Worship on 17 October 2010 at St. John's the Divine in Southwest Harbor, Maine, was led by the Rev. Anne Mallonee. She talked of the importance of the persistence in prayer, even when things do not change. Prayer, after all, is a conversation with God, and it changes the person making the prayer, who then has the blessing of this change. Prayer allows us to be open to the power of God, to be aware of God's love. It is a way of connecting with positive energy.
She talked of studying the parables by trying to become one of the people in the parable, and looking at what is happening from their point of view. The lesson today was from Luke 18: 1- 8, about the woman who continually pestered the unjust judge until the judge gave her justice. She talked about looking at the parable from the point of view of the woman (a person seeking justice) but then changing to the point of view of the judge. This change in point of view caused her to ask who, then, was the woman? And she felt that perhaps the woman was God: each and every day asking us to be just. God is the most persistent, god is love, and invites us every day to do justice. God asks us to be in relationship, and to be a part of the solution. We simply need to respond when God asks. How we respond will be different for each: for some, we will care for our family; for others, we will make changes in the world at large: each can contribute. We need to know, and understand, what it means to be Jesus in this world, and, with faithfulness and persistence, we can then use our words, our lives, to model this to the world.
As always, the sermon was much more eloquent and cohesive and meaningful than I have presented. These words are what I heard and remembered. The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Mallonee and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
Showing posts with label st. john's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label st. john's. Show all posts
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Worship, 3 October 2010
Worship on 3 October 2010 at St. John's the Divine in Southwest Harbor was led by Debbie Little-Wyman. She talked that someone told her that the best advice for life is to go where it is warm. And, as the days get colder here, I can understand how people might believe that statement. I have not, however, owned that statement for myself as yet. When she talked on the scriptures, she talked of God's mercies, and how they are new for each of us each and every morning. We are lovers and we are loved, and we are all in this together. It is not easy to live in community with others, but we need to open ourselves to this experience, to look for openings and make our lives spiritual adventures. It was a much better lesson than I render here, and left me filled for the week. The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Little-Wyman and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sunday Worship, 26 September 2010
Forum on Sunday morning was about the upcoming "experiment" of shared pastoral duties among the Island's Episcopal churches and how it will impact St. John's. There will be parish priests in three of the Island's Episcopal churches and a fourth priest, in a part-time position funded by St. John's, who will be a part of the priestly community. The priests are meeting and sharing what is happening in their parishes. The part-time priest from St. John's will be a part of this community, and on some Sundays there will be joint services between parishes, held only at one location (so, for example, on October 24 at 10 a.m., there will be no service at St. John's but instead a joint service at St. Mary's in Northeast Harbor.) The priest from St. Saviour's in Bar Harbor will continue to have office hours at St. John's weekly. The priest funded by St. John's and the priest from Bar Harbor will take turns presiding at each place. These changes are hard for people - words I heard were: "Who do I tell people is my priest?" "Who do I call for counseling/care?" "Will this situation be evaluated and how?"
The Rev. Stephen Hayward presided over worship at St. John the Divine's in Southwest Harbor this Sunday. The scripture lessons were from Jeremiah and Luke (the story of Lazarus). They tell of how we define ourselves in terms of what we have instead of by what we give and what we produce. Jeremiah is a prophet who sees opportunities and possibilities for us to care for each other and for God's creation. Lazarus shows us a reformation of society - he who had nothing is given everything, the nameless one who had everything was given nothing. There is hope for the future, for changes and reformations to happen. We need only be open to it and to live in a contributing manner.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Hayward and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
As changes and reformation are about in the Island's Episcopal churches, and as change is always difficult, it will take their faith and their contributions to make the moves forward.
The Rev. Stephen Hayward presided over worship at St. John the Divine's in Southwest Harbor this Sunday. The scripture lessons were from Jeremiah and Luke (the story of Lazarus). They tell of how we define ourselves in terms of what we have instead of by what we give and what we produce. Jeremiah is a prophet who sees opportunities and possibilities for us to care for each other and for God's creation. Lazarus shows us a reformation of society - he who had nothing is given everything, the nameless one who had everything was given nothing. There is hope for the future, for changes and reformations to happen. We need only be open to it and to live in a contributing manner.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Hayward and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
As changes and reformation are about in the Island's Episcopal churches, and as change is always difficult, it will take their faith and their contributions to make the moves forward.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sunday worship, 19 September 2010
I attended the forum prior to worship this morning at St. John's. It was the first time I had been in the undercroft of the church, and I found this prayer on a bulletin board:
Lord,
When I am hungry, send me someone to feed
When I am thirsty, send me someone who needs a drink
When I am old, send me someone to warm
When I am sad, send me someone to cheer
When I need understanding, send me someone who needs mine
When I need to be looked after, send me someone to care for
When I think only of myself, draw my thoughts to another
So let us pray as though everything depends of God
And work as though God depends on us for everything
Amen.
