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Showing posts from 2013

We've arrived!

We've arrived! One of the commentaries I regularly consult when preparing sermons contains a sage piece of advice from an experienced preacher: don't get in the way of the Christmas story.  Good advice for the one in the pulpit - and good advice for all Christians:  don't get in the way of the Christmas story - let the Christ child take center stage, not only this evening, but every evening, every day, everywhere. Luke 2:8-15 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."  And suddenly

There's Still Time

Surely you've encountered these words over the past few days? On TV, the internet, in the paper or your email box, helpful merchants have been letting you know there's still time to give that special someone ... something.  Something that says, "I care." Like an e-gift card delivered directly to your loved one's mobile phone.  Or an audio book download that will be treasured for, well if not generations, at least a few hours. Well, not one to pass up on the opportunity to climb on the seasonal bandwagon, let me also tell you that there's still time.  There's still time to make ready for the great gift that is coming; there's still a chance to slow down, watch, and wait for the One who brings peace; there's still time to make room in your heart for the Christ child.  Thank God! There's still time!

Triage

Face facts: time is running out.  Less than 72 hours remain until Christmas Eve.  Odds are, there's something you'd like to do, think you have to do, but won't get to do.  There's only so much time.  And you have to eat.  And sleep (a little bit, at least).  Walk the dog.  Go to work.  So you'll have to set priorities, make choices, perform triage on that "to do" list.  That's okay.  Don't fret.  Don't worry.  You're only human.  Just one piece of advice: remember to make time to keep on watching and waiting for Jesus.  Lose sight of him and all of that frantic activity is ultimately pointless.  But keep your eye on him and everything will come into focus, perspective will be gained, love will be encountered, new life gained.  Time is running out 'till the Christ child arrives.  Hooray!

Solstice

On this rainy winter solstice evening we will gather on the front lawn of the church at 5 to remember those NH residents who were homeless who died during the past year.  At our gathering, we will read a prayer by the Rev. Ted Loder, which can be found below. We do well to remember these people, our brothers and neighbors, especially as Christmas celebrations draw near; not all can make merry, not all have the ability to focus on the blessings of the season.  As we give and as we receive, let us remember those in need, and then let us do more than remember.  Let us act. The Longest Night Prayer The Rev. Ted Loder O God of all seasons and senses, grant us the sense of your timing to submit gracefully and rejoice quietly in the turn of the seasons. In this season of short days and long nights, of grey and white and cold, teach us the lessons of endings; children growing, friends le aving, loved ones dying, grieving over, grudges over, blaming over, excuse

Feeling Blue

Tonight we'll join with our friends for our annual Blue Christmas service.  This time offers an opportunity to acknowledge pain, sorrow, loss, and dislocation, things our culture seems hellbent on denying during the "holiday season."  While the secular zeitgeist might be focused on parties and celebration, we are preparing for the arrival of the Christ child.  And while the birth of Jesus is indeed a reason for joy, it is meant to be a moment of renewed faith in, deep healing by, and honest relationship with God.  In short, this is a time when God opens himself to us - and we are called to do likewise with him.  So, whether you come to church tonight at 6 or you're somewhere else, if you're feeling blue, don't feel guilty - offer up a prayer to the One who loves you, is listening to you, and is coming to you with love.

Honey Boo Boo Advent No No

I'd heard about Honey Boo Boo, but had never actually seen her until last week.  Suffice it to say,  this TV phenom is many, many flavors of wrong.  On what this show says about our society scale of one to ten, with one being excellent and ten being bad, this program featuring a precocious tyke is at the Edward Gibbon Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire spectrum.  It's exploitative, mindless, pointless.  Do I sound like a grump?  Perhaps, but critical adjectives keep on coming to mind, especially when I consider another child, one who was unknown at this birth and is ignored by so many today: Jesus. During Advent we have an opportunity to set aside the distractions of our wayward times in favor of the One who is coming to show us a new way, one that leads us to a place of holy, whole living, one that calls us to engage with the joy, challenges, issues, and opportunities of life in the Kingdom instead of losing ourselves in the temptations, silliness, hurtfulness and aimlessn

Playing the Lottery

Somehow I missed hearing that there was a $636 million lottery jackpot up for grabs last night.  Apparently, two lucky folks are now richer than they ever imagined.  They have the opportunity to do whatever they want: help others, blow it all, change everything, change nothing.  They might be wise, they might be foolish.  I hope that they don't suffer the fate of many other lottery winners who over the years have found themselves mired in sadness and strife in the wake of what was imagined to be a stroke of immense good fortune. I hope, too, the same for all of us as we approach Christmas.  It's easy to get caught up in expectations about the holiday, to think that a special present given or received, a family gathering perfectly executed, a memorable service attended and experienced will make everything right.  These things can be blessings but the only thing that will ultimately make everything right is God, who is coming to us in the Jesus.  Remember that, and

Too Darned Cold

It was fifteen below when I woke up this morning.  Thankfully, the air was still and there was no wind chill to worry about as I took out the dog.  Both canine and human were focused, wanting to beat as hasty a retreat as possible to the warmth of the parsonage.  Henley's business done, we went inside to warm up.  We, of course, were fortunate.  We had a warm place of refuge.  But somewhere in the Upper Valley, there are people who endured the cold. As we approach Christmas, and see images of the Holy Family huddling in the manger, we would do well to think of those families, those people among us, equally God's beloved, who are without shelter.  And after we are done thinking, we should do something to help - for if God can come to us in Jesus to offer us new life, we can go to our neighbors and offer them warmth and food and possibility.

An Advent Challenge

I invite you to join me today in thinking of a word that encapsulates this season of the church year, sitting with it and praying on it for five minutes.  That may not seem like a long time, but you may be surprised!  After you've done this, reflect on what surprises you may have experienced and give thanks to God. Peace!

