Monday, November 18, 2013

Train Car Dining with the Capitol

A few weeks ago, I had the amazing experience of welcoming three new children into the body of Christ through baptism. As Episcopalians, we renew our own baptismal covenant with them as a sign that we are all united in Christ’s body. That covenant begins with reciting the Apostles Creed and ends with five questions. 

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?... Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?... Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?... Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”(Book of Common Prayer, 304-305).
With each question, the community resounds, “I will with God’s help!” Those questions remind us that daily as Christians, we strive to live this covenant, remembering to strive for justice and peace, remembering to respect the dignity of every human, remembering to love our neighbors as ourselves.

The evening of the baptism, our youth group continued our study of the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games, despite it violence, is an excellent teaching on how to remember that all persons have worth. Katniss remembers that Rue deserves a proper burial. She refuses to kill her fellow tributes and recognizes them as individuals, not animals.

As we look forward to Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy this week, we are reminded Katniss’ love for all people effects those around her. Katniss lives in a world where the capitol rarely creates relationships with those in the districts. Relationships between capitol and district citizens are generally reserved for the tributes. As tributes are prepared for the Hunger Games, they are assigned a vast number of captiol people to help them prepare – hairdressers, consultants, and trainers. By the time Katniss Everdeen enters the arena for the second time, these capital citizens have spent countless hours dinning with her, prepping her, and talking with her. They have created a relationship with her that mimics friendship and attachment instead of power and unengagement. As she enters the arena for the second time, her prep team is an emotional mess. Her character states,

It’s something of a revelation that those in the Capitol feel anything at all about us. They   certainly don’t have a problem watching children murdered every year. But maybe they know too much about the victors, especially the ones who’ve been celebrities for ages, to forget we’re more like human beings. It’s more like watching your own friends die. More like the Games are for those of us in the districts.” (Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, 284-285). 

Treating others with dignity and respect begins with relationship. How often have ourselves or our families shown disrespect to an entire group of people by making large sociological generalizations? Then, one day, we form a relationship with one person and our heart begins to change? We hear ourselves saying, “Most gay people are weird, but my uncle Bob is the coolest person on earth.” Or, “All teenagers are rebellious, but my niece Sally is the sweetest person I know.” Or, “Homeless people are on the street because they don’t work, but volunteered the other night at a soup kitchen and I met this great guy Tim who just had some bad luck and is working.” [Insert your own example here.]

Relationships don’t end with just one person. As we get to know our Bob’s, Sally’s, and Tim’s, we let them into our hearts and invite them into our homes. In turn, they invite us into their lives. Suddenly, we find ourselves surrounded at dinner tables with all sorts of people who were different and unapproachable which now are loving and wonderful.

I recently attended the Kentucky Council of Churches Annual Conference. There I was reminded that not long ago in our nation’s history, Republicans and Democrats were actual friends. Sure, they engaged in heated debate on the Senate floor, but then they dined and drank with one another. They talked about their families. On the floor they disagreed, at the dinner table they harmonized. I wonder how often that happens now.

I remember another person who dined with different sorts of people. He ate with tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes. He invited the poor, crippled, and sick to his banquet table. He left us with some fantastic examples of how to dine with one another and how to respect the worth, dignity, and respect of all. The last time I checked, his table was still open. The last time I looked around, there were still all sorts of diverse people sitting there on Sundays. The last time I read, he still challenged us to do the same. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Thanks Katniss

For the past several weeks, Christ Church Cathedral youth have reflected theologically on the Hunger Games. Unless you have been in hibernation, you may have noticed that Catching Fire, the second movie in the trilogy releases, on November 22.

On Sunday, our group watched the scene of Rue’s death from the first movie. Many people are familiar with this scene. Katniss, the main character forms a beautiful relationship with a young girl named Rue. The two are very different – Rue is a meek, hardworking, darker skinned, twelve-year old orchard picker from District 11. Katniss is a strong, rebellious, white, daughter of a deceased coal-miner from District 12. In the Hunger Games Arena, Katniss befriend Rue. As she does so, she finds that the differences between the two are far less than their similarities. Rue reminds Katniss of her younger sister, Prim. They form a special bond.
Upon Rue’s death in the arena, Katniss refuses to just let Rue be another disrespected and forgotten child who dies. Lovingly, Katniss prepares her body for burial with a wonderful blanket of flowers. It is a turning point in the story, for it allows all people to see Rue as a person of value and worth. By her actions, Katniss points out that all persons are worthy of dignity and respect.

God who made us knows that we are all worthy of respect. The Gospel of Luke reminds us how valuable to God we are – “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7, NRSV). We matter to God. All of us matter. We matter when we are up and when we are down, when we are from Appaliachia for from the capital, when we are 12, 16 and 102, when we are meek and when we are strong. All of us matter.

