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Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Isaiah, who was prophesying a glorious future for the Jewish nation, followed by a truly lyrical Psalm (#147) which has an optional first part (we hope you all get a chance to say or chant the entire - I found my spirit rising just in reading it all!). The epistle from Galatians tells us that the people (speaking mostly to the Jewish Christians in Galatia) were at first "imprisoned and guarded under the law" which was a "disciplinarian". But after the Good News arrived in the Word of the "Spirit of his Son" (that would be the son of God) those who were slave (to the law) became children and thus heirs of God. (It would be remiss of this review of the lessons not to mention that the very notion of "The Law", so clear in the Jewish tradition, literally means "the Word", derived from Old Norse.) In the gospel lesson John (I always think of the Greek Island of Patmos where he is said to have lived out his days) we see further discussion of the Word. It seems right that the word Word should be capitalised, since this was no ordinary word, unlike the verbalisations of much of our days. In fact the lesson's first part seems a bit disconnected from what follows, rather like a philosophical introduction. In the following two paragraphs we see a summary of the ministry of John the Baptist, and the life of Jesus and his ministry. In that second paragraph we read that the apparent minority who "received him" (ie Jesus) he gave power to become children of God, indeed who were born of God. The last paragraph seems a mystical melding of earthly reality and heavenly philosophy as "the Word became flesh and lived among us ... full of grace and truth." (There's that word, "grace" one of my favourites, a description of how God acts in the real world). It goes on with a brief reiteration of John's ministry, then to the effects of Jesus on the community of faith ("From his (Jesus's) fullness we have all received GRACE upon GRACE." Following a brief nod to Moses and the law the gospel says "grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." and concluding with a clear statement of the need to see God thru a person, this being, Jesus, God's only Son. I hope we can appreciate the feeling of this earliest "Christian community" of being brought to life by the life Jesus lived, as much in healing and helping as in preaching and teaching, and of the role which flowed naturally forth from Jesus ministry and then of his disciples and then on and on thru the generations to this very day (for you see, we are all part of an "apostolic succession" of the faithful). If perhaps the notion of "the Word" is rather too mysterious for you or too philosophical, just let yourself bask in the graces which flow from it as we live in a community based on caring for your neighbours as they will care for you. Our love to you all, Bart (and Tony!) Events We rejoice that the travelers from our congregation have arrived home and we will all be meeting for Morning Prayer at our customary hour of 10am at the chapel in San Ardo. Our fellow mission St Luke in Jolon will be doing the same at that hour with Roy Morris and Donna Lewis will lead the service on 29 Dec and 5 Jan respectively. My own Tony(!) will lead the service at St Matt parish on both those Sundays. Other Events The folks at St Benedict parish are having a Star Party on Fri, Jan 10 at 6pm, including a potluck dinner, the crowning of the kings and equens of the Epiphany, a journey of the magi to the creche and "undressing" the church by removing special Christmas decorations, then adding the greens to the Christmas fire. At the end of the festivities everyone will receive a "start word" to inspire them in the year ahead. St Ben's "SPiritual Conversations continue on New Year's Eve at 10:30am on Zoom - link is https://stbenslososos.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=56003b92c20a0cad0f96f87b4&id=8595cfdc3c&e=c7a1548f0f St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande tells us that on Thursday, January 15th at 7:00pm they will start "a three-week series on Walter Wink's book "The Powers That Be." All of us deal with the Powers That Be. They are the systems themselves, the institutions and structures that weave society into an intricate fabric of power and relationships. These Powers surround us on every side. They are necessary. They are useful. We could do nothing without them." But.... St Paul Cathedral in San Diego will have a special service on New Year's Eve, Dec 31 at 5pm, complete with a Labyrinth Walk in the Deans Courtyard on the Cathedral campus. On the following day, Wed Jan 1 at 10:10am, the Cathedral will welcome the New Year with a Eucharist on the Feast of Holy Name of Jesus. St Paul Cathedral also tells us they will be participating in Partners in ministry: There's Room at The Inn This Advent, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego's "There's Room at the Inn" campaign invites individuals and congregations to support Comunidad de Luz--a migrant shelter for women and children opening in Tijuana. On Sunday, January 5, 2025, St Paul's at their 9 am Forum, will have Dr. Caleb Lines to present his new book, Awakened: A 52-Week Progressive Christian Devotional. This beautiful book guides readers through 13 powerful themes like renewal, diversity, and mental health. Fusing scripture, progressive Christian insights, and engaging discussions, each week nurtures a faith that unites intellect and emotion. Themes include renewal, diversity, eco-spirituality, mental health, LGBTQ+ inclusion, science, and more. And of course the Cathedral offers the service of Evensong, which they describe as "a beautiful tradition (the 470-year-old choral music tradition was established around 1549), which gives respite and inspiration during our busy, modern lives." I note that it's almost Sunday already - I better get this out! (B&T!)
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