Expect the Unexpected

Fans of Monty Python will remember the old warning that "nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition."  But this begs the question: what do we expect? On this Third Sunday of Advent I've been reminded that what we expect to happen and what actually does happen are not always one and the same.  The discrepancy may lead to inconvenience, blessing, frustration, opportunity - or all of the above.  During this season of preparing for the arrival of the Christ child, we would do well to remember that while we think we know what's going to happen on Christmas Eve, we should be prepared for a surprise or two.  After all, we're talking about God incarnate coming into the world. So remember, while nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, we can count on the arrival of Emmanuel - but should ready to be surprised by what his arrival will mean for us and the world.

Turning the corner? Not so fast ...

Today feels like an inflection point in our Advent trajectory.  We've been focused on waiting and watching these past two weeks.  Tomorrow, with Christmas less than two weeks off, we'll shift gears to anticipating and preparing.  The pace will pick up, things will quicken -- and the temptation to lose sight of the present in favor of the future that beckons will become ever greater. Don't give in! Live Advent to the fullest.  Be present in the moment.  Don't turn the corner until it needs turning - Christmas Eve.  Until then, live fully into this season.  Yes, allow yourself to be caught up in the excitement of what is to come.  But don't deprive yourself of this time of preparation, not if you want to be truly ready for the arrival of Jesus.

Thirteen

Quick: when you hear the number "thirteen" today, what do you think of first: Friday the 13th or the thirteenth day of Advent.  Odds are the former.  Don't worry.  You're not alone.  But consider this.  The first is grounded in superstition.  There's nothing intrinsically unlucky about this day.  But the latter is built on truth: God is coming.  And, that's our good fortune.  So if you're thinking about luck today, consider how lucky, blessed really, you and I are to be beloved of God.

Dona Nobis Pacem

During Advent we anticipate the coming of the Prince of Peace.  What does it mean for us to say that we welcome his presence among us?  What does it mean for us to say that we yearn to be his followers?  What does it mean for us to sing the words dona nobis pacem , give us peace?  One this one year anniversary of  the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School we are called to reflect on these questions, to consider how we might become instruments of God's peace.

Time Flies

How did it get to be the eleventh?  While the calendar tells me we're almost halfway through Advent, psychically I'm still at the starting line.  I should be deep into my watching and waiting yet I feel as if I've just gotten my head into the proverbial game.  What to do?  Fret?  Worry over lost time?  Or simply live into the moment? The answer, of course, is to live into the moment.  This is God's hour and he wants us to be present.  Only by setting aside debilitating distractions and fruitless concerns can we prepare ourselves for the Christ-child's arrival.  So, let the time fly - we'll be carried aloft by the Spirit, brought forth into the wondrous event that is rapidly approaching.

God in Odd Places

This morning I received an email from a clergy friend expressing the hope that I was having a good day in ministry.  I had to laugh since at the time I read his message I had just finished dealing with a balky external hard drive in the church office and was in the midst of reviewing budget spreadsheets.  Ministry? Hah!  Ministry? Yes! Crunching numbers, connecting wires, doing all the unglamorous things that keep the ecclesiastical trains running are part of building the kingdom.  God isn't just to be found in hymns and Scripture.  God is everywhere and Advent is the perfect time to be reminded of this truth, as we are given this season to watch and wait, to see that God will show up in the places we least expect him: in computers, in Excel, in a manger on a winter's night ...

Looking Back

During Advent, we talk about watching.  We stay alert for the One who is coming.  But as we do so, we should also take time to see where we have been.  As I write this, it's nighttime, snow is falling, and all is quiet -- a perfect to time to reflect on the day, on how we may have experienced God's presence, on how we may have shared God's love with another.

Turn Around

We read in today's Gospel lesson (Matt. 3.1-12) of John the Baptist's proclamation.  He called on his contemporaries, and through Scripture, on you and me to repent so that we might be prepared for the coming of the Lord. But what exactly does it mean to repent?  The answer can be found in the text, where we see that the Greek word for repentance is metenoia, literally "to turn around."  Thus, when we repent, we head in a new direction, away from sin and alienation and toward God's love, healing, and reconciliation. So, don't waste any time -- turn around.  It's Advent!

Sabbath

We read in the Book of Genesis that on the seventh day of the week, his labors done, God rested.  We, God's people, created in his image, are commanded by Scripture to do likewise.  What constitutes Sabbath-observance has been contested down the ages (indeed, even the day became a topic of dispute, with the early church moving away from Saturday in part to distinguish itself from the traditional Jewish community).  Jesus found himself in more than one tussle over the issue, calling on his followers to focus on the spirit and intent of Sabbath. With the demands of the holiday season, we can feel caught up in a whirlwind of activity, desperate for a chance to catch our breath, let alone find time to watch and wait for the arrival of the Christ child. Sabbath, then, is an especially welcome concept during this time of year.  Let us remember who has made us and what we were made for: we are God's and we are made to rest, so that we may glory in the Lord's good crea

Watching

I've always been impressed with the patience of birders.  They'll wait, and wait, and wait, as they keep watch for their quarry.  Sometimes they'll spend a lifetime watching, hoping to catch a glimpse of some rare and exotic specimen, only to come up short in their quest.  Still, they keep watching. During Advent, we are called to watch like birders: to do so with passion, with patience, with perseverence.  Unlike birders though, we are assured that we will encounter the object of our desire.  God will come to meet us.  Indeed, God has already done so.

Grace is Like a Turkey

I left the parishioner's house, and as I walked to my car, saw a flock of wild turkeys.  While it occurred in a part of town where such fowl are to be expected, the siting was still surprising.  You see, I didn't expect to see the birds.  So when I did, I was caught off guard, even though this was their turf. Reflecting on this, it struck me that our experience of grace can be like this, too.  We all too often don't expect to see grace, even though it's present.  We get caught up in our own issues, agendas, complaints, woes, and lose sight of God's grace, which is with us all the time.  But grace is a powerful thing, and so it can break through the clutter and distraction of our lives, catch us off guard, and surprise us. This Advent, as we watch and wait, let's stay alert -- for we never know when and where we'll run into God's grace.