It did not have an author, but is an amazing prayer, in my opinion.
The forum was led by a person who ministers in a prison in Baltimore, Maryland. He shared that the number one problem for prisoners is the death of a loved one: they are not allowed to leave for funerals, and so the loss of a loved one with no closure is especially difficult. I cannot imagine how challenging his job must be.
The celebrant at worship was the Rev. Lawrence Estey. Scriptures read were Jeremiah 8:18-9:1, Psalm 79:1-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, and Luke 16:1-13.
He talked of how disappointed we can be when we entrust something of value to someone else, and then they disappoint us. He talked of how we can often forgive the other if it is someone we love, but how suspicious we are of those with whom we deal commerically: we will change rather than try to understand what happened that caused the disappointment. He, too, used the parable of the prodigal son (not a part of today's readings) in his sermon. He assured us that there is no score keeping allowed. We need to forgive and move on. We need to stop counting our wrongs and simply forgive. And keep on forgiving, for such is the kingdom of God, for such is the Grace of God. Doing so might change a small part of the world. And that might make a huge difference.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Estey and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
During announcements, we learned that there were three strong candidates for the associate rector position at St. John's/on Mount Desert Island. I can only imagine the decision was difficult given the candidates whose names I heard: any choice would have been a great asset to this community of faith. Emily Blair Stribling will be the new associate rector at St. John's, with an island-wide connection to all parishes. And so the experiment here in shared pastoral resources continues. I am sad I will not be here to be a part of it.
Lord,
When I am hungry, send me someone to feed
When I am thirsty, send me someone who needs a drink
When I am old, send me someone to warm
When I am sad, send me someone to cheer
When I need understanding, send me someone who needs mine
When I need to be looked after, send me someone to care for
When I think only of myself, draw my thoughts to another
So let us pray as though everything depends of God
And work as though God depends on us for everything
Amen.
It did not have an author, but is an amazing prayer, in my opinion.
The forum was led by a person who ministers in a prison in Baltimore, Maryland. He shared that the number one problem for prisoners is the death of a loved one: they are not allowed to leave for funerals, and so the loss of a loved one with no closure is especially difficult. I cannot imagine how challenging his job must be.
The celebrant at worship was the Rev. Lawrence Estey. Scriptures read were Jeremiah 8:18-9:1, Psalm 79:1-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, and Luke 16:1-13.
He talked of how disappointed we can be when we entrust something of value to someone else, and then they disappoint us. He talked of how we can often forgive the other if it is someone we love, but how suspicious we are of those with whom we deal commerically: we will change rather than try to understand what happened that caused the disappointment. He, too, used the parable of the prodigal son (not a part of today's readings) in his sermon. He assured us that there is no score keeping allowed. We need to forgive and move on. We need to stop counting our wrongs and simply forgive. And keep on forgiving, for such is the kingdom of God, for such is the Grace of God. Doing so might change a small part of the world. And that might make a huge difference.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Estey and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
During announcements, we learned that there were three strong candidates for the associate rector position at St. John's/on Mount Desert Island. I can only imagine the decision was difficult given the candidates whose names I heard: any choice would have been a great asset to this community of faith. Emily Blair Stribling will be the new associate rector at St. John's, with an island-wide connection to all parishes. And so the experiment here in shared pastoral resources continues. I am sad I will not be here to be a part of it.
Sunday Worship, 12 September 2010
I loved worship at St. John's the Divine in Southwest Harbor, Maine on Sunday, 12 September 2010. The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault was the Celebrant, and her sermon was amazing. The scriptures from which she spoke were Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, and Luke 15:1-10. She also included the parable of the prodigal son, which follows the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin in Luke.