All of us matter to God and because of that, God sends us Katniss’ everywhere to remind us of how special we are.

Matthew 25 reminds us that whenever we help those in need – the prisoner, the stranger, the naked, the thirsty, and the sick we help Christ. All of us have been in a position to help those around us and all of us have been in a position to need help. As we live our days, let us be mindful of the people who God has sent to help us. 

A prayer written with help from Christ Church Middle Schoolers 
God, we give you thanks for loving and caring for us. We thank you for all the times that we were sick and you healed us, thirsty and you filled us with living water, imprisoned and you visited us. We thank you especially for the times when we were lost and you found us, when we were empty and you filled us, when we were confused and you gave us clarity. We thank you for the people who pick us up when we are stuck, made us happy when we are sad, and show us the way back home when we are homesick. Sometimes we feel like a fish out of water, but you always throw us back. You love us, and we thank you. Amen. 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Simple Gift of Ice Cream

Original Post Wednesday, September 25, 2013 for Christ Church Cathedral's Inner Peace 

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down
where we ought to be,
and when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained
to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
to turn, turn, will be our delight
till by turning, turning we come round right.
-Shaker Song, 18th Century

I really enjoy ice cream. Really really really enjoy ice cream. Last night, a group of friends and I celebrated a friend’s thirtieth birthday with dinner out.  After the plates were clean and the Birthday cake we brought was consumed, our server brought us the biggest ice cream Sundae I have ever seen - ten huge scoops of Crank & Boom in three different flavors, served in a gigantic bowl, with whipped cream and magic shell on top, with ten spoons. When the waiter set it down on the table, all were surprised. Everyone at the table, including our lactose-intolerant friend, got really excited. There was no question that we had already eaten cake – this ice cream was divine. We passed the bowl around and around and around feasting on delicious and wonderful creamy locally crafted ice cream. Finally, one of our friends stopped eating long enough to ask the server how the ice cream ended up at our table – he pointed to the owner back in the kitchen. We sent our thanks. 

Long after the ice cream was gone, my friends and I sat in the parking lot, joking and laughing with a sugar high. It was really good ice cream. As I drove home, I contemplated what a great night it had been and how easy it was for the owner to share her gift. It was a huge bowl, but it was not a huge gesture on behalf of the owner, and yet, it made a recent thirty-year old and her ten friends smile and giggle like third graders for hours. Enjoying the gigantic ice cream, made with some of the best ice cream, with my ten closest friends was the highlight of my week. It was communion with the joy of creation.
Driving home, I reflected on how easy it was for that owner to share with us and how her sharing with us created an infectious joy. Some of the best gifts we have to share are the simple ones.
Wednesday night’s Dr. Steve Stratton has been speaking to us about how we have the innate ability to effect and feed off of one another's emotions. By smiling a simple smile, saying kind words, or doing a nice gesture we alter the psyche of those around us. Simple gifts of our selves, shared with each other make a happy world. 

I think Jesus probably shared similar gifts with his Disciples – gifts of his presence through listening, sharing a simple meal, the gift of friendship laughing and crying over a bowl of something sweet, the gift of enjoying life and the effect that we can have on one another, the gift of sharing Sabbath and rest with friends.

And over time, I’d like to think that Jesus’ simple gifts to us have grown our joy. That my joy and celebration for life and all of God’s creation effects you and your joy and celebration for life effects me, and that all our lives together are building the body of Christ into one large bundle of thanksgiving and joy. Do something simple today, share some joy! 

James 1:17-18  Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

iCommunity

Original Post Wednesday, August 7, 2013 for Christ Church Cathedral's Inner Peace 

There is a lot of talk about cell phones this week. On Saturday, I had a long conversation with two young women who traveled to Belize with our youth group this summer. We had many powerful experiences in Belize - we experienced transformation of families, we heard about wonderful ministries, we participated in the building of a bathroom and in the building and rebuilding of lives. We witnessed the powerful movement of the spirit creating a Christ-like community. We spent time genuinely listening to those in our group and those locals which became part of our group. We had hours of conversation about God’s work in our lives over dinner tables and campfires. And we did it without cellphones.

Upon their return, these two ladies were struck by many things in their lives, one of which our society’s dependence upon them. Although both of these young ladies have a “no cell phone policy” at their family dinner tables, they experienced culture shock upon visiting friends. Sitting awkwardly at friends’ dinner tables, they sought to engage - only be to be met by a table full of blank stares looking down at phones.

On Sunday, the Rev. Joe Mitchell’s sermon added to our conversation. He preached on our desire as a society to constantly want the latest and greatest technology. He spoke of the good in cell phones - the ability to connect with family and friends who were far away. He also challenged the not so good - the ability to need a bigger and better device to store our data like the man who destroyed his barns to build bigger ones.

