The Light Shines in the Darkness

So many emotions this past week.  The consecration of a new bishop on Saturday filled the Diocese of Lexington with such great hope for our future.  On Sunday morning our parishes observed Gaudete (Refreshment) Sunday, when we are invited to shift our Advent focus from preparation to hopeful expectation, symbolized by our lone pink candle among the three blue candles of the season. 

Yet in the background, looming over such joyful moments, is the tragedy from this past Friday.  At the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT a man shot and killed 27 people (20 children, six faculty, and the man’s own mother).  This horrific act—the largest school shooting in this nation’s history—has brought Americans from all backgrounds, faiths, and ideals to their knees.  With broken hearts and tear-soaked faces we look to God and ask, “Why?” 

There are no simple answers.  There are no easy solutions.  And there is no degree of consoling that can make sense of such an act.  We who survive are left only to wonder where God could possibly be in the midst of this.

The prologue to John’s gospel, which will be the gospel that is read for us on Christmas morning, tells us that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1: 5).  The light, of course, is Jesus Christ, the Word that existed at the beginning of time, through which all things have come into being.  The light of Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.

But notice that John does not say that the light dispels the darkness.  The darkness is still there.  The light does not completely destroy it.  And that is where God/Jesus is.  Standing in the midst of the darkness. God in Christ does not promise to rid our world of darkness but to be with us in the midst of the darkness, to stand by us so that the darkness does not overcome us. 

There will always be darkness.  But God promises to stand with us in the midst of it, holding our hands, crying with us.  God’s light, the light of Christ, shines in the middle of our darkest hours, even if as a mere flicker.  The darkness will never overtake this light, and God’s joy and refreshment will, with time, come upon us.  Darkness will never win.

Just as the candles of our Advent wreaths light the way to Christmas, Christ’s own light will bring us refreshment and lead us into all joy and truth. 

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--‘A Prayer for the Human Family,’ The Book of Common Prayer (p. 815)

Advent Hope

We live in a world in which “bigger and better” define our expectations for much of life. We have become so enamored by super-size, super-stars, and high-definition that we tend to overlook small things and their potential. But throughout the Scriptures, we find God usually works with small beginnings and impossible situations.

Most of the Biblical heroes are frail and imperfect:

• Abraham, the coward who cannot believe the promise;
•  Jacob, the cheat who struggles with everybody;
• Joseph, the immature and arrogant teen;
• Moses, the impatient murderer who cannot wait for God;
• Gideon, the cowardly Baal-worshiper;
• Samson, the womanizing drunk;
• David, the power-abusing adulterer;
• Solomon, the unwise wise man;
• Hezekiah, the reforming king who could not quite go far enough;
•  A very young Jewish girl from a small village in a remote corner of a great empire.

If God used all of them for such great work, it is likely that God is able to use us, inadequate, unwise, and too often lacking in faith. We best not, in self-righteousness, put limits on what God can do with the smallest things, the most unlikely of people, and the most hopeless of circumstances.

Listen to young children, recite the words of Handel’s Messiah, look to the leaves falling in the crisp morning light – this is the wonder of Advent. While many today talk about the death of Jesus and the atonement of sins, the early Church celebrated the Resurrection and the hope it embodied. Advent is a time of expectation for the Incarnation and Christ’s return in glory – a past and future orientation filled with hope!

Those who have suffered and still hope understand more about God and about life than those who have no suffered. Maybe that is what hope is about: a way to live, not just to survive, and to live authentically amidst all life’s problems with a faith that continues to see possibility simply because God is God.

May our Advent be filled with wonder and hope.

- The Rev. Joyce Stickney, St. Aidan’s, Malibu, California
  From The Anglican Digest, Winter 2012

Life Without Jesus

December 1 is one of my favorite days of the year. It is the day I unpack and set up my nativities and put up our tree. It is the start of Advent, that time of expectation leading up to the great miracle of the birth of Jesus. I freely admit, I am an Advent junkie. I love this season of reflection and expectation. I purposely plan ahead and execute my plan so that I have time to experience Advent in all its holiness and mystery. The gifts I have purchased are all wrapped. I have a few knitted pieces yet to finish and cards to ready. Two new Advent meditations books sit near my favorite chair. I have once again given myself time and place to read, pray and reflect on the birth of Jesus. I have time for family, friends, and Christ Church activities. I have intentionally made time to, as the saying more or less goes, smell the fir and spruce trees.    

