Folks,
Though we are on vacation, we have already visited Church of the Holy Apostles in Hilo, HI (we recommend visiting local parishes when you travel!), and looked at our online lectionary for this coming Sunday's lessons at http://lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp16_RCL.html where we saw the Epistle lesson from Romans wherein Paul admonishes us to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." And the gospel lesson where Jesus tells Peter (making a Latin pun) that he is the rock, and "on this rock I will build my church," But the OT lesson from Exodus really jumped out at me, with its depiction of the miseries suffered by the Jews in captivity by the Egyptians (gives depth to the old song, "Let my people go!). Except for remarkable interventions, including the Jewish midwives slyly disobeying Pharoah's order to kill all the male - ie warrior - babies, and Moses being rescued by Pharoah's daughter, it might have been an instance of ethnic cleansing (and a good reminder of why all people everywhere have a lot to learn from the collective experience of the Jewish people). So often it seems when evil is inflicted on others, it redounds to the evildoer, as it did in this case. We know that the Egyptians ultimately lost battles with the Jewish people, even in recent times. I am impressed that the Jews, following Moses, "got out of Dodge" (harm's way) and into the relative safety of Canaan, where they helped make the desert bloom. Note however that all is not well in Israel today. Yet the Jewish people have been blessed in ways that seemed highly unlikely at the time the Exodus passage was written. May we seek to do good, beginning with our own people, and allowing that blessing to extend to all humankind! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events As we mentioned last week, we hope some of you will meet with the congregation at St Matthew Church in San Ardo for Morning Prayer at our customary time, 9:30am. Other events As we are still travelling and visiting the Aloha State, we ask all to consider helping the people on the Island of Maui, still working to recover from devastating fires at https://support.episcopalrelief.org/maui-wildfire-2023/?sn-um=1&ID=SE23-DRR_230814DMGDS0200&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=fy23mauiwildfire&utm_source=SE23-DRR_230814DMGDS0200&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3JanBhCPARIsAJpXTx5-CJls_4_Av4kZ9G_i6V_jUz03IK2eTJFVki4ir523BY7zR01mxnIaAha5EALw_wcB, and as always, we encourage you all to check out events at your local parishes, including at the San Luis Obispo Deanery websites at www.sloepiscopalian We also would like to mention that some saints who more quietly go about extending God's blessing to many people are not forgotten by God. One such appears to have been St Bartholomew, whose Feast Day is Aug 24 (and note that while I go by "Bart", my real affinity for this "St Bart" is his quieter approach). In fact, Fr Rich Towers and our friends at Good Shepherd Church in Salinas tell us (besides a gentle reminder of their annual Art in the Pastures of Heaven show, Sep 11-15, that "We celebrate the life of the apostle Bartholomew on August 24th. Likely known by his contemporaries as Nathaniel Bar-Tolmai, he was later known by just his last name, Bartholomew. St. Bartholomew kept a rather low profile in the biblical narrative, but we believe he was the friend of St. Philip who, before having met Jesus, asked the sarcastic question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?!" (John 1:46) This was essentially a question about the identity of Jesus. Bartholomew got a compelling answer that was delivered over time. But at the end of their first encounter, Jesus promised him that he would get the answer he sought. So much so that he would even get to see something like patriarch Jacob's ladder, the ladder that Jesus had come to establish between heaven and earth by means of the cross. For three years, Bartholomew followed Jesus. He got to be at the first Eucharist and had his feet washed by Jesus. He, and many other people, came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, sent to heal and help people. I imagine that Bartholomew received a comprehensive understanding of Jesus' identity after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. St. Bartholomew accepted the answer Jesus gave and ended up giving his life too. Tradition teaches that he walked from Israel to India and then back to Turkey. He taught many people about the love of God and even helped convert a king in Armenia. While the king became a Christian, the king's brother refused and sentenced St. Bartholomew to death! St. Bartholomew really wanted to find God. He searched for and found God in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saw into his heart and gave him a great compliment..."Here is a man in whom there is no deceit." (John 1:47) We are searching for God, too, in our worship, study, service, and fellowship. Let us emulate Bartholomew's sincerity by loving and serving God and our neighbors near and far. "
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Folks,
