Folks,
This Sunday's lessons include more from Revelation (once again clearly written for the sake of the young church - "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints." and John's gospel wherein Jesus prays for his disciples, again with an emphasis on the collective, with some complex "identity" statements (" so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one"). But I was especially struck in the lesson from Acts 16. While the lesson records some of the most remarkable and vivid missionary efforts in the Bible, with at least two "miracles" (the casting out of a "spirit of divination", and the earthquake that broke the missionary groups chains, I was struck by a phrase further on in the lesson, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Note that this notion of including an individual's "household" (in this case the jailer) is repeated at the end of the lesson: "... he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God." Many in evangelical churches seem to demand an individual choice, as with "altar calls". But the reality is that "community" has a wider measure than that, and the call to faith is often infectious in groups over time. The lessons point to the workings of the Holy Spirit in such communities of whatever nature, and especially as they sort out more ethical behaviour for the group(s) and for human society. May we gently encourage faith in the love of God in our communities! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events In practice with our newer custom we hope to present just one or two events to call your attention to, while continuing to encourage all to the websites of the parishes near you along with our diocesan and deanery calendars and the overall San Luis Obispo Deanery websites at www.sloepiscopalians.org In addition, of course we always want to include mention of our own St Matts in San Ardo, where tomorrow we will have evening prayer at the new customary time of 3:30pm. A Musical Event This week our friend Gordon Fuglie of St James Parish in Paso Robles tells us of the following event that takes place TOMORROW: "As you may know, we are active at Saint James Episcopal Church, Paso Robles. It is a historic church, founded in 1892. One source of pride is our 1863 Stevens pipe organ - the oldest continuously played organ in California. This means our venerable pipe organ was ordered and shipped to California while General U. S. Grant was laying siege to Vicksburg’s fortifications on the Mississippi River, and Confederate and Union armies were fatefully clashing at Gettysburg! But history alone doth not a great instrument make. Great musicians do. For the past 6 months we have been abundantly blessed to have Cal Poly music major Grant Smith as our ace-organist. He has wrought wonders from our pipe organ — and, alas, we now must bid him farewell. In June, he travels to Rice University (Houston) to enter their graduate program. Grant auditioned at a number of universities and was recruited by nearly all of them, including Yale and Juilliard (NYC). But Grant really “clicked” with the head of the organ program at Rice. (Did he “pull out all the stops” to woo Grant?) Before Grant departs, he will perform a concert on the Stevens organ on Sunday, May 29 at 3 pm. The program will be mostly of Johann Sebastian Bach works, but there will be a few surprises, too. Refreshments will be served in the parish hall following the concert. St. James is one block east of Spring Street at the corner of Oak and 14th Streets. Come join us to hear live music on a fabulous instrument. Grant really “ channels” Bach like no one else! Suggested donation is $20. Proceeds will go toward maintaining the Stevens pipe organ. See you there! Gordon and Susan" Other Events We wanted to make brief mention that it is time for Summer Camp and Retreat planning for all and wehave word that Camps Saint Andrews (see https://campsaintandrews.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47a445ec3a76051753e25c4b&id=8e053658ef&e=c59fdc55b8 and as well the Bishop's Ranch near Healdsburg (see https://www.bishopsranch.org/ From the Bishop Our Bp Lucinda Ashby bids all our prayers for all, the children and adults who died, their families, and the communities that were harmed by the school shooting in Texas and similar incidents. The Bishop suggests an active prayer by writing our political leaders asking for legislation to better regulate and prevent such occurrences. Memorial Also on this Memorial Day weekend, we want to mention that our friend in the efforts with Integrity to gain justice and full inclusion for LGBT folks and all in The Episcopal Church, Jim Langston of St Pauls Cathedral in San Diego passed away. Jim was four days short of his 98th birthday. Jim's sweet good cheer became a powerful moral force and his loving kindness will be remembered! Contact the Cathedral for memorial service plans.