Waiting

How do you wait? Are you patient?  Anxious? Calm? Fidgety?  Filled with anticipation - or unease? Odds are, your answer is "all of the above." The way we wait is depends upon the context: we'll feel experience different emotions waiting for a loved one to walk down the jetway at the airport than we'll have waiting for the mechanic to call with the estimate of how much it will cost to repair the car.  But while context is important, so too is our disposition.  As Christians, we can look at waiting as an opportunity to engage in a spiritual discipline, one in which we are centered and focused on being attuned to God's will.  Advent, the season of waiting, is the perfect time to adopt this discipline.  So let us wait - with faith, reverence, and joy.

Giving Tuesday

Apparently today is “Giving Tuesday, ”a blatant attempt to leverage the concept of “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday.” Now don’t get me wrong.   I’m all for philanthropy; I spent two decades raising money for education before I entered the ministry.   Food pantries, shelters, museums, symphonies, nature conservancies, schools, faith communities and so many other causes are worthy of our time, skills, and, yes, money.   But there’s something off-putting about this particular marketing vehicle in which charitable giving has become just another holiday season activity to be branded.   We in the church (and in many other religious traditions) are taught otherwise, though Created in the image of the one who will come to us as an infant, created by the one who gives us his all, we are meant to give likewise: with wild, extravagant generosity.   For Christians, giving should be at the center of all we do, not simply tacked onto the end of a shopping bonanza.   Giving s

Cloudy With a Chance of Perspective

It looks as if it's about to snow any minute now.  At least that's what I think when I look at the clouds this morning.  And with snow comes what?  Traffic delays? School closings? Or an opportunity to play with Chip, to go sledding, to feel as if winter and a new season have truly arrived. How I look at those clouds and what they represent is all a posture that I choose to adopt.  Now, it's easy to just say that one should always have a good attitude about life, to be ready make lemonade from the proverbial lemons one is handed.  But the truth is it's not always easy to do this.  Sometimes it takes time, sometimes it takes effort.  Getting ready for Christmas can be similar - which is why Advent is such a blessing.  These weeks of anticipation and preparation afford us a chance to develop the perspective necessary to fully live into all the arrival the Christ child means for us and for the world. So the forecast for today? Well, it all depends on how we ch

An Adjective for Sunday ...

As we begin our Advent journey today, it occurs to me that we're in need of an adjective.  We've had Black Friday.  Tomorrow is Cyber Monday.  But what about today?  Sure, it's "The First Sunday in Advent" - but I'd like to think we can come up with something snappier than that. Then again, just because we can doesn't mean we should.  "The First Sunday in Advent," while not a memorable marketing phrase, tells us exactly what we need to know: this is the beginning, their will be more.  And knowing that, we can ease into the coming days and weeks, and thus be fully open to what awaits us at the end of this season: a new beginning, one filled with wonder, love, hope, and surprises.

Celebrate!

Celebrate! Christ Conquers! Christ Reigns! Christ Commands! With these words of the traditional Easter proclamation, we declare Jesus' triumph over darkness, despair, and death itself.  We assert that that the promise of the kingdom is real, that the new creation is here.  We rejoice that in God all things are indeed possible.  With these words we celebrate the joy, the power, and the beauty of the resurrection, giving thanks to the One who has made us, saved us, and loves us fully. May you and I, may all of creation, revel this Easter day in the glory of God's saving grace, healing power, and reconciling, redemptive love!

Welcome

Listen closely and you'll hear it.  The first stirrings as the orchestra prepares to play.  Perhaps you've been caught off guard.  The performance isn't scheduled to begin until later.  But the musicians are just so excited, they have to start tuning up.  They're excited about the concert, about the music they're going to play.  Welcome to Holy Saturday. On this day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday we expect things to be quiet, especially if we're from the Reformed or Free church traditions, which normally don't have a special service of worship this day.  But don't you doubt that something amazing is happening.  All creation will be affected.  And some can already sense something seismic is on the horizon and are impatient to get on with the celebrating.  Toes are tapping, fingers are drumming.  Welcome to Holy Saturday. The random notes will begin to weave into tunes, the tunes into something more complex, until a great, grand sympho

Seven

This afternoon many Christians will contemplate Christ's last words from the cross.  With Jesus, we'll confront all of the pain, the loss, the suffering, the alienation that are part and parcel of the human condition.  With Jesus, we'll know what it means to feel alone and forsaken.  Jesus' lament from the cross is disturbing, unsettling.  If he can doubt God, what hope is there for us?  Providentially, it is through Jesus' questions that we are shown how to live lives of faith.  For through Christ, we are reminded that one of the paradoxes of faith is that to believe, we have to allow ourselves to doubt.  Without doubt, without questions, we cannot have an honest relationship with God.  Jesus knew this, and wants us to know this. So, on this darkest of days of the liturgical calendar, and on the dark days each of us will surely experience, we are free to ask, to wonder, to question, doing so in the assurance that God will be listening, comforting, emb

Errata ...

One member of our Lenten Reflection community pointed out to me, quite correctly, that mandatum is Latin for charge, commandment, or commission.  So how'd I come up with service?  Chalk up my error to a sleep-deprived conflation of what Jesus commanded or charged his friends to do (love others as he loved them, ie serve) with the act of commanding or charging.  And now that we're done with our chalking up, let's heed Jesus' mandatum!

Mandatum

Are you up for some Latin?  I thought you were. Mandatum, the root of Maundy, means "to serve."  This evening, we'll gather for worship and service will be the central theme of our time together, reflected in the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet and our lay and ordained ministers sharing the Lord's Supper with the congregation.  All of this is a powerful reminder of why Jesus taught, healed, performed miracles, confronted abusive power, died on a cross, and rose from the grave: not that we might subscribe to propositions but that we might live fully as part of God's new creation, doing so by serving God's people through hope, with faith, and in love.

