Friends,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Genesis and the renaming of Abram and Sarai to "Abraham" (ancestor of multitudes) and "Sarah" (princess) and a superb commentary on that lesson by Paul in his letter to the church in Rome emphasising that Abraham's faith was reckoned as righteousness, a reckoning not just for him but for us all. And from Mark's gospel the record of some of Jesus's teaching, including mention of his death and resurrection, and a "rough" warning that to be His follower one must "take up their cross" and that those wanting to save their lives will lose them while those willing to lose their lives for Him and the gospel will be saved. That lesson seems to have sounded so difficult to Peter that he "rebuked" Jesus for saying so: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” This day as I cannot help but note that Sarah and Abraham's success being progenitors of multitudes can be a curse as well as a blessing. Recall last week's lessons where we heard of God destroying the earth with the Flood, but promising never to do so again - yet we see in the warning of environmental science that humans might be about to do so - see in the events section the work of our Deanery in the Earthcare projects). We have noted before the importance of names for important notions and the multitudes that followed Sarah and Abraham were a wonderful result as the nation-building, a greater civil society beginning in the Middle East, was indeed good for the growing human community there. Yet too much growth can destroy much of the planet, as we are learning. We hope you will join us in learning more of the ways we are abusing our planet to our detriment, since the right-minded "environmentalist" is one who acts out of love for fellow human beings. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events As noted above, the Earthcare group at St Benedicts Church in Los Osos has been working on a "Study Guide" for a five part series to be used by parishes and other interested groups. A "pilot" session was held this past week by 9 Deanery participants led by our friend Kathryn Bumpass of St Stephens Church in San Luis Obispo, and with participants from two other Deanery parishes. We hope soon that this Guide will be used in many places for Earthcare / Creationcare efforts. In advance of the "beta test" Caro Hall said: "For the last year, St Benedict's Earthcare group has been creating a study course: "A Beginners Guide to Creation Care and the Climate Crisis". This has five sessions: * How Do Christians See Creation? How we see God shapes how we act. How have Christians understood our role in Creation and how is that changing? * What Is Climate Change and What Are Its Consequences? What drives climate change? Where are we now? What does the future hold for us? * What’s a Christian to Do about Climate Change? – Personal Responsibility What are the ways in which Christians can know and love God in all of creation? What can we do to share the facts and live a climate-friendly lifestyle? * What Can We Do as a Congregation? How does a new understanding of Creation Care impact our worship and our common life? * < strong>How Are We Called to Be Public Advocates for Climate Health? What is our call to advocate for climate health? How can we be political without being partisan? What are helpful examples of successful advocacy?" In concert with the above St Benedicts Church says that their Earthcare events will be on a monthly 3pm 3rd Weds schedule, including Mar 17. We expect to be there, and hope if at all possible that many of you will be as well - see St Ben's websites for full details and note that this will be a Zoom event. Note also at St Bens we are told that the Hollister Institute continues on Zoom considering "The Nonviolent Life" Tues at 10:15am - see St Bens website. And Caro Hall tells us that they will be having a Zoom service tomorrow morning at 8am and an outdoor in person worship service at 9:30am and another service on Facebook at 10:30am, as well as a Facebook service TONIGHT at 5:30pm. Again see St Ben's websites for details. St James Church in Paso Robles is gathering on Mar 7 at noon for a Bring Your Own Boxed Lunch social and fun day, with COVID social distancing, etc to be observed. St James will also have their Bible Beat (Bible Study) on Thurs at 11am on Zoom. Go to StJamesPasoRobles.org for full details on both events. Padre Sid at St Peters Church in Morro Bay tells us that they will be back at this Sun Feb 28. Please join via: www.facebook.com/StPetersMorroBay the service will be posted by 11 A.M. on Sunday. He also tells us that about the following Lenten meditations: Subscribe to Lenten Meditations from EpiscopalRelief.org This Lenten season, we cannot help but lament. We lament all those whose lives were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hearts break for all of the people who are no longer with us. We also lament other losses that include jobs and livelihoods, the