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St. James Episcopal Church Weekly Epistle
May 29, 2013 - Approaching the Second Sunday after Pentecost
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it. (Luke 7: 8)Read Sunday's Scriptures here: The most important thing to many people is not money, fame, or romance. It's control, pure and simply. Possessing control provides us security. Control protects us from unwanted intrusions. Maintaining control establishes hierarchies. The belief that we can possess and maintain control is also often, illusionary &/or temporary. We yearn for life to bend to our wills. Life rarely does yet we struggle for control all the more. Moreover, our desire for control often prevents God from participating in what it is that we really desire to accomplish or learn what we should.
I'm beginning to learn my way around Cincinnati. That doesn't mean that I or anyone else I know can control when or where the road construction is going to happen. I am able to respond to some such situations and plan a different route when I comprehend that some projects are longer term than others. However, there's always some sort of work taking place that just seems to catch me and a bunch of other people unaware. Road construction is but a metaphor for understanding how my life often goes. It's silly but true.... if I want to welcome frustration or have a hearty laugh; I should share my plans with God and then observe what really occurs.
What's remarkable about Jesus and the Centurion biblical story is that the Centurion is  | |
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assuredly someone who is more than accustomed to directing other people and controlling situations on a daily basis. However, he can't control whether or not his slave will live or die. The soldiers under his authority don't have the skills he craves for to rescue his worker's well-being.
Equally remarkable, The Centurion is a powerful figure who willingly relinquishes his need for control over to Jesus because he beholds something in the Galilean Rabbi that his own followers do not. His faith in what Jesus can accomplish takes precedence over socioeconomic and egocentric boundaries alike. He is willing to hand something over to another man in order to achieve a miraculous outcome. (The term Lord is used but it doesn't necessarily imply that The Centurion believes Jesus to be The Messiah). He welcome chaos and the expense of his own ego and authority. Quite remarkable really.
Giving up control, especially when we don't possess it to begin with, enables us to receive life and blessings in assuredly more vulnerable and delightful ways. David Lose writes:
Could we pray that God would open our hearts and eyes to see that God's love, will, and work extends far beyond the confines of our church or faith and that the God who showed up in the man crucified on a cross regularly shows up where we don't expect God to be and never, ever stops delighting in surprising us?
Possessing such faith means setting down our ego's need to dictate who we are and where we go. Relinquishing control is quite counter-cultural. It is also rather scriptural too.
We're doing lots of preparation and planning around here. That's especially true as we prepare for this weekend's extravaganza. Let's work with one another to be open to possibilities. Let's find safe and perhaps even slightly risky opportunities to relinquish a little control for the sake of trusting in God's providence. Who knows what unexpected road blocks and sudden detours await. May these problems turn into opportunities and may our faith become all the more centurion-like in the days to come.
Blessings Along The Way,
Jim+
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Weekend Extravaganza
Welcome Summer with friends, family and fellow church members | |
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We're taking our faith and program activities to the yard and the neighborhood on Saturday and Sunday. People have been bringing their "stuff" and it's collecting downstairs. Beginning tonight (Wed. May 29) - volunteers are gathering to sort, stack, price, and prepare for Saturday morning's Yard Sale. You can help out by either bringing what you would like for us to sell and placing it in the downstairs "Open Space" room. You can also get a hold of Gayle or Garyne and let them know how you would like to participate over the next couple of days and especially on Saturday morning.  | |
Worship and More on Sunday
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Fun, frivolity, and faithfulness continue on Sunday when we head over to Harvest Home Park for our traditional outdoor Church worship and Picnic event. It's going to be very casual (no robes). The music will be great - Alex has picked some real gospel classics. And then.... the food, the BBQ, the games, the Bluegrass. What more could you ask for to welcome the month of June and all that God is offering to us this summer. Simply put ... Be there and Be Blessed. We haven't done either of these things in awhile; so, it'll be a thrill a moment to see how it works out. Won't that be cool :) |
Joyce's Ordination
Participate in Joyce Keeshin's Vocational Pilgrimage  God willing
The Right Reverend Thomas E. Breidenthal
The Bishop of Southern Ohio will ordain Joyce Jenkins Keeshin
Rose Anne Waldman Lonsway
Alexander David Martin
Mary G. Raysa
Robert Saik
at Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio Eleven o'clock in the morning
Your prayers and presence are requested
Reception to follow |
Sneak Preview  | |
Junior Kerns and the Bluegrass Gospelaires
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I wonder if John Murray and his friends can pull this hymn off on Sunday afternoon? Alex and us will pick it up on Sunday Morning. If your taste in bluegrass gospel is a little more contemporary check out Doyle Larson's " God Can." |
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