Mad as hell doctors for single payer

Jumping Jehosphat!! The Gospels and Acts

Barbara Harris preaches Integrity Eucharist

No longer strangers

Readings are here.

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

Rest awhile sounds delightful to the bishops and deputies and all who attended General Convention the last 2 weeks. I told people I was on the General Convention diet - no time to eat. I received notes from friends at home giving me helpful ideas about how to eat healthy with the schedule of 7 a.m. committee meetings, legislative sessions, worship and of course the need to see all one's friends from all over the country. This was the best organized convention I have attended in the 9 times I have gone. Both presiding officers - the President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori are calm, non-anxious presiders over the complex parliamentary procedure mix of Robert's Rules and Episcopal Rules of Order. They both allow people to speak their passions in a non-manipulative setting. Even those who lose various votes feel heard.

The Gospel goes on to talk about how the crowd's needs impinged on the Apostles' need for rest. And so it was at General Convention. The needs of the poorest of the poor were ever before us. We restored the 0.7% for a Millennium Developments Goals line item and raised it to 1%. Even though it means cutting our own programs and relying more on the volunteer strength of the church. We had resolutions that added up to much more that we could count on coming in this time of economic worry. Many worthy programs could not be funded or were cut back and staff will be let go. We stood in solidarity with the Disney workers who are being asked on minimum wage to pay more for health insurance out of their meager salaries.

The church decided to follow the thinking of the author of Ephesians:

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

The General Convention made two clear statements about where we are as a church on full inclusion. One was that we will follow our canons on non-discrimination on access to the process to ordination. (not guaranteeing ordination but access to the process) essentially saying that where we are today is a place of no more moratoria but a place of careful discernment and being true to our heritage.

The other was the request to begin looking at rites for marriage and blessings for gays and lesbians in committed, mutual, faithful partnerships. More and more states are offering civil marriage and partnerships. In those states bishops can make pastoral accommodation for those couples. We will consult widely as we develop rites - and we will study the whole question of all marriages and the rites we use.

The Convention had many more young leaders - in both the Deputies and the Bishops - strong articulate voices who are taking over the church with wisdom and energy.

We had visitors from all around the Anglican Communion - telling us to stand up for all that we have to offer - not to act out of fear - but to offer hope.

I have much hope for the church as I stand here today - we took a leap of faith and I believe the angels were bear us up. If not we have the promise of the resurrection. We look to the day when there are no strangers - only brothers and sisters, family - at home on the earth in all the lovely diversity and connection that God offers.

UPDATE: The sermon came out somewhat this way but I did add a comment made by our 18 year old Deputy when asked what she thought was the most important thing - she said it would probably be some unnoticed thing that becomes the base for something we don't even know yet. Also talked about the Denominational Health Plan, the Title IV revisions, and the Covenant.

Here is a interview with me made by our Communications Officer in Wyoming.

Happy Birthday USA

B033: what bishops are saying

What is marriage?

3 Pentecost: Stormy seas

Readings are here.

Some random thoughts towards a sermon for tomorrow.
We used to have a small boat that we took out on Boysen Reservoir. As many know the mornings are calm and sunny but by mid afternoon thunderstorms begin to build and the storms can sweep across that lake in a matter of minutes. One day we were out in the middle of the lake when one of these storms came up. We made for the boat ramp, Jim jumped out to get the Suburban and boat trailer - back it down the ramp (there were others doing the same). I was out in the boat circling, awaiting my turn. The wind began to blow, the waves were crashing over the bow. I continued to circle, strapping on my life vest (I know, I know, I should have put it on first thing). Finally I saw that the trailer was in position. The wind was blowing across the boat pushing it off course. I knew I would have one chance to make it. Aiming the boat up wind from where I needed to end up I revved up the engine and shot towards shore. The boat hit the boat trailer and practically went into the back seat. We wrangled the whole thing up out of the water and up the ramp. Whew!

As I read about the disciples out on the sea of Galilee - a body of water known for storms that come up quickly - I thought about my experience. Their boat was larger but not by much - they had no engine, only oars and a sail. I can imagine the scene - Jesus sleeps (no fear in him), the storm terrifies the disciples. They shout at Jesus and shake him awake - help help - we are going to die! Jesus awakens, stretches, looks around and asks them why they have no faith. The way I see it - they were fishermen - they know sailing in rough weather - what had happened to make them turn to Jesus (a carpenter) for help?

