Burying Our Heads in Aslan’s Mane

By now you may be overwhelmed by the media coverage, preponderance of talking heads, tweets, twits (?), and a vast realm of deep and even conflicting emotions and thoughts related to the brutal killings in Newtown, Connecticut this past Friday.  I hope you will indulge me in a bit of time and a few more words.  I write them in the hope that they may be of use to you in your journey.  Writing them is of use to me in mine.

There is no phrase, no combinations of words, that exists in any language to express our grief, brokenheartedness, anger, shock, disbelief, confusion or desire to do something to make the hurt go away in us, in the families of the victims, in the community.  Scripture anticipates this limitation of words and the need to express ourselves beyond them.  “The Spirit helps us in our weakness when we do not know how to pray … that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

There is no way to turn back time, and thereby preempt this event.  Time at the moment can be both an enemy and a friend.  The Psalmist recognized this, I think, in the observation that “weeping spends the night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  It will be a very long night, a very long collection of nights, for very many people, and the emerging light of a new morning’s dawn will come far too slowly.  But, with a profound and sustained outpouring of love in all its forms, good counseling and care, medical attentiveness, and bowls of tears, it can come.  With all the healing power that God can bring to bear, it can come.

The Scriptures of the Christian tradition, including the Scriptures we share with our Hebrew forebearers, are cognizant of such tragedy and grief.  One only has to look as far as Rachel’s inconsolable grief in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah.  Jacob’s heartbreak when he is told that Joseph is dead.  The Scriptures do not pretend this to be heaven, and recognize the anguish that exists in a broken and difficult world.  Whether we want to hear it or not, we are told that in this earthly time life-giving rains fall on both the just and the unjust.  Jesus reflects on the collapse of the tower at Siloam and the righteousness of those who died tragically. 

We do well not to forget that the Holy Writings of Christianity make intimately clear the vulnerability with which God enters into the world.  Even as we prepare for, and celebrate, that Incarnation, we find it juxtaposed with the chilling remembrance of the Holy Innocents, the children, killed on Herod’s order.  Our Heavenly Father, as Jesus knew our Divine Creator, is equally and intimately understanding of the death of an only child to brutal violence.  Perhaps this is what stands behind the words of Paul Claudel when he wrote, “Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with his presence.”

I am often visual in my prayers, seeing images that I am hard pressed to later describe in words.  A vivid image of this tragedy has been one of Our Lord wrapping himself around each person under attack in Sandy Hook School, each round passing through him first.  In my acceptance of human bodies as finite and transitional vessels of our true being, I recognize that ultimately healing comes not in any earthly fashion, but rather in a place where pain and suffering are no more, neither sighing but life everlasting.  At times that comforts me.  At times I wish to bury my head in Aslan’s mane sobbing in grief and anger, because I am, as are others, still in the darkest hours of the night; it is not yet morning.  (Aslan is a lion and the Christ figure in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.)

Now I must speak of something unfashionable in this conversation: the role of evil.  I am certain that evil is real.  Our tradition of Christianity believes it too.  We renounce cosmic evil, societal evil and individual evil every time we prepare to baptize.  I do believe that evil came to Newtown and Sandy Hook School on December 14^th, in fact I am certain of it.  In what form is another question.

There is no doubt in my mind or heart that the Evil One preys on vulnerability.  It never dresses in a red suit with pointy horns and a pointy red tail.  That would be too easy.  Could Evil have convinced a twenty year old, in what may have been an immeasurable amount of mental anguish, that the actions we have seen would stop the pain?  Of course.  Far more pervasive, and I believe greater pervasiveness is a desire of the Evil One, is the possibility that it is Evil that has convinced a society that insufficient attention to mental health care is a cost we can live with.  Put another way, it is Evil that convinces us to close mental health hospitals, marginally fund, if at all,  treatment via health care coverages, claim that there is not enough money to fund group homes where individuals who function at high levels, but with complex problems, can cared for and have their wellbeing monitored.

There is no doubt that Evil causes us to believe that we have some sort of “right” to possess assault rifles and other devices with faster, more immediate, killing power than an RPG (rock propelled grenade).  The crafters of our nation’s Bill of Rights never anticipated such weaponry.  Musket ball (hear single shot) rifles and pistols were the norm.  Rifling was not commonplace until the nineteenth century, Colt’s multi-shot revolver in 1835 and the shotgun in 1850.

I grew up in a household where one of my father’s greatest joys was passing on to me the 22 (short) caliber rifle that his father had given to him.  I could field dress (disassemble, clean and reassemble) a German Luger with my eyes closed at the age of 10.  I have carried a sidearm, the rounds of ammunition in it having been custom loaded by me or my father, when hunting in the Carolina woods and swamps. The snakes there do not have early warning systems.  I am not a “teetotaler” with respect to this issue.  I still enjoy the challenge and skill of an occasional round of shooting skeet.  But there is no deer so fierce as to need to be hunted with an AK-47.  There is no snake that requires a Glock with a forty round magazine.  It is time to put away the automatic and semi-automatic handguns, and all forms of assault rifles and weaponry.  Every state has a well ordered militia. It is called the National Guard.

Christians in the Episcopal tradition vow before God to persevere in resisting evil, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving neighbor as self, and to strive for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human being.  We renew these vows as a part of every service of Holy Baptism.  Does that mean that we sometimes have to put aside self-serving wants masking as pseudo-rights for the benefit of others?  Absolutely!

