Ordinary or Holy

  

This past Sunday I explored the Holy Communion with the children, their parents, grandparents, Miss Linda and Kate. We walked through the two parts of the Holy Eucharist; the Word of God and the Holy Communion.  It was fun to see how it all came about, but the most energy hovered around the Holy Communion.  This part of the service takes us where words and ideas alone cannot take us.  We move close to a knowing that is key to this whole gift of life.  One child said their favorite part of the story was when the priest says a prayer to make the ordinary bread and wine holy and then a prayer to make her holy so she can receive this holy bread and wine.  We wondered if that was what church was all about - maybe we learn to see everything with God's eyes.  Just maybe everything that we look at as ordinary is really holy!  WOW!  What an insight from the youngest in our congregation.  I believe that I have read those same words from the mystics.

These holy young ones in our midst help our all too often jaded adult eyes to see how God sees.  Every week children and adults go into the depths of life together through story, song, play and the Holy Eucharist.  I am blessed and taken deeper into the mystery of life every time that I am with them.

This next week we are blessed to have experts from Ministry Architects with us to explore our ministries with children and youth.  I hope that you have signed up for a listening group.  Your voice is so important for the continued vision for our life together.  We especially invite you to the pizza party on Sunday afternoon, March 6th from 4-5:30.  At this party, we will discover the findings from the listening sessions as we look to the direction of the future.  Our children and youth are counting on YOU!

Sign up at bit.ly/1oxqCc5 or at the Welcome Center.

Light Up The Darkness

“Teach us, Lord Jesus, to be kind and merciful when those around us are not. Teach us your goodness, shining in the darkness. Teach us your humility, putting others before ourselves. Teach us not to count the cost, and teach us always to be faithful to you.”

This is the February Christ Church Cathedral community prayer. It was written by the Reverend Bob Horine and first used at the Cathedral in 2009. Father Hornine penned a wealth of these prayers during his time at the Cathedral, and we rotate between them month in and month out, year in and year out.

This prayer really spoke to me, especially “Teach us your goodness, shining in the darkness.” This echoes John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” What is the light? The Gospel of John explains that the light is Jesus Christ, and it is Christ who is the light of all people.

Two of the many brightly shining lights at the Cathedral are our ministries for children and youth. It is sometimes said that children and youth are the future, but I suggest that children and youth are our present! In this Lenten season of reflection, we are working with Ministry Architects as we further strengthen the light of our children and youth ministries. If you have children or youth involved in anything at the Cathedral, or if you teach Sunday school, help with our youth groups or choirs, please sign up for the “listening” sessions March 3, 4 and 5. All are invited to join us on Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m. as Ministry Architects enlightens us with their results and recommendations.

During Lent, I invite each of you to pray and meditate on how the light of Christ shines through you. I also invite you to ponder how the light of Christ shines through all of us together as Christ Church Cathedral and through our many ministries. Try to imagine what it looks like from other people’s perspectives as they see the light of Christ in you and also in this gathered community of faith. What does our light mean to those we encounter, to the community, and to the world? How does our light make a difference? What would happen if our light shone brighter? 

May you have a holy Lent.

The Reverend Brent Owens+

Ashes

I love to sit next to the fireplace. I enjoy the sound of the cracking of the wood and the comfort of the warmth. There is a calmness that comes with the flames. After the fire has disappeared, all that is left are smoldering, dark and dirty ashes. The ashes, however, that follow the burning flames actually seem restful and peaceful.

Ash Wednesday is the day when we are crossed with ashes on our foreheads to remember that we came from the dust of the earth, and we will return to the earth as dust when we die. Ashes represent the soot of our lives, the dirtiness and filth that comes with being sinful creatures. However, the ashes can be a symbol of the past and of our renewal. Jesus refines us through the fire of life, creating something new in our hearts. The ashes of our lives can be a reminder of where we come from and what we have been through, showing us the renewal of who we were. In Jason Gray's song, Nothing is Wasted, there is a line that goes along with this theme: “from the ruins, from the ashes, beauty will rise, from the wreckage, from the darkness, glory will shine.”

Renewing aspects of our lives can be an incredible and enlightening experience. It helps us to reflect on the past, vision for the future, and grow in the present. On March 4-6, the Cathedral welcomes the organization of Ministry Architects. This ministry is devoted to assisting churches find an even clearer direction and success as their team guides churches to reaffirm their past and to continue to rejuvenate their future.

As we take our first steps into Lent, take time to reflect on your life, your family, your friends, and the Cathedral and its community. Push the pause button in your life to vision for the future and start to look forward to all that is in store as we are being renewed through the Refiner’s fire. 

The Importance of Resting and Refocusing

One of my favorite activities is yoga. I especially love it when I have the opportunity to go to a studio and join in on a group yoga class. Having the chance to be instructed by a trained yogi on proper alignment and posture, I have found, is a great way to increase my knowledge and skill of the practice. Last Thursday I made time in my schedule to do just that. But,  as the class progressed I noticed myself becoming increasingly frustrated with the instructor who continually led us back to child’s pose (a resting position, where you sit back on your heels and lay your body over your knees). I didn’t come to yoga to “rest” in child’s pose, I came to get in a heart raising, strength training, and balance challenging workout.  As I became more aware of my frustration and lack of patience I realized that the instructor may be leading us back to child’s pose for a reason. Furthermore I wondered why it was so hard for me to a.) trust her knowledge and instruction, and b.) allow myself the chance to rest and refocus in the position of a child. 

Why is it that it is so hard for us (or at least for me) to allow ourselves to slow down, to refocus our energy, to take notice of the world around us, and trust in the knowledge of others? In today’s world it seems as though we want everything better, stronger, faster, harder (often cheaper as well). We want the maximum results from minimal works. But, that is not logical or productive, and it often leaves us with sloppy work that is neither sustainable nor particularly fruitful. 

A few years back when I heard God calling me toward youth ministry I immediately turned to one of the best and most trusted resources of the time (and still of today), Mark DeVries’ “Sustainable Youth Ministry”. Coincidentally (or not), this is also the founder and president of Ministry Architects, a consulting group that focuses on creating successful and sustainable ministries  in congregations. In fact, the Ministry Architects are coming to the Cathedral March 3-6, to work with our children and youth ministries.  In the introduction to the book DeVries discusses the dangers of looking for and towards “just-add-water” programs. He discusses the importance of time committed to creating sustainable and successful ministries, that are not focused on one leader, but on the youth, the ministry, and most importantly the congregation in which they exist. There are no quick fixes, DeVries continually reiterates. But, what is important, DeVries states, are congregational buy-in, structure, and (most importantly) a focus on God. 

Taking time in child’s pose is important, rest may not always seem like work, but it is. It is when we take the time to rest, to listen, and to be present to the moment that we are able to encounter something larger, greater, and outside of ourselves (often the Holy Spirit). When we allow ourselves to trust others, to listen to their direction, and to follow their lead we often find new wisdom that we either didn’t know or had forgotten in the midst of our harried lives. As we prepare for the Ministry Architects to arrive in March, it will be my goal to take time to rest in God’s presence, allowing myself the space to hear the movements of the Spirit, and refocus my energy on creating sustainable ministry for a successful congregation!