Raising our Lamps

Dear sisters anad brothers in Christ,

We are such an awesome family! During lunch this past Saturday during The Ride Home festivities, I looked across the immediate area and marveled at the lot of us. What a beautiful community I saw, this family of Christ known as Christ Church Cathedral. There in chairs, on quilts spread on the ground, on bicycles, tossing a frisbee and folks serving food I saw the blessed company of parishioners all come together to help make a dream come true for a mother and her children. There were dogs, some wearing purple boas, resting in the shade near their owners' feet. There was the sound of laughter from children playing in the jump-house. I saw teenagers and us old folk alike singing the lyrics to songs being played by the band. I left for home, once again thanking God for blessing me with the opportunity to serve not only the Holy Trinity but also you  here at Christ Church.

While reading emails later on Satruday afternoon, I came across the Shabat Shalom blog Rabbic Marc Kline sends out every weekend. His topic this past weekend was the Torah portion for the day which began with "Behaalotekha et hanaerot: When you raise the lamps". It was in reference to Aaron, the brother of Moses. Only Aaron and his descendants, were to have the responsibility of raising the lamp stand that stood beside the Tabernacle. In an instant, my thoughts returned to our earlier gathering at Coldstream Park. We were there, not only for fellowship and fun, but to raise God's lamp.

Just as Aaron was given such an enormous responsibility, so are we called by God to do the same. In Matthew 5:14-16, we read the words of Jesus, "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Last Saturday, our lamps shone brightly for all to see who came to Coldstream Park that day.

We will have many many opportunities over the summer to let our lamps shine for others to see. As we help out with vacation bible school, assist at Church Under the Bridge, help a stranger, care for another parishoner in need or help a woman build her house we help to let God's light of love shine into the world.
In doing so, we indeeed shine as the Light of Christ- such an important responsibility, such a blessed gift.
Shalom
Paula+

The Father in the Thin Places

Phillip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father.”

 Haven’t we all been in places in our lives where we have wanted, just once, to see God face to face, to be reassured as Phillip sought to be reassured? We yearn to have that close proximity to God and we find it unexpectedly in so many places and moments of our lives.

For the past few decades, I have returned to the same beach every summer for renewal, for refreshment. Last summer, I we stayed at a different beach, failing to finds the rest we had found so may previous years. We ended up driving over two hours on a rainy day to get to the usual beach. Upon arriving at our destination that dreary muggy day, I took off my shoes and went to stand in the ocean as the rain fell upon my head.  As I stood there and gazed at the storm clouds building over the ocean and felt the tug of the tide on my feet, I was in awe of the wonder of God, of presence of the Divine- the Creator of all things.   

Celtic tradition has a saying that heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in thin places the distance is even smaller. Our souls yearn for thin places, where the distance between heaven and earth collapses, drawing us closer to the Divine.

If we pause and give it some thought, we can each probably name thin places in our lives. Some have told me of the presence of God on a mountain top, of God’s closeness in the depths of the Grand Canyon.  Mother Teresa found her thin places in the dirty, disease- filled poverty-ridden streets of Calcutta. Many a youth has told me of the sense of peace and renewal that can be found at Cathedral Domain. Indeed, it is the place to where I retreat when I feel the world in which we live becoming oppressive. We sense the presence of Christ during the Holy Eucharist, at the Wednesday Healing Service and listening to a beautiful hymn or prelude. Friends who have traveled to Ireland or to the Holy Land, tell of thin places they found during their journeys. Often a thin place is a point in time- the birth of a newborn, the baptism of a child, the time when two individuals join together in Holy matrimony, the simple presence of another soul with whom ours are entwined, the presence with a dear one whose life is passing.  

Psalm 42 reminds us, “As a dear yearns for the flowing streams, so my soul longs for You, O God.” All of us yearn for a glimpse of the Divine, for the sense of the very presence of God with us. It is an innate yearning within us, which draws us back to the Father, to be one with Christ.  As we enter into summer, may we all find refreshment and God’s palpable presence in the thin places in our lives. As for me, I am looking forward to my time at the usual beach where the creatures of the sea and the creatures of the land and air remind me of the awesome majesty of Creation and where God is but a prayer away. Amen. 

Home

“Ah: There is nothing like staying home for real comfort.”  Jane Austin - Emma

Upon turning the key to the back door and cracking it open, I feel as though a door to a different

room within is also cracking open. Muscles loosen their grip on bone, allowing oxygen to flow freely throughout my body.  As Jane Austen said, “my soul celebrates with an Ah! I am home!”  A small fire takes the chill off the cool spring evening.  Things of comfort surround me: pictures of loved ones, my great grandmother's rocking chair, familiar books that have been absorbed or are waiting to be absorbed.  I light a candle while enjoying a cup of tea, and spend a moment to reflect on my day.  When Bernie gets home, we rummage around through the cabinets and refrigerator to decide what to eat.  At the table, we enjoy a meal and each other's company. Sanctuary has been found in this sacred place and we are free to be ourselves.  This space gives us the room to discover the more of who we are.

One of the most common themes in dreamwork is the house. There was a period in my life when my house dreams changed constantly.  During this time I frantically searched for my true self - my soul.  My spiritual director surely at times grew weary from yet another house dream.  To find true home within, one must have a home or safe dwelling in which to let down one’s guard in order to safely search.  The searching will take you to your connection with the world.  My wholeness is dependent on yours.  There are no rugged individuals.  Even as I sit in the sanctuary of home, I see the connections all around.  There are my ancestors, my offspring and spouse.  There are those who work to bring food to my table, fuel to my car and home and mail to the door.  Not to mention the animals, and plants that sustain us and the land on which they live.  You get the picture – this game could continue forever.  I need all of you and you need me. 