In the wake of similar tragedies in Dunblane, Scotland (1996) and in Australia (1996), both nations took actions limiting the possession of handguns.  Both of these nations continue a culture where hunting and various shooting sports are integral and accessible.  The evidence of the effectiveness of these actions is remarkable.  Let us also note, however, that, while not “outstanding,” there is in place a concurrent accessible level of mental health care as well.

In the Great Litany (Book of Common Prayer  p. 148ff) we again bury our head in Aslan’s mane and pray, “From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity, Good Lord, deliver us.”  It is time to remove the blinders and confront our hypocrisy.  The Great Litany continues, “From all inordinate and sinful affections; from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, Good Lord, deliver us.”  The time is now to put down our inordinate affection, it is time to put down the guns and take up the cross and walk with Aslan. 

We all have an individual and collective responsibility to help heal Newtown, and by the removal of threat and increased commitment to health and wholeness, heal our neighbor and our nation.

God’s peace, shalom and salaam,

Scott+

All Can. Some Should. None Must.

Do you go to Confession in the Episcopal Church?  It is a good question and the anwer is “yes.”  Almost every time the Eucharist is celebrated it includes a General Confession followed by the priest or bishop pronouncing God’s absolution.  In the usual order of service this happens just after the Prayers of the People and just before the Exchange of Peace.  When the Penitential Order is used the General Confession and Absolution come at the beginning of the service.

The use of the General Confession is no token nod toward spiritual and personal housekeeping.  It is meant to be fully confessional and is something to be approached with genuine contrition and sincere repentance.  The absolution that follows it is meant to be an equally genuine wiping away of the stain of sin.

To be sure, the General Confession is good spiritual medicine.  But, there are times when it just does not seem to be, shall we say, a prescription dose of the things needed to forgive, repent, reconcile and move forward.

Many do not know it, I am sad to say, but the Episcopal Church also offers what many might consider a more traditional, or more (Roman) Catholic, sacramental rite of “Confession.”  You will find two “rites” on pages 447 and 449 of the Book of Common Prayer.  It is most properly called the Reconciliation of a Penitent.  Some call it Auricular Confession (auricular meaning “spoken into the ear”). 

This form of Reconciliation allows for a prayerful exchange between priest (or bishop) and the person “making their confession.”  The exchange includes a time of speaking one’s sins into the ear of the priest or bishop.  Through the ages this has been found to be a very beneficial path to a more complete coming to terms with one’s actions.  When words are pressed forth from our mouths and fall into another person’s ears and into the ears of the penitent you cannot get them back.  When that happens very often it makes the seriousness of the actions being confessed more real and undeniable.  No more mind games.  No more keeping it all in my head.  It is out there; you cannot get it back.  Denial becomes much harder.

The exchange between penitent and priest also includes a time of spiritual counsel, and may include some form of penance.  Properly, penance is not some form of spiritual busy work.  It is offered with the goal of heightening forgiveness, fostering spiritual healing, and as an exercise to spiritually and practically strengthen the penitent so that the same sins are not so easily repeated.  In the presence of contrition and a desire for amendment of life, God’s absolution is pronounced by the confessor.

“All can. Some should. None must.” This is axiom frequently used to state the Episcopal/Anglican use of the rite of The Reconciliation of a Penitent.  Unlike the Roman Church’s doctrine compelling a weekly Auricular Confession, our understanding is that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available to all.  Further is would be spiritually beneficial and healing to many, and really should be used as a part of healthy Christian spiritual life.  Finally, however, no one must make a Sacramental/Auricular Confession, as the General Confession when properly approached meets the standard for approaching the altar for the Sacrament of Communion is an appropriately cleansed spiritual state.

Lent and Advent are times considered to be especially appropriate for the extra spiritual house cleaning of Reconciliation, as we prepare ourselves spiritually for the great feasts of Easter and Christmas.  While you can, at any time, arrange with a priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we make it even easier during these seasons of the church year by offering times when you may simply come to a chapel in the Cathedral to spend time with priest in this sacrament.

This Advent’s the scheduled time will be Sunday, December 9 from 12:30 to 1:30.  A priest will be in Nativity Chapel at this time (and others are asked to refrain from being in the Cathedral), available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation or spiritual counsel.

One final mention: Confessions can be heard anywhere.  It does not have to be in the church, at the altar or in a confessional booth.  If the confessor discerns that there is an absence of sincerity, some form of manipulation or no true repentance, absolution may be withheld.  The seal of the confession is absolute upon the priest.  It applies only to the actual sacramental rite, and not to any other conversation with a member of the clergy.

All can. Some should. None must.

With prayers for a holy Advent,

Scott+

Being Cathedral

Dear Friends,

My travel this week has taken me around the western then the southern perimeter of superstorm Sandy. While it is nice to tell you that the travel was uneventful and your notes and prayers sustaining, many of our friends and families have had their lives forever changed.

Of our staff alone Kit Ilardi and Fr. Nestrock have immediate family on Staton Island and in other boroughs of New York City, in New York State, in New Jersey, in Delaware, and beyond. There is no way for me to know how many of the extended cathedral family have been impacted ... but given our Lord's teaching about who our neighbors, who our brothers and sisters, are, anyone impacted by this storm is our cathedral family. I am asking you to do three things right now:

First - pray for all impacted by and responding to this storm. Start right now, if you have not already, and pray every day. Be sure to include in your petitions a prayer for those who have no one to pray for them.

