What to wear to weddings - updated

Readings for Sunday October 12 are here.


Isaiah writes:

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow,
of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces,

This seems a precursor of the wedding banquet we hear about in the Gospel but this version in Matthew is very troubling. It is not the Jesus we like - not the inviting presence who continually seeks us even though we turn our backs on him over and over. What can this mean - all this talk of murdering and casting those without proper garments out to weep and gnash their teeth?

The context of this passage sheds a little light on what Matthew may be trying to convey to us. The setting is the last week of Jesus' life. He has been proclaimed as the long awaited Messiah at his entry into Jerusalem riding on the donkey, with palms and shouts accompanying his procession. Next he casts out the moneychangers in the temple. On his way he curses a fig tree for not producing fruit out of season. Just before today's parable Jesus tells of the stewards of the vineyard who kill the son so they might take over the land. Now we hear:

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, `Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

The Gospel continues in this way until Jesus dies on the cross. It is unrelenting in its march through stories of separation and judgment.

Matthew writes at a time when the church was beginning to take shape and in some places was experiencing persecution. It is often regarded a "manual" for church leadership. When hearing these stories Matthew is often speaking to the church and the issues facing it, using temple leaders and stewards of the land as code for any leader that falls away from his or her vows to God. Examples tell of leaders who abandon their responsibilities to the community to make personal gain, those who think they are okay no matter how they act because they think they are the "in-crowd," who kill the messenger who tells the truth of their behavior, who worship things more than God, who abuse those who look to them for truth and hope, those who are in the outer darkness even when they think they are doing God's will. The same issues we face today as we struggle to be God's people here in Rock Springs, Wyoming or wherever we find ourselves.

The wedding banquet is the ongoing invitation of God to live in the kindom of God here and now - it is not about the afterlife for the most part. The banquet is open to all but accepting the invitation is also accepting a Way of life. The man without the proper wedding garment has accepted the invitation but does not accept the fullness of the banquet. He is there but not fully. This is the journey of us all.

At first we may hear of God's offer but find other things to do that seem more important. When we realize we are in the place of weeping and saying to ourselves that we have somehow missed the point of life's meaning - we go back to the table. Even then we stray from what we know to be true and have to return again and again. All the people in the parable are us - at different points along the way. We find ourselves off the path, our lives seem like death and desolation - but then we catch hold of our invitation and return to fullness of life.

Paul in the letter to the Philippians offers a prayer for us as we seek our way back to the dream of Isaiah where all our tears are wiped away:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Well - I did not preach this sermon - emailed it to the church - too bad I could not email myself. Roads were closed with many feet of snow and blowing and drifting on the pass. I did have the thought that perhaps why the Cubs lost was because they did not have the right wedding garments!!

Painting by James B. Janknegt

Oh the places you'll see....

Last spring, our daughter called to say we should take a trip to Scotland together. Scotland is the birthplace of my maternal grandmother. We had gone to Norway a few years ago to see the birthplace of my father so it only seemed right to balance our family tree. She bought the airline tickets and left the itinerary to me. I planned our pilgrimage by thinking of people and places I wanted to see. Now we are home and our ions are beginning to coalesce in one place I am surprised by the depth of the experience and the sense of the Spirit that I encountered and which lingers.

We began in Torquay on the south coast of England, the “English Riviera.” Staying with friends whose guest room overlooks the sea, we spent a few nights getting into the time zone and seeing the sights of the area. Little did I know how Victorian churches were decorated on the inside: a wild cacophony of striped pillars, painted ceilings, and bright colors. Every inch of St. Luke's is covered with images or designs.
After a fire, the ceiling was repainted and Sputnik was included. Around the font a scene of ponies and farm animals had been added. Traveling further out to the moors we crossed the river Dart – hence Dartmouth, Dartmoor, Dartmeet. (duh).

At Exeter (on the river Ex) Richard Hooker’s statue dominates the churchyard and town square as his writings dominate Anglicanism.

