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From the Vicar
Not just "freedom from" but "freedom for"
This is an excerpt of the sermon delivered at Trinity Church this past Sunday.
Just about the time you receive this, Americans will celebrate once more our annual festival of freedom. It was 237 years ago this week that those classic words, "all men are created equal" were crafted and sent to a recalcitrant king. And yet, I imagine few in this great nation will actually take a few moments to consider, this July 4th, just how massive an impact those words had.
We'll line up to watch parades, work our grills overtime, watch with wonder as fireworks light up the night sky - and be totally oblivious to the wondrous way the precepts first uttered all those years ago began a firestorm of change that is still being felt in far flung places around the globe.
As Christians, that is, as followers of Jesus Christ, we join in this celebration of freedom, but the concept of freedom we're about has its roots far deeper in history than a 237-year-old declaration. We take as our Declaration not merely the words of this Nation's founders - but those of St. Paul as he wrote to the Christians at Galatia. "You were called to freedom," he told them.
Now, very few of us would argue with this idea, but many would confuse the freedom he speaks about with the freedom we so often speak of in describing the liberty we share as Americans. The Declaration of Independence spoke of "freedom from."
- Freedom from an authoritarian king.
- Freedom from foreign rule.
- Freedom from "taxation without representation."
- Freedom from persecution for what we say or what we print or what we believe.
The freedom of which Paul speaks, however, would better be characterized as "freedom for." To be sure, the Galatians rejoiced at being free from the legal restrictions of Jewish Law. What they missed (as do we from time to time) is an understanding of what it means to be free for something - especially being free for service to others.
It's one thing to speak of love, joy, peace, as values that are desired in life. But we dare not confuse them with sentimentalism and a comfortable non-involvement. The agapé love of Christ is love that is self-sacrificing and self-denying, concerned with seeking nothing but the best, even for those who seek the worst for us. To be free is not to be independent. Indeed, to a Christian understanding of freedom, independence, self-sufficiency, is the enemy. Christian freedom always brings with it the dependent, the communal, the reminder that we are all in relationship with God and with one another, and that the decisions I make, the actions I take, have their impact on my neighbor. Christian freedom is freedom not from my neighbor, BUT for him or her.
This week, as we gather about those barbecue grills and fireworks displays and band concerts and parades, let us take a few prayerful moments to consider a freedom that is deeper than just freedom of speech or choice, than merely freedom of self-expression. Christian freedom is responsible freedom. Not just "freedom from," but "freedom for."
Faithfully,
Fr. Chip
Now it's Trinity's turn to host!
Next week, it's Trinity's turn to host a joint cookout for our two congregations. On Sunday, July 14, Trinity 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 12:30 p.m. in the shaded side yard of the church. The cookout will follow on the lawn. Bring your lawn chair and a side dish or dessert to share. Hamburgers, hotdogs and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP indicating how many from your household are coming to admin@trinityhampton.org. This will help our food and set-up crews in their planning. If it rains (perish the thought), we'll have both the service and food inside Hobbs Hall.
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 that morning at the usual service times - Trinity tat 8:45 a.m. and Christ Church at 10:30 a.m.
Some changes coming to Trinity Church's website
Trinity will be changing over our web presence to a new, less costly provider this coming week! Christ Church will follow this fall. Over the next week or so, there may be a point where our web service is temporarily disrupted as this changeover occurs. After the changeover, however, you will see a new, vibrant, better-organized Trinity website that promises to better meet our needs as our ministry continues to grow and unfold. Be watching for it...and patient in the meanwhile as we get it up and running. Check it out trinityhampton.org.
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.
Photography dates set for pictorial directory
As announced in this space last month, the Bishop's Committee endorsed our going forward with a locally-produced, non-commercial pictorial directory this fall.
Our new directory will only be valuable if it is complete. Accordingly, our goal is 100% participation. By taking part in our upcoming photography Sundays, you can help us all place names with faces, and create an excellent reference and information source for our church communities.
We'll be publishing further detail in weeks to come, but for now, mark your calendar with our photography dates:
Christ Church: Sundays, July 28 and Aug. 11 after church; make-up date,
Sept. 15
Trinity Church: Sundays, July 21 and Aug. 4 after church; make-up date,
Sept. 22
Members of either church may be photographed in either location.
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