Second - give something, nothing is to small, to support financial relief. Right now use the American Red Cross, Episcopal Relief and Development, or give during this Sunday's services marking your gift "Sandy relief". When I return I will work with your Cathedral Leaders to determine some focused efforts to address relief needs.

Third - remain steadfast in your commitment of prayer and support. The efforts to rebuild lives, homes, businesses, and communities is going to take a long time. We will be looking at many ways to help in addition to prayer and financial support. These may include mission/work trips, clothes gatherings and more.

God presents us with an opportunity in this to be what a cathedral is to be - a extension of apostolic presence and witness. I have an abiding calm that we will rise to this with God's great grace.

Prayerfully,

Scott+

 

 

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer 1979

p. 461

Our Divine Appointment – Stewards All

4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

5 What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?

6 You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;

7 You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:

8 All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,

9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

10 O LORD our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!  (Psalm 8:4-10 NRSV)

 

The rich imagery of Psalm 8, the psalm appointed for this past Sunday, is compelling in so many ways.  Written at a time when people, not some but nearly all, labored sunup to sundown, day in and day out, simply to provide enough sustenance for survival, the writer is reflective.  “When I consider your heavens…. What is man[kind]…?”  The writer is awed by the Divine, but almost equally taken by the role God has assigned to his kind (to us).  We are “but little lower than the angels”, and we have been assigned mastery over the work of God’s own hands.

 

It is no stretch then to arrive at the realization that we are, by Divine Appointment, stewards of the works of God.  Stewards we are: of all sheep and oxen, even the wild beasts of the field, birds of the air, fish of the sea and other creatures of the sea.  Stewards of life: terrestrial, avian, and aquatic.  Seems nothing has been left out.  I wonder, as I reflect on psalmist’s revelation, about how the buffalo of the Great Plains might regard our work.  If asked, what would the great whales and the coral reefs of the oceans, and even our nearby Rouge River say?  How are the great condors of our pacific coast fairing; the tigers of Siberia, the bees and the associated flowers, shrubs, and lands?

 

If we possess even a grain of honesty, we can rightly conclude that humankind’s stewardship of the Divine’s handiwork is greatly lacking.  Over the ages we have demonstrated a far greater ability to advance own agenda and serve first our own needs without consideration of God’s creation.  Further, I’ll go out on a limb here, I believe at one time or another everyone’s individual stewardship of the things given us has been more focused on self than on being a steward created but little lower than the angels.

 

The Good News is God has not taken the job away from us.  We have a chance to change – if we are doing a good job, we can do better.  If we have not given this much thought, or dismissed it when it has entered into our moments of reflection, we can return our attention to it, and start to advance from where we are.

This is typically (financial) stewardship season in the life of many congregations.  Those resources are no less a part of what God has entrusted to us than the beasts and birds, the aquifers and acres.  So too then, the Good News applies to these things as well.  Like the psalmist we can reflect.  Because of God’s continued assignment to us of the role of masters (of the craft) of being stewards, we can change.  We can grow in understanding, faithfulness, action and generosity. 

As with all who have been given charge over things that matter our day of accountability will come.  As I contemplate that day, I am reminded that to whom much is given, from them much will be expected.  Not because God is overbearing, but because God knows our capacity.

 

May God continue to bless us as we strive to fulfill the Divine trust in our capacity as stewards.

Your brother in Christ,

Scott+

 

PS  Don’t forget, Pledge In-Gathering Sunday is October 28.  Plan to join us to place your pledge card on the altar.  If you cannot be with us, send it on to us before the 28^th and we will be sure to place it there for you.

 

Fall-ing Into a Rhythm

I cannot remember a September when the temperature and the other signals of nature seemed to so clearly signal the arrival of Fall as has happened over the days of September 21 and 22 of this year. It is as if a switch has been thrown clicking on crisper evenings, the deepening blue of the autumn sky, squirrels clamoring for acorns, and the first vestiges of leafy color.

Now, I will come clean by telling you that I have always been a person moved by the onset of Spring. Where I grew up Fall was the signal of a coming winter that was, by and large, grey and rainy with the temperature generally hovering around 34 degrees.  The damp cut you like a knife.  When I moved to the Chicago area for seminary there came an annual autumn trip to our rival seminary in the Wisconsin woods for a football game.  Now, I grew up with the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in full Fall foliage, but never before these games had I walked knee-deep in brilliant yellow leaves the size of Frisbees.  Plus, it got dark so much earlier in these more northern latitudes. It was a siren’s song, of course, because it meant that the dark grey of winter would onset in early November and it would not relent to a warming sun and clearing sky until late April or early May.  I would be deprived of blue sky and green grass until long after the calendar and the planets proclaimed it Spring.  Ah, it was, for me, one more lesson of “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.”

Despite these things, I was, and admit that I still am, charmed by that crispness and the earlier arrival each day of the vesper light (no thanks to daylight savings time).  There is a sense of boundaries, not hard and harsh but persistent while being gentle.  Schools return to session and that means to me there is a renewal of learning.  Choirs return and that means there is a renewal of singing.  People return and that harkens a renewal of community.