When Jonathan was a child, I would often ask him what if questions. What did he think life would be like if we had no TV? What did he think life would be like if we still had slavery in our country? What did he think life would be like if we lived somewhere that is snowed all the time? As I sit here looking at the tiny lights twinkling on the neighbor’s tree, I wonder, what would life be like if Jesus had not been born.

What would life be like if Jesus had never existed? What would your life be like if you didn’t believe in Christ and in the miracle of His birth? What would fill that vacuum in our souls?  It’s a difficult thing to imagine, is it not? It is in many ways unimaginable. Think of the void that would be in your life.  Such a thought brings to mind a rather uncomfortable and unpleasant feeling.

Now think of the great miracle and mystery of the birth of Jesus. Think how much God loves us that He came to Earth in the form of a tiny helpless baby so that He might live amongst us His children created in His own image.  That is a thought that energizes me, that leaves me feeling safe and loved. As I sit in church and listen to the beautiful music, I am caught up in the ever growing sense that something wonderful is about to occur. All the signs, smells, bells and images of Advent leave me with a sense of awe. 

I know I am not alone in this line of thinking and expectation. In a few weeks I will be surrounded by you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, who are equally caught up in the mystery and wonder of Advent as am I. We will be joined by those we love- our families and yet more of our friends. This year, I have invited extended family, neighbors and friends, especially those who have suffered loss this past year, to join me here at Christ Church for the many opportunities offered here this season of Advent. Many of them will join me to listen to beautiful music and voices, or to watch some of our youngest parishioners perform in the Christmas Pageant.  Yet others will join my family on Christmas Eve to worship here in our glorious cathedral. I urge you to do the same. Invite your neighbor, your friend, someone who would otherwise be alone to come worship with you as we celebrate the birth of that tiny baby boy who changed life forever.

- The Rev. Paula Ott, Deacon

Holy Ground

Exodus 3:5: " ...Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

I believe that the presence of God permeates all of the ground on which we walk, it is just that most often I am not awake to it. A ten year old girl opened my eyes just a few days ago. The morning of November 18th, our second grandchild was baptized. It was an exciting time but the holiness of the moment had not sunk in any deeper than my head. I knew it, but there was too much activity for it to have moved into the whole of my being.

Sometimes you can come into a space for the very first time and know that it is holy.  At other times, a space becomes holy to us through an accumulated experience that is bigger than any word can convey.  The familiar place transforms in a moment into the sacred. You understand the words of God to Moses: "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

Day after day, week after week, month after month, for the last 216 years, the people of Christ Church Cathedral have come together because of an experienced glimmer of truth. This truth has been revealed to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our gatherings can be awkward and even messy at times, but on looking back, the whole is quite beautiful. We have been given the hope that we can find God in our meager selves because Jesus did. He came to live life like we do.

On that morning, just a little over a week ago I came to realize in a new way the holiness of the space where we gather as a community. As I stood praying for Emma with the words of the baptismal vows, I was transported to other transitional times in the lives of immediate family members. There have been baptisms, confirmations, a Rite 13, a wedding and most recently, the funerals of both my mother and my father. I have also been here to celebrate these times with those in our community. The weekly pilgrimage to the altar to receive the body and blood of Jesus binds the rest of these times together.

As we processed back to the baptismal font, the children of this community gathered around. Some were quite eager to come close to the water. I knew many stories surrounding their lives. We were gathered together with our collective history around the font to celebrate the baptism of Emma. One ten-year old girl looked up into my eyes and whispered, "She is yours, isn't she?" She had the biggest smile and was so excited for me. A few minutes later she looked at me again and said, "She is yours!" I was moved to tears. This child was an integral part of the baptism. She housed the words of God to me, "Take off your shoes, you are standing on Holy Ground!" This child represented the community who welcomes the baptized into the family with joy.

These words of God will come to you today if you will but stop and listen. They could come through the voice of a child.  They could come in the silence, or  they could come in an interruption. As we move into this season of Advent, why don't you make it a daily practice to listen for this voice? Wait - it will come.  You will know that you are on holy ground.

Giving Thanks for Thankful Givers

In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, 

remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, 

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35 NRSV). 

Thanksgiving is upon us! This week, as I prepare our house and begin to put the shopping list together, I am reminded of the many things which I am thankful for my life. Here at Christ Church, I am thankful for:

Task forces

Happy faces, the Hahns, and Happeners

Angel Tree, Acolytes, Art and Altar Guild

Nurtures of our young people

Kris Kindles

Sponsors and Seedleaf

Growth, gardeners, and givers of time

Imaginations of children

Volunteers and Vestrys!