As Christians we have a life-long journey in search of true home. We do this in community, helping one another along the way. Part of this calling is to provide housing for those who are without. One out of every fifty children in the United States is homeless. We can only imagine how many people this really means. Without a physical dwelling in which to make home, it is nearly impossible to find that home within, where God lives and moves and has being. We are gifted with an opportunity to build a home with a family.   This family has not had a home since theirs was taken by war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Please join your community as we answer this call.  You can be involved in many ways. Call the church (254-4497) with any and all questions concerning this endeavor.  There are opportunities for fellowship and fun for all ages as well as the actual build and raising of funds.  The construction of this Habitat home is a spiritual practice that will bring us closer to our true home within while giving this family a dwelling in which to make  home.

Doers Who Act

In the Letter of James we are encouraged to “…be doers of the word, and not merely hearers [of the word]…” The Letter of James goes on to say that “…doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing.” (James 1:22-25).

At this moment, every member of Christ Church Cathedral has a unique opportunity to be doers who act through the Habitat for Humanity house we are building. It is only once in a while during our lives that we are given the chance to completely give of ourselves in a way that will have a truly meaningful, life long impact on another person. The opportunity we are afforded is one with no strings attached and no expectation of repayment. It is a gift to a family who is in need. With this Habitat build, what we have been led into by the Holy Spirit is no small thing either. It is huge. It is not a band-aid. It is not a quick fix in an overwhelming sea of need. What we are doing is a lasting, major, and permanent thing. And once it is completed, once the last nail has been driving home, the last shingle put on, and the last coat of paint has dried, well then, we will give it away.

It is common sense that the foundation of a house must be built before the walls can go up or the roof can go on. Before we can hammer in the first nail, the foundation we must build is the ability to contribute the finances Christ Church Cathedral has committed - $10,000. This is the foundation we are constructing right now. Flamingos have been flocking to many members’ homes. On Friday, May 17 we will have a fun cocktail party and auction to raise money for this house. And on Saturday, May 25 we will have a picnic at Coldstream Park and walk, run, or ride our bikes on the Legacy Trail. Each dollar raised in these fun and playful events is another nail, another board, another shingle and another wall.

We are building a house. We are giving a house away. The act of building this house is sacrificial. The act of building this house is a big and bold statement. The act of building this house is really quite remarkable if we stop to think about it. And ironically, by building a house for someone else, we are also building and strengthening our own house of God through the blessings and relationships formed. As James says, “…doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing.” (James 1:22-25).

Brent+

From Uganda to Lexington

This week I attended the Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry. It was a wonderful week of conversation with sociologists and theologians on the future of the church, especially as related to youth ministry. We talked about good uses of technology, our interconnectedness with all the world, and ways in which the church could participates in a global society.

On my return flight, I was seated next to Shelia. Sheila was traveling from her homeland Uganda to Lexington. Shelia schedules the Watoto Children's Choir, part of Watoto Childcare Ministries. Some of you may have heard about them this week - they had a story in the Herald Leader. As their website states, the program is a holistic program initiated in response to orphaned children in Uganda. Many of their students are former prisoners of Joseph Kony and orphans of civil war. As Kony has now moved into the Congo and the Sudan, their organization is expanding to offer safe haven to orphans in those areas. 

As you might imagine, Sheila's students have tremendous physical, psychological and educational needs. Watoto works with them to provide counseling, spiritual direction and help them graduate from university. Their goal is 100% graduation. They not only have a tremendous record with rehabilitating these young people into society, they also are training world leaders. As Shelia said, "We have not had a president yet, but we will." As part of their leadership training, students are able to go on a worldwide choir tour for one year, where they specifically hone in on their leadership skills. That tour is why Sheila was sitting next to me.

Sheila spoke fondly of World Vision, the group which sponsors 30 Hour Famine. She was delighted that our church was raising money and awareness. She was comforted that our youth  pray regularly for Uganda. We both shared a love of ministry with children and shared concerns and joys of that work. It was awe inspiring to listen to her tell stories of her ministry. It was evident that the presence of Christ is transforming the dark pasts of these orphans into young people who serve as tremendous beacons of Christ's light and love. 

We do live in a global society. Civil wars in places like Uganda, the Congo, and Sudan do effect our lives in Lexington. You do not have to travel to Uganda or to Princeton to meet someone who has been effected by civil war in Africa. This summer, through Habitat for Humanity, we will build a  house for the Kumbaskisaka Family. Due to the plight of war in the Congo, the Kumbaskisakad fled to America for a new start, safety, and peace of mind.  

When talking about spiritual communities, the letter of Galatians reminds us to "Bear one another's burdens" so that we may fulfill the law of Christ. As our society becomes more and more interconnected we have a great opportunity to uplift our global neighbors in prayer and bear their burdens. And as we do such we also grow from one another's joys. As Sheila taught me, there are great lessons of Christ's healing and resurrection in stories of hope to be told of our brothers and sisters who have overcome tremendous obstacles through their faith in Christ. 

Thanks be to God for the gift of Christ which connects us all. 

*For more information on the Watoto Children's Choir - www.watoto.com

*There are many ways to help the Kumbaskisaka's find home on May 19th and 25th. For more information on our Habitat Fundraisers - http://www.ccclex.org/#!the-ride-home/c1v9n