The late strains of Fall will bring the candle-glow of Advent.  Winter gifts us with the Incarnation and the Epiphany and, despite its name ushers us the challenges of Lent.  Easter breaks forth in all ways of the Resurrection and floods us with new life.  Those tender pale greens and running waters of Spring deepen into the full bloom and expansive daylight of summers.

God tells time by the movement of planets and the ebb and flow of tides.  Never is there the need for a “leap” to correct or insert, and you never have to roll the date on your wristwatch to because of a twenty-eight or thirty day month.  I love this rhythm.  It is natural.  It is liturgical.  It is God’s time. 

 

The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *

and you give them their food in due season.

You open wide your hand *

and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways *

and loving in all his works.  Psalm 145:16-18

May you find God’s rhythm in your days, in your seasons, in your prayers, in your breath and in your life.

Grace and peace,

Scott+

Just Because We Can … Doesn’t Mean We Should

Unauthorized pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge, a movie trailer (and I can only presume the whole movie), a French newspaper’s cartoon mocking the Prophet Muhammad, some years ago a Danish publication doing the same thing.  Qur’an burnings.  Burning Bibles and other destruction or defilement of any sacred text or structure.  They are all wrong.  I did not say that they were illegal, although some of the above cited events may have been.  But just because some law was not broken does not mean that the action taken is in any measure appropriate.

I write this reflection under the very First Amendment banner that in our country allows vitriolic films and satirical political cartoons to be produced and shown, written and published, because it provides for both freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  I know of no great world religion that does not instruct, in exact words or words so clearly close as to be synonymous, “Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you” (Matt 7:12, Luke 6:31).  And, yes, the Hebrew Bible and the Qur’an go there as well.  If fact, the older King James translation of the Bible gives us the saying in a more pointed fashion: “as ye would that [people] would do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” But in things both little and large it seems we increasingly embrace judgment and behavior that dismisses this teaching.

I had the honor and opportunity of spending an evening last week, along with others representing the Cathedral community and the Diocese of Michigan, at the 10^th Anniversary Gala for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU.org).  It was a beautiful night spent in the extraordinary hospitality of my brothers and sisters of the Muslim community.  There was humor and humility, appreciation and poignancy, and candor and challenge.

The written words of the U.S. Constitution affords them the right to their religious practice, as it affords me mine.  Yet, they live in “the land of the free and home of the brave” with a burden of suspicion and discrimination that is born out of others’ fear and ignorance.  The Episcopal/Anglican tradition of Christianity holds at the heart of our baptismal understanding being in relationship with God and with people, who are created in the image and likeness of God.  “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons loving your neighbor as yourself? ... Will you strive of justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?”

The printed words are not enough.  Spoken words are not enough, but are sometimes a start.  As I have said many times, the sermon of our actions preaches longer and louder than those of our mouths.  Just as faith without works is dead, a loving heart without loving actions is an illusion.  And all people are to know we are Christians by our love, by our love.  This we can do and this we should do.

Salaam, shalom, peace,

Scott+

[ISPU is a scholarly think tank born out of the terrible events of September 11, 2001 to help educate and inform all parties with an interest about Islam and Muslim life in the United States, in  well-researched, scholarly and relevant ways. There work highly credible and in my opinion simply outstanding.]

Thanks for the Memories!

Okay, I admit it, I am old enough to remember Bob Hope singing this song to close any number of television specials. It still touches the Normal Rockwell/Currier & Ives place in my heart.  (If you don’t know who Rockwell or Currier & Ives are, Google them, and, while you are at it, look up the Saturday Evening Post as well.  If you don’t know what Google-ing is, then you likely know about Rockwell, etc. already.)

This weekend we celebrate over six decades of mission and ministry – love and prayers, really – as we show our love to the Rev’d Canon Bill and Dr. Mary Logan.  There are not enough words in the dictionary, no matter how oft repeated, to convey the myriad of thoughts, moments of love, and deep affection we have for them.  Nor is it possible, in the same way, to describe the love and care they have given to us.

What follows, we hope, will remind you of some of the touchstones of the Logans’ journey with us.  Maybe it will tickle a recollection, or trigger a fond or tender moment.  Most of all, we hope it will heighten your desire to join in a Chorus of the Saints singing from the depths of our hearts, “Thanks for the memories.”

Blessings,

                      Scott+

 

Born at Harper Hospital in 1920, the Reverend Canon William S. Logan never roamed far from his Detroit roots save a few years in Philadelphia and a degree in Chemical Engineering (cum laude)from the University of Pennsylvania.  Ordained (and married) in 1951, he is currently the senior active priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan.  The holder of three masters degrees (Engineering, Divinity, and Counseling), his ministry has spanned seven decades, including service as a Curate at Christ Church, Detroit, Rector of St. Martin’s, Detroit, Executive Director of Program for the Diocese of Michigan, sometime editor of “The Record” (a monthly newspaper for the diocese) and Archdeacon of the Diocese including serving as District Head of the Central District before he retired in 1985.

Canon Logan served on the Executive Council of the Diocese, the Board of the Wayne State University Episcopal Student Association, as a trustee of the Bishop Page Foundation, Chair of the Department of Christian Social Relations, and as a member of the Youth Division of the Department of Christian Education.  His wider community ministry included being an officer of the Michigan Council of Churches; and serving on the Michigan Commission for United Ministries in Higher Education, the Interfaith Emergency Council, and the Interfaith Action Council.  He also served on the Ministerial Committee of Planned Parenthood, and is a Charter Member of the Miller District Advisory Council.  He was honored by the City of Detroit for his service as a member of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Mayor’s Committee on Human Resources Development.

