In Thanksgiving

          With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I cannot help but think how blessed my life is. I live in a nation of relative peace and freedom. I have always had a roof over my head, more than enough nutritious food on my table and plenty of money to live a comfortable life. Neither my husband nor my son have had to go off to war. I spend my days doing things I love. My health is good. Toddler Ellie and my four dogs surround me with their love and never fail to warm my heart. All in all, my life is fairly easy. I have lived, what one anonymous author calls, an enchanted life.

           I rise in the morning and am free to worship God as I choose. I live with little fear of my home being fire bombed, my family being murdered, my freedoms suddenly being snatched away. God has been generous and has indeed rained his blessings down upon me and my family.

          Such thoughts and thanksgivings always bring me round to the same succeeding  thought, why am I so blessed when others are not? Why has God given me such blessings yet seemingly turned his face from others who struggle to feed and protect their families, to live in safety and peace?  Why am I so fortunate when so many others are not?

          The answer, I think, is in the very essence of God's generosity and in our response to that generosity. Were it not for all the people who have reached out to us, loved and cared for us during our lives, none of us would be find ourselves in the positions we are. The more I ponder the ramifications of Jesus' command to us to love our neighbors even as we love ourselves, and the more soul searching I  do, the deeper becomes my understanding of how important it is that I follow that commandment even when it takes me into situations and places that are unpopular and sometimes unsafe.

          At a time when the world seems to be filled with more hatred, lies and fear than we have ever known, it is much easier for us to feed off those three things than it is to feed off the love and goodness of God. Like a mother who cares for all her children, God loves all of her divine creation. God does not call us to be fools, but neither does God call us to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. As we prepare to gather at our tables with food piled high, let us also gather to consider how we are called to share God's generosity and love with the rest of this world. Amen.

Being You

Did you know that you are special? Did you know that you are unique? Did you know that you were made for a great purpose? Yes, YOU! You were created in God’s image and with the utmost care. He thought through ALL of you. He designed all of your personality, your desires, your talents, and your spiritual gifts. He knew you before He created the world. Psalm 139: 13-16 states, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Now, how special do you feel?

Each day He gives us an opportunity to use our gifts. He doesn’t want us to be lazy, boring, or lethargic. He wants us to be hard-working, energetic, bold, and confident in who He made us to be. He wants us to take what He has given us and use it. We were not meant to just sit there and be worthless. You have too much potential, and He expects us to use it. One of my favorite sayings is, “God gave us the firewood; all you have to do is light the fire.” He gave us what we need; we just have to embrace it and display it! 

Being you is a very extraordinary element to the world. What we each bring to the world is an amazing thing. We shouldn’t be scared to show the world how God created us. Be confident in who you are and know that there is a wonderful plan for you!

 Who I Am by Blanca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IvlRQ30Ibg 

A Noticeable Energy

As the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival nears, at our Old Episcopal Burial Ground (OEBG), I recently met with the Living Arts and Science Center’s Gallery Director, Jeffrey Nichols, to discuss the Cathedral Youth’s altar. As we walked around the grounds of the OEBG and discussed the Cathedral’s participation in this wonderful event (as our youth will be decorating one of the gravesites, creating an altar in memory of our loved ones who have passed on to greater glory) Jeffery expressed how glad he was that the Cathedral had partnered with the Living Arts and Science Center in this community wide Latino cultural event. Jeffrey exclaimed how wonderful he thought everyone he had worked with at CCC was, how he saw and felt the excitement and joy that our staff and parishioners exuded. It was such a compliment to hear Jeffrey as he tried to express the life and light he felt from the CCC community. And, even though he stated that he wasn’t exactly sure how to put it into words, I knew exactly what he meant.

Christ Church Cathedral is alive with so much energy and excitement, and it is because of all that you put into our church community. It was obvious, when Jeffrey was talking about Christ Church, that he wasn’t talking about a building, or an organization, but about the people and the spirit who radiate the love, joy, and peace of Christ out into the world. The Holy Spirit is moving with vigor throughout our community, and it is noticeable!

As we continue to give of ourselves, our time, our energy, and our resources we continue to build up the kingdom of God, and ourselves as individuals. And, as a result, people notice. They notice when we have energy around what's happening in our church home and community. They notice when we are able to find peace in the midst of our busy lives. They notice when we exude joy despite the pains that surround our world. The Spirit is alive, well, and moving here at Christ Church Cathedral, and it is noticeable from our outreach ministries and Christian formation offerings to our beautiful choir music and moving liturgies. There is so much happening here, and it is all thanks to your support and commitment!

When Jeffrey was exclaiming what light and life he felt from the Christ Church Cathedral community, I immediately thought of all of you. I thanked him for his kind words, but who I really should be thanking is you. Thank you, for continuing to support our congregation, thank you for giving of yourselves, your time, your energy, and your resources. Thank you, for believing in the power of the Spirit and body of Christ. Our church community is alive and well, because of you, and I am so excited to see where and how the Spirit will continue to move, inspire, and uplift not only this place, but all of us!