Thinking about Sunday and preaching. For readings click here.
Chewing on this bits - hoping they will coalesce into a sermon.
From the Process and Faith website. "The function of Advent is to focus on this aspect of life, the always-to-be-expected coming of Christ into our experience, and the specific contribution of repentance-texts is encourage reflection upon all the ways in which our lives do not in fact manifest the love and devotion that are appropriate to relationships with God and our neighbors."
From Harry Mozolak
_gift among gifts_
Harvey S. Mozolak

time is not the treasure
but the wrapping for the gift
God at Bethlehem

we too come
from later years
crowned by aureate achievements
drawn from distant cathedrals
mitered by incensed right and ritual
from other epochs
turbaned by tempting technologies

to make homage
join the journey
of ageless adoration
to the timeless God
born today a child

So far I am thinking about the birth and re-birth of hope -- Jesus is born in his day and in our day and in all the days of creation from the beginning to the end. John speaks of preparing the way, Malachi speaks of refiner's fire. Who can read the words of Malachi "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" and not hear Handel's Messiah becoming an ear worm that will stay with one all day until sleep?
Who can stand? and yet the promise is that Christ makes us "worthy to stand" (BCP Eucharistic Prayer and St. Paul). The hope we have is that no matter what life brings we will be able to stand - maybe needing a lot of help or maybe only in our minds - but stand in the fullness of our creation. We will see the salvation of God not in some far distant future but wherever Christ appears - wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in his name or serving as his hands in the world or being served by others.

Having trouble finding a Christmas gift for someone who has everything? GIFTS FOR LIFE

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY:
Click here for the readings for today.
An interesting Feast Day - developed in the last century by Pope Pius XI during the time of Mussolini. Depending on who you read it was either a bargain to not say anything about governments while maintaining the Holy See at the Vatican or it was a way to proclaim Christ in the face of facism, communism and other isms that were threatening to overwhelm the world of faith with secular gods. It was proclaimed in 1925 and it was not until 1969 when it was fixed on the date of the last Sunday of the Church Year.
King Jesus is a concept that is hard for me to reconcile with Jesus the crucified one, the servant, the compassionate, the one who dines with the outcasts and the insiders, etc. When I hear the word King - I think of Elvis or tyrants of old, Pop stars or absolute rulers. Currently we have a Queen in England. That is an image of someone who seems somewhat anachronistic, wearing hats and carrying a purse, dedicating buildings, symbolizing a bygone age. In the days of Pilate - he is trying to maintain his political position caught between the Romans on the one hand and the Jews he was trying to rule on the other. He makes Jesus out to be either danger or a fool. A danger must be killed, a fool so no one will want to follow him.
But Jesus accepts neither position. He stands essentially silent allowing the truth of his being to show us another way.
All during the Gospel of John he refuses those who desire to turn him into a king, instead he reveals that those who would be first will be last, that servants are the true leaders, and no one can lead without learning how to wash feet.
It is right relationship that is the mark of the realm of Christ. It is not so much a "kingdom" as a "kindom" -- a place where there is no "father" but God, and all are sisters and brothers concerned with one another's well-being as if we were all of the same family.
We just had the great American holiday - Thanksgiving - where families of birth and families of choice gathter to share food and time with one another. Where all who come to the country give thanks to God in the way they understand God. Where there is concern that all get to share in the feast. I love the ad on TV where the kids are putting on a play about the first immigrants - they all got sick on the boat, then they froze the first winter, they stole from the Indians, then they all watched football and had a happy ending. Somehow it is the truth of our history - the bad and the good of our lives. God comes into the reality of that truth as Jesus and lives in our midst showing us that truth and a new truth. That we can be the best of ourselves not the worst
Christ the fully human One reveals our divinity. He asks us to walk in his ways, to follow him, to learn from him. Never do you hear in the Gospels - worship me, only Follow me. This the message of the Feast of Christ the King - follow, walk in the paths of right relationship with one another. The Navajo call it Walking in Beauty - right relationship with the earth and all creatures, Dostoevsky says the world will be saved by such beauty.
When we look in the mirror of truth that is Christ we see both our failings and our potential. We see what is possible if we accept the way of the Christ's reign. We are freed from the failings and brought together in a new dominion - where all are able to live into the fullness of their creation.

IDEAS for Christmas Gifts -- 12" Deborah the Warrior figure comes complete with warrior clothing, shield. Figure comes with scroll of the complete Bible story of Deborah the Warrior. Other action figures also available. Strange that someone from the Middle East would have blue eyes and blond hair.

