We continue our exploration of the Early Church Writings, working our way into the Gospel of Matthew. This past week, we read aloud the first 5 chapters of the gospel and then delved into the historical context, learning about Matthew’s take of Jesus as the “new Moses” and how he built his case for that connection, between the genealogy, wise men, exile into Egypt, baptism, and then the Sermon on the Mount (on the mountain as when Moses received the 10 commandments on mt. Sinai)/ We spent time intentionally sitting with and reflecting upon the beatitudes, how they connect with Matthew’s gospel, and what they mean to us now.
We continue our study on Wednesday, 4th. Please email Mother Barbara for the Zoom link.
We are delighted you are worshiping with us from the safety and comfort of your home. Please settle into our worship and allow your heart to be strengthened, your soul restored, and your body refreshed by this worship service of prayer, scripture reading, glorious music, and a homily.
To download the bulletin so you can read along and sing the hymns, please click below.
This past week we gathered to explore the ideas in Richard Rohr’s book, The Universal Christ. We meet every other week for lively discussions as well as a contemplative practice that settles our soul, for it is in resting in God that we are restored and can see the broadness and expansiveness of the Risen Christ among us.
This week we began with our contemplative exercise. We engaged in a video of images taken of nature and reflected upon what the images say to us about the nature of God. For Rohr contents, that God is not just the Creator of all things, but is revealed in all things — which means we can learn about the nature of God and be in relationship with God by engaging with nature and looking with “the eyes of our heart”. As we watched the video we wrote down words that speak to us of what we know about the essential qualities of God. Words such as: abundance, provides security, is all about community, trusting, starkness, strength, comfort, new life, turning toward light, always in motion were some of the reflections we offered to one another.
To watch the nature image video, please click below.
We then discussed the many faithful ways that we have dealt with the isolation and sense of alienation from the pandemic by turning ever more closely to the interior “mirror of Christ” within us, to strengthen our connection with the holy. It was a beautiful time of sharing and reflection for the resourcefulness of God to pull us into exactly the right experiences to find solace and comfort.
We concluded our conversation by talking about Sabbath and the natural pattern established by God in the creation narrative: “doing” following by “being” and how this plays out in our spiritual lives, as we yearn to make our lives prayer, rather than incorporate prayer into our lives.
To pray along with Desmond Tutu our closing prayer taken from his book, “Made for Goodness”, please click below.
This past week we gathered first to hear the Letter to the Colossians read aloud, for that was what was always intended, that we would hear the good news, rather than read the good news, since it offers additional opportunities to engage with the sacred text. Often we find when we read the entirety of a book of the Bible, we gather a larger message, rather than hearing only a snippet of the text on Sunday mornings.
This past week we delved into this letter, which is attributed to Paul, but generally believed not to be Paul’s authorship. Several of the topics considered were: 1) prayer for spiritual wisdom, 2) exploration of the Hymn of Christ, 3) proper meaning of the crucifixion, and 4) maturing in Christ.
To download the study guide prepared by Mother Barbara, please click below.
Our conversations are designed to know the scripture at depth, to explore how they interact with our lives today, and to see the larger arc of the development of Christian thought. All are welcome to participate!
Join us this weekend to worship together virtually. This is a time of beautiful music, Holy Scripture readings, prayer and the Holy Eucharist — PLUS the gift of the music created by Brian Helman, recently recorded. To participate click the link below.
Click below for the bulletin to join in with the singing and readings.
To listen to Mother Barbara’s call to gratitude for the blessing of God’s grace and love made manifest through the continued recovery of Brian Helman, in heart, mind, body, and soul — listen to the music Brian is able to create now, that shows that what is within his heart can be continue to be a prayer to us and to the world.
Refresh your spirit as you listen, watch and participate in this beautiful and holy time of music, prayer, reading of the Holy Scripture and the Holy Eucharist. Prepare your hearts for a rest and refreshing. Click below to access the bulletin for this service and to participate from home.
We gathered this past Wednesday to explore Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthians as part of our exploration of the Early Church Writings.
We explored such topics as 1) affliction and consolation, 2) power in weakness, 3) the gospel being the treasure in clay pots (we’re the clay pots), 4) the development of the notion of a judgment day and the role of the resurrected Christ at that time, and 5) Paul’s emphasis on mercy and compassion.
We always study the historical context of the writing and identify new theological concepts and then apply the text to our own lives.
To read the Class Outline with Questions to ponder, please click below.
We are an incarnational people. Our faith tradition believes that God came within the human person of Jesus, to reconcile humankind and all of creation to God. That’s what the incarnation means — “in carnate” or in the body.