As I read the story - it is not so much that Jesus calms the seas as he provides the calm around him that allows the disciples to remember that they know boats and seas and storms - they can cope with the situation. The sea suddenly seems calm to them.

How often to we get to feeling so overwhelmed that we forget that we know things, we forget to use the our gifts and the gifts of the community? The storms of life will happen. Turning to Christ in prayer may not change the situation but it will definitely help us to have peace in the midst of the storm. Like Paul in the epistle we can work together with God, we can open our hearts to the peace that passes understanding.

A painting of the storm at sea here.

2 Pentecost

Readings are here.

Today's readings are mostly about growth and the innateness of growth in all of creation. The tree in Ezekiel, flourishing of the psalm, and of course the mustard seed in the gospel. Although it is in the nature of all things to grow, it is a particularly human trait to have an imagination that grows. We are born with imagination and with care and feeding and the nurture of God - those seeds of imagination and ideas take root and grow until our death and beyond.

Dolly Parton was interviewed in AARP Magazine this past month. She epitomizes for me how the seeds of her imagination and her dreams became reality. We know how she grew up in poverty, her father could not even read, but her family encouraged her.

During her teenage years Parton and her mother's brother, Bill Owens, also a songwriter, would venture into Nashville and try to get signed. "We used to come down in his rickety car any time we could beg, borrow, or steal enough money for gas," Parton remembers. "We'd clean up in service stations. I'd wash my hair in those old, cold sinks and put my makeup on in the mirrors in the car." Through it all, she says, "there wasn't ever a time I thought I wasn't going to make it."

But achieving her dream did not stop her, it did not end with her success. She kept on dreaming:

I wake up with new dreams every day. And the more you do, when you're a dreamer, the more everything creates other arenas you can go into. It's like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves."

She feeds her dreams, she prays, she looks for ways to give away her dreams to others so they can dream and live into their dreams.

We had our driveway asphalted last year which makes it much easier to plow the snow off of it. However, the little seeds that were buried under inches of asphalt are not deterred. They force their way through the weaker places and pop up through that seemingly impenetrable barrier. Most are weeds of the mustard family. The urge to grow is strong - stronger than death. We have the promise of eternal life. So the setbacks and mini-deaths can be overcome according to this promise. Even after death we are promised more life and growth.

In Pakistan Christians are a small minority and in many places it is illegal and dangerous to be a Christian, yet I was reading in Church Times that they feel they were placed there by God to be a force for God's reconciling love.

In this volatile setting, Christians — 85 per cent of whom work in menial jobs — provide care for all in need. “We are trying to recreate God’s love as we have experienced it in Jesus Christ, and those people of God are the Taliban and al-Qaeda and Christians, whoever they are. This is our heritage through mission, and it is our privilege. Our three or four health centres are services in diakonia.”

He spoke of the work of six Lutheran women in a hall that they share with an al-Qaeda camp. “They are working in an area where even the bravest of the brave would shudder to go. We clean the wounds of the children, and that gives us the right to be of service there. But how do we serve others if we do not get support? This is why I yell at our global Christian siblings for support.”

Yet the Church faces great problems: “Legal discrimination against me on the basis of my religion — that I cannot tolerate. . . That is a crime against humanity, and that is what is being done to us. We are in the impossible situation of a slow death, a slow suffocation by prejudice, despite all our service. It is the challenge of our times. How do we co-exist in a situation of majority Islam?

“Our destiny is to exist as a Church and a people of God to encourage reconciled relationships. My challenge is that our destiny is to embrace the enemy — to smell the sweat of the enemy — and that is why God has supported us and places us there. We have not gone underground, and I am proud of that.”

This is definitely mustard seed living. We are called to witness in this way wherever we are planted. We are here in a small town in Wyoming. How can we be mustard seeds that grow and branch out and give shade for others to grow and branch out? How can we do this as individuals, as communities of faith?

Trinity Sunday

My Trinity Sunday sermon is here. Click on the Click Here to hear it.

Pentecost

Readings are here

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2)

The followers of Jesus had been gathered together since the Ascension- women and men - about 120 of them as it says earlier in Acts. They are waiting - they do not know for what but Jesus told them to wait. They wait in hope as Paul says in Romans:

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

They waited in hope not knowing. They shared the stories of their time with Jesus and prayed and broke bread together. For 10 days they kept hoping. Suddenly they were so filled by the Spirit they overcame their fears and burst out in the streets - unable to contain that which they knew - it had to be shared. Some in the streets thought they had been drinking all night and into the morning - and in a way they were drunk - drunk on the Spirit. They shared their faith in such a way that all heard it in their own language.

