Folks,
We are travelling this week and encountered email problems just as St Matthews News was ready to send. Thus this will be super short: The lessons this week include from Joel, 2 Timothy, and Luke. Research suggests that the Book of Joel was written in three different eras from 1000 BCE thru 300 BCD, with some of the research by Jewish scholars especially from the years 700 thru 1100 (see Wiki) who noted the diacritical markings used in the written Hebrew (and thus referred to as the Masoretic texts). The content however is uniformly in tune with the other OT prophets. The lesson from Timothy includes Paul's farewell to his friend and his apologia to the church. He done what he can, been "poured out as a libation" and "From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness ... also to all who have longed for his appearing." The lesson from Luke again centers on humility ("all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." But the lesson is made VERY personal, as we can see by this remark by Jesus, quoting a Pharisee when praying: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." The common thread here seems to be the increasing personalisation of religion, from the early form of individuals not being the center but rather the nation, to Paul's (and other disciple's) efforts at building a community of individuals. This is something that Jesus' understanding of faith seems to take as a given, even to the point of his super-accurate depiction of people and motivations. May we all recognise the need to focus on real people as we ponder our own faith! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events Besides regular services this Sunday at St Lukes in Jolon and St Marks in King City at 10am at their chapels, and 4pm at St Matts in San Ardo we only have time to mention this one events from Fr Rob and our friends at St Barnabas In Arroyo Grande: "A Contemplative Retreat At St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church (301 Trinity Avenue, AG) October 23rd (12:00 noon – 4:00 pm) Led by The Rev. Cn. Martha Korienek Gather in the worship space For many of us, contemplation is an underutilized spiritual practice. Or maybe, you want to deepen your current practices. Join us to: 1. Learn the history of contemplative practices. 2. Experience how contemplative practices deepen our “holy curiosity.” 3. Equip yourself with the counter-cultural aspects of contemplation. 4. Connect contemplative practices with the Bible. We will learn through: a. Listening and discussion, b. Guided meditation, c. Journaling, and d. Quiet time alone. No cost. No reservation needed. Light lunch will be provided."
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Folks,
The lessons appointed for this Sunday include from Jeremiah God's promise of a "new covenant" (with an alternative lesson from Genesis wherein Jacob wrestles with God for a blessing = and wins!), while in the epistle (II Timothy) Paul enunciates what seems to me a sane view of Scripture as "useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness ..." (those of you who know me know I really value this line since too many have suffered at the hands of those who almost worship the book). In the gospel lesson Jesus says that the Lord will quickly grant justice to those who come to him even if there are few who have faith - indeed the parable of the widow seeking justice is really to emphasise the need to "pray without ceasing". The thing that struck me in these lessons is the notion of newness (a new covenant, etc) but yet an emphasis on continuity. While I have at times appreciated new things somehow unsullied, as a new beginning to life, in general the scriptural lessons echo those in life where the much greater importance is on continuing. The things that really go into building a life are most especially the things that we as human communities have learned are typically the ongoing bits of "received wisdom" refined by our human communities thru the ages. My suggestion is to revel a bit in new things even while we continue with our good practices built thru the ages, making further refinements as our collective wisdom suggests. Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) and for all of us at St Matts! Events Our own St Matts will be having Evening Prayer on Sunday at 4pm, the usual hour, at the chapel in "downtown San Ardo" (truly it is, a half block from Main St and across from (what is left of) the old hotel and where the depot once stood. Our fellow missions St Lukes in Jolon and St Marks in King City will meet together at St Lukes at 10am for Holy Eucharist. We were intrigued, speaking of reveling in a bit of newness, by a Forum even to be held at St Pauls Cathedral in San Diego, apparently a lecture and discussion of "Pagan Wisdom" (note that while much of what Jesus said was relatively new to the world, for millenia pagan groups have found