She reminded us that being lost is not the end of the world, for we will be found by God. She talked about the great celebrations in the parables over finding that which was lost, and recalled to us how we, too, after finding something for which we have been searching tend to feel joyous and share our news with someone who is near, how our relationship with that we have found seems more intense than our relationship with all the things for which we have not been searching. She shared that she believes that this joy is what is reflected in Luke 15:7 - that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who have no need to repent. She said this was not so much permission to run amuck and repent as an expression of the special joy we have when something lost is found. She talked of the older son in the parable of the prodigal son and the unfairness he found in the joy of his father with the return of his youngest son. She said when we start to think in terms of fairness, we need to stop: we need to consider why we are feeling that way. She cautioned that hardness of heart is a fatal condition. Jesus is not a teacher of morality but a transformer of consciousness. Jesus wants us to stop and see the world he sees. If we can see it, we can live in this world without distorting it. Jesus is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26: (New International Version (©1984)) "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." She called Christ the Spiritual Cardiologist - an image I love!! With a heart of flesh, we can authentically connect to the world, and to each other. Love is whole, love is seamless and yields joy and fullness. And love is a choice. Exchange of mercy makes manifest the mercy of God.
I so love the idea of Jesus as a Spiritual Cardiologist. To help us forgive ourselves, to help us love ourselves, so that we can live with others. Simply amazing.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Bourgealt and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
She reminded us that being lost is not the end of the world, for we will be found by God. She talked about the great celebrations in the parables over finding that which was lost, and recalled to us how we, too, after finding something for which we have been searching tend to feel joyous and share our news with someone who is near, how our relationship with that we have found seems more intense than our relationship with all the things for which we have not been searching. She shared that she believes that this joy is what is reflected in Luke 15:7 - that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who have no need to repent. She said this was not so much permission to run amuck and repent as an expression of the special joy we have when something lost is found. She talked of the older son in the parable of the prodigal son and the unfairness he found in the joy of his father with the return of his youngest son. She said when we start to think in terms of fairness, we need to stop: we need to consider why we are feeling that way. She cautioned that hardness of heart is a fatal condition. Jesus is not a teacher of morality but a transformer of consciousness. Jesus wants us to stop and see the world he sees. If we can see it, we can live in this world without distorting it. Jesus is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26: (New International Version (©1984)) "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." She called Christ the Spiritual Cardiologist - an image I love!! With a heart of flesh, we can authentically connect to the world, and to each other. Love is whole, love is seamless and yields joy and fullness. And love is a choice. Exchange of mercy makes manifest the mercy of God.
I so love the idea of Jesus as a Spiritual Cardiologist. To help us forgive ourselves, to help us love ourselves, so that we can live with others. Simply amazing.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Bourgealt and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Being Prepared (Sunday Worship)
Mama Bear worshiped again at St. John's the Divine in Southwest Harbor. The Rev. Alice Downs was the celebrant. Today we did not hear the names of those who died in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts this past week. Perhaps there was no one who died. Perhaps they have stopped with the names because the Iraq conflict is concluded. I do not know, but rather missed the opportunity to pray for those serving our nation in this way, and to pray for wise, just and merciful world leaders to help us move to living in peace with others.