In 1967 at the start of great unrest in Detroit, he organized and coordinated the Inter-Faith Emergency Action Center.  He transformed the Diocesan Cathedral Center into a center for communication for all kinds of agencies and governmental response teams to help negotiate and restore calm in the midst of chaos.  Additionally, some 40,000 tons of food, water and clothing were distributed from this site as a result of his work.  He rode buses to march in Alabama for civil rights; organizations such as Bagley Housing (now part of Southwest Solutions). He was active in the Wranglers, and the Prismatic Club of Detroit bears his considerable imprint.  In 1968 his was made an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

Bill’s idea of retirement was to walk about 100 feet to a new “Cathedral office” in the Diocesan Cathedral Center to oversee the building of a fourteen story 150 unit apartment building for economically challenged seniors for the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.  From that beginning and for twenty-eight years he was at the Cathedral three days a week and most every Sunday being “retired,” and along the way he served as Canon-In-Charge between the eighth and ninth deans.

That which will bring the quickest and broadest smile to Bill’s face is mention of Mary, followed closely by any mention of their three children, Molly, Maggie and Will, and the accompanying grand- and great grandchildren.  Dr. Logan’s considerable accomplishments include degrees from Goucher College, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and decades of service as a member of the Department of Pediatrics of Henry Ford Hospital.  She was one of the driving forces in the founding of the CHASS (Community Health and Social Services) Center, the mission of which is to develop, promote, and provide comprehensive, accessible and affordable quality primary health care and support services to all residents of the community, with emphasis on the underserved African American and Latino populations in Detroit.  Dr. Logan retired at least three times herself, and because of her dedication and commitment, along with others, CHASS is celebrating forty-two years of mission.

Please join us to celebrate the Sabbath and give thanks to God for Bill and Mary at the 10:30 Eucharist on Sunday, September 9^th.  A gala reception follows the service in Barth Hall.

In celebration of the Logans’ mission and ministry, the loose offering (and any checks or envelopes so designated) from this service will go to the CHASS Center in their honor.

Lives, Love & Divine Showing-Off

For me, one of the best quips floating around the internet these days is the one that says, "Live your life such that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket at your funeral."

There are an awful (I picked that word with great intentionality) lot of declarations being made in the name of Christianity that would cause me, a person who both claims to be a Christian, and as a priest is what some would call a "vocational" Christian, to disavow all connections to the faith. The above mentioned group, those who would burn the sacred books of faiths our own Scriptures indicate God's favor toward, those who would attack any group or individual for the purpose of taking their life in the name of God, are but a few broad strokes of such troubling actions.

I appreciate, and add my voice to those who decry such actions. I am, however, concerned that those of us who are decrying those actions are more focused on that than we are on saying, "No, that is not Christianity as I understand it. It is not the Christianity I find in an examination of our holy writings." Yes, their behavior is offensive to the highest order. Yes, I (we) want no part of it. No, our dialogues (with each other 'cause I don't think they are listening), declarations and counter-protests will never sway them from their stony ideology. But, and here's the rub, we are not being very intentional at getting the word out to say, "Hey, you are not throwing us under the bus with their mis-representation of Christianity."

As a part of the Scriptures used for weekday services this week, I was reacquainted with a part of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel that has stirred me for years - Ezekiel 36:22-28. From the prophet we hear: "Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act." (Remember that we who call ourselves Christians are part of the continuation of the House of Israel.) Now if you've read much of the prophets' writings you would reasonably expect that the people of faith are about to get whacked because they have screwed up (again), having put their own agendas and idols ahead of God. But, it takes a different turn: "It is not for your sake... but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came" that God is going to act.

Still not looking good, you say? Yep, but here is what goes down:

The great name of God is going to be reclaimed: the one we ourselves profaned amongst others. And God is going to put the Divine holiness on display before their eyes, get this, through us. From nations and all countries (Looks like we won't all look alike/sound alike/be alike doesn't it!), God says, "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean .... A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ... and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

I want to be a part of that. I want that because I, and I believe each of us, have stony parts of our hearts. I'd like to give them up to a heart of flesh. A heart of flesh, to me, has need for good judgment, but no need to be judgmental. A heart of flesh knows the pain of being wounded, and therefore is intentional in efforts to heal others' wounds. A heart of flesh sees in the eyes of others the longing for deepest meaning, even when others cannot see it in themselves, and patiently offers them companionship in their seeking and longing. A heart of flesh takes seriously the mandatum, "Love one another as I have loved you." It was, it is, a love found in sacrifice, not conquest. Christians do not have to save the world, nor do they have to save others. In fact, they can't. That was Jesus' job, and from the cross he tells us, "It is finished."

We are to love. (Not a sanguine I'm okay, you're okay, anything at all is okay existence. That is not the love that Jesus lived and called us to emulate when saying, "as I have loved you.") This is the New Spirit. It is time that we embrace it with vigor and declare it with intention. The "new spirit" of love is the heart of Christianity. If we do this, invite other to see and share in this... people will still picket and judge, but few will believe it as being under the banner of Christianity.