Generic

Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday.  Which is followed by Good Friday.  Then comes Holy Saturday.  And finally, triumphantly, Easter Sunday.  But before all of this is ... Wednesday.  Wednesday without a modifier.  Just plain old generic Wednesday. And yet. And yet. This generic middle day of the week is the day that the Lord has made. This is a sacred hour, a blessed time.  It's a moment in which we can collect our thoughts, catch our breath, reflect and contemplate on our Lenten journey before we dive into the triduum, the Three Days, that commence tomorrow evening with the Maundy Thursday service and culminate in the Easter Vigil. May we all feel the presence of God's reconciling, restorative love on this no-name, off-brand, frill-free, generic Wednesday.

Wheat

As w e cont inue our journey into Holy Week, the Daily Office invites us into a n unusu al visit with Jesus (see below).   So me foreigners are interested in seeing Jesus.  The message is relayed to him.  Hi s response?  One of his challenging sayings .  T hese words are difficult not because they're difficult to understand but rather because they make a demand of us.  If we want to live, we must first die. This, if we've been open to the Spirit, is what we've been trying to do during Lent.  Through prayer, reflecti on, and repentanc e, w e seek to die so that we may begin a new life in which we grow closer to God . Today, I invite you to join me in reading this passage from John, praying over its message, and then asking God t hat we might be blessed to be like a kernel of wh eat, buried in t he ground, waiting to burst forth in new and wond rous ways. John 12:20-26 Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. So these approached Philip

Messy Monday

The parade's over, the crowd has dispersed.  The marching bands have decamped and the vendors have moved on.  All that's left is the confetti, lots of it, that litters the street.  True, the procession was a blast, the music amazing, the baton twirlers skilled and the floats magical.   But that was then and this is now and there's this mess which needs to be cleaned up. Welcome to the day after Palm Sunday! Perhaps we should call it Messy Monday Messy Monday, of course, need not be restricted to just this day.  It's really something that can be observed throughout the season.  Lent, after all, is all about cleaning up.  It's about putting our spiritual houses back in order, of attending to the mess that sin and alienation that have drawn us away from God and one another.  House chores aren't fun, but they're necessary.  This is true whether the cleaning up is of the vacuuming and mopping variety or the spiritual kind.  Fortunately, once done, we

Parade

Nothing says you've arrived in American life like a ticker tape parade in downtown Manhattan.  War heroes, astronauts, even a pianist have all received this ultimate accolade.  But left unmentioned is what happens after the big celebration.  What's next for the honoree?  More praise, more triumph?  Or will that moment in the "Canyon of Heroes" be the apex of a life, the point from which all heads downhill? This is the kind of question that hovered over the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  We know how the story will unfold.  But that day, nobody in the crowd did.  There may have been uncertainty, there may have been enthusiasm, there may have been confidence.  But there could not be surety. This Palm Sunday, set aside what you know about that parade.  Imagine yourself in the crowd.  Let yourself go.  Be caught up.  And see where the Spirit might take you this Holy Week.

True

The appointed psalm for today is 137.  It's powerful, it's evocative.  And it's very, very disturbing.  Read it and if you disagree, let me know; we'll need to talk. Psalm 137 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon we sit down and weep when we remember Zion. 2 On the poplars in her midst we hang our harps, 3 for there our captors ask us to compose songs; those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying: “Sing for us a song about Zion!” 4 How can we sing a song to the Lord in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand be crippled! 6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, and do not give Jerusalem priority over whatever gives me the most joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. They said, “Tear it down, tear it down, right to its very foundation!” 8 O daughter Babylon, soon to be devastated! How blessed will be the one who repays you for what you dished o

Hoops

This morning millions of NCAA March Madness brackets have been or are in the process of being thrown away, thanks to Harvard's unexpected 98-92 upset win over Utah in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  The outcome was totally, wholly unanticipated.  The Crimson, claiming the Ivy League's guaranteed berth, were expected to play gamely, lose, and go home.  Instead, they get to advance to the next round, knowing that even if they lose their next game, they're still, as trite as it may sound, winners. Losers as winners?  How? It's all a matter of perspective.  How we see things, how we understand the state of affairs, how we approach the moment shape our perceptions.  Hopefully, this is something we've experienced during this Lenten season.  Repentance and reformation can seem like hard, unpleasant work.  But they can also provide an opening into a new way of being, to renewal.  Pain can indeed lead to gain. I'm not counting on Harvard winning it

Bach to Basics

I was lucky enough to grow up listening to WQXR, New York City's classical radio station.  Thanks to the internet, I can still tune in to my favorite source of classical music.  Beginning today, and for the next ten days, 'QXR will be playing all Bach, all the time.  Frankly, I can't think of a better musical companion with whom to spend the rest of Lent. What about you?  Is there a composer or musician whose work conveys to you something of the divine?  Maybe it's Bach.  Or maybe Bono.  Maybe your preferred genre is classical.  Or maybe it's country.  God, not surprisingly, can speak to us through music of all kinds.  Indeed, there are times he'll choose to catch our attention through musical forms we've always avoided. I invite you to join me in listening for God in music today and through the remainder of Lent.  In doing so, may you, may I, be strengthened and empowered as we engage in the work, the call of Lenten reflection, repentance and

7:02

Amazing, wasn't it?  At 7:02 this morning spring arrived.  Daffodils poked through the ground.  Buds appeared on trees.  Temperatures reached into the sixties and robins could be heard singing.  Not a bit of snow nor ice could be seen anywhere. What?  This wasn't your experience today? Okay, it wasn't mine either.  Still, even if it looked and felt like winter, it was most definitely spring. The kingdom of God is like this, too.  We may see a fallen world, we may stumble into sin, we may stray from God.  But the kingdom is here.  And with each passing day, it's presence is made known to us in new and wondrous ways, ways that will ultimately transform us if only we'll be open to the possibility.  It's within this context that we observe Lent, that we journey to Easter. So happy spring.  And welcome to the kingdom.