threads of wisdom, many of which resulted in what we consider Christian practices. You can watch this event at https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Cl4WMBrW7J3L_VMH1JrWLCMR2X8wt3bPjZFr8uyn06xZDtALZ7YLl07-hKFMagqvNDUIwDObTJ7ai8NaltDU30wcfiZNiK7dLAXD2wM-AcoABUsGXIODjmAmH3L-NJWvoW53bPbbPI49GPz2G7nl1kmin-FqHr8YyCFAEtPFE9d7Dam8axaGyW8b3qW7QOAI8o7H4PJFJrM=&c=zuylNdPMtLlG2TBhRmG-b0wp3Nt--CttCH567lP1xFUuTsJRSgcPfw==&ch=eXUYgQx-p01AikMg_1BCv0htxSGMCtM8gJQbyj8SPNFAj89Nb8G6wA== on Sunday morning at 9am. More complete info at www.stpaulcathedral.org Meanwhile Fr Ian Delinger of St Stephens Church in San Luis Obispo tells us of a Memorial Garden Party with a focus much broader than the Memorial Garden itself to held on October 16, 2022 at 12:00 until 2:00 in Ramsden Hall as follows: "Get your affairs in order for the St Stephen's Memorial Garden! The Memorial Garden Party is an opportunity to learn about how to get your affairs in order before your death. The event will be lighthearted, yet informative and useful. The line-up of professionals to assist you are: Fr Ian on the Liturgy of Funerals & Memorial Services Information on the St Stephen's Memorial Garden Allie Burnett (Cal Poly Senior Director of Gift Planning) on Legacy Giving J. Johnson (Attorney) on Wills & Trusts Wheeler-Smith on Funeral Options Tony Huffaker (Hospice SLO County) on end-of-life issues" A light lunch will be served. Good Shepherd Church in Salinas (Corral de Tierra) tells us they have completed installation of a labyrinth. We have mentioned these tools for meditative practice, often set outdoors (as at Good Shepherd). It will be dedicated this Sunday and all are welcome. Folks,
The lessons for this week include more lamenting from Jeremiah (let me remind us all that rather like Paul, Christians - if they are doing it right - are fully Jewish in religion), along with another loving letter from Paul to his friend and co-worker Timothy with good advice, including "avoid wrangling over words". But the gospel lesson appointed for this Sunday from Luke especially interested me. While it seems clear enough that a part of it reminds us that God's loving truth is available to all in every nation, it seems especially interesting that Jesus says ""Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well" rather than "Get up and preach the gospel to all". Note that my subtitle for this News episode doesn't refer to the disciples on the ship at Galilee, but rather it tries to point out that "following Jesus" doesn't mean becoming something different from those "without faith", nor demanding that we round up audiences and demand they say the right words (see Paul's line above). Rather, it seems that faith is both a gift and a choice. It cannot be "forced" on someone, yet it is certainly not a matter of logical persuasion (if it were, I presume all the scientists would count themselves as "of the faith"). And it is for those reasons that I suggest "we are all in the same boat since "the faithful" (where I seem to be located) have no more or better knowledge than those without faith (some of whom have been saying "Is that all there is?" as in a prior week's subtitle in light of the deaths we mentioned in that News episode. Yet does seem to be something somehow better in a loving faith that is a real source of strength in life. I suggest we all pray for this gift of faith, and display its wonders to all in a joyous life! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) And for all of us at St Matts! Events Again we have to foreshorten the events section as we are still travelling for work, but home soon! We will make it back for Evening Prayer at St Matts in San Ardo (corner of Railroad and Jolon) Sun at 4pm. As most of you know, we like presenting some of the best from several of the parishes we know well and in that vein can suggest taking in some of the events at St Pauls Cathedral in San Diego. These include their Sunday Forum series (this week "Be Still and Know ..."), a new chamber music concert series - "Music in the Great Hall", a discussion in conjunction with Monarch School, the La Jolla Playhouse, and the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus on homelessness -"Amplified: Sounds of the Community", along with events for kids of all ages, all this Sunday. You can read all about these and their many other events further in the future at their websites - go to www.stpaulcathedral.org From the Diocese We are in the run-up to the 42nd Annual Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real and this next week there will be several Zoom pre-convention events, including hearings on budget, resolutions, and constitution and canons. Full info at the diocesan websites at www.realepiscopal.org concert by the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus in their sanctuary |
WILLIAM BARTOSH
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