ancient story: Let us listen now [emphasis mine] for the Word of the Lord." This past Sunday's first reading is a fine example of why he felt the need to make such a change. If you were with us, you may recall that it is a deeply troubling story from the life of the revered prophet, Elijah - especially if you read the whole thing. (We skipped the "gory stuff" in the optional part of the reading.)
If we are believers with any confidence in the scriptures, if we are followers of Christ with any trust in the God behind the word, we must to be willing to ask if the word in such a passage is, in fact, "the Word of the Lord" or the "Spirit speaking to God's people" simply because the reading is taken from somewhere between Genesis and Revelation.
I mean, think about it. As Dean points out in his commentary, "There were 450 prophets of Baal, and after the great contest was decided, the prophet of God, the great Elijah, seized them, and...ministered to them? And...taught them? And...demonstrated the love of God to them? No. '...Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon, and killed them there.'" (Aren't you glad we didn't read that part?)
This is the Word of the Lord? This is what the Spirit is saying to God's people? Really?
"Thanks be to God"? Really?? What god? Surely not the God I worship and serve.
Elijah's ancient story (and others like it) can be an incredibly dangerous one if we listen to it and don't process it with "fresh ears." Part of the problem is that for generations, those who claim to speak for God have read such a story, and, thoughtlessly, or dutifully, or even sadistically, added, "The Word of the Lord." The other part of the problem is that for generations, the people sitting in the pews, listening intently to those who claim to speak for God, have heard such a story and, thoughtlessly, or dutifully, or sadistically responded, "Thanks be to God."
Listening now for the word of the Lord is, to quote Russ Dean, "absolutely, life-savingly, world-changingly necessary." We must listen carefully and critically. We must listen with open ears and open hearts. A story like this one is not "the Word of the Lord" simply because we have found its plot and characters within the pages of the Bible. What makes it the "Word of the Lord" - or "what the Spirit is saying to God's people" - is what we do in reflection and prayer once we hear it. Listening now for the word of the Lord means putting that word in the context of not only its ancient sourcebook, but the world in which we now proclaim it.
Faithfully,
Fr. Chip
What is the Discretionary Fund - and how can you help?
In each of our churches, a Discretionary Fund exists to quietly and confidentially assist people in need either through direct personal aid (helping people with utility bills, rental and heating assistance, etc.) or through participation in community-wide charitable efforts (for example, a community "Fire Fund" for a family burned out of its home).
While honoraria from weddings and funerals form much of the Fund's regular income, individual contributions are also very much needed - particularly at Christ Church, whose Fund carries a lower balance right now. Your gifts go a long way toward our help to people in need.
- Fr. Chip
How about making it official?
With the arrival of summer comes that moment when we can "catch our breath" in the church office and attend to matters that tend to get put off through the winter. One of these is parish record keeping.
If you are worshiping with us, and consider yourself part of our church family, but have not yet "made it official" by asking for a letter of transfer from your previous congregation, please take a moment to be in touch with us and ask that we issue a Request for Transfer. (You can contact your previous congregation directly if you would prefer.)
If you are worshiping here but have never been confirmed or received by a bishop of the Episcopal Church, it would be helpful to let Fr. Chip know that as well.
Coming this summer and fall...
June 23
8:45 *Quiet Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church
11:00 Outdoor Holy Eucharist at Christ Church followed by barbecue honoring all our graduates (this is a joint activity inviting folks from
both churches)
June 30
8:45 Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church with Fr. Chip staying for coffee hour
10:30 Holy Eucharist at Christ Church with guest celebrant - The Rev. Dick
Siener - allowing Fr. Chip to stay at Trinity that morning
July 7
8:45 Holy Eucharist and Thanksgiving for the Birth and Adoption of Faith
Bridle at Trinity Church
10:30 Holy Eucharist at Christ Church
July 14
8:45 Quiet Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church for those who can't come to Holy Eucharist & cookout at 12:30
10:30 Quiet Holy Eucharist at Christ Church
12:30 Outdoor Holy Eucharist with music at Trinity Church followed by
cookout
*quiet = no music
Also of note...
The Vicar will be on vacation from July 28 through Aug. 11. The Rev. Richard Belshaw will be our guest celebrant at both churches on July 28 and Aug. 4 & 11.
Coming Sunday, June 23 for members of both churches...
Outdoor Eucharist and cookout at Christ Church to celebrate our graduates and welcome summer
It's time to celebrate our graduates (high school, EFM, perhaps even college?) and kick off the summer season! On Sunday, June 23, Christ Church will host a joint outdoor Eucharist and cookout for members of both churches to give us an opportunity to worship and enjoy fellowship together. The service will be at 11:00 a.m. in the shaded rear courtyard of the church. The cookout will follow on the side lawn. Bring your lawn chair and a side dish or dessert to share. Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP indicating how many from your household are coming to priest@christepiscopalchurch.us. This will help our food and set-up crews in their planning. Oh, and as for a rain date...we won't need one. It never rains on our cookouts! (If, ahem, it does, we'll come inside.)
For those of you who cannot (or prefer not) to come to the outdoor service, there will be a quiet celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Trinity that morning at the usual 8:45 a.m.
New joint pictorial directory in the works
As our two congregations grow closer together, we are experiencing more "cross-pollination" between the two. At its April meeting, the Bishop's Committee endorsed our going forward with a locally-produced, non-commercial pictorial directory including the folks in both congregations.
Our new directory, due to be published this fall, will only be valuable if it is complete. Accordingly, our goal is 100% participation. By taking part in our upcoming photography Sundays (be watching the ENews and Sunday bulletins for dates), you can help us all place names with faces, and create an excellent reference and information source for our church communities.
Unlike some pictorial directories you may have experienced in the past, there is no pressure to buy anything. This is not some commercial outfit trying to make money off the photography. We do the data input - and we do the photography. When we're done, we'll have something really useful, a directory with separate sections for Trinity and Christ churches - but with information that will be helpful to people in both. And, because we own the software, it will be flexible and instantly updatable as new people join us and life changes happen among those already here.
Stay tuned - we'll be publishing our photography dates in the near future. Meanwhile, if you'd like an updated parish list for either congregation, they are available in that church's office.
Are you going on vacation?
Are you going on vacation this summer? Your church family hopes you have a great time - but, before you go, just a reminder: the Church doesn't go on vacation! Our services continue throughout the summer months - and our bills still need to be paid. So please, take the time to keep your pledge up-to-date while you are away. Perhaps it is easiest to write a check before you leave, so you don't have to worry about it when you return.
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