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From the Vicar...
Christianity a "hangover from antiquity"? Really?
This week's meditation is adapted from another "golden oldie" in my sermon archives.
Some time ago, I came across a statement in one of our more respected national magazines that set me to thinking - and I wonder if it might not cause you thought as well. It said there:
"The traditional Christian attitude toward life, which for nearly two centuries
undergirded American society, can no longer be presupposed in this country."
The article went on to describe the radical gulf between the "religious right" and the "secular left," and how polarized our nation has become as formerly "presupposed" understandings melted in the face of today's fierce partisanship.
Now, to be sure, this is a generalization - and, like all generalizations, is too sweeping to be taken absolutely literally. Surely the "religious right" is not the only body with any legitimate claim to "the traditional Christian attitude toward life" described in the article. And surely the "left" is not so uniformly "secular" as the article would oversimplify it to be.
But the bottom line remains the same.
The world has changed - and society, to put it broadly, has undergone a radical shift in its understanding of the place of faith in the public sphere. Much of 21st century society sees Christianity as something superstitious - as a "hangover from antiquity" which is irrelevant to modern life. There is, in our society, an implicit skepticism toward humanity's spiritual nature - and with that comes a denial of the "traditional Christian attitudes" that were taken for granted only a couple of generations ago. (Read Franklin Delano Roosevelt's prayer, offered in the days following D-Day, and you'll see what I mean.)
We Christians, be we politically right of center or left, fight a running battle with the society that surrounds us. And, more and more, it is a battle we seem to be losing. Some even go so far as to say the Church seems to be proclaiming a faith even her own people can't accept. And the question comes to mind, what can we do about it?
The answer I hear all too frequently is that we must "adapt" the Gospel to our secular mind's inability to understand it - that, in essence, the very message itself is the problem. But I honestly don't believe that. What I think the answer is, is that we are called to proclaim the Gospel all the more boldly. Our call is to stand up for what we believe in and don't give in. But whatever we do, don't melt into society. For the minute we do that, we are powerless. Our message loses its power, and people turn away from that message in droves.
It's a scary thing for us to consider this - especially we who live our lives in the Episcopal Church as it has come to be in the early 21st century. But consider it we must. Trying to "water down" what makes Christianity distinctive is the surest way I know to turn our faith into something powerless and forgotten by the larger society. And a powerless, forgotten relic can do nothing. Nothing!
Jesus Christ - and the message he preached - is no relic, my friends. He's for real. But society will never know he's for real unless we authenticate his realness by our witness to him. They'll never know it unless we confront secular society and not melt into it. My Christ - our Christ - shines...and may he ever.
Faithfully,
Fr. Chip
We once again welcome the Rev. Richard Belshaw
This Sunday, the Rev. Richard W. Belshaw of Durham will once again be our guest celebrant at both Trinity and Christ churches. Until recently, he was Vicar of St. John the Evangelist Church, Dunbarton. A long-time resident of the Seacoast, he is now serving as a local supply priest. He is also the Facilitator of the We the People ecumenical group in Exeter that plans lectures, panel discussions, and events on contemporary and ethical issues that touch on the spiritual.
Pictorial directory photography continues this Sunday
This week, our directory photography moves back to Christ Church. Gary Dozier will be set up in the Classroom immediately following the 10:30 service.
Make-up dates for those who cannot come this week are as follows:
Christ Church: Sunday, Sept. 15
Trinity Church: Sunday, Sept. 22
Members of either church may be photographed in either location. If you did not receive information and release forms either by e-mail or by "snail mail," there will be extra copies on hand.
Trinity Church to add Saturday evening service starting Sept. 14
Sunday mornings may be a time for church, but for many busy people, the day is no longer off-limits to soccer games or work responsibilities. That has led some area churches to offer Saturday-evening worship. Long a staple in the Roman Catholic Church and common among many non-denominational churches, Saturday-evening services have been slower in coming to many Episcopal churches.
On Sept. 14, Trinity Church will launch a new weekly 5 p.m. Saturday service. At least initially, it will be a simple celebration of the Holy Eucharist, following Rite One - a service several people at Trinity have indicated they miss. In time, a monthly healing Eucharist may be added - or even such creative possibilities as a Taizé service or other "alternative" offerings of the liturgy. On evenings there are social events at the church (dinners, etc.), the service may be tied in so that those attending the event can come for the Eucharist, then stay for the evening program.
Members of both Christ and Trinity churches - as well as the community at large - are warmly invited.
Coming this fall...
Sept. 15 8:45 Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church as usual
11:00 "Homecoming Sunday" at Christ Church:
Outdoor Eucharist followed by barbecue
(all are welcome, but this will not be billed as a "joint"
event)
22 8:45 Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church with introductory sermon
outlining this fall's "Come and See" program
10:30 Holy Eucharist at Christ Church with introductory
sermon outlining "Come and See" followed by Open Forum on our proposed Shared Ministry Covenant
` 29 8:45 "Homecoming Sunday" at Trinity Church: Holy Eucharist
followed by Open Forum on our proposed Covenant
10:30 Holy Eucharist at Christ Church with guest celebrant
so vicar can stay at Trinity Church that morning's Open
Forum. Guest celebrant at Christ Church only: Canon Hannah Anderson
Oct. 6 8:45 Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church "wrapped around" a
special Parish Meeting to vote on adoption of proposed Covenant
10:30 Holy Eucharist at Christ Church "wrapped around" a
special Parish Meeting to vote on adoption of proposed Covenant
12:00 Blessing of the Animals on Christ Church grounds
(joint activity for folks - and their pets - from both
churches)
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