As a youth minister, I struggle with the integration of technology, especially cell-phones in the life of our community. I recognize how much smart phones can be used to God’s glory - for easy access to digital Bibles, for immediate access to the Daily Office and Sunday lectionary readings, for prayer over the phone with my youth ministry friends across the world, and for counseling kids through a rough day at school. This year, we will be using cell-phones and IPADS as we search for God’s grace in the internet when we launch our new high school Sunday School - the Unveiling. I also see how disconnected they can make us when we see them as more important as the people around us.  

Struggling with authentic ways to live our faith both in the context of community and the world around is is not a new idea. For thousands of years, Christians have struggled with balancing Christ like community and secular world. For the past weeks, we have been reading Romans within the context of our Sunday readings. Paul did not have cell phones, but he did struggle with the right uses of food in relation to faith and especially how that food effected Christ’s beloved community. Was one to follow strict Jewish rules on food, or was one to eat anything as the Gentiles did? Paul gives us these words,
“Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has welcomed them... Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.” (Romans 14: 2-5). Paul goes on to remind us that whatever it is we do, it is not to pass judgement on one another but to build up one another for the body of Christ, and to do all for the glory of God. The community has a responsibility to look after one another - if what you are eating is causing another person to stumble in their relationship with Christ, then you probably shouldn't eat it in front of them. For Paul, food was the symptom of the issue. The issue was a community who loved and lived for Christ, the food was the symptom that was being manifested. “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit... Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up-building.” (Romans 14: 17, 19).

I do not know what Jesus would do with a cellphone. I imagine he would use it to keep up with those in crisis, to say daily prayers, to keep a calendar of healing appointments. But I do know, he would use it for the glory of God and for the benefit of a loving community. Cell phones are not the issue - holy living is the issue. To eat or not eat, use a cell phone or turn it off, Christ desires for us to do whatever makes us closer to his presence, both individually and corporately.

As our families and youth return to school, life gets busier and the amount of family communication through text and iCloud calendars increases. As we enter this busy time may we use our phones and our beings for the Glory of God - to love those around us and to spend time challenging each other to be what we are at the core of our being: interconnected beautiful manifestations of God’s love and community. 

"Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be quick to love and make haste to be kind." - Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

From Uganda to Lexington

Original Post Wednesday, May 1, 2013 for Christ Church Cathedral's Inner Peace 

This week I attended the Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry. It was a wonderful week of conversation with sociologists and theologians on the future of the church, especially as related to youth ministry. We talked about good uses of technology, our interconnectedness with all the world, and ways in which the church could participates in a global society.

On my return flight, I was seated next to Shelia. Sheila was traveling from her homeland Uganda to Lexington. Shelia schedules the Watoto Children's Choir, part of Watoto Childcare Ministries. Some of you may have heard about them this week - they had a story in the Herald Leader. As their website states, the program is a holistic program initiated in response to orphaned children in Uganda. Many of their students are former prisoners of Joseph Kony and orphans of civil war. As Kony has now moved into the Congo and the Sudan, their organization is expanding to offer safe haven to orphans in those areas.

As you might imagine, Sheila's students have tremendous physical, psychological and educational needs. Watoto works with them to provide counseling, spiritual direction and help them graduate from university. Their goal is 100% graduation. They not only have a tremendous record with rehabilitating these young people into society, they also are training world leaders. As Shelia said, "We have not had a president yet, but we will." As part of their leadership training, students are able to go on a worldwide choir tour for one year, where they specifically hone in on their leadership skills. That tour is why Sheila was sitting next to me.

Sheila spoke fondly of World Vision, the group which sponsors 30 Hour Famine. She was delighted that our church was raising money and awareness. She was comforted that our youth  pray regularly for Uganda. We both shared a love of ministry with children and shared concerns and joys of that work. It was awe inspiring to listen to her tell stories of her ministry. It was evident that the presence of Christ is transforming the dark pasts of these orphans into young people who serve as tremendous beacons of Christ's light and love.

We do live in a global society. Civil wars in places like Uganda, the Congo, and Sudan do effect our lives in Lexington. You do not have to travel to Uganda or to Princeton to meet someone who has been effected by civil war in Africa. This summer, through Habitat for Humanity, we will build a  house for the Kumbaskisaka Family. Due to the plight of war in the Congo, the Kumbaskisakad fled to America for a new start, safety, and peace of mind.

When talking about spiritual communities, the letter of Galatians reminds us to "Bear one another's burdens" so that we may fulfill the law of Christ. As our society becomes more and more interconnected we have a great opportunity to uplift our global neighbors in prayer and bear their burdens. And as we do such we also grow from one another's joys. As Sheila taught me, there are great lessons of Christ's healing and resurrection in stories of hope to be told of our brothers and sisters who have overcome tremendous obstacles through their faith in Christ.

