Folks,
This Sunday is our chance, as the old hymn says, to "Welcome (the) Happy Morning", but it would be far better it we could bring Easter Joy everyday, to ourselves and others. In our lessons for this Easter Sunday the first, from Acts, we hear that Peter tells the Roman centurion Cornelius of the good news, saying that "God shows no partiality", but welcomes all. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul also tells of the good news, going on to recount Jesus's appearances after the Resurrection - thereby suggesting that such salvation was available to all, and noting that he was last to see Jesus appear - because he saw him only in spirit on his way to Damascus, humbling himself "as on untimely born" and so "the least of the apostles", and unfit, and even when he admits that he "worked harder than any of them", he gives the credit to "the grace of God". I think you can see why, despite his wordiness at times, I hold Paul in high regard! John's gospel recounts the story of Mary Magdalene, who was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection - quite a story. It should be note that it was a woman who was the first to see Jesus, and one who offered as a gift the expensive oils she had loving used to anoint Jesus. And it was she who was the the very first Evangelist, telling the Good News to the others and bringing Joy to their dejection. In all of the above, there are other meanings to the stories directly presented. We pray that all may search in meditative quiet within for such understandings, and then share the Good News of Easter Joy! Our love to all, and may this Good Friday be truly good, not dwelling on the sad news, but sharing Easter Joy! Bart and Tony! and for all of us at St Matthew Church! Events While St Matthew Church in San Ardo is undecided as to our schedule and meeting place for this Sunday, considering both joining St Mark Church in King City at 10am where Fr Carl Hansen will be leading a Eucharist service. For further info on St Matthew Church services, contact us. Note that Rachael Denny of St Luke Church in Jolon tells us they will be joining the service at St Mark Church and there will be celebration of baptisms of the grandchildren of our friends the Harrisons. Our own schedule is clear as we have an immediate need to do some urgent work on our property down south, so we will not be at either, though we hope to visit one or more of the many on-line web-based services. For the many other events, as we mention often, please see the newsletter and visit the websites of your local parishes!
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Folks,
This Sunday as you all likely know is called Palm, the "kickoff" of "Holy week". The lessons appointed include two choices, both enormously long and filled with drama, and yet surprisingly fresh with humanity. Jesus was in effect being the Passover Lamb, being sacrificed (as in one of the lessons) and in the alternative gospel lesson the drama of the crucifixion and death itself ("He breathed his last"). As I read BOTH lessons (very long) I couldn't help but wonder if Jesus would have opted for all this drama himself - why not just simply rise to His heavenly family - after all, he knew what would be coming next. Yet somehow all the retellings focus on this very human drama, of someone who loved - not YOU, but ME - ie, each of us as me. It made the story not of something that happened long ago as in a Norse saga but rather of something personally relevant to that ME. Perhaps for that reason, the story had to get "down and dirty" - for Jesus was fully human, fearing and not really wanting to suffer (He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup - ie, the sort of death He was to suffer - from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”) Indeed in many ways I might prefer a simpler gospel story - love God, love your neighbour, live both now and forever in peace. Yet as many have observed, drama is inherent in our humanity. Tony(!) and I just finished (re-) watching the entire "Six Feet Under" series, replete, in its (Southern) California way, with all the relationships and odd events of the soap opera genre, and yet full of humanity. I guess there is in fact a simplicity to be found here, despite the elaborate liturgical traditions (some might say "pageantry") of this week which has for many years dazzled. That simple message is Friendship (one thinks of the Quakers, in some ways completely without liturgy yet in a simple way getting to the gist of the Spiritual Life - a Society of Friends (in fact they too have a sort of liturgy and with all its human aspects set in the apparent simplicity). But where to find such Friends? Are they imaginary? The answer, in part, might be Yes! A suggestion is taken from the old Tolstoy title - The Kingdom of God is Within You. For if you can be a friend to yourself, then (to borrow from Shakespeare) you cannot be false to anyone, which should encourage them to do likewise. Perhaps we cannot evade our humanity - and our need of other humans - with Friendship being the first step. In this regard, whatever Jesus might have thought about his suffering, and however Jesus has been portrayed - Sacrifice or King - the highest persona of God is as a Friend, to be found in the midst of high liturgy or within quiet meditation. All this reminds of the old hymn "What a Friend We have in Jesus", both not at all like human friends, yet exactly