Time

If the weather were a person, I'd have to give him or her my compliments.  Just when it looked like we were done with snow and the like, a storm arrived on the last official day of winter.  Now, this being New England, we know that blizzards can make appearances well into early spring.  But our ability to complain, to grouse is limited when the snow falls during winter time -- even if it's at the proverbial eleventh hour.  "Don't blame me," we can hear the weather say, "I'm following the schedule.  I've got until early in the morning of March 20 to snow on you, so don't fault me for doing so!" Well, just as the weather can make the most of every moment at its disposal, so can we.  We may be thinking about Easter, but we still have a lot of Lent ahead of us.  There's still time to repent, to renew, to reorient ourselves.  We can do this today, tomorrow, and right up until the very end of Lent.  And when it feels we're sque

Blank

I've been drawing a blank this morning as I've tried to write a reflection.  Try as I might, nothing has been coming to me.  No prayers that I've read, no devotionals that I've consulted have spoken to me.  Even today's scripture passages from John and Jeremiah, which are rich texts, ripe for exegesis and explication, have failed to elicit a response from me. This may be a good thing. No.  Really. Here's why: during Lent, and indeed throughout the year, it's helpful to be reminded that there will be times when words fail us, when our spiritual imaginations may not be ready to take flight.  These are the moments when we we might be frustrated but should consider being grateful.  For this is when the blank, empty slates of our minds have the most room to offer the Holy Spirit, which seeks to fill us. So here we are.  I've provided you with a reflection.  Which is all well and fine, but what I really hope you get today is an overflowing helping

Erin go bragh!

Erin go bragh! You didn't think I'd pass up a gimme like this, did you? Given the way our society has secularized St. Patrick's Day, it's easy to forget that Patrick was not only a Christian but a man of the church who evangelized in a hostile environment.  No corned beef, no beer, no shamrocks or leprechauns for him.  Just good old fashioned spreading of the Gospel. During Lent, we have a chance to consider when we might share God's good news, whether through story or action with others, when we've failed to do so, and how we might do better go forward.  Telling others about how God has made a difference in our lives might seem almost outre in today's world, in which we so often hear we shouldn't push our beliefs on others.  But given that others will tell our story for us -- and oft-times in the least flattering way possible -- it behooves Christians to find new ways of sharing the Gospel with its message of reconciliation, redemption, and

Distractions

It was supposed to be a blessing.  I'd gone into the sanctuary of Trinity Church in Copley Square earlier today for some quiet prayer.  Much to my delight, the organist was practising for tomorrow's service.  As I prayed, he played.  Then he began to play ... dang it!  I knew what he was playing.  Sort of.  But I couldn't get the title (nothing in the hymnal index rang a bell), nor could I remember the hymn tune's name.  It was driving me to distraction and my consternation was about to derail my time of prayer.  Fortunately, that's when the tourists arrived with their cameras. No longer could I obsess about a hymn tune.  Now I had the distraction of chatty visitors to invade my quiet prayer.  And, for good measure, I could hear a siren.   This, of course, was everything came into focus.  I found myself experiencing all of these sounds as manifestations of God's creation, of its variety, of its hustle and bustle, and of its existence beyond my abil

Habemus Papam

We have a pope! The announcement of a new bishop of Rome yesterday is importance to all Christians, not just those who are Roman Catholics.  The election of Jorge Mario Borgelio is a reminder of how much the demographics of the faith are changing.  For the first time in 1,200 years a pope calls some place other than Europe home; for the first time ever, that home is in the New World.  And while Pope Francis may be of Italian heritage, he is clearly a man of Latin America.  The church is changing; what we may have long seen as normative is quickly becoming marginal.  White and  European, once the dominant feature of Christians, is being superceded by Non-white and of the Global South. These changes can be scary, even off-putting.  We can be unsettled by the unfamiliar, the different.  Yet these developments should be reassuring, even a cause for celebration.  For they mean that the universal church is vibrant and dynamic, that it is drawing in new people in new places.  So

Preparation

What do you do before you make a big decision?  Perhaps you collect some data, review your options, think things over, seek some advice.  Maybe you procrastinate.  You may do some of these things, all of these things, or none.  What about pray?  Do you pray before you make your decision?  If so, what do you pray for?  Guidance? Perspective? Confidence?  Assurance?  Something else? It doesn't matter.  God will be there, whether the decision to be made is great or trivial, and we shouldn't hesitate to turn to him before making our choices.  I was reminded of this earlier today when I saw the front page of the New York Times.  There, above the fold, was a picture of cardinals at a mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  The caption of the photo was "Prayer Before Decision."  Though it didn't surprise me that these princes of the church were turning to God before they entered the conclave to choose a new pope, it was still reassuring. So what about you

Atonement

Last night I (and many others) received an email from Jonathan Walton, the new minister at Harvard's Memorial Church.  In it, he provided a link to an article in the Christian Century about atonement, a complicated, and even confusing, proposition that is nevertheless central to making sense of what happened on the cross.  The piece is definitely worth your time. Introducing the story, Prof. Walton wrote: Lo and behold, I received this article in my inbox today from Christian Century. Entitled "Why the Cross? God's at-one-ment with humanity," it provides a comprehensive summary of the varying theories of atonement. It also raises and wrestles with many of the questions we engaged on Sunday. Give it a read. I'm confident you will find it enlightening. http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2013-02/why-cross The talk of "wrestling with many of the questions" strikes me as being dead on.  Lent is meant to be a season of honest, open engagement