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Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Acts - this time focused on Paul's travels as a missionary. I was very taken with this lesson because of the warm welcome he received from the woman in Macedonia (a province of Greece - see about the nation forced to call itself North Macedonia today because of Greece's claim on the name). This was in part because of my recollections of my time in an Swedish Evangelical Free Church where many were committed to doing missionary work. While I have chosen a "bigger tent" of faith, there was much of value in the evangelical communities, including the warmth of recognition of spirit in fellow members. Note that the first choice gospel lesson for this Sunday, from John 14 (probably not the same author as for Revelations) again highlights that Spirit, the invisible thing that binds God's people together in love. The appointed Collective prayer notes that while we lack understanding, we are asking that God fill us with the love so that But I'd like to consider the second lesson from Revelation (aka The Apocalyse of John), a book that I am fond of saying is full of "spooky stuff" with heavenly visions and host of angels and other strange creatures. For all that this Book of the New Testament, perhaps the last in the NT canon to be written and probably using some bits of encoding (the growing church was growing rapidly then and Roman officials weren't sure they liked it), has a lot of spooky stuff. But it also has a lot of useful material, and in particular the notion of God being the light, both in heaven and on earth (in some ways the writer, St John of Patmos (a beautiful island we lucked into visiting on a cruise that was re-routed), gives us a helpful sense that to those of faith, who have "seen the light", the distinction between heaven and earth is rather less relevant. The "spooky stuff" (which reads like something written by a person on "acid") is present in Sunday's lesson as well, with Jerusalem coming down out of heaven and a crystal "river of the water of life" emanating from the "throne of God". If you go to Wikipedia (we do a LOT!) you'll see that some ("preterists") think the Book was written to document events already past, possibly as late as the fall of the Western Roman Empire, while others (futurists) see it as prophesying events yet to come. This has led to so many diverse interpretations that to my mind the best is read the book with an open mind and see what it says to you. A better grasp of it is to be had though when one understands that "apocalypse" simply means "unveiling". Thus my sense is to glean from it what seems useful, and the notion of heavenly life and earthly life being a continuum is one I value, with God as our primary "light". May we all find our way to that heavenly city by God's light here on earth, sharing our faith freely. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events We at St Matts will be gathering at 3:30pm this Sunday for Evening Prayer at the chapel at the corner of Railroad and Jolon in San Ardo. In keeping with our newer policy of brevity, we will mention just a few key events, but encourage all to check out the websites at our local parishes, as well as at the Deanery's website, www.sloepiscopalians.org and the subordinate links to deanery congregations and calendars. Whatever in-person events you choose we encourage caution as Covid cases seem to be on the upswing. While we at St Matts do not have a membership to support such musical efforts, we are delighted to hear of events such as a performance of Brahms Requiem at St Dunstans Church in Carmel Valley Jun 5. Full info at: https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=81c54cd96a&e=f136cc0442 Check those parish calendars for other musical events. St Peters Church in Morro Bay tells us they are having a parish Movie Night Wed May 25 at 5pm and will include potluck supper. The movie will be "Brut Force" written by Eve Symington and starring Lelia Symington. St Peters By-the-Sea Players will present s staged reading of "Church & State", by Jason O'Dell Williams. The reading is described thus: "After a school shooting, a Senator, in the middle of his re-election campaign, begins to question his stance on guns and God, upsetting his wife and his campaign manager." The event takes place Fri May 27 and Sat May 28 at 7pm and Sun May 29 at 3pm. From the Deanery There will be a "hybrid" Deanery meeting at St James Church in Paso Robles this Sunday both in person and via Zoom at 2pm. The meeting will feature a presentation by Sr Greta Ronningen about the ministry of the new monastic community in our midst, the Community of Divine Love. From the Diocese While not in our Deaney, the Diocese of El Camino Real' cathedral, Trinity Church in San Jose, tells us via the diocesan news service that "On Sunday, June 12, at 5:00 pm, Bishop Lucinda Ashby will preside at the installation of the Very Reverend Julia McCray-Goldsmith as the 5th Dean of Trinity Cathedral. The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries and Director of Ethnic Ministries on the Presiding Bishop’s staff, will be the preacher. This Celebration of New Ministry will include Episcopalians from across the diocese and ecumenical and interfaith friends from the community. All are welcome. Trinity Cathedral is located at 81 N. Second Street in downtown San Jose next to the St. James VTA light rail station. There is abundant free parking on Sundays. Face coverings will be required at this service. For more information, call Cathedral Administrator Bonnie Montgomery at 408-293-7953." The Diocese also tells us Bp Lucinda Ashby's Visitation Schedule will be as follows" 12-Jun Cavalry, Santa Cruz 10 am 12-Jun Trinity Cathedral, San Jose 5 pm 25-Jun Diocese of Idaho Consecration 3-Jul General Convention (Baltimore, MD) 10-Jul General Convention (Baltimore, MD) 24-Jul St. Jude's, Cupertino 31-Jul Lambeth (England) 7-Aug Lambeth (England) Folks,