We are taking our first and only vacation starting this Thursday thru Monday, August 29, so only have time to mention the lessons appointed for this coming Sunday which include - an ongoing part of the saga of Joseph and his brothers, with a deeply emotional reunion, and then the request to bring their father, Jacob to the land where Joseph go them settled, "Goshen" - note that Benjamin receives special mention. - a lesson from Romans in which Paul, identifying himself as a member of the tribe of Benjamin, note that God's gifts and calling (remember last week's lessons about calling) are irrevocable. Paul adds what might be called a notion of "original sin", saying all of us have been "imprisoned in disobedience", ie sin or missing the mark. - a gospel lesson from Matthew with an important first part we hope you all will read which notes that it is not foods (think of the Jewish purity customs) that defile a person, but words that come from the heart via the mouth In the second part of the lesson Jesus again heals a non-Jew, making clear that healing of faith is for all. We will leave you to consider all these lessons but we note that while that OT lesson is powerfully moving, we strongly commend the Alternate lesson for us all to read and consider: Isaiah 56:1,6-8"Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant-- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered." We pray that all of us will recognise that we are of the same tribe, and greet "foreigners" as the long-lost siblings that they are! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events We hope some of you will gather and join the group for Morning Prayer at St Matthew Church in San Ardo! We are now settled on the time of the meeting at 9:30am. As always, we commend the websites of your local parishes for more events, including especially the San Louis Obispo Deanery website pages at www.sloepiscopalians.org Folks,
The lessons this Sunday include from Genesis a lesson of sibling rivalry gone wild (and given Reuben's attempt to do some bit of good - and perhaps curry favour with their father - a lesson showing that sometimes good intentions are not enough), from Romans a reiteration of the importance of faith, and that importance underscored by Matthews gospel lesson. To me it seems clear that the faith Jesus required of Peter as he stepped out of the boat and onto the surface of the water had little to do with some recitation of a Creed, however precise and well-wrought. Yet it is the kind of faith that life requires of us every day cased on Jesus's call to us "Come" - taking no thought whether the floor is still there as we get out of bed in the morning, etc." Leave it to our friend and guide Paul to set such faith in a clearer context - first dismissing "acts of righteousness, since, as the Genesis lesson makes clear, they may not have been well-intentioned. Note that he is not dismissive of the importance of actions for good, but he underscores, that faith - a trust in God, comes first - as summed up by Paul as “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Now, it is unlikely that if we are in a boat and exclaim "Jesus" we will be supported by the waves, but this faith WILL give us the courage to put our feet down on the floor each morning and get up, and so to walk (as we are able) the paths of doing God's will as best we can. Note that in his final paragraph Paul makes clear the importance of telling the gospel (ie, Good News) "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” May we arise each morning and whatever else is on our plate for that day ("in all that we do") bring this Good News to all we encounter. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) And for all of us at St Matts! Events St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be meeting at 9:30, our new (and we hope permanent) meeting time this Sunday for worship via the Prayerbook service of Morning Prayer. Our friend Roy Morris will be leading Morning Prayer at one of the other South Monterey County parishes, St Luke Church in Jolon at 10am Sunday. Our prayers go out to our friends at St Mark Church in King City as they meet at 10am as well for worship with Fr Carl Hansen Other Events Speaking of WALKING, our friends at St James Church Paso Robles and St Luke Church Atascadero tell us that ECHO, the El Camino Homeless Organisation, will be having an event with BBQ and music on Sep 23rd called "A Long Walk Home" on Sept 23 including an "Awareness Walk" at 10am and lunch 11-12. St James reminds us of their "Oktoberfest" event at Harris Stage Lines, a fundraiser being held on Oct 7. Our friends at St Benedict Church in Los Osos tell us they are preparing for the "Season of Creation" to start in a month and we encourage all to follow their efforts, and those of allied groups and in particular they commend the Laudato Si' Movement - see https://www.mail.laudatosimovement.org/view.html?x=a62e&m=e4&mc=s&s=R9k&u=z&z=BsY8ZOn& Further away St Paul Cathedral in San DIego will have Evensong service (including music for the Feast of St Mary the Virgin) on Sunday at 5pm, online and in person. The parish also i having a new Bible Study course called "The Bible for Smarties" . For complete details go to www.stpaulcathedral.org From the Diocese Bp Lucinda Ashby asks that all might pray for the victims of wildfires on the islands of Maui (Lahaina) and Hawaii (the Big Island). She tells us that we can all make donations to support them at https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=115ab4d4fc&e=f136cc0442 Folks,
