Folks,
This Sunday the lessons include a very short (for a change!) Old Testament passage from Joshua which the Working Preacher site tells us closes the passage dealing with the national identity of Israel by mass circumcision at Gibeath-haaraloth (the hill of the foreskins) - see our previous musing about such nation-building. Along with that is a lesson from 2 Corinthians wherein Paul, speaking marvelously metaphysically, tells us that we in Christ are a "new creation", and need to seek reconciliation to God in Christ, adding that "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God". But this week the gospel lesson from Luke especially caught my attention, perhaps because while yet metaphysical, it speaks thru a parable of things common to us mortals - in this case sibling rivalry in the story of The Prodical Son. We were lucky in my growing up not to have much rivalry between my brother and me, and so when he followed first me and then Mom, Dad and my sister Brandy out to California I didn't have much of such feelings. Still, when much younger I remember we insisted that we had to compare the glasses Dad had filled with soda pop to make sure neither was short-changed. The parable provides an excellent turn-around as the father welcomes his wastrel son with a feast, while noting to the somewhat bent-out-of-shape brother that he was already the owner of everything the father had had. The parallel is simple and clear: while being a faithful follower in God's path is good, there is no limit to God's goodness and mercy. By extension it also seems clear that we should do likewise with all who have had a change of heart to the good, even while we ourselves should as well feel secure in God's blessing. As verse 7 of this passage in Luke, omitted from the lectionary, says: "there shall be joy in heaven for one repenting sinner, [more] than for ninety and nine righteous who have no need of repentance". May we sense firm security in God's love and bask in God's blessings even as we welcome sinners (including sometimes ourselves! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events While this Sunday we at St Matts are looking forward to a visit with Rev Martha Korienek, Bp Lucinda's Canon to the Ordinary, at our Evening Prayer service at 3:30pm, we'd like to mention bits of news from some another remote (to the bulk of the population) parish in our Deanery, St Pauls Church in Cambria, where Fr Mark Hall has continued his work. Michelle, who puts out the parish news at https://www.stpaulscambria.org/-michelles-short-and-sweet-updates.html tells us that in addition to Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist at 10am on Sundays, they have a "Prayers at the Cross" project, whereby folks with a special intention can leave it at a depository at their garden overlook. The draped (for Lent, as at St Matts) cross is just up the hill from the church building. Michelle also tells us that Sr Greta and Br Dominic of the Community of the Divine Love (Episcopal) near San Luis Obispo will officiate when Fr Mark has his leave after Easter. Speaking of that religious community, we are delighted to hear they are having a Center Prayer event on Tuesdays at 5pm. For the Zoom link and other details and/or info email them at info@cdlmonks.org Note as we have been mentioning that Centering Prayer is practiced as well by communities at St Benedicts Church in Los Osos, St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande and St Stephens Church in San Luis Obispo. See there websites for full info. At St Lukes Church in Atascadero, Cindy Castle, just returned from a bit of camping, reminds us that she and the Taize group will have another time of Taize music and notes that she is including a Lenten YouTube Playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69la8W1_FUEgR2Mtfwxa29y0qGb5fjZF The Taize event details are as follows: Topic: Gather with Taize Time: Mar 27, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Every week on Sunday Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86464112267?pwd=L0JXNk9MMW1jWWZ5dGNYQUc4L09GQT09 [us02web.zoom.us] Meeting ID: 864 6411 2267 Passcode: 346374 St Lukes continues with Sunday Morning Service at 9 am in person and via Zoom. The congregation just now is searching for a priest but the great news is that the layfolks with the help of deacons are providing pastoral continues on Wednesdays with the Kerygma Bible Study program led by Holly Cooper. For full details on these and all of St Luke's events, see their website. We were delighted to see a blog from St Luke's leaders join our own News at the Deanery websites, where you can see details of many events at the parishes in the SLO Deanery - go to www.sloepiscopalians.org - good work, Leonard! St Peters Church in Morro Bay continues with Lenten Vespers on Saturdays at 5pm, and as mentioned in the previous News the By-the-Sea Players will but on the play, 84 Charing Cross Road, in a staged reading on Apr 1-3. For all their events, including Sunday worship, see their websites. St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande tells us their hearts are with all those living through the crisis in Ukraine. Episcopal Relief & Development is mobilizing with our partners to provide humanitarian assistance to families fleeing the violence - to donate go to https://saintbarnabas-ag.