God's declared plan in Ezekiel is to do a bit of Divine showing off - look what I can use to demonstrate my holiness -- by using the most unfit starting material possible: us. Don't you want to be a part that!

Pax Christi,

Scott+

Great Questions - Why do we pray for the departed?

One of the gifts of being the cathedral of our diocese is that the Bishop is with us each year for the Great Vigil of Easter. Lent has long been a season of preparation for Baptism (and Confirmation) and the Bishop’s presence with us makes the Confirmation part of that possible on this special and appropriate occasion – and not just for the Cathedral community but for the deanery and the whole diocese.

Along with this opportunity comes the responsibility to offer a time of intentional preparation for those desiring to be baptized, confirmed or received. Over the course of that preparation there are always some great questions. So, here is one from this year’s group of inquiring minds and hearts: 


Why do we pray for the departed?

If we were Roman Catholics, the answer would be, in part, connected with their doctrine of purgatory. The Episcopal Church does not embrace the concept and doctrine of purgatory, and since we are directed to pray for the departed in the Prayers of the People when we celebrate the Eucharist there must be some other considerations.

Let’s examine several things as we explore the question further.

Prayer: Prayer is a form of conversation. Most often we consider it to be conversation with God. All too often we think of it as being us talking and God listening. It is important for us to practice the listening side of prayer. The Prayer Book tells us that there are seven principal kinds of prayer. They are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession and petition. (More about this can be found in the Catechism, BCP p. 856-857).

The Communion of Saints: St. Paul, for whom this cathedral is named, uses the word “saints” as a term meaning all members of the community of faith. Now, we believe that at the time of one’s earthly death “life is changed not ended” (from the proper preface for the Commemoration of the Dead in the Eucharistic prayers, BCP p. 382), so one who has died an earthly death has not left the community of faith, but entered into another part of it. They are still part of the Communion of Saints, but in a different way.

Not to them, but for them and with them: It is important to understand that we do not pray TO the departed or even to formal saints of the Church (St. Mary, St. Paul, St. John, etc). Prayers of Adoration, in the purest sense of what Adoration is, are reserved for God, in the fullness of the Holy Trinity, alone. But, those whose life is changed not ended, still being a part of the same Communion of Saints of which we are a part, can be engaged in our prayer life just as those we can reach out to and touch.

But for them: None of us would find it strange at all to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for an individual that means a great deal to us – maybe a family member, a friend, a mentor, or even the person who helped us change a flat tire for instance. Praying for the departed becomes a manner of conversation, since we can no longer communicate in the same verbal manner (or text, tweet, or Skype them). Holding them in our hearts before the Divine Presence in prayers of thanksgiving for them, and for their place in our journey, would be natural. So too, prayers of penitence have their place in that conversation. Imagine, if you will, the person who has died with whom we have a strained or broken relationship. As we consider them part of the greater community of saints, prayers of penitence can allow us to convey our sorrow and contrition for our part in the broken relationship. Prayer, again, is a means of continued conversation. 

And with them: There are very few of us who would find it strange or uncommon to ask someone we know to pray with us (and even for us) if we are anxious or fearful about something, for an upcoming surgery or a job interview. Maybe we are asking them to pray in thanksgiving for our anniversary, or an occasion of healing, or to offer intercessions for healing or peace of mind. Now consider the fullness of the Communion of Saints as being a gathering of the faithful without the limits of time, space, or the time between human birth and death. It simply makes our prayer-circle, if you will, that much bigger. Also, maybe someone you know has passed from this earthly life, but they had a great passion like peace in the Holy Land (or anywhere else for that matter), and they have inspired you to continue that intercession. This understanding of the Communion of Saints as being the faithful gathered without time/space limits means you continue to share that journey instead of being left on your own.

A concluding word or two: This is about the real relationship. In the most real, the most genuine relationships we have, we do not try to change the other person. The fact is, their presence in our lives changes us. The inclusion of the Communion of Saints in our prayers is not at all like expanding our list of Facebook (or Prayerbook?) friends since more is not quantitative thing. There is no Prayer-O-Meter in the heavens we need to try to register a certain number on so God will give us what we want. (But, probably we’ve all tried to do that at one time or another.) Prayer is ultimately about an authentic relationship with the Pure and Steadfast Love of God – The Real Relationship. That relationship, through direct prayer, and through a continued engagement with God’s chosen vessels of that love and grace, whom we call “saints,” changes us.

Prayerfully, Scott+

Cathedral Worship in Lent

The season of Lent is a penitential one and includes the only two designated fast days in our calendar, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Of course, when we gather on Sundays it is never a fast day. Sundays are always feast days recalling our Lord’s resurrection. They are days “in Lent” but they are not days “of Lent.”

Our Lenten worship takes on a more somber, reflective, and penitential tone. Still quite beautiful in its own way, it invites us to look deeply, honestly, at our relationship with God, with other people, with all that is around us, and with ourselves. The worship will reflect the penitential nature of the season – penitential meaning to turn around, to change direction and go the other way.

We will be using Rite I, or as the Prayer Book sometimes references, the traditional language service.   It is not the common fare for Sunday worship here.  We are doing this because the words are not so familiar to our ear; certainly not in the way that our "every Sunday" contemporary (again a Prayer Book term) language services are. The language of Rite I, particularly the Eucharistic Prayer we will use, puts us in mind of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, and calls us to be honest about our own sinfulness as seek to change our direction for Easter and beyond. We hope it will also tweak our ears to hear words we routinely say when we worship in ways that shake us from routine.  Worship of God should always be extraordinary and certainly regular, but never routine!