The sermon today was based on Luke 14:25-33. With all the preparations everyone here was urged to do for Hurricane Earl last week, Rev. Downs reminded us that Jesus, too, taught about being prepared. She shared a story from Katrina - a long and good friend of hers lived in New Orleans, and they believed in being prepared. So when the call came to evacuate New Orleans prior to Katrina, they grabbed their always-packed evacuation suitcase, their cache of documents and cash, and moved to their much-farther-inland motel: the mother, the father, the two daughters, the two cats, and the six carrier pigeons (pets of one of the daughters.) The storm was horrific, but after it passed, they checked out of their motel and began to press homeward. They had a chain saw, and they would drive down a road until they were stopped by a felled tree. They would cut it, move it, and press homeward. They did this repeatedly and became tired, but kept moving. At last they came to Baton Rouge, where they found they could go no further. There was no place to stay, so they were living in their car: the mother, the father, the two daughters, the two cats, and the six carrier pigeons. They would take turns going to a nearby fast food restaurant to clean as best they could in the restroom, get something eat, sit in the air conditioning a bit, and then they would return to their car. After several days of these activities, the manager of shop came to them. He looked at them, and asked, "Are you evacuees?" They said they were. He said, "I don't think you should come to this place any more." After a pause, he continued, "I think you should come to my home." And he closed the shop and took them home: the father, the mother, the two daughters, the two cats and the six carrier pigeons. They lived with this man and his wife until they could return to their own home in New Orleans. They were prepared for a storm. They were not prepared for this man's generosity. The woman tells of this event changing her life. And Rev. Downs wondered how many of us are prepared to offer God's love in the way this restaurant owner did, and how many of us are prepared to receive God's love when it is offered to us. Jesus tells us to be prepared for this type of gift - to give it and to receive it. It was a powerful and sobering sermon and provided much for Mama Bear to ponder.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Downs and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
After worship, Mama Bear used her Droid-X to take a few pictures - of the flowers, which she learned today are provided by a man on the Island who is not a member of this family of faith but who loves it and so grows and then cuts and arranges the flowers each week, as well as a picture of the crane mobile, representing homes for peace throughout the world.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Bobbing Fog
The fog has been bobbing on the cove for several days now: at times we cannot see the near shore for the fog's all-encompassing grey nothingness and yet minutes later we will be able to see the far shore through a thin mist, but cannot see the sun nor the sky. If we had need of sunshine or sky, often we would only need to drive a short distance to find them. Bar Harbor, for example, has been sunny these past few days. On some days, Southwest would be sunny, too. I need to be mindful of this situation, so that I remember to take my sunglasses when we go out in the car, in case we find a bit of sun. Today it is both foggy and gently raining, a delightful combination.
I am happy to report that new detector devices are working well and that cooking is happening in blissful silence.
Yesterday Mama Bear arose early and did her walk/run and then we went to the Flamingo Festival and Parade in Southwest. It was delightful! We took our new chairs, which I think will work better at a concert than at a parade where people crowd to the street to catch the candies thrown from the floats. Mama Bear purchased a pink balloon and made a mental note to obtain a hot pink shirt for next year. The Friends of Acadia marched, playing their wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels. There were pink flamingos everywhere. The Southwest Polo and Yacht Club, which exists to host one event in the Festival (but has no other meetings or duties during the year) was present. We walked among the various booths near the Harbor House and near St. John's. A smattering of pink parade pictures appears at the end of this blog entry. After the parade, we purchased bread to be served with dinner. We were home in time to get our mail from the Post Office (which closes at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.) We watched the Tour de France and the Boston Red Sox and did a bit of reading. In the evening we watched the PBS shows Mama Bear had recorded.
We have also been shopping online: there are so many things we have trouble locating here that we can find quite easily online. I do not know if it is that we do not know where find these items here or that the items are unavailable here. I find I have limits about how far I want to drive to find something and how much time I am willing to put into it. Yes, quests are fun, but for me there are limits, too.
This morning, Mama Bear went to church, again at St. John the Divine in Southwest. The congregation, without a full-time priest, is undertaking a capital campaign. It is interesting to observe this congegration at work: I love the responsibility the laity is taking for leading worship, talking about their ministry, and carrying it out. Today the sermon was led by the Reverend Jonathan Appleyard from Bar Harbor (he shared time with two members of the congregation). My take on the sermon was the importance of being a neighbor (from the Good Samaritan story in Luke). The word neighbor has its roots in a word that means "be near." And that is what we humans are called to do: to be near each other, for when we are near each other in genuine and authentic ways, we not only minister to others, but have them minister to us, sometimes unknowingly. And that presence to each other provides grace - to both parties. I did not stay for the post-worship reception, but perhaps I need to make a practice of attending it.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Appleyard and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
We have discovered we have missed the Moxie Festival, which was this weekend. I am beginning to think that there are too many festivals to attend them all. We also understand that raspberries are now in season (early this year), so we will have to watch for them.
We are having philly cheese steak sandwiches tonight, so after worship we went to the store to get bread for them, plus a few other items that were on the list. We have watched the Tour de France, the Red Sox and are now watching the World Cup game and reading.
I am happy to report that new detector devices are working well and that cooking is happening in blissful silence.