opportunity to travel to visit loved ones and the ability to worship together in our church buildings. So much was lost, with little or no time to lament that which was lost. Because of the magnitude of these collective losses, we decided to focus on lament as the theme for the 2021 Lenten Meditations. You are invited to meditate on these reflections daily and to engage the “Four Steps of Lament,” by resting, reflecting, repenting and ultimately being restored to God and to one another. Many of the authors share deeply personal and painful experiences related to a variety of issues including disease, violence, racial injustice and poverty. You are invited to come to these meditations with an open heart. What you read may challenge you and give rise to unexpected or uncomfortable feelings. Above, you can view the English and Spanish version of the booklet in both color and black and white. If you would like to subscribe to receive these meditations daily in your inbox, please subscribe here. Note, the Lenten Meditation booklet is completely virtual this year as churches continue to gather virtually. Go to https://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/lent/ St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande, besides the many weekday and weekend events tells us they are having a Lenten Adult Ed Series on Faith, Hope, Joy and Love on Thursdays at 7pm via Zoom - see their website for details. St Pauls Cathedral in San Diego tells us their Adult Forum tomorrow is the next part of a Lenten series, "Ashes to Easter" - see their website for this and other events at www.stpaulcathedral.org Grace Cathedral in SF tells us that their Forum will be on MONDAY Mar 1 and feature a conversation with physician and epidemiologist Larry Brilliant. You must RSVP for this event by going to http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001BxQ1fijNSkgEuevj9ikqpHJ5V7bqbuf3onODcg8YsxZrd69f5CVtVg9GI-WQ3hWwsv-hR8whDpLWAzJxHxq00HE6zDw_cVCMlJRUpzkv3EQ4OdjYLprDcTwCBGs9FlPUdu02R-i5-DxzwGQEn49x3UCeLo9oU_GN9LCMVkfb8yVsZwIGb8nJBmsj4yUaKKQzsNuRxLHqAHJJnkUGVcisgJ2420XcGlJscSTB1JDSqwHTRzJ6LBTPhTNriz1Ac-fiqf0olL9Z84UkkROMqbXy0Z6Wj-1ORxfctZt5uvSuQVGsDEUSFuLQL4JWTHaNZK08vJSGfkolZmk=&c=LyLn2km135HGBDO1eQ7OGruNZvPfGDTDAug7YtEu2j3gyXUlEh5z7A==&ch=FfAtlXOEqs_U5_FeCNte_4KVNzX6vHz7nw-5-ku0K8ipXt3iEIStCQ== The Episcopal Bishops Ranch in Sonoma County tells us they have a full schedule of weekend retreats at their 360 acre campus, and are featuring special hikes led by staff (with distancing). For info go to https://bishopsranch.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7bb9b06539cb9bbffefafae15&id=f1a44ed6c0&e=7ea56651b4 Fr Filemon at St Marks Church in King City tells us this Sunday's service will be at 10am via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4777200535 [us02web.zoom.us] and there will be a Spanish language service at noon on Facebook - go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013342339203 Everyone is welcome ??rom the Deanery Our SLO Deanery convenor, David Ottesen, tells us that the next Deanery meeting is set for tomorrow at 2pm, including a special session to "Review the Work of the Diocese." The meeting will be on the Zoom service: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81520255390?pwd=UmdUeE5ETHdaRUtWZFcwdDhvZG9nZz09 [us02web.zoom.us] Meeting ID: 815 2025 5390 Passcode: 275075 One tap mobile +16699009128,,81520255390#,,,,*275075# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 815 2025 5390 Passcode: 275075 From the Diocese Bp Lucinda Ashby invites everyone to join her for weekly noonday prayers on Tuesday during Lent at 12noon by going to the diocesan youtube website: https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=d495579879&e=67dcff3ca1
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Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday have a remarkable coherence on the topic of nature. Mark's gospel with the story of Jesus baptism by John goes on to mention Jesus' forty day sojourn in the wilderness, and though tempted by Satan there, he might have had time to marvel at the beauty of creation. In Peter's first epistle we hear of Christ suffering for us, but also a brief version of the incredible story of Noah, the Ark and the Flood, the waters of which are likened to baptism, It is the lesson from Genesis however which seems to tie these lessons together with an eye to preservation or destruction of creation, as God promises never again to destroy the earth He created, and tells us that his covenant can be noted whenever He sets a rainbow in the clouds, a reminder to Himself and to of us that promise. Note that the destruction - or preservation - of creation is very much a current topic (see the EarthCare / Creation Care events). God has made a promise not to destroy - will humankind make that same promise? May our baptism, as Peter notes, be "an appeal to God for a good conscience" and especially with regard to the creation we all share. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events As always, please remember to check out all the opportunities for joy at the events listed at our webpage, www.sloepisopal.org, and its calendar at https://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/74061144 and go to the Our Churches tab to see individual parish websites and calendars. Note that relevant to the lessons is the EarthCare group at St Benedicts Church in Los Osos which meets on second and fourth Wednesdays - for more details see St Bens websites at www.stbenslososos.org Our big brother parish St James in Paso Robles will have Sunday morning worship at 10am and Zoom Coffee Hour at 11am - see their website for details and note that St James has Evening Prayer Wed at 7pm - see below. St James encourages everyone to join the Deanery with the Book Study of Love Is the Way by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Tues at 4pm - again see their website at www.stjamespasorobles.org for full details. Note also that St James rector Rev Barbara Miller had a wonderful "Tour" via Zoom of the Galilee region (where the current gospel lessons were located) that we attended, and they will be having three more such events TOMORROW and the two following Sundays at 11:30a via Zoom - yet again see their website at www.stjamespasorobles.org for full details. St Benedicts Church in Los Osos has three Sunday morning services, including 8am on Zoom, 9:30am Eucharist outdoors and 10:30am via their Facebook websites - for full details see their website. St Barnabas Church hosts a Lenten Adult Ed Series this on Faith, Hope, Joy, and Love via the Zoom service. The series will be on Thursdays beginning on Feb 25 at 7pm. To attend on your device, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89277557301?pwd=MGExNHZSNUtrNTJ4R045U2VvOVJIdz09 [saintbarnabas-ag.us8.list-manage.com] To dial in call 1-669-900-6833. When prompted put in the meeting id of 892 7755 7301# and when prompted for a password put in 132381#, and then hit # a second time. ??t Barnabas continues with outdoor in person services at 9am this Sunday at 9am. Masks are required and physical distancing will be observed. Also on Sunday at 10:30 they will have morning worship at https://www.facebook.com/StBarnabasAG/ followed by their Zoom Social Coffee Hour at noon - see their website. During the week they will have Morning Prayer and Biblical Roundtable at 9:30am Tues, Evening Prayer with St James Church at 6pm Wed and Centering Prayer at 4pm Fri - see St Barnabas' websites for full details. St Peters Church in Morro Bay continues with Sunday services at 11am at www.facebook.com/StPetersMorroBay St Marks Church in King City will have a Zoom service tomorrow at 10am - go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4777200535 Good Shepherd Church in Salinas tells us their Springtie Hikes are back and socially safe - see info on the seven hikes they plan at https://goodshepherdcorral.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7cbc9cee2ea785c71ef0cbb3c&id=0d30c77d0c&e=cc1155f723 Bp Lucinda will be visiting with Good Shepherd this Sunday via Zoom at the 9am Coffee Hour, and the 11am Sermon Discussion, and will preach at the 10am principal worship service. Pastor Linda tells us they are moving to have Outdoor In Person Worship while continuing online events, with the first outdoor service set for Palm Sunday (Mar 28). See their websites at https://goodshepherdcorral.org St Pauls Cathedral in San Diego will have its FORUM tomorrow at 9am tomorrow and the following Sundays in Lent. The program is called "Ashes to Easter". They also are having a Lenten Book Study on Emergence Christianity by Phyllis Tickle and another on ClimateChurchClimateWorld See their websites at www.stpaulcathedral.org From the Diocese Elrond Lawrence tells us that the completely new website is visible NOW at the familiar address, www.realepiscopal.org - and he hopes you will visit, to see Bp Lucinda's message on her page, a News page, etc. Join Bishop Lucinda and the diocesan staff during Lent for a weekly series of brief noonday prayers every Tuesday. Each prayer, which will include a reflection from Bishop Lucinda and/or the diocesan staff, will be streamed live at the diocesan YouTube page at 12 noon - go to https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=8bdf4d1f13&e=f136cc0442 A Little Levity Thoght not so funny in light of recent events further east in the US, a friend told of the sign at Knox Presbyterian Church there, COVERED IN SNOW, which reads "IF YOU ARE PRAYING FOR SNOW PLEASE STOP" Folks,