Introits and incense

New families and new births!

Guests of Room in the Inn!

As our study of stewardship continues and as Advent is on the horizon, I am reminded that this is not only a season in which I give thanks, but also a season of thankful-giving.

A few weeks ago, Dean Wade preached on 2 Corinthians 9:7: “For God loves a cheerful giver.” She reminded us to give not only with thanks, but that the Greek word for cheerful also mean hilarious. Her sermon reminded me of a legendary story in our youth department.

Every year, during the third week in November, youth participate in a Canned Food Scavenger Hunt benefiting God’s Pantry. This year marks the 5^th year of the event. During the evening, youth are paired with a team and an adult driver. They drive to preassigned houses knocking on doors and asking for food. In our second year, our youth visited the house of a police officer. The officer answered his door and then escorted the students to his police car. Upon opening the trunk of the car, the youth were met with hundreds of cans! For weeks, the officer had been collecting from his fellow officers so that this offering to God’s Pantry was abundant, plentiful and hilarious. As the team returned to church, they were overcome with joy. “You’ll never guess what we found on our hunt.” “We went to one house and it was more than we could fit in our car.” “We won.” They were delighted to have received such a gift for God’s Pantry.

During this week of thanksgiving may we givers of thanks, thankful givers, and thankful receivers of all that God has given us. May we work as a community to give to others out of our blessings, may we become thankful, joyous and hilarious givers. 

Changing Seasons and God's Changelessness

“From everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.”

-Hymn 680 (“O God our help in ages past”)

This time of year always makes me think of transitions.  Baseball season is over, giving way to football and basketball.  The leaves change and fall to the ground, giving birth to a new landscape.  The weather begins to cool, and Old Man Winter starts to knock on the door.  In the church we are journeying through these final days of the year, looking with expectation to the Advent and Christmas seasons. All around us we are in the midst of transition.

What transition do you find yourself in the midst of right now?  Are you dealing with the loss of a loved one?  Has a child gone away to school for the first time?  Are you preparing to move away to a new place?  Are you adjusting to new life circumstances that seem to have hit you from out-of-the-blue?

Transitions can be scary, just like the weather outside our doors.  Transitions make us feel vulnerable and afraid.  Uncertainties abound as we journey into something unexpected.  Life can feel as dark as the skies we have seen as of late, with very little direction and promise.  It is even difficult to see the light of God as we go through these moments of transition. 

Our Daily Office readings have been carrying us recently through the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach
(commonly called Ecclesiasticus).  This jewel that we find in the section of Holy Scripture known as the Apocrypha offers many nuggets of wisdom and instruction for right living.  The one constant throughout the book is the wisdom and love of God.  Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, God’s grace and wisdom abound, unhindered, ever-changing.  God is from everlasting and remains the same throughout all generations.  Though the seasons change, the weather cools, loved ones leave us, and we find ourselves thrown into situations we either did not ask for or expect, God remains constant.  God’s welcome, God’s wisdom, God’s love, and God’s life-giving Spirit are ever-present and never-failing.  No amount of transition that we endure can change that.

So as you journey through the changing weather and the growing storms of life, may you rest in God’s eternal changelessness.  Know that regardless of the changes and chances of this life that you belong to God…ALWAYS!  That God’s love for you is eternal.  And that God will see you safely to your journey’s end. 

-The Rev. Joe Mitchell, Curate 

Autumn Gatherings and God's Blessings

Autumn is by far my favorite season. As I sit in the sunroom, looking out onto the maple trees, my eyes catch the bright orange, gold and red of the leaves. On the ground lay these leaves already turned brown, that crackle beneath my feet when I shuffle through them. The colors in the light of the setting sun always remind me of a collection of Dutch artists’ paintings I saw years ago in the National Gallery of Art. The colors in the paintings were subdued as if waiting for some serious event to take place. My senses are filled with the gifts of colors and sounds that God has set just the other side of my windows.

Autumn is the time when a warm cup of cocoa beckons me when the dogs and I come in from a chilly evening walk. The dogs make their ways to the den to curl up in the warmth and comfort of their beds.  The fall season is the time of year when I feel inspired to cook lots of soups and make a loaf of my Aunt Janet’s recipe of whole wheat bread. I look in my pantry see the bounty of summer’s canned vegetables lined up on the shelves. As I work in the kitchen, filled with the wonderful aromas of simmering soups and baking bread, I have a sense of comfort such as that when we celebrate the gifts God has provided us.

