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Folks,
This Sunday we observe the Feast of the Presentation. The lessons in our Lectionary include from Malachi that God is sending a messenger, but not just to deliver a message, from Hebrews an explanation of Jesus's role and especially his shared humanity, and from the gospel of Luke a lesson describing Jesus Presentation in the Temple for Jesus's "purification" (ie, circumcision, the custom of the Jews). The Temple event was remarkable, with the "Holy Family" observing traditional religious purification customs even while the child presented to the Temple Priests was about to start a new era of faith. with help from Mary and the Holy Family. The lesson includes Simeon uttering the "Nunc Dimittis" canticle (so-called as it is often sung or chanted). Note that Simeon's speech From that gospel includes an even more remarkable (if not often quoted) comment: "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too." The website bibleref.com says of this quote that it points to the divisions Jesus's ministry will cause among the Jews, along with others who choose to follow his teachings, and as well the angst Mary will face, perhaps in her role as missionary outside of Jerusalem - see https://rcan.org/mary-the-first-missionary-disciple/ But I'd like to consider more the role of Malachi in the OT lesson, and recall that last week we mentioned that it is a time for unity, unity in California, as we help the victims of the fires (see the ER&D mention below), in our nation after very divisive electioneering, and in the world. In this day we have many who say they are acting as "messengers" but with this cacophony of messages, we have a two-fold responsibility to hear the messages and to weigh them carefully, supporting those we find lead to those "good works" so often commended in the Scriptures as a whole. In the frame of an analogy to the body from Paul's message of unity from last week the body of Christ needs all its parts, even the naysayers, who challenge our thinking and our actions on the basis of intelligent ethics. As well, we need those who challenge our religious assumptions to keep our faith real in the face of the totality of the human condition (as Hobbes said of human life, "Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short"). May we all use our judgment to responsibly forward those messages that are of God even as we weigh our political and spiritual leaders! Our love to all, Bart (and Tony!) Events St Matthew Parish in San Ardo will meet for Morning Prayer this Sunsay at 10am. Our fellow missions St Luke Parish, Jolon and St Mark Parish in King City will meet together for Holy Communion at St Mark's chapel on the corner of Third and Bassett Sts in King City, also at 10am. Other Events We emphasise again the need to help fire victims in the terrible fires especially in Los Angeles County and perhaps the best way to help would be via Episcopal Relief and Development as commended by many, including St Barnabas parish in Arroyo Grande (where the Sunday offerings of cash and checks so marked will go to the cause) and Good Shepherd parish in Salinas (Corral de Tierra). For info and to donate go to https://www.episcopalrelief.org/ as well as the Diocese of Los Angeles websites at https://goodshepherdcorral.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7cbc9cee2ea785c71ef0cbb3c&id=f30cee684d&e=cc1155f723 Being avid hikers, Tony(!) and commend Good Shepherd for their small group programs, including for hikes. Contact the parish for more info and to participate. As mentioned previously, this Sunday is Scout Sunday st Good Shepherd. with celebration of the Scouts works at the 10am service. As we come to Lent, St Benedict Parish in Los Osos is looking forward to have Morning Prayer Services Mon-Fri at 8am (subject to change). St Ben's newsletter also tells us that "During the season after The Epiphany, the Spiritual Conversation group will be focusing on spiritual practices that help us be present in the world as God's light. We will be loosely guided by Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times. You do not have to read the book to participate, all are welcome. Join on Zoom." Zoom link is https://stbenslososos.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=56003b92c20a0cad0f96f87b4&id=eb65ec6aeb&e=c7a1548f0f Note that as we come to "Income Tax Deum" as pundit Richard Armour once called it, the parish will be "hosting the Central Coast Tax-Aide folks in the Parish Hall on Thursdays during the tax season. help(ing) taxpayers by preparing US and state income tax returns and ensuring that taxpayers receive all applicable tax credits and deductions. It is a free service that is available to all taxpayers except those with complicated returns such as rental property, with special attention to seniors and those with low or moderate income. You can see if you qualify and make an appointment at ccfreetax.org Besides sage advice from St Stephen's Parish Newsletter on making EFFECTIVE donations to the LA Fire Victims (too much uncoordinated and unsolicited objects, etc) the newsletter notes that Individuals' "Stories", featuring especially two questions: - How did you come to St Stephens = Why do you stay? The compiled results will make for an interesting read. St Paul Cathedral in San Diego describes their Forum event this Sunday at 9am as follows: Forum: Reading Genesis with Dr. Pat Lindquist 9 am, Guild Room Dr. Pat Lindquist presents a review of Marilynne Robinson’s newest book, READING GENESIS. Most of us have at least a hazy idea of Genesis, from God’s Creation of the world to the exile of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. By including the really ugly stuff, Robinson affirms that God’s loyalty to humanity is a powerful meditation on hope. Can these ancient stories sustain us through…well, absolute Evil? This is not a book of theology, yet it contains all the theology we need to see. As Robinson says, “the Lord has an intention for the world that is to be realized through history”. Reading Genesis is the start of that history. Dr. Pat Lindquist is a psychologist in private practice in San Diego. She is a devoted reader of Marilynne Robinson, a novelist who appears to trust in divine intervention the way you or I might trust in a train timetable. She reads these verses as human episodes written by humans who devoutly felt they were authored by God. Robinson’s studies in religion have become this psychologist’s tool for hope in the mysterious ways of God. The Cathedral Parish also tells us that they are gather Reflections for the Lenten season: "Lent is coming soon, and so with it we want to offer daily reflections for the Cathedral community! Rev. Richard will coordinate the creation of our 2025 Lent Reflection Booklet, and we need your reflections. Signing up means you will receive 1 to 2 days with the associated lectionary readings. Email Rev Richard ([email protected]) with subject "Lenten Reflections" by Monday, February 10, if you would like to participate and receive assignments. All reflections will be short (enough to fit on a half-page, a paragraph or two maximum), edited, and will be due by Wednesday, February 26." (Note that this seems a worthy activity for many parishes. -ed) Fundraiser for St. Paul’s on Saturday (TOMORROW!) Saturday, February 1, 7 pm, In the Cathedral "Please join St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in once again welcoming Irish recording artists Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan for an evening of traditional and original Irish music. Tommy and Saundra own, manage and perform at O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub in Dingle on the wind-swept southwest coast of Ireland, a renowned center for Irish Folk Music. Tommy is a master guitarist with “A tenor voice that has all the ring of Waterford crystal which has only ever served smokey whiskey”– Sean Laffey, Irish Music Magazine. His wife and musical partner Saundra hails from Texas and was a nurse in her former life. Of them, the prolific Irish music reviewer Nicky Rossiter said: “The husband-and-wife team from Dingle must surely be the best exponents of what Irish folk should be.” Please join us for a memorable event. St. Paul’s Cathedral is a San Diego architectural treasure and wonderful acoustic venue. The O’Sullivan’s concert series is sponsored in part by a grant from Culture Ireland." For full info go to https://k7cbcacab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001hCrbRAX_fKmzD1XHJOSCW9a4rfCu09ZVvzioTpANmB0ycCTJTmRxZCsXET5zi4Ow2TJz3GfwRum-ttoBZnR-ftlnaB4Jm3cd9x0ET0xI6y5LZlvIRFxRuazFoQMwVfE6NfHPadmBwGQdriWGqS3XLNmhYQR-mStlt65tR30bgraex5DQPGm7l8lgDbmjirMUoYIpbYIWo4OVDFYK3e8MMybfie7_i-rPdAJjfuk9g6PCZmENLG9sQhj55I1ew7pRklSRGrNhrM4=&c=rY1CupFydcGXyEdSn8BuyLAN9gcX1FzJ4k0TmVh_Mby4A8Dq2JJc_Q==&ch=J2-i0QdfPSEyL55aK8D8pnLn70Fm7pj6eh6IZix_a7X7Jj3NpKHs7A== From the Diocese The Diocesan News at www.realepiscopal.org has put out the following thoughts by our friend Bill Shreve on climate change with special view to the wildfires in Los Angeles and elsewhere: "Climate Change and Fire Danger By Bill Shreve The fires in Los Angeles are terrible. Why was this fire so devastating, and what can we do to avoid future massive fires like this? Science tells us about the connection of these fires to climate change. Fires like the one in LA emerge through a sequence of climatic events: The cycle typically begins with periods of significant rainfall, which promotes vegetation growth: in Los Angeles, they had an incredibly wet 2023-2024 winter. Prolonged dry conditions and elevated temperatures dry the accumulated vegetation creating fuel for a wildfire: in Los Angeles, they had an incredibly dry and hot summer 2024, and basically no rain since. Finally, a spark and strong winds spread the resulting fire: Santa Ana winds spread the fire, and made it basically impossible to fight. Climate change makes rainfall more variable with bigger swings from wet to dry extremes. We can expect conditions like these to recur in California. Santa Clara County Fire Department has suggestions on how to prepare for wildfires by creating a defensible space around home, fire hardening you home, and creating a wildfire action plan before a fire starts. Details are on their website. Plan ahead and work with your neighbors to make your whole neighborhood defensible."
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