Lately there have been many surveys that show the fastest growing faith group is the "none" group. When asked about faith traditions, denominations or churches - a growing percentage of respondents say "none."

So how did we get from the early church with its enthusiasm for sharing the gospel in the languages of their day to today when so many do not know the story nor see why it might be something for them? Why do we come to church - why did you come today when there are so many other things you could be doing? Obviously we have some small flame of the Spirit that we come to tend here. But it seems to stop there. This is not a guilt trip - I am just curious as to what it would take for us to share the good news that we know with others? Not just to make Episcopalians but to share that which sustains us so others might know about it.

Some time ago I was in a group where we studied the scriptures, prayed, and shared our stories of faith with one another. It was a safe place to practice our stories. One day she came bursting into our group saying I have a ministry! She meant she realized that ministry was more than what people dressed up in vestments do on Sunday or only ordained people can do. Her ministry was being a checker in a local variety store. She discovered that living her faith as she checked out people and their items could change the lives of most all who came through her line. You know how it is - someone has stress and anger - it is so easy to return that anger with anger. But she would return anger with love and concern. Pretty soon, because we live in a small town - people began to ask her what it was that helped her stay centered and spread love to each person? And there was the opening for her to share what it was - her commitment to following Christ and the work of the Spirit in her life. Because she had been practicing her story with the small safe group - she could burst out of our small meeting into the world. Her fears were gone - she had the confidence of God within her.

This summer at the Episcopal every 3 year national convention - we will be learning more about sharing our faith stories - testifying as Jesus says in our Gospel today. It is not about knocking on doors or passing out pamphlets in the city squares - but about knowing where we have encountered God and telling others about it where we live and work. We will practice our testimony -- even though the news reports may be that all we talk about is sex (sometimes it seems easier to talk about than faith) - we will be learning about sharing our faith.

The other part of sharing our faith is talking about it so others can hear it (as the early disciples spoke in the many languages). How are we to learn other languages that we encounter? Of course we can take Spanish or another language but how are we to speak across generations - speak to people who are becoming the "none" church. Learning to listen deeply to their hopes and dreams and their way of connecting to something greater than themselves is one way. By listening to how they speak of God or the Holy or Creation - we can begin the conversation. Our goal is not to make Episcopalians (although we would like that!) but to open up the dialogue of faith and how it supports and challenges our way of living.

As we go out to listen and share our story -- I read this last week --

"Easter makes me not afraid to die. Pentecost makes me not afraid to
live." h/t to Fran I am

Easter gives us the assurance that we will live forever - death is not the end - nor are the metaphorical deaths of embarrassing ourselves in public nor our fear of failure that feels like death. But Pentecost is what frees us to really live - live in the power of the Spirit - who came this day to get us up and out into the world.

Ascension

Some last thoughts on Ascension -- my essay on Ascension is here. As I was preaching the sermon I focused on God breaking down the barriers between us and the Holy. Jesus prays that we may be one as he and the Father are one. Often this is used as a motivator for Christian unity but I think it is more in the line of all the times God broke through all the barriers we have erected between ourselves and the One who created all things. In both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Testament, God continually pursues this relationship. From the time of our separation upon leaving the garden of Eden, there has been this endless opening of doors to return to that easy one-ness with God. From Jesus' baptism and the opening of the heavens with the voice saying "you are my beloved" to the Transfiguration, to the cross and the veil of the Temple torn in two from top to bottom, to the Ascension - the message is -- I will tear down every barrier between you and Me. Barriers we have created by what we have done and not done, barriers created by human systems - even the church, whatever separates us - God is tearing down and reaching out. Can we let down our barriers to this union?

UPDATE:
Some thoughts from the mystics

And God said to the soul:
I desired you before the world began.
I desire you now
As you desire me
And where the desires of two come together
There love is perfected."

-Mechtild of Magdeburg 1207-1297
(trans.by Oliver Davies)


How God comes to the soul:
“I descend on my love
As dew on a flower."
-Mechtild of Magdeburg
(trans. by Oliver Davies)


There the soul dwells –
like the fish in the sea
and the sea in the fish.

-Catherine of Siena