Finding Freedom in a Coercive Age

Since returning from Mere Anglicanism Saturday night, I've been doing a lot of thinking in fits and starts.  The weather has been perfect for it- warm and rainy for late January, with glorious storms which make me realize the smallness of my life.  Had there been time, I would have listened to Beethoven and sat motionless, surrounded by my dogs and nursing a snifter of Napoleon's favorite.  But there was no time.  The annual meeting was Sunday morning after church, and then came a service at one of the local nursing homes.  Monday morning was to the doctor with my mother and appointments through Evensong, and I arrived home at about 9:30.  Tuesday was no better in terms of time, and I think the day ended in the neighborhood of midnight.  But along the way, events and conversations drew me into my own thoughts, and gave me pause as I considered my own place within the church, locally and beyond.
Oh to relax "avec l'empereur"

We seem to live in an age of uncertainty and fear, and the outgrowth is generalized distrust and aggravation.  We have forgotten how to engage those with whom we disagree, and unfortunately, there are those of almost every persuasion who consistently do their best to coerce everyone around them to do all things their way.  Of course it is all done in the name of love, or justice, or Christ, or Allah, or the poor, or national security, and it is always "for the children."  I get so tired of "damned whigs" trying to fix me and telling me what to do.  Whether they be on the left or on the right or in-between does not matter.  Some days I just want to lock all three gates and never leave the farm again. 

The Boys Wishing I would Just Stay Home at the Farm!

And then two things came into my life.  The first was Tuesday's exemplification of the Mark Master Degree in the Royal Arch Chapter here in Lancaster.  It reminded me that "the first shall indeed be last and the last first," and that my acceptance by God is all of his grace, and that as I receive the free and unmerited gift of his grace, I am expected to behave in a much more responsible manner than I did before.  In short, I am expected to be more and more like Jesus in my dealings with people, just because it is right, and not for any strategic reason.  The second was a conversation with Tom Hammer, my Senior Warden and longtime friend here at St. John's Church, who reminded me that it is in the Scriptures that God gives us the answers we seek, often when we least expect them.  And the answer I sought he passed on to me from yesterday's daily office epistle lesson, namely that I should be more like Jesus and his Apostles, and not worry so much about the input of human wisdom or practical opportunities.   It is my job simply to be more like Jesus. 
Oh to be like thee!
Jesus Christ my Saviour and Lord.

This may not sit well with the current state of the church or the nation or the world.  It certainly will not make some people happy, but it is the call of Christ to me, and to all of us who name Christ as Lord.  It calls me to remember that prophesy of the day when God's people would do what was contained in the law not because they had to, but because they wanted to.  I pray in all humility that I am beginning to get to that point.  Many thanks to my brothers of the Holy Royal Arch, and to my longtime friend and brother Tom Hammer for helping me to learn anew this eternal lesson about being free in Jesus.

Mere Anglicanism 2013

This evening at about 9:30, I got home from Mere Anglicanism 2013.  It was a glorious experience, with presentations about the Person and Work of Jesus from a team of international scholars.  We were challenged by preachers and teachers alike to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus in our lives, and to go forth to do his work in the world.  Topics included Christ in the Old Testament and how the message of Paul is the same message as that of the Gospels.  There was a wonderful presentation about how members of non-Christian faith communities around the world view Jesus, and the last presentation by Eric Metaxas about Dietrich Bonhoeffer was so good that I went out and bought his book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy Thomas Nelson 2010.

But Mere Anglicanism is about so much more than classes and challenges.  Like the camp meetings of old, it is a time and a place to meet new friends and greet old friends.  It is a time to drink in the ambience of Charleston, arguably one of the most gracious and beautiful cities in America.  It is a time to sense the presence of God in worship and sacrament and song, and for one small period of time to realize with profound thanksgiving that I am not alone theologically or culturally.  It is a time to know that God is not through with this wonderful and beautiful thing called Anglicanism.

My thanks to the organizers and hosts of this, my conference of choice.  I hope everyone will plan to join me and so many others in Charleston next January for a rational and faith based examination of science and our faith.  It is a trip and a commitment you will be glad you made.

My only regret is that my wife Rebecca was not able to travel with me to this year's conference.  We had such a good time together last year.

Holiness Unto the Lord- Rector's Rambling Lent 2013

Rector’s Rambling- February 2012

On Saturday, just two days ago, I put the first seeds of the year into the propagator, which is currently located in my study. I did everything precisely as I have always done, with one exception. Instead of watering with tap water, I used “Root Stimulator: Accelerated Root Growth for Clones and Seedlings,” manufactured by Hydro Gardens and Lights in Columbus, Ohio. When I got home after youth group tonight, I was astounded to find cabbage and broccoli plants already sprouted! Two days from seed to sprout is a record in my experience, and it got me to thinking. When Jesus does a work in my heart, are the results so spectacular or as quick? When the Holy Ghost convicts me of some action or attitude and by God’s grace I sense the need to change my ways, am I put to shame by one of the humblest members of God’s creation, a lowly cabbage seed? I am afraid that sometimes, not always, but more often than I can justify, the answer is yes.