Jeremiad

If you've ever wanted a good example of a jeremiad, the passage below, taken from today's Daily Office, will do nicely.  Here the prophet, relaying the word of God, is in fine, take-no-prisoners form.  The people have sinned and the Lord is angry, ready to deliver judgment. But why?  Why does God even bother?  It's not as if the omnipotent creator of the universe needs us after all.  So why does he get angry?  Why does he want to set us straight? Because he cares.  Because he loves us.  Because God has created us in his image, to live in relationship, to care for his creation, to pursue justice and live lives of righteousness.  God gets upset with us because he believes, he knows, we can do better. During this season of Lent we have the opportunity to see how we've let down God - and ourselves - and to then chart a new course.  It may not be easy, but God believes in us. A Reading from Jer. 16:10-21 16:10 “When you tell these people about all t

Spring Ahead

Are you ready?  Were you ready?  Ready for what you ask?  Why, Daylight Savings Time, which officially began at 2 AM this morning. Once again, most of the nation has set its clocks forward, gaining an extra hour of darkness in the morning in exchange for more sunlight at day's end.  The origins of DST are to be found in the exigencies of country at war almost a century ago.  Now, it seems to be mostly about commuters, convenience, and habit.  But if we're willing, DST (and the return later this year to EST), can be a means for us to ponder something larger: our desire for control.  By setting clocks forward or back, we can entertain the illusion that we are masters of time itself.  Of course, in truth, we're nothing of the sort.  The earth's rotation around its axis and its orbit around the sun will remain unchanged by anything we've done.  Our lives will be no longer nor no shorter than they were before we began to fiddle with what we say is the time.

Never Ending Praise

We give thanks, O God, for revealing your Son Jesus Christ to us by the light of his resurrection: Grant that as we sing your glory at the close of this day, our joy may abound in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . The collect for the close of this day makes a presumption: we'll praise God as this day end and resume our celebration with the new day.  That might seem like a lot of praise, indeed it may appear to be without end.  But as we contemplate what this might mean for our lives, let us also remember that God is loving us every moment of every day and every night.  Something to think about this night ... and tomorrow morning. Peace.

Meeting Jesus

What do you think your reaction would be if you met Jesus.  Not in the "I've been touched by his presence" or "I've felt the Holy Spirit" variety of meeting but in the actual in-the-flesh, chance-to-shake-hands kind. Would you be happy?  Freaked out?  Speechless?  Confused? Wary? If we've been going to church for any time, our initial response might well be "happy."  But if we've been paying attention to the Gospels and we're being honest with ourselves during Lent, freaked out, speechless, confused, and wary might be more credible answers to the question.  Jesus, after all, has come to utterly change the world, our world, yours and mine.  He didn't come to help us be more ethically grounded or to spend more time helping old ladies cross the street (as worthy as those things are) but to usher in the Kingdom of God, a reality that doesn't have as its priorities our priorities, but those of the One who created the uni

Color

In light of the weather experienced by people in other parts of the country this year it would be exceedingly churlish of me to suggest that we've suffered an onerous winter.  Still, recent weeks, with sullied snow cover and leaden skies, have been monotonously monochromatic.  Fortunately, there have been welcome intrusions of color into this dull palette: an enticing platter of fresh fruit at coffee hour, a colleague's boisterous blouse.  Something brighter is there if we're willing to see it, to hold onto it. As with color, so to with God's grace.  It's there, even when we're sure it's not, if only we take the time, make the effort to look.  It's true that there will be times when we need to be especially attentive.  But if we're willing to be open to the Holy Spirit, we'll encounter grace and when we do, watch out!  Just as that splash of color can enliven all around it, maybe even transform our perspective, so to will grace.  All

Law of Life

The appointed psalm for today, number 119, is an impressive 176 verses.  At its heart are these verses: 97 O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules. 100 I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts. 101 I stay away from the evil path, so that I might keep your instructions. 102 I do not turn aside from your regulations, for you teach me. 103 Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey! 104 Your precepts give me discernment. Therefore I hate all deceitful actions. The psalmist saw clearly, passionately even, the law not as a set of obligations or requirements but as a life-giving treasure that enabled him to be in relationship with God.  The Christian church has had, and indeed still has, a complicated relationship to the law.  Though the rules of the Old Tes

Surprised

For many years I've been using Microsoft's Hotmail program.  This morning, I discovered that Hotmail was officially a thing of the past, replaced with Outlook.  While my address remained unchanged, my folders were all in place, and my address book untouched, the user interface is quite different.  And, much to my annoyance, I've already discovered that the changes aren't skin deep; some features have undergone subtle adjustments, too.  All that's really left to me now is to settle upon a reaction: do I switch email programs?  Carry on but grumble about this unsought disruption?  Or should I find a way to acclimate myself and focus my attention on more important things?  I think you know which option I'll choose.  Switching programs will take too much effort.  Grousing might be satisfying for a time but will ultimately bring me no satisfaction.  So, it makes sense to go with acclimatization and moving on so I can spend my limited energy on things th

Flurry

Noun or verb?  Which came to mind when you saw the title of today's reflection?  Looking out the window, I can see snowflakes gently falling to the sky - a flurry (noun).  I also have lots to get done before day's end and will be rushing to and fro to do it all - another flurry (verb). We often think of Lent as a noun, but in many ways, like flurry, it's also a verb (yes, I know, "to lent" is a new usage of the most inelegant kind, but please bear with me).  Lent, after all, isn't just the name of a liturgical season but, if we take it seriously, is something we also do: we reflect, we pray, we forgo things, we take things up, we repent, we try a new way, we open ourselves to God and his word.  We do lent (or at least we try). To lent.  I hope and pray it's a verb we can all live into.