Noting the current economic news, the trip to Alyth, Scotland was reassuring in an odd way. Alyth was the town where my grandmother was born. People told us that it was not much changed on the main street and millworkers cottages where she lived until she was about 14 years of age. The closing of the mills to centralize weaving into the larger cities seems to be the impetus for their emigration. Her mother was a power loom weaver and her father was a slater (roofing with slate). The roof over their heads was dependent on working for the mill owner. No mill, no job, no home. It puts modern life in perspective. At church on Sunday one of the hymns was one that was sung at my ordination – serendipity or Spirit?

From nostalgia touring we went to the Island of Iona, home of Columba and Celtic Christianity. More smashing of icons of the mind as we learned that Columba banished all the women to the Isle of Women – nearby but off “his” island. So much for inclusion in that branch of Christianity! Throughout the trip we noticed the merging of old and new in religion, however. For instance, in the wall of the convent built in 1200 is a Sheila na gig.

When the walls were covered perhaps it was not as noticeable but now as the weather takes its toll it is clearly there. I wonder if it was a gift or a joke for the nuns from those who built the building?





Fingal’s Cave was a wondrous as Mendelssohn’s overture portrays it as we discovered on a boat trip to the Isle of Staffa. Towering columns of hexagonally formed basalt from ancient lava flows form the walls and roof.




From ancient Christianity off the coast of Scotland we traveled to Chester Cathedral to see a modern sculpture of the Woman at the Well and Jesus.


I had caught a glimpse of it on the internet and it was in my heart to see it in real time and not just virtually. It is more than amazing. The artist captures the longing of God and humankind for intimacy with one another. As we entered the cathedral once again the same hymn from my ordination was heard as the choir practiced for Sunday. It is not an old chestnut so I have to wonder at hearing it twice in one week, once in a united Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational church and once in an Anglican cathedral. Is it a message from the Spirit or just chance encounter?

It was a trip like that – things just turned up as we journeyed together – mother and daughter. We connected with sites and sights, our history, old friends, a cousin, and new friends until now only known on a blog or listserve. We made reservations for a bed each night – usually staying at least 2 nights or more but did not overplan our days. We left time for the Spirit to appear, whether in the opportunity to see a concert by a well known folk duo or cream tea with a cousin in the Kensington Gardens' Orangery. And we learned if you have to sleep in the same bed with someone who not your usual sleep partner – order two duvets!!!

Slide show of a few photos here.

H/T to Episcopal Cafe where this was first published.

Home on the range

Ever wonder whether life in Wyoming might be dull? The Casper Star Tribune reports on a little excitement in Casper. We had a Mountain Lion who came to visit our neighbors down the road. They had their dog food stored outside on the porch and the lion thought he had found a good place to hang out.




Don't tell a certain VP candidate!

Paul Newman - dies at 83

Sad day for those of who are fans of Paul Newman.

Ten-time Oscar nominee Paul Newman, creator of iconic movie anti-heroes in "The Hustler," "Cool Hand Luke" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," has died after a battle with cancer.
The 83-year-old screen legend with the piercing blue eyes died Friday at his farmhouse near Westport, Conn., said publicist Jeff Sanderson. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.

Some of his movies are remembered here.

Missing those blue blue eyes. Rise in glory, Paul.

Slideshow here.



HT to Mad Priest.

An apple a day...

Today's Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals is all about apples in honor of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman). Legend has it that he planted apple trees all over the country. Don't think he came to Wyoming but in the early days of settlement the University of Wyoming planted experimental apple orchards in many protected high mountain valleys. You can still find them when out hiking about.

We often use the Johnny Appleseed grace at camp. Listen and sing along here.

1. What is your favorite apple dish? (BIG BONUS points if you share the recipe.)

A slice of apple with a slice of a good cheddar and my iPod Touch!

2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about?

Yes, we planted just about every tree on our 4 acres. With our middle child in the backpack wearing a sunbonnet to protect him from the Wyoming sun, we planted trees from the Conservation service, they were all in a little bundle and now they are 20+ feet tall. My favorite tree planting story, though, is about an 80 year old friend who planted apple trees in her back yard. She was essentially blind and would not live many more years but it was her statement of hope for the future.