Such thoughts are perhaps good preparation for the holy season of Lent. Until we recognize our own shortcomings, it is doubtful that we will ever truly respond to God’s offer of transformation in our lives. Ultimately, Lent is about transformation- transformation from what we are into what God would have us to be. Wise men taught me in seminary that Christian holiness has two important aspects. The first is positional holiness. Because I am among the baptized and have been marked as Christ’s own forever, I am set apart, or holy, and dedicated to his work. But when properly understood and rightly experienced, this positional holiness must be accompanied by moral holiness. That is, my life must be more like the life of Jesus than it was before I received his grace. If I was a liar, I must stop lying. If a thief, I must stop stealing. If a bigot, I must walk away from my prejudices. If my sexuality was out of control, it must be disciplined and brought within the parameters of what God’s Word allows. The list goes on and on, but the point is clear. When God does his work in us, we are named as his own and dedicated to his purposes, and we are also expected to exhibit change from what we were to what he would have us to be. Our lives, touched by grace, must begin to look more like the life of our Lord, or in all likelihood, our religion is a sham and a hypocritical lie.

When the prophets said that God would take out of his people their hearts of stone and replace them with living hearts of flesh, they said that the day was coming when we would follow the expectations of Scripture not because we had to, but because we wanted to. They never said it would be easy, or that we would always get it right, but they did say that we would be known as a people set apart for God. Like my cabbage and broccoli seeds, we would be transformed from what our own decisions had made us into the people, and into the community of faith, that God created us to be. As we enter this sacred season of preparation for Easter, let us look honestly at our own lives and motives, and commit all of our shortcomings to God’s transformation. The Bible tells us that our God is a miracle worker, and that those actions and attitudes which we seem to be so unable to change can be transformed in an instant by him who raised the dead and caused the blind to see. Might we together take advantage of those Lenten programs and disciplines which will help us to persevere in this life of transformation and holiness, and might we be there for each other in our times of temptation, weakness, and need.

Lenten Programs:

Feb 13^th at noon and 7pm: Ash Wednesday Imposition of Ashes

Feb 17, 24, Mar 10, &17 at 5: Lenten suppers and speakers

Mar 3 at 4: Choral Evensong and simple supper.

All Sundays at 8 & 10:30 and Wednesdays at noon: Holy Communion

Confession: By appointment, call 215-3900

Mar 24 Palm Sunday

Mar 28 at 7: Maundy Thursday

Mar 29 at noon: Good Friday liturgy and Stations of the Cross

Mar 31: EASTER! THE SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION!

Rector's Report 2012: St. John's Episcopal Church

Rector’s Report- 2012

Twenty Twelve has been a blessed year for us at St. John’s. We had six baptisms and four confirmations, and our average Sunday attendance stood at just over 103. Those numbers are well within the average parameters of the years since 2005. But numbers without interpretation are seldom helpful in evaluating who we are, where we have been, or where we are going. And so I offer some other measures which help to round out the picture of life here at St. John’s.
Our finances ended the year in the black.
Average attendance at our weekly Christian Formation events runs in the upper twenties.
We are a regular presence in three nursing facilities and two jails.
Our cooperative meals missions with St. Paul’s Logan involves about 15 parishioners each time.
We give to local pantries and distribute household supplies through the drug court.
We support local schools through job training placement for students and providing cheerleaders a place to practice.
AA and Alanon meet in our undercroft every week.
We participate in community-building activities sponsored by the Mayor’s office, Family Services, and the Fairfield Medical Center.
The Art Walk, community recitals, and the Candlelight Tour allow us to support our community.
Episcopal Parish Health Ministries offers a monthly program here, including a fellowship meal with a speaker, and free blood pressure screening.
We offer three services of Holy Communion and one of Choral Evensong each week, in forms which span the breadth of our Anglican heritage.
Daughters of the King offered a ladies retreat and summer morning prayer in the garden.
Lay readers, altar guild, lectors, ushers, and choristers provide incredible and reliable support for all of our worship services.
Our vestry runs by consensus and votes only where expenditure of funds or canon law requires a recorded vote.
The addition of a Deacon and Licensed Lay Preacher to our preaching rotation has significantly deepened our opportunities to understand the Bible.
Our Vestry does a commendable job staying on budget and planning ahead for the needs of our parish.
Six parishioners from St. John’s participate regularly in Diocesan events and ministries.
We support financially and in prayer several members of parish families who serve as missionaries around the world.
We give regularly to many missions and agencies at home and abroad.
Our office volunteers bring a sense of professionalism and efficiency to our parish operations.
Four members of our parish are actively considering some type of Christian Vocation.
We are one of the few churches in central and southeastern Ohio who worship in the English choral tradition.
We continue to maintain St. John’s building and grounds in a way which shows forth the glory of God and respects the historic nature of Square Thirteen.
We strive to reach out to our community through our website and the rector’s blog.
We remind all who come here of our commitment to Christian unity by welcoming all of the baptized, regardless of denomination, to Holy Communion.
Our parish participates regularly in Deanery and ecumenical activities.
Our youth group meets regularly and has consistent attendance.
You enable me to continue my professional development through annual attendance at “Mere Anglicanism” in Charleston, membership in the Society of St. Alban and St. Sergius, membership in the Communion Partner Rectors, and through regular retreats at the Community of the Transfiguration, an Episcopal Convent in Cincinnati.                                 
We pay all Diocesan asessments in full and on time.
It is my prayer that in the year to come, we might continue to build on this heritage of worship and service, to the glory of God, and to the extension of his kingdom. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bill+