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=debb1b33eb11372203a975524&id=a2dd0b6b6e&e=acee3ced34 For all their events including worship services, Bible studies and Centering Prayer, see their websites. Rev Linda McConnell and our friends at Good Shepherd Church in Salinas tell us that in addition to their many other events on Saturday, April 2 at 10:30 AM: they will tour of Japanese American Citizen League Heritage Center in Monterey with lunch following. Led by Michael Ipson. And at Grace Cathedral, which we previously mentioned is now open to the public for tours, etc, they will present a Forum tomorrow at 9:30am with Carolyn Chen in person in conversation with Dean Malcolm Young. Chen is a sociologist, associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley. See the Cathedral's websites for details and more. Deanery There will be a very brief Deanery meeting to elect a member to the diocesan Nominating Committee - contact David Ottesen for details at David Ottesen <ottesen2@icloud.com>
0 Comments
Folks,
The lessons appointed for this Sunday (and thanks to all who mentioned to us that the last News was mis-titled as the First Sunday in Lent - while work made time short, we are glad to hear from readers!) include from Luke's gospel Jesus explaining that while bad things happen to good people (the tower of Siloam collapsing on worshipping people) there is a need for all to re-think (repent) their lives and then adding a parable suggesting another chance for those (sinners) who missed the mark. Also included is a lesson from Paul, writing to the Corinthians, relating (and extending to those Greeks) the history of the Jews saying that "our ancestors" followed the cloud out of Egypt and were baptised in the Red Sea as they moved into Sinai drinking from that spiritual rock from which Moses, striking it with his staff, managed to obtain water for a thirsty people, and going on to warn about further sin saying "things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us". So it is again for this Lenten Sunday that I return to last week's theme with the lesson in Exodus at Mt Horeb (in the Sinai, where many early Cristian religious communities located) where Moses received the "Law" as an early criminal code, with more history of the nation building of the Israelites. The passage has God self-referencing hauntingly as "I am" and goes on to say that the land Israel will occupy is already occupied by many peoples who also see themselves as "nations" and many of whom will ultimately be unified into the "nation of Israel" as it itself later becomes a series of "tribes" named as the siblings of Joseph and led by spiritual leaders who had the notion of a loving (if sometimes vengeful) God, at least until David became king, demonstrating a need for separating religious establishments and the state further shown in Jesus' Roman era. For many this Old Testament history makes dreary reading (what does this have to do with us today?) but it seems to me that the amazing story of Israel is related and extended to us all to see the unity of all humanity, as we are still very-much in the process nation building across the world - a process that seems to have involved as much error as trial, with the different models of governance and differing leaders - one only needs to read news today of national wars and internal strife to see these patterns. At this point I cannot but think of that French priest Teilhard de Chardin who saw thru evolution of species a further evolution of society towards an "omega point" of God's kingome on earth. It is curious that we though we strongly support the separation of church and state, and yet tell you to make no mistake about it, the gospel is all about that heaven on earth. In last week's news meditation recall that we encouraged all to identify as Paul did, as "citizens of heaven". It seems to us that his spiritual approach is precisely the one needed to enable humanity to see beyond their differences, and for our leaders to lead in God's pathways even while we know that they are not all likely to do so. This makes spiritual leadership all the more important, even as worship attendance declines. But what supports all the above is our faith - trust in God's love for humankind that enables us to deal with all the trials and errors of life - a faith in the personal yet impersonal God, the great "I am who I am". May we all find in ourselves this faith! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events As always we encourage our readers to look at our Deanery's website at www.sloepiscopalians.org and especially the "Calendar of Events" tab as well as to the individual parish websites. At the Calendar you will see a number of "Centering Prayer" type events, including that of a group at St Stephens Church in Ssan Luis Obispo which Tony(!) and I participated in (along with our friend Easton on a visit to our house), in that case studying a book about the practice. We commend all such events, including at St Benedicts in Los Osos and St Barnabas in Arroyo Grande. They provide an opportunity to listen to God within us (so many have an image of prayer as merely recitations reporting to God about the troubles God is already well aware of but these provide a chance to hear from the God of love). Note that it is a special blessing to us in more remote locations, as here at the ranch near San Ardo, to be able to participate in this centering prayer events along with like-minded folks via an electronic community, and all three mentioned above are available to all via the Zoom service. Note that for full info on these and all the many other events and worship and prayer opportunities at these three parishes see the aforementioned Deanery Calendar and the parish websites found under "Our Deanery". Other Events As always, our own St Matts will have worship with Evening Prayer at 3:30 in person at the chapel on the corner of Railroad and Jolon in "downtown San Ardo" as we like to call it (and special thanks to Fr Filemon Diaz for coming to St Matts last weekend to preach and preside at Eucharist). Note that next Sunday our diocesan Canon to the Ordinary, Rev Martha Korienek, will be worshipping with us at St Matts - also at 3:30pm. Our friends including Fr Rob at St Barnabas tell us that besides their regular many study worship and prayer events they will continue their Adult Education series this week Thurs 7pm titled "Embodied Spiritual Practices" and including silence and presentations on developing "body literacy" as we deal with climate and world tensions (see next item below). Our friend Don Maruska of the Earthcare group at St Bens tells us they are helping present the film "Youth v Gov" on Earth Day Apr 22 at Morro Bay High School as part of the "Faith Climate Action Week" events, along with an Interfaith Power and Light DVD/ discussion event on Earth Sun Apr 24. St Bens is pursuing its designation as a "Green Business" by the Green Business Network. The group, with an eye to abuses by Russia et al enabled by fossil fuel moneys, is also recommending an "Energy Freedom Fighters Pledge" which seeks to have individuals sign up to the following; "A. We recognize that Russia is using Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas both to fund its aggression and to tame reactions from other countries. B. We will not have our freedom or the freedom of people elsewhere be held hostage to fossil-fuel funded autocrats. C. In solidarity with the Ukrainian people and all who struggle for democracy and the right to live, we pledge to reduce our oil and gas consumption by at least 10% during the Ukrainian crisis. This will free up supplies to those who don't have alternatives and dampen the inflationary impacts of demand for oil and gas. D. Meanwhile, we support accelerated development of renewable energy alternatives, especially those that can be locally or nationally based to secure long-term economic and political freedom. E. We encourage U.S. and other aid organizations to include alternatives to oil and gas powered heating and other products for Europe with options like electric heat pumps to help meet immediate human needs. Signed: ________________________________________ Opportunities to reduce oil and gas consumption now: 1. Lower thermostats for heating, refrigeration, etc. 2. Turn off lights, heaters, and appliances when not in use. 3. Share rides with others, reduce trips, use public transportation. 4. Avoid purchasing plastics, which are made from petroleum; use biodegradable and sustainable materials instead. 5. Quit bottled water. 6. Switch to renewable energy only with your electricity provider. 7. Buy local to reduce oil and gas used for transporting goods." While the Pledge is still a work in progress, we are glad to hear of it. (Note that at the ranch where most winters include lows in the low 20s F we keep the thermostat at no more than 59 in the daytime and 49 at night.) More details as they becaome available but note that the time for "Climate Action" is now - note that the wildfires in Texas presage California's wildfire season, especially as we are suffering record drought. St Pauls Church in Cambria continues with Sunday morning worship at 10am in person and via Zoom, a blessing for older folks who cannot easily get to church as well (as mentioned) for those of us living in remote areas. Mthr Barbara and folks at St James Church in Paso Robles will be whipping up casseroles to help ECHO (El Camino Homeless Organisation). They're also looking ahead to Holy Week events beginning with Palm Sunday Procession from City Park to the church at the corner of 14th and Oak. See their websites for all their regular events, including prayer and study events. The folks at St Peters Church in Morro Bay tell us they will be having a Vespers service Saturday evenings in Lent (this reminds me of my Russian Orthodox Church heritage where in similar services the babushkas gathered for prayer - and