Most autumns, nature reminds me that it is preparing for a time of sleep and rest, only to burst forth in glorious colors and smells the following spring. It is the time of year when God seems so slow everything down a bit as we move ever closer towards the end of another year.  The trees shed their beautiful colored leaves, the last of the garden tomatoes struggle to turn red on the vine. Even the fish in my koi pond slow down as they eat less, move a bit slower and descend towards the lower levels of the pond. The squirrels, however, are scurrying about carrying walnuts and storing them in various places in our yard and gardens. They stow their precious treasures to meet their winter needs, though much to my dismay, they seem to forget where the nuts have been buried.

Autumn even sounds different to me. The crickets are long gone, no frogs can be heard croaking out near the pond and fewer birds seem to be calling into the night. I always miss the night sounds when I fall asleep at night as autumn descends over our part of Mother Earth as this season reminds the plants and animals in our midst that it is time to rest.

I doubt I would so enjoy the gifts of autumn were I not in such a comfortable place in life. I don’t know that I would enjoy the colors and sounds of the season if my mind was filled with the dread of not having a warm place to sleep, enough food for my family, warm clothes for the approaching winter cold and a way to continue to provide for those things everyday necessities. I believe I would find autumn a season of impending dread, increased hardship and worry as I tried to prepare for the frosty months ahead rather than the season that delights my senses and gives me pause to slow down and reflect on all the goodness in my life.

I have just finished writing the check which will fulfill my financial pledge to the Cathedral for this year. I am reminded that it is through God’s gifts to me that I am able to be a steward of the church. My gifts, along with yours, will help house and feed those men who will be guests at Christ Church through the Room in the Inn program. Our efforts will provide a night’s safe warm rest and a few good comforting meals to some of those of Christ’s flock who find themselves homeless and alone. Our participation in Church Under the Bridge will enable us to feed men, women and children, old and young, with a hearty lunch, fellowship and an opportunity to hear and share God’s holy word. The Pyramid Professionals will continue to share their wisdom and expertise as they help others develop skills and be appropriately ready to apply for work and take steps toward having their own of security. Community Cupboard will continue to provide food to those in financial distress so that they may put meals on tables to feed themselves and their families.

I see all the activity here at Christ Church as we prepare for the Community Cupboard Saturdays, for Room in the Inn and for Church Under the Bridge. I see the good work of the Church as we strive to help provide for those in our community who are not as fortunate as are we. I recognize that through our good stewardship, we are putting into action those words of Jesus that call us to love our neighbors as ourselves. And as I sit here in the warmth of the sunlight coming through the window, I know that just as nature prepares to rest for the winter, we share the harvests of our lives to enrich the lives of others around us.


 - The Rev. Paula Ott

Finding God's Welcome Within

I wonder what God’s welcome would really look like.  I mean total, unconditional welcome.  Have you ever wondered how many friends you would have if you revealed all of who you really are?  I have certainly had such thoughts.  When someone has given me a compliment, to myself I have thought, “That is nice, but if you really knew the truth of me you would not say that!”     Last week in staff meeting and again last Wednesday night with Rabbi Kline, we discussed the very real truth, that without welcoming one’s self, one cannot welcome anyone else.  Rabbi Kline said that prayer is about going down into the very depths of the self and seeing what is there.  Where are the wounds, the inner homeless, and the inner terrorists?  We must welcome all of ourselves and bring them into the light.     When I go on retreat, I begin to let go of all of my pretenses, some of which I may not even realize are there.  I am tired from the pace and from wearing all of the hats that I seem to think that I must wear.  There is the Christian Formation hat, mother hat, wife hat, spiritual director hat, friend hat...  Then of course there is taking care of the body and doing all with a smile.  So, I can get exhausted and lost in all of these good things!     On my very first extended silent retreat I hardly left my room for the first 2 ½ days.  I had no idea that I was so tired.  I got to the retreat center Sunday afternoon.  By Wednesday I was rested up and more than ready to go home.  It however was not time to go.  I had five more days.  I had almost a feeling of panic.  How could I possibly spend that much time with just me?  My spiritual director was very gentle with me and gave me some scripture passages to ponder.  One was about how God delights in me.  I had a while to be with me and to see what God could really delight in.     What I found out was that God did not require anything of me in order to delight in me.  I could stay grungy, be angry or even full of rage, happy, sad, or mean and God would still be at my very core welcoming me into wholeness.  I got in touch with this intimacy with God on this very first long retreat about 17 years ago.  I knew a presence that I had never known at such depth.  Somehow this depth of knowing enabled me to love and accept myself more than I had.  I didn’t want to leave.  I was afraid I would lose this intimacy that I had found.     I came home and have tried to make it a practice to go on a yearly retreat.  I have found that that presence is always deep within me.  It is kind of like a good friend or spouse whose love is there daily.  It takes those times of getting away together however, from all distractions to really connect.      I am now beginning to anticipate with excitement my upcoming retreat in November.   I am longing for this soaking time with God.  I encourage you to take up this practice if you do not already.  You will find that you are loved and welcomed beyond measure and will then desire to give this love and welcome away.