On the First Sunday in Lent we will begin with the Great Litany. It will be chanted in procession and set the tone consistent with Ash Wednesday's invitation to the observance of a holy Lent.  On the following Sundays we begin with the Lenten Prose at our 10:30 service, also in procession. It is a beautiful set of sung pleadings with a congregational response. Then we move into the seasonally appropriate Penitential Order.

We look forward to sharing the journey of this holy season with you at worship and at any of the other activities and offerings of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

Lenten blessings,
Scott+



Whether this nudges you out of your worshiping “comfort zone” or settles you into it, we pray this worship will serve as part of that which moves you ever closer to the Holy Spirit’s path for you in your journey.

A Celtic Blessing on Ash Eve

While in the midst of scrambling for pancakes or King's Cake or making Mardi Gras, here is a bit of blessing to ponder from our Celtic forebearers.

We shall have mead,
We shall have wine,
We shall have feast.
We shall have sweetness and milk,
Honey and milk,
Wholesome ambrosia,
Abundance of that,
Abundance of that.

We shall have harp,
We shall have lute,
We shall have horn.
We shall have sweet psaltery
Of the melodious strings
And the regal lyre,
Of the songs we shall have,
Of the songs we shall have.

And the King of kings,
And Jesus Christ,
And the Spirit of peace
And of grace be with us,
Of grace be with us.

Good all, may you be well this night and on the morrow a lenten journey trod.

Grace and peace,
Scott+

Celebrate!

My Prayerful Thoughts for Those Gathered at the Cathedral for the Feast of the Conversation of St. Paul 2012

Today is about Celebration. But before we celebrate I want you to introduce you to someone. Her name is Victoria.

If you could meet Victoria, it would take you all of about two minutes to conclude that this person is more full of life, more full of love, more full of practical wisdom (the kind maybe you can only get growing up in Corning, where-in-the-world-is-that, Arkansas) than maybe anyone you’ve ever met. Was she always that way? Who knows, but I’ve known her over twenty years, and she has always been that way to me.

Victoria was sitting by the street curb in her yard. It was Holy Saturday 1989. Tomorrow would be Easter. Alvin, her husband was there too, and their daughter was riding around on a giant yellow “big wheel.” It was a beautiful, I mean really beautiful, day for March 25 in the upper Midwest. Did I mention that tomorrow would be Easter Day? Because on Easter it would also be one week and one day since Victoria and Alvin’s first born son, Nicholas, died. He was seven. It was leukemia.

Alvin turned to Victoria and asked, “How do you think Nick is?”

Victoria answered, “I choose to believe he’s in a perfect place. He’s perfect, and he’s in a perfect place.”

When Al, tells this story, he is very clear: “On that day God spoke to me through Vickie.” On that day God made it clear that there are times you have to choose. You can choose to let the shadows of death, or losses, or challenges of any kind, swallow you up. Or you can choose life. And any time the shadows find their way back in, you have to choose.”

Choice is nothing new to God’s people. Moses had to make a choice. He made all kinds of arguments about why someone else would be better, but in the end he chose to leave Midian, confront Pharaoh, and lead his people out of captivity, through the wilderness, to a new land. He never got to go into that new land, but I don’t think for an instant that looking back he would have chosen differently.

Jeremiah, the prophet, argued that he was far too young to be called by God, but he chose to take up the prophet’s mantle – never an easy road. Again, I don’t think he’d choose differently even in hindsight. Samuel chose to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” instead of rolling over and going back to sleep. Abraham had a choice: he could laugh off God’s silly promise of children to an old couple, or he could pack-up all his belongings and set off on a journey to a destination unknown. Jonah said “no” a bunch of times before he ever got around to saying “yes.” Mary, too, had to choose. To the angel Gabriel she could have said “yes” or “no.” “Let be unto me according to God’s word” is from my point of view an elegant “yes.”

 The point of this is three-fold: (1) There are times when we each have choices to make. We cannot delegate them, pass them off or ignore them, because no choice is a choice (for shadows). (2) Choosing the life God offers does not mean that the journey will easy, but we will always have a companion in Christ who knows how hard it is and where we need to go. (3) There is always more than one chance to say, “Yes.”

In December 2007 and January 2008 I was preparing for my first Annual Meeting with you as your Dean. Looking at everything on paper it was clear that the cathedral had been living way beyond its means. There was going to be a budget shortfall of over $400K dollars – which could never be because we didn’t have $400K anywhere to back it up. I came and sat on the cathedral steps. What had I gotten myself and my family into? A freakin’ four hundred thousand dollar deficit! At that moment, there were lots of other jobs in the Church that were looking pretty good – really about any other job in the Church looked pretty good. And little did I know, at that time, that Great Recession, which started in October 2008, was still to come. “Party on,” as they say!

Long about now you are saying to yourselves, he said this was about celebration. I promise I’m getting to that.

On that day, sitting on these steps I had to choose. Had God really called me here? Yes, I believe God had. Had God called me here to be the Dean that presided over the closing of this Cathedral? No, God had not called me here to do hospice. It might happen, but that was not what God had called me to do.