Thanks be to God for the gift of Christ which connects us all.

*For more information on the Watoto Children's Choir - www.watoto.com

*There are many ways to help the Kumbaskisaka's find home on May 19th and 25th. For more information on our Habitat Fundraisers - http://www.ccclex.org/#!the-ride-home/c1v9n

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Dormancy

Original Post Wednesday, March 13, 2013 for Christ Church Cathedral's Inner Peace 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3).

Saturday, March 2, was a cold day. As the temperature fell fast and the snow fell faster, 12 youth and 4 adults bravely headed outside to work in one of Seedleaf’s community gardens. Participating in 30 Hour Famine, our students were fasting and praying for an end to world hunger while participating in local community service. On this day, one-third of our group had been assigned to work outside.

The first group worked diligently and deliberately to remove cover-crop and weeds and to rake the raised beds. The second group brought in a cardboard barrier, followed by a layer of dirt. A third group planted onions, turnips, and parsnips. We were clearing out and making way. In a few months, new vegetables of all kinds will spring forth from ground that was, on this day, frozen dead and cold. 

Yesterday, as I looked out, I was convinced we were done with cold and dead ground. My jonquils were bursting forth and my primrose was filling in. The sun was shining. Yesterday was a good day. I like spring - the new life part, the resurrection part. The days when dead looking trees experience new buds, butterflies come out of cocoons, and flowers form overnight. Those days my heart warms and my soul learns to fly like a newly born fluttering butterfly.

Today, I awoke cold to a dusting of snow covering my spring flowers. The sunshine peaked through for a moment, and then the sky returned to grey. I like the new life part, but I don’t do as well with the death part - those days when the ground is frozen, those days snooze is a better option because the shower will be too cold, those days when I am so spiritually frozen I am not sure whether I will thaw out again. I do not like those days, but nonetheless, they are as important as the new life days.

In God’s infinite wisdom, nature teaches us everything about death, dormancy, and new life. In Christ’s ultimate example, we see the radical implications of the transition from death to resurrection in the tomb. In the astuteness of our church Father’s and Mother’s we are given Lent as a time to reflect on those dark place of our lives so that we might be reborn. Yes, glimpses of new life are all around us. The resurrection is certainly on its way. But dark places are important too. The dead winter grounds of our soul prepare us. They rest us. They make way for new life. I may not like it, but God knows I need it.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Igniting a Kingdom Life

Original Post Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Christ Church Cathedral's Inner Peace 

This past weekend, our youth confirmation class retreated to Natural Bridge. It was a wonderful and fulfilling weekend -  full of God’s grace and the Holy Spirit. On Saturday, my side of the cabin woke up to a chilling cold. Our gas tank had been emptied in the middle of the night and our heat was out. A very helpful maintenance man came to fill the tank up. I watched as he checked the gas logs in the fireplace.  Because the gas had run out there was no pilot light. He relit the pilot light and turned the dial to on.  The gas lines were empty and nothing happened. We watched as the blue light of the pilot glowed underneath the logs. We chatted and chatted. We even chatted about how the gas must still be off, and then – all of the sudden – woosh! Gas took fire, the logs were lit and heat was all around burning brightly and warmly. 

In Sunday’s Gospel we read the story of John the Baptist found in Luke 3. As people gather and come to see John the Baptist they are expecting to find the Messiah. John tells the crowd, “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, a Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out” (The Message). 

This story reminds me of the own day I was ignited by the Holy Spirit. I was at camp my senior year of high school. After camp fire, a counselor invited a few of us to a prayer circle. There, under the stars, with a group of 10 youth and counselors the Holy Spirit descended and I prayed as if I had never prayed before. It continues to be one of the most powerful moments of my faith development.

Many of us have had experiences of being ignited with God’s Spirit. As youth minister, I see that ignition at Happening and on Confirmation Retreat. It is the moment when students’ faces transform from boredom to the bright radiance of Christ’s beaming light. I saw it this weekend as our students read Eugene Peterson’s Bible, the Message, on their bedside and found a renewed sense of burning love for God’s word. I heard of the ignition of spirit from a parishioner today who was prayed upon and felt and outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. Many of us have moments of spiritual ignition, when our fire catches. What are your moments? 

Last Sunday, we as a community celebrated the light of Christ through Epiphany. This Sunday, we will celebrate as two of our young people are baptized and receive the light of Christ. As we renew our Baptismal Vowels with them, let us all pray for the power of the Holy Spirit which might ignite all of us to do the good works which God calls us to do.  



“Oh God, you prepared your disciples for the coming of the Spirit through the teaching of your son Jesus Christ: make the hearts and minds of your servants ready to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, that they may be filled with the strength of his presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” Prayer for those about to be baptized. BCP, 819.