FOR FUN:

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

SUNDAY THOUGHTS:
Click here for the readings

Tomorrow I make my way over South Pass to Rock Springs. We will have music by jazz artistRonnie Kole. He has been in Rock Springs doing workshops and working with students at Western Wyoming Community College. Every year he leads us in worship. This year we have 4 baptisms so it should be quite a celebration.
The Gospel is one where Jesus is warning the religious establishment about making the building and the trappings of religion more important than people. The widow with her two coins gives her all to support a system that perhaps should be looking out for her welfare rather than sucking up her last savings. He criticizes those who walk about in fine long robes and tells them that soon the whole structure will come tumbling down. It is a lesson for all of us who get too caught up in preserving the "way it always was" as our utmost value rather than letting go of those things that get in the way of our call to serve Christ in all persons. Dylan Breuer in her Lectionary blog explores this idea more fully.
In the reading from 1 Kings - the prophet Elijah goes to the outsider in answer to God's call. She is also a widow. Widows symbolize the most marginalized of the community - without a husband they have very few resources. In this story the widow is cooking a final meal for herself and her son. Elijah asks to share it and her willingness to share is repaid again and again.
How does this all relate to jazz and baptisms? Maybe there is something about letting go of status and position to give of oneself for others? Children want love, nurture, food and shelter -- just like we do. They are given into our care. Jazz at its best asks the musician to give one's gifts over to the music and the interplay between players. The giver of all gifts - children and music -- asks only that we use them to build up the kindom of God, for making heaven on earth. We cannot hold them too tightly. We give our best, studying and learning and practicing. Then we let it all go to become what God has in mind. Roots and wings - as the old saying goes. Roots for grounding and wings for flying.
There is a song sung by Linda Ronstadt:

Love is a rose but you better not pick it
Only grows when it's on the vine
Handful of thorns and you'll know you've missed it
Lose your love when you say the word mine

This is the truth - all life is a gift of the Holy One --- this building, the music, the children, ourselves - but the message we hear over and over is that it is not ours to use for ourselves alone -- it is to be offered up for the life of the world. The widows would not be down to her last coin or last meal if those in power had not allowed either of them to become impoverished. As we make our promises to these children to support them in their life in Christ - let us remember that we are making these promises to all the children. Maybe it would be to buy mosquito nets for a family in Africa to prevent malaria or give to buy a well for clean water in a village in South America so that disease is not spread from bad drinking water. These are all possibilities within our reach - see the Gifts for Life catalogfrom Episcopal Relief and Development for one way to do this. As we offer our support to the children we see here before us - we remember that we can reach out to our families, our community and around the world.

This weekend of events - the meeting of The Episcopal Majority on Friday, the Investiture on Saturday and the Installation on Sunday confirmed the best of the church for me. Rather than the one-note tune played by those who wish for a narrower church - I experienced the symphony that is our church. All the melodies and themes - weaving a rich song where all can join the harmony and diversity.
I loved the opening image of The Episcopal Majority meeting of wanting to maintain the big tent of Anglicanism rather than setting up individual tents for each small idea of what is right with guards checking the door to make sure that those entering are pure enough. I feel sad for those who would endlessly criticize. They seem to wallow in bringing down anyone who seems to be at ease and able to appreciate difference without feeling threatened or fearful. If they had written Canterbury Tales - only one type of person would be allowed on their pilgrimage. It is one thing to disagree and state ones case and work for change, it is something sad to harp continually and nastily about others on the Way.
The Episcopal Majority is a loose knit open organization for all who love The Episcopal Church and want to support it to become the best of Anglican welcome. It hopes to support the church to be a place where we can "argue it out" as the prophet Isaiah says, but yet share the the Body and Blood of Christ at the banquet prepared from all time and get out into the world to do the work we are called to do, strengthened in one another's company and filled with the Spirit.
On Saturday Katharine (click HERE) called us to be at home in this time and place and to help others to find home here too. Her challenge is that none of us is fully home until all of us are able to receive the abundance of the creation in daily life, health and well being.
On Sunday - (click HERE) we were sent out to be alight with the fire of the Spirit --- saint-sparks clearing the way for renewal and growth.
Some will continue to try to quench our spirits but as the (Click HERE) old camp song says:


Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love


We are many textures, we are many colors,
Each one different from the other.
But we are entwined in one another in one great tapestry


We are different instruments playing our own melodies,
Each one tuning to a different key,
But we are all playing in harmony in one great symphony.


A moment ago still we did not know
Our unity, only diversity.
Now the Spirit in me greets the Spirit in thee in one great family.


Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love


So join the symphony - all are welcome - amateurs and professionals - kazoo players and cellists - we are singing and playing for our lives and yours and the whole world's -- our conductor gave His all for this song - and its name is LOVE.

INVESTITURE OF THE NEW PRESIDING BISHOP
Katharine Jefferts Schori will become our new presiding bishop next Saturday. The Bible passages that will be read are: Isaiah 25:1-9, Psalm 98, Ephesians 4:1-16, and Luke 4:14-21. She has asked the church to contemplate and pray these lessons during this week before her Investiture.
The Isaiah lesson speaks of a time when all can come to the feast and rejoice and be glad. The Psalm sings praises to God for the marvelous things God has done, even the hills sing and the waters clap its hands. Ephesians calls Christians to unity - using the image of God knitting us together. Luke tells of the time when Jesus read the scroll that is our first lesson and proclaims that this has happened at that very moment. It is the Year of the Lord's Favor. The word in Greek is dektos - and is often associated with the Year of Jubilee referred to in Leviticus - where all receive their share of the communities wealth. Those who have piled up more than others - return the extra to those who have lost their share. The land is permitted to rest and all feast together. It was a dream that probably never happened but an awareness that wealth is to be shared and not hoarded. Dektos at is root means acceptable or welcome.
Some questions that come to mind for me are:
What does it mean when Jesus proclaims the year of the Lord's favor?
A party favor is a gift to those who show up.
When someone does us a favor - we try to return it or at least pass it on to others.
Mary was favored among women - bringing God to birth in this world.
If we have God's favor - what is our response?
When have I felt "the Lord's favor"?
When have I returned the Lord's favor?
When have I felt accepatable and welcome?
When have I helped others to feel acceptable and welcome?