The lessons appointed for this Sunday include the familiar one of leaders and spirit from the second book of Kings, an epistle lesson from Corinthians speaking of the gospel light in believers' hearts even as non-believers are blinded by the "god of this world" and the gospel lesson of Mark's version of the Transfiguration. The relationship of the Kings lesson seems to be Elijah, who is one of the transfiguration and is taken up to heaven, while the II Corinthians 4 passage follows Paul's connecting last verse in chapter 3: "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit." The Transfiguration story appears in three of the gospels and is referred to in Peter's second epistle. In each of the three gospels Jesus is clear in asking the disciples not to tell the story until he has "has risen from the dead". While it may seem odd to ask this of an event so prominent (St Thomas Aquinas considered the Transfiguration the great greatest miracle as it showed the perfection of life in heaven), it seems clear that Jesus had the three disciples along with he to be witnesses and tell the story later. To me the Transfiguration event, while it importantly mentions Jesus rising from the dead, seems most relevant in beginning the transformation of believers into a community whose faith is in God. And while the story as written in the Bible is useful, each of us needs I think to have our own "transfiguration event", a recognition of God's glory. Many leaders, both religious and secular, speak of their "mountaintop experience" as a turning point in their lives and it seems clear that the Bible story takes place on a mountain as well since such places are among those where the glory of creation presages recognition of the glory of God. But I would suggest one place yet better where God's glory is revealed, in the Spirit of love in family and the community of faith, for it is in such direct "seeing" (and especially as this Sunday is "Valentine's Day") as in a mirror that we may be transformed. May we all come to see God's glory in these communities! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events St Matthews Church in San Ardo continues with Morning Prayer at 9:30am and all are welcome. We will be meeting with social distance out in the courtyard, so bring warm clothes and your masks. As always, we refer you to events as listed in the Deanery calendar at www.sloepiscopalians.org as well as parish calendars listed at parish websites under the "Our Churches" tab. At the Deanery calendar you will see that St Pauls Church in Cambria is having Morning Prayer and Coffee Hour via Zoom with "Breakout Rooms" - a particularly effective way to get everybody participating. This week is Ash Wednesday and several parishes have special events including St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande, which is having on outdoor in-person service at 12:15pm, and an online 7pm service. Ashes will be distributed to participants that they might impose on their own foreheads. St Barnabas is also looking ahead to a Lenter Adult Ed Series beginning on Wed Feb 25 and the following three Wednesdays at 7pm on the topics Faith, Hope, Joy, and Love. This will be a Zoom event - see the parish website. Also note that at their Zoom Coffee Hour this Sunday will include Bp Lucinda Ashby at noon - again see the parish website for details. In addition to the Hollister Institute events listed in the Deanery Calendar, St Benedicts Church in Los Osos tell us of another on Thurs at 11am - a Bible Study of the Book of Romans - see the parish website. St Bens also tells us that on second Saturdays, including TONIGHT, they will have a Eucharist service at 5:30pm - see the parish website. St James Church, in the forefront of the Book Study of "The Way of Love" (see above) notes that tomorrow their morning online service time will change to 10am. They invite parishioners to stop by and pick up their Lenten Packets, including ashes as well as communion and a parish directory, on Shrove Tuesday, Feb 16, from 1-2pm at their office. Home delivery is also available for parishioners (see their website). St Marks Church in King City, together with St Lukes, Jolon, will have Zoom morning worship tomorrow at 10am - see their website at SaintMarksKingCity.com Good Shepherd Church in Salinas tells us this Sunday is Scout Sunday, and their Scout troop will take the lead in worship. See their website at www.goodshepheardcorral.org and note they are mentoring students at San Pablo Episcopal Church in Seaside (primarily Spanish speaking). Good Shepherd will have Ash Wednesday worship at Noon and "on demand" - see the website for details. They also tell us that the retired official of the World Bank (see prior News) who spoke at their online lunch event last week has become an active parishioner. At St Pauls Cathedral, in addition to many other events (see the website at StPaulCathedral.org) they will have a Forum event tomorrow at 9am discussing the "Spirituality of Communication" and tomorrow evening at 5pm their choir will present the Order of St John's Evensong - see website. Note that very much related to the EarchCare group at St Bens (second and fourth Wed at 2:30pm), St Pauls will have a Lenten Book Study on climate World, Climate Church" by Jim Antal - see their websites for details. Grace Cathedral in SF tells us that their Forum will be presented online