like human friends - for it is in them that we can see God. In words that go to the heart of the matter, our friend Miss Ilene mentioned the following quote "Friendship is the purest form of God's love because it is born of the heart's free choice and is not imposed upon us by familial instinct. Ideal friends never part, nothing can sever their fraternal relationship" From Where There Is Light, a compendium of the sayings and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda We pray a prayer for friendship in the lives of you all, our Friends, Bart and Tony! and for all of us at St Matthew Church in San Ardo Events As alluded to above this week is in many ways the Big Show for Christianity - yet it would be devastating for the essential message of God's Friendship were all the events and drama of the coming week forgotten about on ordinary days. So it is with this in mind, and following our more recent approach to avoid overwhelming with activity details to focus on just a few special events. After all - you know what to do if you are reading this email, go to the websites of your favoured spiritual groups and check out their events. We'd like to mention just a couple: Beginning of course with our own St Matthew Church in San Ardo, where we will be having a Service of Morning Prayer (with Palms!) at the usual hour of 10am. And our two fellow missions in Southern Monterey County, St Luke Church in Jolon and St Mark Church in Kiing City will be meeting at the chapel in King City for a Service of Holy Eucharist, also at 10am, with our friend Fr Carl Hansen presiding. All are welcome at both events! Other Events From The Episcopal Church (sometimes called "The national church, but with several dioceses in other countries) via St Benedict Church, Los Osos comes word of a Good Friday (Mar 29) online concert benefitting Anglican ministries in the Middle East. The concert will begin at 3pm ET (noon in California!) for the video of the concert go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp0pZNWSoIk and for full info and to donate (at any time) go to https://www.episcopalchurch.org/good-friday-offering/ As St Ben parish's newsletter indicates, this will be the last Good Friday for our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry before retirement and he has been a great force for good in the World, in the USA, and in the Church. Special thanks to St Benedict Parish for including this item in their newsletter, Benediction Weekly. Also at St Benedict Church in Los Osos there will be a Climate Solutions Community Forum Sat Apr 6 from 2-4pm. See more complete info and the flyer at St Ben's websites. Note that just in time for this event there will have been a Zoom online meeting sponsored by the "national Church" on Tues Apr 2 at 3:30pm.calling together Diocesan Creation Care groups. The Zoom link is https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=d4c4508b71&e=f136cc0442 Good Shepherd parish in Salinas tells us our Bp Lucinda will visit this Palm Sunday at the 10am service and the parish will have an Easter Sunrise service Sunday Mar 31 at 6am followed by brunch along with services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Note that St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande will be having services all those days plus Stations of the Cross on Wed Apr3 and an Easter Vigil beginning at 7:30pm Sat, Mar 30. See their websites for full details. And St Paul Cathedral in San Diego will have too many events to mention here so go to their websites starting at www.stpaulcathedral.org especially note their Simpler Living Creation Care ministry. Abd ti see a really action-packed calendar of events at a small parish, check out Epiphany Lutheran-Episcopal, Marina, parish at https://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=24671209&msgid=575936&act=E9UY&c=1202569&pid=2113442&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epiphanymarina.org%2F&cf=23615&v=f334068cb24a7d85b2ab5867785927ae3534fa8d01be0aae20e94cd7a877b71d Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Jeremiah about a "new covenant" for Israel and Judah, including the mention of writing the law "on their hearts". Also from the Letter to the Hebrews (Christians living in the area of Jerusalem) wherein Jesus is described as obedient to the point of perfection, with two mentions of "the order of Melchizedek" (a figure who was both priest and king and representative of God on earth). The gospel lesson from John 12 tells in the midst of the preparations for the Passover festival that Jesus speaks of his obedience unto death ("a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies ... but if it dies, it bears much fruit." But today I'd like especially to note the Collect appointed for this Sunday, which reads "Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever." This collective prayer is a beautifully put reiteration of our discussion in a recent News of the question of "free will vs determinism", asking God to order our wills such that we "naturally" love the good things that God commands (above all, loving God by doing love neighbour) and desiring what God has promised, and all by "the means of grace", that mysterious way that God works in our lives and in our world. May we all pray this prayer for our own benefit and that of all humankind. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and from all of us at St Matthew Church Events St Matthew Church will have a service of Morning Prayer at the chapel in San Ardo at 10am this Sunday. And from fellow South Monterey County mission St Luke Church in Jolon we hear this: "This coming Sunday, March 17th, at 10:00 A.M., yours truly, Rachael Denny will lead a service of Morning Prayer at Saint Luke's Church in Jolon. There will be coffee and conversation in the parish hall afterwards, and everyone is welcome to attend. A reminder: On Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at Saint Mark's in King City." Other Events Many of use consider Spring the most beautiful season, full of emerging life. So this is an apt time to condier the fate of our beautiful "island home" as one prayer in the Prayerbook calls it. At St Benedict Church in Los Osos, on Sat Apr 6 there will be a Climate Solutions "Community Forum: from 2-4pm sponsored by the parish along with several other .community groups (Kiwanis, Rotary). We will say more about this even in future Spring Newsletters. From St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande we hear the following: THIS SUNDAY ST. PATRICK'S DAY DINNER! Join us this Sunday at 5pm for a dinner fundraiser for the Sunday School kiddos. Contact Pam Pano if you are still in need of tickets: 805-550-8324, 4sasha@att.net As Well at St Barnabas: Lenten Supper and a Movie Series We'll continue our Supper and a Movie series with the next episodes of the Chosen on Thursday, March 21st | 6:30pm at the church. Also, the following (from BOTH St Barnabas and St James Church in Paso Robles): Easter Eggs! It is that time of year again. We are looking for items to add to the Easter Eggs. Candy (wrapped please), stickers, or fun items. Please bring items by Palm Sunday. Any questions please reach out to Pam Pano at 805-550-8324 or 4sasha@att.net And note that St Barnabas is seeking help to paint their new pergola (lots of surface area to cover with a pergola). Beyond the Deanery And from the broadest Episcopal Church via St Paul Cathedral in Palm Springs we hear (see full details at www.StPaulCathedral.org ) an Arts event: "Celebrating Women in the Arts Concert" Saturday, March 23, 5 pm, Great Hall Musica Vitale recognizes Women’s History month with their upcoming concert “Celebrating Women in the Arts”. Concert will include instrumental and vocal works by female composers performed by Musica Vitale soloists and guest instrumentalists in the Great Hall of St. Paul’s Cathedral. and also that "Since 1922 the Episcopal Church has encouraged individuals and parishes to take up an offering on Good Friday, to send to the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem. This year the need is especially urgent, as the Church attempts to relieve the suffering of the people of Gaza and to support the lifesaving work of Ahli Hospital, which has been damaged in the conflict. If you would like to participate in this special offering, please make a donation to the Cathedral and mark it “Good Friday (for Jerusalem)”. Go to https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uU4pKXRRrT5IM5zFrJ4mrkyeluipjQgnJVegfoPdjD7XpgZH2o9kxu20-HuMkCUkzBIzIC8b9VFAJ1a7T_8pCcpAPK3pV_nHCvSICY3R40w7WKtIPsRCTW5oD1COLWFDZc7sPP1wD3mVEorxtBy8WVN86uzsLayG&c=8FYT4Ou-kmL3xnoeqvvpHYLlE6Pmr7keUBkmDxIHxNT-SgDQowbuLw==&ch=C61FcqG4QYY2g7gHW-18cipdLjdNgMCg-xc_QsIooIEBMnJM7axZKg== And also note that St Paul Cathedral is participating in the annual St Patrick Day Parade TODAY near the Cathedral and Volunteers are needed. Our friends at the Sunburst Sanctuary near Lompoc nave many scheduled events you can see at https://www.google.com/search?q=sunburst+sanctuary+events&sca_esv=ebdc76ad041d5bb0&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1023US1023&ei=ysT1ZceiN427kPIP7oSsgAU&ved=0ahUKEwjHr8SQlvmEAxWNHUQIHW4CC1AQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=sunburst+sanctuary+events&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGXN1bmJ1cnN0IHNhbmN0dWFyeSBldmVudHMyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYnwVIgjtQ0wZYyiFwAXgBkAEAmAGdAaABrQaqAQMyLjW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgigAskGwgIKEAAYRxjWBBiwA8ICDRAAGIAEGIoFGEMYsAPCAgUQABiABMICBhAAGBYYHsICCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDmAMAiAYBkAYJkgcDMi42oAfpIA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp including a Sunburst Art Series with the following eventsL "Sunburst Art Series: Abstracting the Landscape. An Experimental Approach to Plein-air Painting. Friday, March 22, 2024. 10:00-3:00 p.m." "Painting in the Garden with Pastels" class on Apr 20 at 10am and "Kriya !! Meditation Retreat" beginning Thurs Apr 25 at 4pm, and group Silent Meditation every Sunday at 10:30 Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Numbers a seemingly bizarre lesson wherein following Moses's lead (and in turn God's direction) the Israelites complained about the wilderness they were crossing, which apparently upset God who then sent poisonous snakes that bit the people and many died. Yet God also provided a remedy so that by gazing at a manmade snake the bitten person would be healed. One wonders why any "god" worthy of worship would do both? The background on this lesson is the series of travails the Jews underwent trying to find there "Canaan" and the book is called Numbers because of a couple censuses it chronicles, including enumeration of the "numbers" of members of the tribes of Israel - some of the driest OT reading save for bits like this odd