The lessons appointed for this Sunday include from Acts more of the story of Peter gently leading the Jewish believers to acceptance of the Gentiles in their company and from Revelation more of John's vision (was this "new heaven and new earth" an indication that God's spirit would be available to all?) But this week the lesson from John's gospel struck me, and especially (after Judas had left to do his dirty work) that Jesus addressed the assembled disciples, Jews to a man, saying "as I said to the Jews so now I say to you". (Some might choose to think by "the Jews" Jesus meant the officials at the Temple, but this seems a more useful interpretation.) This to me makes clear that Jesus intends that God's spirit should be available to every person of every nation. Let us remember in this run-up to Pentecost, the birthday of the church, that it is to be for all humankind. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events Our fellow mission parishes, St Marks in King City and St Lukes in Jolon will be meeting together at St Lukes lovely "carpenter's gothic" chapel in Jolon. Note that some members of St Marks and St Lukes met together with some of us from St Matts for fellowship, and were delighted to be joined by Fr Filemon along with Rev Dcn Rob Seifert, now retired and living in Mexico. Rob is still very active and let the service at St Lukes last Sunday. Our own St Matts Church will also be meeting for Evening Prayer tomorrow at 3:30pm at the chapel in San Ardo. The Earthcare group at St Benedicts Church in Los Osos describes itself as "Discussion/action group seeking local solutions to environmental concerns. 3rd Wednesdays 3:00 pm on ZOOM" and in addition to offering alerts on such concerns they tells us that "A truly community effort brought beautiful trees and plants to the grounds of St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church. We want you to see how they are thriving and give thanks for the collaboration. There will be a short ceremony at 11:45 a.m., Sunday, May 22. (This will be after our regular 10:30 church service.) After walking the grounds, there will be some light refreshments. This ceremony honors the following groups and people who participated in organizing, planting, and nurturing the trees and plants: ECOSLO Los Osos Garden Club Rotary Los Osos Deadwood Revival St. Benedict’s Earthcare Team Landscape Committee Parish Council and members St Bens has been collecting donations for Ukrainian refugees to be sent to a sister parish in Noway Sacz, Poland. Please put "Ukraine" on your check or on-line gift and note that St Bens will be having a prayer event for Ukraine on Thursdays - see St Bens websites for full info at https://www.stbenslososos.org/support-us/ A couple weeks ago we reported the marriage of Lenka Andrews and Padre Sid Symington of St Peters Church in Los Osos. On Sun May 22 the couple will be feted at St Peters Parish Hall at 11:15am after regular 10am services. Note that St Peters also reports "In an act of extraordinary generosity, the people of St. Peter’s by the Sea contributed $6500 to the Polish Red Cross to support their efforts to care for Ukrainian war refugees. Well over 3 million people have come to Poland in the past twelve weeks, fleeing the devastation caused by Russian attackers. Padre Sid and Lenka delivered the funds to grateful Red Cross staff members at their headquarters in Łódź, Poland, Lenka’s home town, where 100,000 or so refugees are being cared for." If you would like to donate, but missed this opportunity, Episcopal Relief and Development is also collecting funds for broad relief efforts to assist Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Romania, Hungary and other parts of Europe. https://support.episcopalrelief.org/ukraineresponse?ID=220301DP0DS0100&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=fy22ukraine&utm_source=220301DP0DS0100 For more information on refugee numbers in Poland: https://notesfrompoland.com/2022/05/11/how-many-ukrainian-refugees-are-there-really-in-poland-and-who-are-they/ Good going, St Pete's! St James Church in Paso Robles says: "Please join us online or in-person at 10:00 a.m. COVID safety practices will still be in place. Masks are recommended but not required. We hope to see you on Sunday!" And note that St James with the other parishes, including St Matts, in commending donations for Ukrainian refugees at whichever means you choose. We have donated thru Episcopal Relief and Development - see above. St James also tells us that St James will be hosting a concert by Grant Smith on their 1863 Stevens organ on May 29 at 3pm. St James meets for services on Sunday at 8 and 10am, along with other services during the week - see their websites at www.stjamespasorobles.org Pastor Linda McConnell at Good Shepherd Church in Salinas tells she will be on an extended time of study and rest from June thru mid-August but the parish will be in the good hands of our friends Rev Dcn Cynthia Montgomery and Rev Stephen Mills. Tracy Shelley will be continuing expanding the Sunday School effort thru summer and a new labyrinth will be installed. As always, please go to the individual parishes websites along with sloepiscopalians.org for full details on the above and many other events. Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday are from Acts 9, with Peter visitng Joppa (modern Jaffa in Israel), from Revelation 7, and from John's gospel a lesson reminding that many who heard Jesus' testimony did not believe. The other lessons are a portent to Pentecost, the joyous day of the birth of the church welcoming all regardless of nationality. Note that even in today's more global society nationality matters (Ukrainian v Russian). Even more so in the "tribal" days of these lessons all written near Jesus' time on earth. Thus in Revelation we read "I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands." Note that the Acts lesson this time features Peter who was a great traveler as was Paul from last Sunday's Acts lesson, though the two were most often travelling separately. Yet both are concelebrated on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, a major public holiday in Rome. (As a kid growing up in the Russian Orthodox Church, I remember wondering why one of the local Orthodox parishes was named Sts Peter and Paul, since I had always thought of them as from the Western Christian tradition and indeed Orthodox church calendars of the various Patriarchates have several not canonised in the Western Churches - see below on my take). While tradition says that this is because they were both martyred (Paul by beheading but Peter by crucifixion since he wasn't a Roman citizen like Paul) my sense is that it may have more to do with their world-wide travel ("world" in their times in the western world basically meant the Roman Empire). Note however that sources actually differ on details such as whether Paul ever actually met Peter (see Galatians 2 written by Paul - was "Cephas" in fact "Simon Peter"?). But as the Britannica and Wikipedia agree, the Council of Jerusalem accepted Paul's notion, at first resisted by Peter, that Gentiles need not first become Jews (via circumcision (but what about women?) Such primary differences were settled for most believers at the Council of Jerusalem around AD 48, not long after the Roman Centurion Cornelius. James apparently presided at this council which may have been attended by both Peter and Paul (James also continued to hold some Jewish dietary laws). While Paul was already keen on removing obstacles to the conversion of the Gentiles (he was heeding the mission given him in the vision near Damascus) Peter had only recently "seen the light", and acted to baptise Cornelius in the name of Jesus. (One has to enjoy reading in the Galtaians account that Paul therein coined the term "pillars of the church") It is this linkage that to me suggests the great value of a feast day of Peter and Paul, who I hope we all remember from a couple weeks back said we should instead become "citizens of heaven". Thus for me it is useful to think that the holy day of Peter and Paul is in fact a celebration of our common humanity - a key question even today in Ukraine where the population is divided into Roman Catholic and Eastern Christian groups - with patriarchs of at least three groups leading those groups (see recent news about Ukrainian "autocephaly"). For me it is our common humanity that overcomes what many see as the wide divide between nations and tribes - may we recognise that humanity in all, even as we embrace our particular traditions and histories! Our love to all and looking ahead to the Pentecost Season, for good reason the longest of the church's seasons (this as for the church as the body of God's people it really is the most important), as well as the feast of Peter and Paul, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events Folks this week, while referring all to the many events listed in our Deanery's calendar and the individual parish websites that can be ssen at www.sloepiscopalians.org and the many other parish websites, we will focus on just two beside oOur own parish, St Matthews in San Ardo, which will be meeting for Evening Prayer at 3:30pm this Sunday. While Grace Cathedral's calendar has many other events of interest at www.gracecathedral.org, we want especially to mention that on Wed May 11 from 5pm to 6pm Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be featured at the in-person and via Zoom Forum at Grace Cathedral. Bp Curry will be leading a discussion on "the Movement to End Slavery for Good". One other event sounds especially interesting because as most of you know we enjoy greatly the practice of centering prayer, and you will note such events listed on the calendars above, a Retreat featuring the practice to take place at the beautiful Episcopal Bishops Ranch near Healdsburg, CA. While those of you familiar with the practice know that it is not necessary for this practice to be in such a Retreat setting, it is a delight to us that it is attracting enough attention in the wider church such that retreats featuring the practice are popping up more and more. Note that Rev Cynthia Bourgeault, who wrote a book on the method thatwe read along with the Centering Prayer group at St Stephens Church in San Luis Obispo, will be the Retreat leader. See full registration details at https://bishopsranch.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7bb9b06539cb9bbffefafae15&id=7518ae7e3a&e=7ea56651b4 |
WILLIAM BARTOSH
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