Prove It!

An Episcopal priest friend told me this story. He went to visit a parishioner at the local hospital. He was wearing his clerical collar and black shirt, and carrying a communion kit. While at the hospital, he was approached by an intense young pastor of another church who stared sharply at the priest and asked, “Are you saved?” The priest said he wouldn’t phrase it that way, but yes he was saved. The intense young pastor then demanded, “Prove it!”

I think these types of questions mix up two very different things. The first is the issue of salvation, in other words, is there life after life for us? The other is how do we identify whether someone is a Christian? As to the first thing, the issue of life after life, I like what theologian Reinhold Niehber said. When asked if and when he was saved, Niehber replied:  “I was saved about 2,000 years ago on a dusty hill called Golgotha outside the walls of Jerusalem.” I like this response. It’s simple, easy to remember and says it all. We aren’t saved by whether we have a mystical conversion experience.  We don’t save ourselves even by asserting we are saved. The salvation of eternal life is not something that get through our own efforts. Instead, it is something that Jesus freely gave to everyone through what he did.

But the other issue that is mixed up by the questions of the intense young pastor is how do we identify whether someone is a Christian? For many Christians the answer to the question, “Is Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior?” is dispositive. As to this question, I was reading about a monk who lives in a monastery founded in 963 A.D. on Mount Athos in Greece. A Christian from America visited the monk and asked, “Is Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior?” The smiling monk replied: “No, I like to share him.”  

Jesus said: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). Jesus knew what we already understand: if we want to know what someone is like, thinks, or believes, then watch what she or he does. Talk is cheap; the proof is in what people actually do. So, the intense young pastor should have asked the priest what he was doing if he really wanted to know if the priest was a Christian. My priest friend would have answered: “I’m visiting a sick friend and taking her the body and blood of Christ.”

On Time God

On Thursday, August 23, 8 students and 3 adults drove to St. Louis for the J2A Urban Adventure.  As they traveled down the highway gospel blared over the radio. In a deep alto voice Dottie People’s sang, “He’s an on time God, Yes He is, He’s an on time God, Yes He is. He may not come when you want Him, but He’ll be there right on time. He’s an on time God, Yes He is.” What does that mean? On time God? 

As the students rode, they decided that they were not sure what “On Time God” meant, but throughout the weekend, God’s timeliness manifested itself over and over again. A Dean who met us at the downtown Cathedral late at night, on time, despite the fact we had the wrong phone number for him. A wonderful experience of service at the Bridge St. Louis – a place that feeds breakfast and lunch to over 300 people a day, as well a resource and job center for many of St. Louis’ homeless. God gifted us with a living saint, Patrick, who had spent time on the streets of St. Louis and was now employed by the Bridge to give tours, lead groups, and talk about his experiences. Whatever was meant by “On Time God” our group was experiencing it. 

On the third day of the trip, we broke the students into 2 groups and gave them Amazing Race style tasks to complete. As the groups looked at maps and tried to navigate from point A to point B, the people of St. Louis demonstrated a tremendous sense of what it meant to be welcomed by God and neighbor. As the J2A kicked off their year of “Discovering God’s Welcome”, everywhere we turned members of St. Louis opened their arms to us. The housed and unhoused, black and white, and the rich and poor all stopped us on the street, welcomed us, introduced themselves to us, and pointed us in the right direction. My group ran into Barnabus, a Kenyan, who placed us on the right path. When he was finished helping us, he huddled us up in the middle of the street, laid hands on us, and prayed for us. The other group had a similar experience. After they were stopped by a man, after he helped them find their way, after he gave them advice, he closed with “I tell you what, our God is an on time God.” 

Our God was an on-time-God in St. Louis and our God is an on-time-God at Christ Church Cathedral. Everywhere I turn I see instances of people helping others by welcoming them, listening to them, and pointing them in the right direction. When we open ourselves to look for it, God’s welcome to us is always timely. Where have you experienced an on-time-God in your life this week?