one. Paul's letter to the Ephesians also speaks of condemnation for trespasses - though noting that people condemn themselves by "following the course of this world". (Note that here it seems he is uncertain on the matter of "free will" vs "determinism" (the latter meaning that God chooses those who will receive the "gift of faith" - a question that will be with us forever.) The gospel lesson OTOH rectifies the Numbers aberrance to my mind by asserting God's love instead of punishments. with what is perhaps the key Christian passage in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." and I would emphasise in the rest of the lesson that "those who do not believe are condemned already" - ie, they in effect have condemned themselves to a life without the blessing of faith - God does not actively condemn people but rather they do it to themselves, by not coming into the "light". So it is that we cannot explain why some choose to live in the light and others not - but we can affirm the joys of living in the light of faith, that trust in God's love that we are always speaking of. Once again I say, may we all choose to live in the light of God's gift of faith in God's love, and in turn shine the light that it gives us so that others can see it in us and perhaps join us in that light. Our love to all, Bart and Tony(!) and for all of us at St Matthew Church! Events TOMORROW St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be having Morning Prayer at our usual 10am hour. All are welcome and to participate in discussion of the lessons (it has become our custom to have a brief "Bible Study" as a part of the service. And from Rachael Denny of our fellow mission St Luke Church in Jolon we hear this: This coming Sunday, March 10, at 10:00 A.M., Susan Raycraft will lead a service of Morning Prayer at Saint Luke's Church in Jolon. There will be coffee and conversation in the parish hall afterwards. Everyone is welcome. Please note-Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead the night before! Other Events This Sunday St James Church in Paso Robles will be preparing gift Easter Baskets (yes, Easter is coming soon!) for the parish children who are First Communion candidates. Parishioners are invited to contribute gifts, including in some hollow "Easter Eggs". The parish newsletter and websites have already set out their Holy Week Schedule. And St James continues to have weekly Bible Study at 11am on Thursdays. During Lent St Benedict parish in Los Osos will be offering the Stations of the Cross service with the following schedule:
St Barnabas Parish in Arroyo Grande will be having a St Patrick's Day dinner. Our friend Adam who composes their "Weekly E" said :Be on the lookout for details for our St. Patrick's Day Dinner. The Sunday School kiddos will be selling tickets soon for this dinner fundraiser. It will be held on Saint Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17th at 5pm. More information coming! Contact Pam Pano if you have questions." Contact the parish office for full details. And from St Paul Cathedral in San Diego we her of the following event (apt for Lent): Forum Series: Walking the Seven Stone Path—A Lenten Practice 9 am, The Guild Room Join author and philosophy professor Peter Bolland for a five-week study of his new book The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom. Using questions and prompts from The Seven Stone Path Workbook, we’ll explore the insights from the world’s wisdom traditions and root them deeply into our own spiritual practice during this sacred Lenten season. Workbooks are free, but get your copy of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom online wherever you buy books, or buy it directly from the author at these sessions (cash, check, or Venmo). View entire schedule (Click Here). For full details on events at St Paul, go their website at stpaulcathedral.org Folks,
As Tony(!) and I are travelling for work this weekend we will have to make this email fairly brief. The lessons for this Third Sunday of Lent include from Exodus a familiar rendition of the Ten Commandments, and from John's gospel the dramatic story of Jesus at the Temple, including this: "In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”. In I Corinthians Paul helps make sense of both those lessons, since he speaks of his own proclamation as "foolishness" if the "wise" think they have all they need from the commandments in the Exodus passage, while the gospel lesson of a special part of Jesus ministry is a rebuke to other "wise guys" who have setup shop in the Temple for their own businesses - perhaps foolishly ignoring the real if symbolic importance of God's Spirit in the idea of the temple, which in fact might have been an instance of idolatry. Jesus's own words following make clear that he was speaking symbolically when referring to "his body". (I looked up about the part of the passage speaking of 46 years and found that the original language appears to be in the aorist tense (meaning an unqualified past tense of a verb without reference to the duration or completion of the action", thus suggesting the writer knew that the Temple might never be completed - perhaps because it wasn't the important thing? There are several discussions online, most of which state that the Temple was probably completed in 64 AD. and destroyed leaving ruins plus the newer mosques we see today.) May we recognise the minor extent of our "wisdom" and see that in comparison with Holy Wisdom it just might be foolishness! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matthew Church Events Parishioners of St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be having Morning Prayer this Sunday at 10am. While our fellow mission St Luke Church in Jolon will not be having a service this Sunday, the congregation there will be joining St Mark Church for a Service of Holy Communion , also at 10 am in King City. Other Events A few brief announcements (mostly copied from other parish news): From St Benedict Church we hear of the following: Meet me in San Luis - You are cordially invited to join us for fellowship, conversation and delectable Chinese lunch on Thursday March 7 at 12 noon at Golden Gong, 390 El Mercado .at Madonna Road. Please call or text Bryson McKelvey at (805) 235-3045 by Wednesday to reserve or with questions. Gong hay fat choy! March Potluck - Potluck for March will be held on March 10th to coincide with the Bishops visit. In Anticipation of Bishop Lucinda's Official Visit March 10th - Please contact Rev Jen Crompton or Lisa Gonzalez as soon as possible if you would like to be Confirmed or Received in the Episcopal Church or wish to Reaffirm your vows in the Episcopal Church. Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation are concurrent rites where a mature commitment to Christ is welcomed by the Church through the laying on of hands by a bishop. _Confirmation_ is for those wishing to affirm the commitments made for them at their baptism. _Reception_ is for those previously confirmed in another Church who now find their ministry in the Episcopal Church. _Reaffirmation_ is for those who desire to recommit themselves to the vows made at their baptism. All three require a period of guided preparation and self-examination, which St. Benedict's offers, in anticipation of a Bishop Lucinda's official visit on Sunday March 10th. The Tuesday Spiritual Discussion group - "Our Living Compass theme for the 2024 Lent season is _Practicing Forgiveness with All Your __Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind_. Designed for both individual reflection and group study, this daily devotional provides a foundation for seeking a deeper experience of Lent -- one that prepares us for the coming of Easter." The Tuesday Spiritual Discussion group will be using an Lenten program sponsored by a group called Living Compass. The six-week program includes Sunday and weekday meditations for the Lenten season. We will begin the program on Tuesday February 20, 2024 at 10.30 on Zoom. The program booklets are available as pdf electronic copies for free or a print copy available for $1.00 plus postage. A limited number of print copies have been received and will be available in the back of the church. If you are not planning on attending the Tuesday group, feel free to take one of the booklets for your personal use. Note as well that you might want to swing by St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande, where we hear that the new pergola is in place but awaits finishing touches (it was just begun when we last visited). From our friend Kathleen Pennington and St Stephen Church, San Luis Obispo we hear of a chocolate factory at the church - and you can order some of their chocolate Easter Eggs. Contact Kathleen at kapennington@netscape.net for full details. And from our friends at St Paul Cathedral in San Diego we received the following announcement - for full info go to the cathedral's website at https//stpaulcathedral.org Forum Series: Walking the Seven Stone Path--A Lenten Practice 9 am, The Guild Room Join author and philosophy professor Peter Bolland for a five-week study of his new book The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom. Using questions and prompts from The Seven Stone Path Workbook, we'll explore the insights from the world's wisdom traditions and root them deeply into our own spiritual practice during this sacred Lenten season. Workbooks are free, but get your copy of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom online wherever you buy books, or buy it directly from the author at these sessions (cash, check, or Venmo). View entire schedule (Click Here). From The Deanery From our San Luis Obispo Deanery Convener David Ottesen of St Barnabas Church we received the following agenda for the Deanery Meeting (and contact David at <ottesen2@icloud.com> for any other info/questions on the Meeting): AGENDA San Luis Obispo Deanery Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2:00 pm In-Person at St. Benedict’s, Los Osos and via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83577412697?pwd=K2ZYUnhpcmtNTGs2L2p6eDh2NzJWUT09 Meeting ID: 835 7741 2697 Passcode: 980625 One tap mobile: +16694449171,,83577412697#,,,,*980625# US Opening Prayer and Welcome: The Rev. Jen Crompton Invited Presentation: Molly Kern (CEO, SLO Food Bank) Approval of Minutes: Laura Learned Treasurer: Lisa Gonzales “Ny Somangy Company”: The Rev. Dcn. Susan Arnold Deanery Support for Stephen Ministry: David Ottesen Future Meetings: May 5, 2024 – The Rev. Ian Delinger July 14, 2024 – Jeff Diehl Committee Reports: Standing Committee; Board of Trustees; Commission on Ministry; Missional Grants Commission; SLO Episcopal Campus Ministry; Social Justice Committee Announcements: Closing Prayer: The Rev. Dcn. Susan Arnold |
WILLIAM BARTOSH
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