Friskies

The headline caught my eye: Cat Sells Its Soul for Friskies.  All sorts of questions immediately came to mind.  Is this market expansion by Satan or is he hard up for business?  What would the deal look like?  Do cats even have souls?  Silly musings for a snowy Sunday morning, of course.  But a more sober thought then came to mind.  What would I sell my soul for?  It's a question always worth confronting, especially during Lent.  Recall how we began Lent, reading the story of Satan's three attempts to seduce Jesus.  The lectionary includes this incident to not only show us Jesus' strength, but to inspire us to contemplate our weaknesses and consider how we might resist the devil's blandishments.  Before we laugh at or take pity on the cat, we would do well to admit that it's far easier than we'd care to admit for us to be bought off, compromised, or suborned.  The temptation that fells us need not be global domination or endless riches.  It can as

Backwards

This morning I watched some thirty or forty kids, aged four to seven, skate backwards at Campion Rink.  There was nothing elegant, nothing synchronized by what I saw.  Still, there was something awe inspiring about it.  These little boys and girls accepted without question their coaches' instruction to do something that isn't, well, natural.  Think about it.  People.  Very young people.  With blades on their footwear.  Propelling themselves on a glassy surface.  In reverse.  Amazing. This wasn't the kids' first time out on the rink, of course.  They've been developing skills, learning the fundamentals, engaging in drills, week after week.  Over the past month and more they've developed trust in their teachers who've both encouraged and challenged them.  This morning they knew they wouldn't be asked to do something unless someone believed they could do it or at least give it a reasonable try. The Lenten journey is a lot like my son's hoc

Praise

The daily office psalm selection to be read at noon today is taken from Psalm 113: Give praise, you servants of the Lord ;     praise the Name of the Lord . Let the Name of the Lord be blessed,     from this time forth for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down     let the Name of the Lord be praised. The Lord is high above all nations,     and his glory above the heavens. What would it be like for you to praise the Lord all day long?  How would you do it?  Through prayer, through action, through song or reflection?  How are you actually praising God this day?  And how would you like to?  Consider the question, ponder the possibilities, then praise the Lord in a new way.  With God's grace, you'll find yourself experiencing something new, something unexpected as you continue your Lenten journey.

Jumping the Gun

Yesterday was the 27th so I was all primed for my fantasy baseball draft.  I'd done my research and knew who I wanted on my team (whether I'd get them was another issue).  I've been playing in the same league with the same guys for a decade now and draft night is always a lot of fun.  We'll chat online, call one another, catch up, razz each other.  So I settled in at my desk in the parsonage, put out my materials, and logged onto the site.  I was surprised when the countdown clock suggested I had 28 days and so many minutes and seconds to go until the draft. Then I realized the draft was on March 27, not February 27. Oops.  I was so eager to move into this traditional spring/summer/fall pastime that I'd jumped the gun. Jumping the gun is something we can do during Lent, too.  We can be so eager to get to Easter, with its message of new life, that the urge to skip past Lent with all it calls us to do can be irresistible.  But resist we should.  For it is

A Collect

This is the collect of the day from the Episcopal Church's Daily Office.  I invite you to read this prayer; reflect on it, focusing on what it would be like for you, for the world, if this petition were to be answered; then read it again. Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gangnam Style

Last year a Koren rapper called Psy took cyberspace by storm with his Gangnam Style video.  The song went viral on YouTube (it's apparently the most watched ever post there), earning Psy widespread attention, worldwide celebrity, and even a coveted invitation to the White House.  It was after the latter was issued that Psy's anti-American comments were unearthed.  An apology quickly ensued and the artist was able to appear in DC as planned.  Not surprisingly, some wondered about his sincerity.  Had he retracted his comments from regret or expediency?  We can surmise, but we can never really know. During Lent we take stock of our lives, our actions, our attitudes.  We're called on to repent, to make amends with God for the way we have strayed.  And God need not surmise about our intent; he knows if we're sincere.  The realization that our Maker can discern our deepest thoughts, our darkest secrets, can be unsettling.  But it should also be liberating.  For

Monday, Monday

Another Monday, another work week. Meetings to attend, emails and phone calls to make or return, things to catch up on, the inevitable unwanted surprise.  It's enough to make one want to climb right back into bed and just stay put.  On Monday mornings, avoidance can be ever so enticing. Avoidance as a strategy can have similar appeal during Lent.  Who wants to look at their sins, their failings, their straying from God?  Who wants to spend time figuring out how to set things right?  Who wants to amend behavior?  Staying where we are has its attractions.  But it also has its limits.  We miss out on new possibilities.  We discover that ignored problems and shortcomings will find new ways of manifesting themselves.  What we think of as a safe haven can quickly become a prison. Through its structure, its liturgies, its Scripture lessons, and its rituals, Lent creates a safe space for us to engage with God, and to prepare ourselves for his new creation, which will break ou

Assurance

This morning in church our Call to Worship was adapted from Psalm 27.  This evening I invite you to join me in reading the entire Psalm and reflecting on its theme of assurance, the conviction expressed of God's unfailing, unswerving support.  Reflect -- and give thanks, for the strength the psalmist receives from God is offered also to you and to me.   Psalm 27 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 27:2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh-- my adversaries and foes-- they shall stumble and fall. 27:3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. 27:4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. 27:5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conce

Empty

It's an awful feeling, but sometimes we find ourselves feeling empty and bereft, utterly alone.  This may happen because we've lost someone we care about, or an event has transpired, or we've done something or not.  Whatever the reason, the experience is one of desolation; it's like wandering in the desert. Fortunately, Jesus knows what it's like to be in the wilderness and so when he offers us assurance and comfort, we know it will be meaningful and life-affirming.  He offers us the Holy Spirit, which is prepared to enter into us to fill the vacuum, to mend the broken heart, to heal the soul that aches.

Tired

It's been a long day, filled with visits and other church commitments.  I'm tired, and, frankly, wasn't feeling motivated to write anything.  Still, here i am.  After all, these reflections are part of a Lenten discipline, not a Lenten hobby.  A discipline takes work, commitment.  It requires that we sometimes do things even if we're not enthusiastic or we're feeling fatigued.  Doesn't sound fun, does it?  Perhaps not.  But it is rewarding.  The effort involved in following a discipline can help us recognize, appreciate, remember and embrace that the truth that real faith is serious work, not something in which we dabble, but a way of being that makes demands on us -- and in turn opens up to us the possibility of new life filled with grace, hope, reconciliation and God's unending, saving love.