3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not?

I guess it appeals to me as that is what I do as a supply priest. See this reflection on my travels. Much of my blog reflects on this traveling.

4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours?

Jane Addams: A real person who has taken on legendary status - co-founder of Hull House.

5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he travelled the roads of the west. Do you have a song that comes when you are trying to be cheerful, or is there something else that you often do?

I recite Romans 8:38-39 "...nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus" or Isaiah 43:1b-3a "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior"

Pilgrimage

Here are photos from our trip to England and Scotland. More comments soon. Add your questions in the comments.

Here it is!

The long awaited photo of Mad Priest and Mrs. Mad Priest and dogs (okay you have seen the dogs before but they are even lovelier in "real" life).






More on our trip to the UK soon.

Leaving on a jet plane

Just spent a week at the beach with the g-kids (ages 2 and 5 months) and their parents - our younger son and our daughter in law. Tomorrow our daughter and I leave for England and Scotland. We will visit friends in the south of England, then go to Alyth, the birthplace of my grandmother who emigrated to the US when she was 14. Following that we go to Iona for a few days and on to Chester where we stay in a library! St. Deiniols. Then back to London where we hope to catch up with a cousin who lives there and another friend. It is a leisurely trip - mostly staying several nights in one place with no real agenda. Just will see whatever crosses our path. We have train passes and will not be driving. More when I return - hope to get some photos to post.

When I get back - we will have our DC kids visiting with their 3 year old and 5 month old (only she will be 6 months old by then).

XIII Pentecost

Readings are here.

At our Church Camp we had a sign by the swimming hole that said NO WALKING ON THE WATER. Thinking back on it now, maybe was there to remind us of the dangers of a natural swimming hole, the importance of checking on our "buddy," not to dive off the cliffs around the water, as there might be an unseen rock, and that we should use the mind and body God gave us to swim safely and watch out for one another. Now the camp just has a No Diving sign. Not quite as inspirational as the old sign.

Whenever I read this Gospel, I get the earworm, "Here Comes Jesus" by Sonny Salsbury, found in Songs.

Here comes Jesus, see him walking on the water,
He’ll lift you up, and he’ll help you to stand.
Here comes Jesus, he’s the
master of the waves that roll.
Here comes Jesus, he’ll make you whole.
Here comes Jesus, he’ll save your soul.

With that little tune running through my mind, each lesson has a bit that stands out for me.
In 1 Kings, the story of Elijah:

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

In Romans:

But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or "Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart."

And of course the Gospel of Matthew with the story of Jesus, who goes off to be by himself and sends the disciples off in a boat. When he walks across the water to join them, seeing that they are "battered by the waves" and "the wind is against them," they are terrified. The blog OCICBW reflects on this passage as telling us about our life after Christ's death, resurrection and ascension.

In our reading today Jesus sends his disciples away because he needs to be away from them and they need to be away from him. This action alludes to the time when Jesus will leave them to be with his Father in heaven - when it will be up to the disciples, and those who will come after them, to continue the work of the Son.

This will be difficult and dangerous work. Their boat will be rocked by wind and storm. Many of them will die because of their commitment to the gospel. But, although Jesus is physically no longer with them in the tangible way he had been during his ministry on earth, in order to have the power to continue that ministry, the disciples have to know, that Jesus, in a very real way, is still with them. That when they are in their metaphorical boat being bashed by the waves that would destroy them, Jesus is walking beside them and will be there to pull them out of the metaphorical sea should they fall in. This story is about faith and love. Christ’s faith in us and love for us and the necessity of our faith in and love for God.

Putting this together with the other lessons, I think it also reminds us that our conception of God and how God will act are very limited. Elijah looks for a big production number and gets the still small voice. Paul has discovered that God is not out there, somewhere, delivered to us from on high or from the authorities (whoever they might be).

Jesus is not chiding us for our inability to walk on water, but our need for the spectacular, the miracle, to prove the existence of God. Stepping out in faith, waiting out the storms of life, rejoicing in life and love wherever we find it - these are the very near, on our lips and in our hearts, signs of faithful living.