Mon Feb 15 at 6pm and will feature a discussion between Most Rev Malcolm Young, the Dean, and notes filmmaker Ken Burns discussing How Presenting History thru the Lens of Film Can Help Us Heal. See details and RSVP at https://gracecathedral.org/calendar-events/grace-forum-online-with-filmmaker-ken-burns-the-sweet-spot-of-history/ From the Deanery We want to point out a couple of Deanery events, including the ongoing Deanery-wide Book Study of "The Way of Love" by our Presiding Bp Rt Rev Michael Curry 4pm Tues (see www.StJamesPasoRobles for full details) As noted above this event will use "breakout rooms" for a better opportunity to participate via Zoom. Also note that TODAY there is a meeting of Deanery vestry member led by Bp Lucinda Ashby beginning at 1pm. Vestry members will have received the details and materials for use at the meeting. A Little Levity Sheila Vossler sends along a sign at St Mark's Anglican Church that after listing worship times, states "ADAM & EVE - THE FIRST PEOPLE TO NOT READ THE APPLY TERMS & CONDITIONS" Folks,
Today's email will be brief as we have been travelling for work. But the lessons are definitely a good read. While passages from Paul's from his first letter to Corinth and Mark's gospel point the way to evangelism, the passages from Isaiah and the appointed Psalm (#147), yet it is they that struck me the more. Isaiah and the Psalm writer speak poetically and beautifully of the wonder of God, with full knowledge and power, calling people by name, knowing us all. Those names, our names, remind us of the importance of identity. The existentialist philosophers seem to forever be searching for the essential and undeniable reality, that they each exist. So to each of us as we are confronted with this reality, that we exist. But as the song goes "Who Are You?" It is here point that this poetry connects with the message of evangelism since Paul speak of his willingness to change the outward appearance (as a Jew to the Jews, as weak to the weak, under the law or outside the law). And in the gospel, Jesus, being told "Everyone is searching for you", which Jesus seems to take metaphorically, answers that they should go throughout the area to proclaim the good news of the gospel. Note that Paul has not lost track of his essential identity - rather he states in this passage "For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all." I think this is the meaning of his first paragraph "If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel." since, he is saying that even while he senses an obligation to this "commission" he has chosen this task which is its own reward, to proclaim the gospel, the Good News of salvation to all "free of charge" (as bibleref.com puts it, "Paul can claim a degree of self-sacrifice.") That "free of charge" reminds us of those seeking donations for their work (some modern "televangelists" get wealthy by such donations and in many eras the Church has amassed great wealth by them). We hope we all will sense the joy Paul felt in spreading the Good News, that we might all (as Paul ends this passage with) "share in its blessings." Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events As mentioned above, this Events section has to be brief - the work begins shortly. Beyond the Events you can see at the Deanery Calendar page at www.sloepiscopalians.org, we'd like to mention/remind folks of - The Hollister Institute ("Becoming Wise") a Zoom events at St Benedicts Church in Los Osos (and note the EarchCare group will be meeting, also via St Ben's Zoom, at 2:30pm Ash Wednesday) - see their websites - The Deanery Vestry Retreat, led by Bp Lucinda via Zoom on Sat Feb 13, 1-4pm (details will be provided by the Diocese to vestry members) - Good Shepherd Church in Salinas will host the director of the International Graduate Students program at Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey for discussion on Thurs Feb 10 at noon - see details at https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=45ef7be10c&e=f136cc0442 - St Marks Church in King City will have Virtual Service on Sunday 07, Feb 2021 at 10:00 am by Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4777200535 [us02web.zoom.us] ?? St Lukes Church in Atascadero and St James Church in Paso Robles (see their website below for details) remind us of the Deanery-wide Book Study of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry which contines Tuesdays at 4pm. - St James Church in Paso Robles also tells us they will present via Zoom a tour of the region of Galilee (see gospel lesson) over the next three sundays. See their webiste at www.stjamespasorobles.org for details From the Diocese Besides the retreat for Vestry members, we encourage all to check this out Elrond Lawrence tells us a redesigned diocesan website will be launched on Fri Feb 12 at the current address - www.realepiscopal.org - and encourages all to take a look! |
WILLIAM BARTOSH
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