Yesterday Mama Bear arose early and did her walk/run and then we went to the Flamingo Festival and Parade in Southwest. It was delightful! We took our new chairs, which I think will work better at a concert than at a parade where people crowd to the street to catch the candies thrown from the floats. Mama Bear purchased a pink balloon and made a mental note to obtain a hot pink shirt for next year. The Friends of Acadia marched, playing their wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels. There were pink flamingos everywhere. The Southwest Polo and Yacht Club, which exists to host one event in the Festival (but has no other meetings or duties during the year) was present. We walked among the various booths near the Harbor House and near St. John's. A smattering of pink parade pictures appears at the end of this blog entry. After the parade, we purchased bread to be served with dinner. We were home in time to get our mail from the Post Office (which closes at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.) We watched the Tour de France and the Boston Red Sox and did a bit of reading. In the evening we watched the PBS shows Mama Bear had recorded.
We have also been shopping online: there are so many things we have trouble locating here that we can find quite easily online. I do not know if it is that we do not know where find these items here or that the items are unavailable here. I find I have limits about how far I want to drive to find something and how much time I am willing to put into it. Yes, quests are fun, but for me there are limits, too.
This morning, Mama Bear went to church, again at St. John the Divine in Southwest. The congregation, without a full-time priest, is undertaking a capital campaign. It is interesting to observe this congegration at work: I love the responsibility the laity is taking for leading worship, talking about their ministry, and carrying it out. Today the sermon was led by the Reverend Jonathan Appleyard from Bar Harbor (he shared time with two members of the congregation). My take on the sermon was the importance of being a neighbor (from the Good Samaritan story in Luke). The word neighbor has its roots in a word that means "be near." And that is what we humans are called to do: to be near each other, for when we are near each other in genuine and authentic ways, we not only minister to others, but have them minister to us, sometimes unknowingly. And that presence to each other provides grace - to both parties. I did not stay for the post-worship reception, but perhaps I need to make a practice of attending it.
The words about this lesson are my interpretation of what was said. The actual words said and ideas presented belong to Rev. Appleyard and were delivered in a manner that was more interesting and likely clearer than what I have shared here.
We have discovered we have missed the Moxie Festival, which was this weekend. I am beginning to think that there are too many festivals to attend them all. We also understand that raspberries are now in season (early this year), so we will have to watch for them.
We are having philly cheese steak sandwiches tonight, so after worship we went to the store to get bread for them, plus a few other items that were on the list. We have watched the Tour de France, the Red Sox and are now watching the World Cup game and reading.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Monday, June 28, 2010
Rainy days and Mondays ...
The skies are grey this morning, the wind is seen in the ruffling of the green leaves on the trees, and the rain is falling, adding to the moon-pulled waters of the cove for the upcoming high tide. The water drops fall to the roof of the House on the Cove and run to its edge and drop to the ground. The drops also plink on the leaves in the wind-bounced branches of the trees, making the leaves jitterbug as they sway. The air is cool. On the whole, it is a glorious day! (Please pardon the raindrop blur today's picture of the Cove ...)
Mama Bear worshiped at St. John's again yesterday. I am still fumbling a bit with the liturgy of the service, though I managed to have all the words that needed to be said present at the appropriate times. Learning new ways is a good thing! The message was delivered by the Rev. Alice Downs based on the passage in Luke 8 where people offer to follow Christ - after they have done something else. Rev. Downs said the passage reminds us to stop procastinating and to do God's work now. After worship the Vestry provided an update on the explorations that the Island's Episcopal congregations are doing for how to most effectively be in ministry in this place at this time. The Vestries are meeting together to share their histories and ways of working. What is being contemplated at the present time is that they will share priests among their winter churches - for Sunday and other worship services and for pastoral care. They will also participate in an educational program that will allow them to look at their gifts and at the needs of this place, to discern how they, working together, can best address them. It seems an exciting time to be a part of this denomination here and I find I am somewhat sad that I will not be here to watch/participate in that work.
We had a lazy day the rest of the day - watched some more soccer, the Red Sox, the NCIS marathon, and a couple movies. Papa Bear cooked a great dinner and we both cleaned up.
Today may be a drawing day - I need to practice so that I can begin painting. I also need to do my walk/run today. Looks like it will be a wet one today. And there are books to read, some presents to wrap and maybe mail. As Papa Bear has cooked for two days in a row, it is my turn to prepare our meal. I am trying to decide what to do - the cool weather gives us options for something warm and hearty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)