SOME FUN:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 28 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

If I use my middle name - there are no people with my name.

BLESSING OF ANIMALS:
Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis, a little late. His day is October 4th but the first time this month we could make it happen in Rock Springs and Eden. St. Francis was a rich young man who "had it all" - friends, family connections, a soldier, popularity. Something must have been missing though - as he could often be found at the site of the ruins of the church at San Damiano. At one point he heard the voice of Jesus saying "build my church." He began to restore the ruins of the building thinking that is what the voice meant. He attracted other young men who were looking for meaning in their lives. He gave away money to the poor. Finally his father confronted him and said he had to choose - either give up his family connections or his new way of life. Francis chose to follow Christ, taking off all his fine clothes that belonged to the wealth of his family. Naked in the town square - a compassionate bishop covered him with his cope.
He had many other legendary adventures among them his ability to communicate with wolves, birds and other animals. This is why we celebrate his life with the blessing of animals. Francis' life was paralleled by Clare who was also taken with this simple way of life - serving the poor and marginalized. Each founded an order of followers who agreed with their ideals.
In our reading today we hear Jesus say, Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Often our commitment to serve Christ in the world can feel like a heavy burden -- so many hurting people, so many needs, how can we even make a difference?
Lane Denson in Out of Nowhere says perhaps examining the meaning of the word "sacrifice" will give us a broader perspective of what God requires. Sacrifice in our common usage means giving up things or our life, but it has its roots in "to make holy" or "sacred." So while it can mean to give up something it also means seeing all our gifts and resources as having potential for holiness. It all depends on what we do with them. When we see our "things" in this way - they become light, we become less attached to them and can more freely use them to build up the creation and all our brothers and sisters in this world.
Our pets give themselves to us in love - we care for them and love them in return. They need very little: affection, exercise, food, water, shelter. Maybe we can learn from them.

WYOMING WEDNESDAY:
The drive over South Pass was stunning with the aspens at full gold and the rising sun illuminating the golds and reds. This year seems to have more red in the aspens than many years. Some sort of combination of drought and rain, freeze and heat, I suppose. This day had a classic highway sight for this time of year. The cattle were being trailed down the road to winter pasture from their sojourn in the mountain pastures. Some will end up as burgers and steaks and shoes and some will winter over to return to the high country in the Spring.
Yesterday three of us hiked to the Falls of the Popo Agie, probably the last hike there for this year. Snow will soon cover the trail. We are soaking in the color as we start into the more black and white season of winter. Dark tree trunks will stand out from white snow. Brown grass and grey green sage brush will patch the places in between the drifts. But for now we enjoy each day and its gifts.

SUNDAY THOUGHTS:
The lessons are from the Book of Esther, the Epistle of James and the Gospel of Mark. The theme, according to the Collect is a prayer for grace as we run to obtain God's promises to partake of heavenly treasure.
The Book of Esther is a tale of how a woman saves a nation by stepping up to the plate at a crucial moment. It is told in a melodramatic style - with reversals of fortune and opportunities to laugh as villains are brought to justice. When Purim is celebrated in the Synagogue (usually in March) the reading of this story is accompanied by boos and hisses and clattering of rattles at the mention of Haman's, the villain, name and shouts and cheers for Mordecai and Esther. The point of the story seems to be that when the time comes it is not always the strong and powerful who win the day, but that we must be willing to act if we are so called.
In the gospel - Jesus is also making the point that the kindom of heaven is made up of little ones, those who even in small acts - like a cup of water for someone who is thirsty - do the thing that brings us all closer to living in the way that God would have us live. Often we think that "little ones" means children but in this passage it is the Greek word "mikron" - same as where we get "micro." In this case Jesus is referring to those on the margins - the widows, the orphans, the poor, the powerless. He is giving hope to all who feel that life is too much to handle and who are always struggling. He is calling those who have gifts, no matter how small we may think they are, to use them to care for one another. Dylan Breuer has a commentary on this at her blog, Sarah Laughed.
James, as usual, offers practical advice on church life. Luther did not like the Epistle of James as he thought it was a "works not grace" book of the Bible. Luther was so overwhelmed by the notion of grace that he dismissed the Letter of James as to works oriented. Also interesting is that the Book of Esther does not mention God at all. It is a good thing they were all left in the Bible as we have received it - makes us know that there is a broad range of approaches to the faithful life. The task is to run the race and know that we already have the gold medal.