This Sunday, the tenth of the Pentecost season, is when the lessons usually includes some of those "mountaintop" experiences of spiritual awareness such as the Transfiguration and this Sunday is no exception. As it happens this particular Tenth Sunday of Pentecost falls on the actual "feast day" of the Feast of the Transfiguration (easy for me to be aware of because it is also my partner Tony's birthday). While we enjoy the Old Testament and Gospel lessons, we have heard that many times and indeed usually a couple times more in the year. Thus I am keen to do a more careful reading of this Sunday's Epistle lesson from 2nd Peter (and which relates nicely to the other two). In that lesson, Peter speaks warning of "cleverly designed myths". There is something refreshing about such plain speaking from one who has, as he says (with the words from the Transfiguration of Jesus story) “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Now I am not exactly sure in a "scientific" way what he and the others saw and heard on that day. But whatever it was, it changed his life and that of many others to a lifelong effort to spread the good news of God's love for all humankind. Note however, that it was that lifelong commitment, even (as they say and as several were martyred) "unto death") that impresses me most. Today's world is one where it seems commitments are easily abandoned, in a time when school finishing is not a parental requirement, "no-fault" divorces are common, and our knowledge of neighbours and the government's actions is sadly lacking. Much of this has "good causes" and there is indeed a time when dropping a commitment may be in order. Yet if we have that mountaintop experience, whether we hear a booming voice from heaven or a still, small voice (see I Kings for the lesson containing the quote) emanating deep within ourselves, we would do best to make and keep a commitment to share the experience as we go, yet quietly like that still small voice itself. We might do well to do some quiet meditation to hear the gentle whisper of that "still small voice". Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) And for all of us at St Matt Church! Events St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be having Morning Prayer at 9:30am this Sunday morning and all are invited to join us! Other Events Our friends at St Benedict parish in Los Osos tell us of the following two related events - one on Aug 8 and the other on Aug 17: SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION - This week we will continue a conversation based on the ideas in Rediscovering God by Fr. Cyprian Consiglio. You do not have to read the book to participate. this next Tuesday and ongoing at 10:30 on Zoom. Meet Author and Musician Prior Cyprian Consiglio The Monastery of the Risen Christ and St. Benedict's Episcopal Church invite you to join us as Prior Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam., releases his newest book in San Luis Obispo on August 17th. He will give a general overview of the work followed by a discussion. Books will be available and signed. Prior Cyprian is a Camaldolese Benedictine monk at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. As a monk, musician, composer, author, and teacher, he also travels in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, studying, teaching, and performing. Monastery of the Risen Christ 2308 O'Connor Way, San Luis Obispo, CA Thursday August 17th at 5:00 PM\\\ We have mentioned before that Rev Bruce Bramlett of St Stephen Church in San Luis Obispo has been having a course called "Uncovering and Challenging a History We Thought We Knew" and have begun auditing the recorded course, the details of which follow: Note that the entire course is available online as follows: Session 1 – Tuesday, June 13 https://tinyurl.com/Uncovering-Session1 Session 2 – Tuesday, June 20 https://tinyurl.com/Uncovering-Session2 Session 3 – Tuesday, June 27https://tinyurl.com/Uncovering-Session3 Session 4 – Tuesday, July 11 https://tinyurl.com/Uncovering-Session4 Session 5 – Tuesday, July 18 https://tinyurl.com/Uncovering-Session5 and two more sessions are available - for the url links to those sessions or a copy of the episodes please reach out to the office at 805-543-7212 or by email at office@StStephensSLO.org Now Bruce has recognized the need for an open and engaged discussion to delve deeper into the effects this course has had on our faith and how it resonates within our community. He is adding "An Open and Engaged Discussion of the Implications of this Course for the Churches," which will take place next week. Details for this discussion are as follows: Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Time: 6:00PM Location: In Person in the Parish Hall at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 1344 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo or via Zoom https://tinyurl.com/Uncovering-Discussion During this session, Bruce Bramlett, facilitator, will guide the discussion along positive avenues, offering each participant an opportunity to raise questions, share insights, and explore the profound impact this course has had on their faith journey. This discussion was not initially part of the course plan, but it has emerged as an important aspect that deserves our attention and reflection. Bruce encourages all of us to actively participate to enrich our understanding of the course's implications for our individual lives and our church community as a whole. Finally, St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande tells us their "All Parish Campout" is coming Sept 15-17 - mark your calendars. From the Diocese Diocesan Visionary Task Force the Visioning Taskforce is leading an important guided conversation about our changing diocese, calling us to stretch our imaginations toward God's dream for our future in ministry and mission. Each conversation will last for 90 minutes and will include small group discussions. Sessions are filling up quickly, so register soon click here to see which dates are available and to register. https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=8d32513e13&e=4d38209461 You are invited to attend an in-person conversation on one of the remaining dates (all zoom sessions are full at this time):
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