Another hymn comes to mind:

Jesus calls us over the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow Me!”

As of old Saint Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred,
Leaving all for Jesus’ sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love Me more!”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love Me more than these!”

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Savior may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

Summertime

I should be sermon-ating but instead I am procrastinating by playing the Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals.

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you?

Lying on the grass with my brothers at night in front of our house in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland. (think Beverly Cleary books) In those days, before light and other pollution, we could see the stars of summer. I felt like I could fall off the earth into the universe.

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day.

Shorts and a white T shirt are my favorite summer wear. I would wear them under my alb if I did not have to take it off for coffee hour!!


3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten?

Raspberries

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory.

Taking our kids to the Oregon coast every summer with no TV, days on the beach making sand castles, and jumping the waves.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way?

Writing essays for Episcopal Cafe, especially ones that are more reflective about life in Wyoming or hanging out with our grandchildren. I have one today (Friday) about a recent week with our nine year old grandson. Shameless self promotion!!

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit?

It is so rarely humid in Wyoming unless a rainstorm blows in for a few moments, but if I were in Oregon - I would go to the coast where when it gets hot and humid inland, it gets foggy and cool at the beach - and I am headed there in a week!!

Shooting the Messenger

The Times has a blaring headline: US female bishop Catherine Roskam: male prelates 'beat up wives'. As reported in Lambeth Witness #7, Bishop Roskam said:

We have 700 men here. Do you think any of them beat their wives? Chances are they do. The most devout Christians beat their wives..., many of our bishops come from places where it is culturally accepted to beat your wife. In that regard, it makes the conversation quite difficult.

What she is saying is that statistically if you have a large group of men, some may beat their wives. As one reads the story in The Times it is clear that Roskam did not say what was written in the headline.

Bishops were quick to deny that they beat their wives, although no one accused them. In the United States, it is known that 1 in 4 women suffer abuse, so it is statistically likely that some of those who in inflict violence are bishops. In fact I know of two myself.

This is the classic "shoot the messenger" strategy. Figure it out, 650+ men, wives requesting separate seating during a session on gender violence, almost universal acceptance of wife beating around the world (check any women's shelter in the US), could it be possible?

For a report on domestic violence from Human Rights Watch, click here.

In a bit of synchronicity, here, today's news from All Africa:

Antananarivo-Brazzaville-Bujumbura-Geneva-Khartoum-Kinshasa-London-Lusaka-Nairobi-N’jamena, 31 July 2008. African Women’s Day gives us the opportunity to remember that gender-based violence is one of the most serious and widespread violations of the basic rights of women, particularly on the African continent. Gender discrimination is both one of the causes and an aggravating factor of the consequences of violence against women, thus contributing to the perpetuation of impunity of such cases.

The signatory organisations call on African States to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on women’s rights (the “Maputo Protocol”), harmonise national laws with international standards and take all necessary measures to fight against violence against women by tackling the general context of discrimination which encourages such violations and which perpetuates the marginalisation of women, particularly as regards their access to justice.

Recent reports by OMCT and its African counterparts on the status of women and violence against women in Africa:

Benin

Burundi

Executive Summary

Kenya

Madagascar

Democratic Republic of Congo

Togo

Tunisia


UPDATE: Bishop Nick Baines of Croydon commented in his blog:

I felt a bit sorry for the media people. They have built today up into the day the explosion would happen and the Anglican Communion would collapse in on itself under a weight of sexual tension. But it didn't and we didn't. Mind you, this might have been an appropriate and just reward to the Daily Telegraph for its scandalous, misrepresentative and deliberately sensationalist article about wife-beating by bishops. The American bishop who had been interviewed was horrified to see what the press had done and explained herself to the assembled bishops in the afternoon session. Welcome to the British media! She should sue the journalist concerned. And the journalist should ask whether this sort of story really satisfies any sense of professional integrity.

Mama brags

Our son on youtube - he is the one in the suit:



To see all the videos click here. Check out all of them but the Coffee one and the outtakes are especially funny. Our other son contributed ideas to them.