But, what was I, as your Dean, to do? God made three things clear: 1) Jesus had to be at the heart of everything, and it all starting with worship. 2) Speak the truth in love, simply and clearly, and always without malice or blame. 3) And know that you are not alone – Now you are thinking that means God would be with me, and of course you are right, but there is more.

It also meant this: At one point Moses stood in the wilderness before God and said in so many words, “If I have to do this all by myself, kill me now.” I never had to do that, because while there were some extremely lonely times, I always knew I was not in this alone. On one hand was my wife and daughter, and on the other have been an unfailing line of faithful wardens, vestry members, long-time members of the cathedral community, OUR STAFF, our volunteers, strangers sent into our midst by the Holy Spirit who are no longer strangers (like Fr. Nestrock), people in the greater community who are not members but look upon us and see a power for God’s good in this place – people like Valerie Parisi, Dean of the WSU School of Medicine; Sue Mosey, president of UCCA now Midtown Detroit, Inc.; Bill Marsh of several midtown enterprises; and Advantage Healthcare (the parent organization of the Waller clinic).

That is something to celebrate! And here are some more:

In 2011 we did, in fact, celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Cathedral’s dedication with fanfare, and a great party (thanks to the three unstoppable forces, Beth, Carmen, and Paula, who led the Centennial Celebration Committee), and the Centennial Voices preaching series, and with the taking up of a challenge to give the people and generations yet to come a more comfortable and hospitable worship space. Cooling the Cathedral is almost at its goal, only $1500 to go, and I believe that before the meeting today is over we will be there because you will get us there.

In 2011 we celebrated the rededication of Williams Pavilion, our excellent 150 unit apartment building for seniors who have limited financial resources. The Pavilion has been the personal love and mission of our own Canon Logan, and this year the 14th Floor Conference and Community rooms were named in his honor. Celebrate the faithful witness of Bill Logan, 61 years a priest this year, and also the commitment of Cathedral Foundation Trustees.

Celebrate the first youth mission pilgrimage in recent memory – led by Kit Ilardi – taking in the great churches of New York City, and helping St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New Providence, NJ.

Under the leadership for Cn. Tarrant and Mr. Newman the choirs, particularly the boys and girls of the choir and the Cathedral Choir School have grown and flourished. They will tell you the support of many has made this possible. Let’s celebrate the leadership of Jane Thomas and the Choir School advisory board, and let us especially celebrate the current group of choir parents who are coming together in new and exciting ways.

Celebrate the renewed ministry of our Eucharistic Visitors whom we will commission in just a few minutes; and the faithfulness of our Healing Ministers, Lectors, Acolytes, Ushers, Greeters and Flower Guild members. Celebrate with me the extraordinary skill and commitment of our Clerk of the Works.

Celebrate the construction of the Garden of St. Andrew the Fisherman, a place for quiet and respite in the midst of a busy midtown, and a gentle final resting place for those whose earthly journey is done.

Celebrate the outreach of this Cathedral through many avenues, but in particular that Breakfast Fellowship – between 8K and 10K served each year. Celebrate with me the dedication and the diaconal and pastoral witness of Deacon Watton!

Celebrate with me a year when we were blessed to experience the profession of vows and clothing of a religious; share the life of a seminarian in her field education; and send out a new college graduate to work in an Episcopal Urban Outreach ministry in L.A.; and celebrate the laughter and learning of little ones in halls who are part of the Detroit Montessori School.

Celebrate with me a year that saw us realize financial goals that change the course of our ministry in profoundly positive ways: the selling a property that we long needed to sell at a price, even in this market that allowed us to retire all its associated debts and obligations; celebrate the refinancing of the former school debt in a way that lets us retire it completely in eleven years, and at the same time pay interest, not to a bank, but to the Cathedral Foundation, hereby continuing to benefit our community ministry. Celebrate with me the budget our Treasurer will present to you, which while still in just a bit of deficit, increases our support of the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Michigan, and for the first time is of a size that, if necessary, we can cover with reserve funds held by the Cathedral. Guy Thomas and the Stewardship team would also want me to celebrate the opportunity to tell you that if you have not yet made your pledge for 2012, cards are available and the deficit will be further reduced! Let us celebrate the gift of generous hearts.

Now we begin our Second Century of Cathedral ministry – where it will be 100 years from now, I do not know. But let us celebrate the emergence form difficult financial times, but let us make a choice, let us choose to celebrate the ministry that has been accomplished in God’s name even in the midst of past, present and future challenges.

Let me also acknowledged this truth: If our celebration is only about what we have accomplished in the past, we have died to past. If it is only about exalting in the successes of the present moment, then all we celebrate is a narcissistic desire to pat ourselves on the back. But, if choose to celebrate legacy of the past, affirm joyfully the accomplishments God has made possible in this moment, and LOOK WITH VISION, HOPE AND EXPECTATION TOWARD WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO BE AND BECOME – then dear sisters and brothers, we not only celebrate well, but our celebration becomes, in words of our patron, St. Paul, prayer without ceasing.

Our Vision is to be an extraordinary spiritual gathering place where people of all backgrounds and ages are welcome to question and learn, pray, worship and serve; being loved by God in ways that change and improve their lives and the lives of others. Celebrate that!

And, really, when it comes down to it, may we choose with each rising sun to celebrate that we have this day to praise God. Amen.