as in last week's News we ask your prayers for all people as they impacted by wars and internal strife, including Ukrainians and Russians included). Padre Sid, a particularly philosophical fellow, also tells us that the in person informal opportunities for fellowship at Java Chat 10:30am in their Library and Coffee Hour after church continue. Events Farther Away This Sunday at 9am David Mosely of St Pauls Cathedral in San Diego leads a tour in "The God of Israel is the God of the Desert" of biblical lands, in person and via Zoom at https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wdwMTbQgmg66PfAXMw4Jj7uRzq-VvD7kz88_UX6WSUjktu8MyHxdXKgZ4Rlgh3Xti2ge7SFgA0OoTWiKalomhXDTAjHIbm20Kc32vqObliF0RHph08CcK3zN3tpP6z5HvkoMgtamIbEr4wQjN6yuY4MaU1ENiiQx&c=1yBmlc6-EwdnFAxpYLWb8eLQI-OEVS0yo6u2DSQOU0ntwrl7G5RtUw==&ch=YHb0-76ChYPjxI5vHTrRRhFGfLXqCeXSDnoaX8bn4udrmcOx0pRqOA== St Pauls also tells us their Evensong will be back in person on select Sundays, including Mar 27. See their many websites for full info on all their events - good things they share (as with Grace in SF) electronically. Our friends at Good Shepherd Church in Salinas tell us that they have made a special outreach in "working prayer" to Anya and her family, who are Ukrainian refugees in Romania - good work folks and see below suggestion. From the Diocese Our Bishop Lucinda Ashby writes to us all: "As the invasion and violence continue to increase in Ukraine, and refugees flee into neighboring countries, some have asked what we can do to help with this crisis. We have learned today that over 3 million people are currently displaced as a result of the war, and organizations are working together to provide basics of food, clothing and shelter. ??piscopal Relief and Development is partnering with Christian organizations on the ground in places like Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania working tirelessly to respond to immediate needs. Please circulate this information to your congregations and tell people to go the ER-D site https://www.episcopalrelief.org/ to donate quickly to refugees fleeing Ukraine. On the homepage there is a button that allows people an easy way to give money; our prayers are in pushing “donate.” Thank you for giving this information to your congregations and for garnering support for the many for whom prayers are answered with a cup of soup, a warm coat, and a sleeping bag." And Canon Martha (who will be with us at St Matts as mentioned above) tells us the diocese-wide Spring Renewal event scheduled is scheduled for Apr 29 and 30 via Zoom. In her own words: Spring Renewal is our new annual gathering for the Diocese of El Camino Real! Spring Renewal is for worship, thanksgiving and celebration! Spring Renewal is for shared learning and growth! Spring Renewal is for everyone in our Diocese! This year we'll gather on Zoom Friday evening (April 29) for a diocesan wide celebration to honor Canon Brian Nordwick's ministry. Then we'll reconvene on Saturday (April 30), again on Zoom, for an exploration of what the "new church" looks like and how our parishes find faithful ways and fresh vistas as we grow into its opportunities. The day's inspiring keynote speaker is the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Register Now! https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=eb5286583f&e=f136cc0442 Friends,
Great to be done with some of our work! The lessons for this week include from Genesis recording a Abram's talk with the Lord and wherein Abram is told he will have different heirs from his own lineage (though there is an interesting side story to the original heir Eliezer who continued in service to Abraham) and a Luke's gospel wherein Jesus sends word back to Herod that he must come back to Jerusalem to be the prophet all have been awaiting. But as so often Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi (and rather in contradistinction to the Genesis lesson, which seems to be constructing a Hebrew "identity" thru Abram) Paul makes clear that his "citizenship is in heaven", and her urges the church folks to that same feeling. There is an important implication in Paul's message as well, and that is that it is up to us, at least in part, to CHOOSE our ultimate citizenship. Note that Eliezer "of Damascus" might not have been Jewish as such, but he continued to serve Abraham (as Chabad.org spells it), arranging Isaac's marriage to Rebecca. Indeed, biblestudytools.com says that Abraham might have chosen Eliezer when he lived on Damascus himself. (And note in Eliezer's further story that the choosing is a two-way street - so two we find God's "choosing us" even as we choose to serve the Lord.) Today folks, when the world is riven with so many divisions of "nations" we hope we all may seek to be like Paul, citizens of heaven and accepting God's offer of that citizenship. And may we let this begin here on earth. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events Remember it is "Time to Spring Ahead" to Daylight Savings late tonight! St Matthews continues with our newer worship schedule, meeting for Holy Eucharist with Fr Filemon of St Marks in King City officiating (wafer only) this Sunday at the chapel, corner of Railroad and Jolon, in San Ardo at 3:30pm. This event has long been hoped for (masks suggested). Later in the month we are expecting a visit from Rev Cn Martha Korienek who will join us for evening prayer on Mar 27. Martha is the diocesan "Canon to the Ordinary", Bp Lucinda's right hand. Another Sunday evening event we were able to enjoy via Zoom last Sunday was the Taize group at St Luke Church in Atascadero, an event with a bit of prayer or reading and wonderfully simple music. The event, led by our Zoom friend Cindy Castle happens every Sunday at 7pm - contact her at <castlewood16@gmail.com> for the details. Note that Cindy has passed along to us info about online and at home ways of using the meditative "labyrinth" tool both online and with tabletop versions which your fingers can use at home. We have enjoyed occasional use of labyrinths ourselves. The info can be found at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69la8W1_FUFTh8x701d2OeOe9BSA5bxL Cindy (and we) also commend InterSpiritual Discussion with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu - see https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69la8W1_FUF2aply5bUkRRvbLO-tTIU5 In addition to there other events (see their websites) St Peters Church in Morro Bay will during be offering Saturday evening Vespers and you can join them at the chapel for a contemplative time of prayer, psalms and readings. The services will be at 5pm. St Pete's many other in-person events are returning, including Movie Nights with a bit of potluck, Mar 23 and Apr 6, their Readers Theatre events (including the play 84 Charing Cross Road) and Coffee Hour events. St Peters also tells us in their "Pebble" newsletter that our friend Padre Sid, their rector, got married to Lenka recently. As my Byelorus/Ukrainian ancestors would cry out "Gherka!" until the bride and groom kissed. We continue to commend the several Centering Prayer events in our local parishes - see websites for St Barnabas in Arroyo Grande, St Stephens in San Luis Obispo, and St Benedicts in Los Osos. Good Shepherd Church in Salinas besides there many opportunities for worship will be having hiking TODAY and Mar 26, touring the Japanese American Heritage Center, and walking a Labyrinth, see the parish website. Grace Cathedral in San Francisco announces that the cathedral buildings will once again be open to the general public for tours, etc on Mar 16 - see their many websites for full details and their many events! There is so much other news of Lenten events that we can only strongly that I might not get the NEWS out in timely fashion, so will close by encouraging all to go the various parish websites including those at the deanery calendar https://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/74061144 and the individual parishes! Folks,
The lessons appointed for this Sunday, the beginning of the rather meditative and even somber Lenten season, including from Luke's gospel on the Temptation of Jesus and a very short summary lesson from Romans. But it is the lesson from Deuteronomy that calls to me today. As often happens, the lessons for this Sunday include much that reminds us we are a people in common situation across the nations. In this lesson the writer reminds the Lord's people that their land is God's gift, and so to return to the Lord at the temple and make offerings saying "So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me." The lesson goes on however to include ALL the people of the land: "Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house." Note earlier in this same lesson that this largesse on the part of the leaders of Israel came about despite their recent enslavement by Egypt. Folks, we are all in this together, so pray for the people of Ukraine, but also of Russia, and let us share our bounty as God commands, for the reality is we are one across all the lands God has given to us all. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events We are travelling for work as I write this, so would strongly suggest all go to parish websites, etc, for events, including regular prayer and worship services. Past Events Besides our recent Zoom events with Centering Prayer, which we very much enjoyed and have been mentioning, we had a very special Evening Prayer service last Sunday afternoon at a parishioners house overlooking the row-crop fields of the Rancho San Bernardo, for which San Ardo is named. As the late afternoon breeze came down the Salinas Valley, nine of us gathered for a sort of family reunion, and along on the breeze, coming off the cemetery in San Ardo, we could sense the spirits of the three women who were there when we first visited St Matts over 30 years ago - they and their open welcome were all that it took for us to case our spiritual lot with St Matts.. Contact us for the location of St Matthew's regular Evening Prayer service this Sunday in San Ardo at 3:30 pm. |
WILLIAM BARTOSH
st. matthews newsWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2024
Categories |