Giant Lemurs

I bet that got your attention. What on earth, you ask, do giant lemurs have to do with Lent?  Indeed, you may want to know just what a giant lemur is.  Well, according to my six year old boy, giant lemurs are bigger than gorillas; a baby giant lemur is 100 times the size of a regular lemur and one third the size of a full grown adult giant lemur; they sometimes eat bamboo; and they live as long as humans.  Hopefully, this answers any questions you may have about giant lemurs. "But what about the Lenten-lemur connection?" you ask.  Fair enough. The conversation Chip and I had about giant lemurs this morning was this day's reminder of the wonder and imagination that define the world of children.  It's an attitude and approach that is all too often missing from the adult perspective, which is a shame for so many reasons.  Among those is the way the absence of such a perspective limits our ability to fully live into Lent, the healing it can bring, and the new

Random

When I told a clergy colleague about my daily Lenten reflections he asked if I based them on the lectionary.  I told him that while I do that some times, I usually write about whatever happens to inspire me that day.  A newspaper story, the weather, something that's happened.  There's really no rhyme nor reason other than my intent to find something that speaks to or about the Lenten journey.  In short, it's rather random. Randomness is vital to the spiritual life.  By letting things happen, we are stepping back, ceding control.  It's only when we do that that we are able to let the Holy Spirit work in our lives.  And when we do that, we may find ourselves discovering whole new areas of our lives that would benefit from some Lenten attention.  So sit back, let events unfold.  Be random.  Be open to God.

Table Hockey

Today was an unusually intense day on the pastoral care front, beginning very early in the morning and running right up to dinner time.  I repeatedly encountered God's grace as I visited and talked and prayed.  I felt blessed to be with the people I was visiting.  But I will confess: at six o'clock in the evening I was bushed.  So, it was Providential that I came home to not only find a hot meal waiting for me but a six year old who wanted to play table hockey.  Pulling the levers, manipulating the players, hitting the puck, cheering and sighing helped put things into perspective.  I experienced an immense surge of gratitude to God for life itself.  Which, of course, brings me to Lent. Lent? Life?  Huh? One of the reasons Lent is so important is that by helping us get things right with God it helps us to not only clear away distractions, not only change direction, not only make amends, it enables us to begin truly enjoying the great gift of life our Creator has gi

Easy Answers

I learned this morning that I've won $1,000,000. And, as if that weren't amazing enough, so did Rachel. I kid you not.  We each received identical text messages telling us of our good fortune.  All we needed to do was to respond to the embedded email address. As you might imagine, neither of is any better off financially now than when we awoke this morning.  Replying to that message would have brought many things -- spam, viruses, malware, you name it.  But a million bucks?  Doubtful.  If we want to be millionaires, we're going to have to do it the old fashioned way: work hard. Repentance and amendment of life is like that, too.  It might be comforting to think all we have to do is say "I'm sorry, God," and that all will be well.  It wouldn't be healing, though.  Once we say we're sorry, we need to work on changing our ways.  We need to begin to travel the path that Jesus has shown us.  We need to allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spir

Assurance

Assurance During this season of Lent we are called to reflect on our lives, what we have done and what we have left undone.  This can be hard work--tiring, draining, even isolating.  As we consider our sins, and we all have committed them, we can begin to wonder what God would want to have to do with us.  Psalm 91, today's appointed lectionary reading from the Psalter, offers comfort and assurance that come what may, the Lord will be with you, with me, with us all.  Though we'll read responsively verses 1-2 and 9-16 of this text at worship today, I invite and encourage you to read these words on your own, to meditate on them, to take them into your heart, and to let them enter into your soul. Psalm 91 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord , ‘My refuge and my fortress;    my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler    and from the deadly pestilence; he will co

Clouds

As I look out my study window I see a landscape colored by various shades of leaden gray and dull brown.  Things seem listless, flat.  I know in my head that the clouds will pass, that at some point in the future the sun will shine forth, but my soul remains troubled and unsettled.  Though I want to hold fast to the promise of what the future holds, I feel mired in the present moment. Thank God for Lent. Lent, often depicted as the downer season of the liturgical year, can, indeed should, take us to some dark places.  After all, during this time we're meant to look honestly and unflinchingly at our lives, to repent, and return to God.  That's much easier said than done.  Indeed, there's a reason we do this year after year after year.  Because we need to - because we need chance after chance after chance. Thankfully, we are promised that after we travel through the shadows of pain and remorse, we will arrive somewhere bathed in the pure light of possibility.  T

Not Quite Real

Though Ash Wednesday is now behind us, Lent doesn't quite feel real yet.  It's like spring; it may begin in late March, but snow on the ground and cold temperatures can make us feel as if we are still in the midst of winter.  A new season may have started but we still seem to living in the old one. We shouldn't be fooled. The new day has arrived, even if we can't recognize it.  A new thing is being done, even if we can't describe it.  We just need to be patient.  If we give Lent time, we'll be able to see just how real it is, how God is calling us to draw near and begin our lives anew, to set aside our sin and fears and anxieties in favor of faithfulness and hope and peace. Not quite real?  Wrong.  It's as real as it gets.  Open yourself to God's healing spirit this season and you'll see.

Stats

According to a story on WMUR's website, NH is the second least religious state in the nation, outranked only by our neighbor, Vermont.  Three other New England states -- Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island -- round out the top five.  Whereas 58% of people in Mississippi identify themselves as being religious, just 24% do in the Granite State (and 19% in the Green Mountain state). These statistics are a stark reminder that what we once called Christendom is now part of history.  A society whose rhythms are defined by Christian faith, particular of the Protestant variety, is a thing of the past.  Now, we inhabit a secular world.  This can make being a Christian challenging.  We're sometimes seen as outsiders, even oddballs.  Perhaps this is dispiriting.  But it should also be liberating for it gives us more room to be the people God calls us to be and not those our culture says we should be.  Lent, this season of preparation, repentance, and reconciliation, is an