Our faith also believes that it is within and with our body that we worship God. This is why the beauty of the church, the “smells and bells” (incense of sanctus bells), the flowers, the bread and wine — all these elements of worship are important to us because it is through these that we are drawn into the sacred.
It is also through community, the gathering of bodies in worship, that we experience the divine. Therefore, it was marvelous to be together in worship last week, as we resumed in-person worship, with many safety precautions in place. To see each one of you walk forward to receive the blessed body of Christ is a moment I will always remember. There was such mutual and deep joy — and I could tell hearts and souls were formed, strengthened, received, and blessed, for this is the holy work of God as we engage with the sacraments.
Each person needs to make the decision about when to return to worshipping in person based upon their own circumstance– and that is right and good. We will continue to offer a recorded service for those who find worshipping at home to be the right choice for them in this time. I am also willing to come to your home, or to meet at church at a time other than during a church service, or outdoors in the Memorial Garden, to share communion with you. Please just email me or call me (717-333-5590) if you would like to arrange for communion.
Sometimes,
invitations come across our computer screen and our hearts seem immediately
turned toward curiosity and engagement. That was true for me as I saw the
offering by Oasis Ministries, through which I did my spiritual director
training, for Contemplative Prayer Flags. I must admit, I was also intrigued
enough by the thought that we could do this together sometime, so I wanted to
see how they oriented this spiritual practice.
Fabric, markers, acrylic paints — and a whole lot of prayer is all that’s needed.
I
gathered my materials: 9” squares of fabric in the designated colors (blue,
white, red, green, and yellow), a set of permanent markers and acrylic paint
and I was ready to go. Our webinar began in prayer as we set our intention
toward this time to be one of holiness and creativity. We then learned about
the symbolism and history of peace flags. Some of the images offered were
stunning, of immensely long streamers of these flags, positioned high in the
Tibetan mountainside, so that the breezes could spread the prayers throughout
the world.
We
centered ourselves in meditation, which was essential, since as we prepare to
create with God, we need to open our hearts to receive the images and words we
will use to create our own visual prayers. I must admit, every time before I
begin an artistic endeavor, my spirit freezes and I wonder if anything
worthwhile will come to my mind and heart that I could offer as a visual
prayer. But after moments of settling, I found suddenly a number of images pop
into my awareness. It was glorious to name the passages of scripture which were
touching my heart around prayer, as well as the liturgical phrases we use so often
in our service of Holy Eucharist.
All you need is love ….
I
closed my computer, put on contemplative music, took a few deep breaths, and
allowed my heart to dance with the Spirit. Suddenly images appeared in my brain
and I was able to make them become real on my fabric. I then added words and
allowed myself to sit with them. Ultimately, I put the finishing touches on
them and then attached them to the rope and hung them from some trees in the
woods.
Prayers being released into the world.
One
of the points in the introduction was the emphasis on surrender. First, I
believe, to surrender to the acceptance of imperfection, for my prayer flags
are not perfectly created. Second, it was to surrender them to the elements of
the earth, which the colors of the flags represent (sky, air, fire, water,
earth). My prayer flags will become frayed. They may blow away. They may become
faded and worn away. Already they have been drenched with the sudden rain
storms we’ve had these past few days and I had to resist the urge to rush
outside and bring them in out of the rain. But each time I feel a breeze
whisper through the trees, I know my prayer for peace, expressed in so many
ways in images and words, are being sent around the world, to find the heart
that needs that message the most, so one soul at a time can be healed and
turned toward peace.
The Prayer (attributed to) St. Francis: Let me be an instrument of your peace.
Here’s
what I learned, rediscovered, and connected with through this thoughtful and
Spirit-filled practice:
It is the process of prayer,
not the outcome that counts.
Prayer is an opening of my
heart.
I can trust that the Spirit
will show up and place upon my heart the right prayer.
There’s a gift in releasing
our prayers into God’s world.
It’s fun to co-create with
God.
I believe prayers matter.
It was a prayerful experience
in allowing the scripture or parts of the liturgy to come upon my heart to be
expressed in the flags.
I love the idea that the
breeze will take the prayers off into the world, wherever they are most needed.
Prayer is an act of surrender.
Prayers don’t need to be
beautiful. They may be smeared like the marker on the fabric, but that’s okay –
it’s actually part of the gift, that we can offer our imperfection to God—and
through God’s grace, all is made whole.
I do
hope you will want to make your own set of peace flags – maybe we can do this
together? Please let me know if you are interested. The flags can be any size
and should be placed outside. They could be over your doorstep or on your
porch, or outside your window where you will see them often so you can daily
reconnect with your prayers. As I create my labyrinth in my woods this summer,
I will create a set which will welcome people into that particular holy space.
We gathered on Wednesday evening (by Zoom) to lean into the truth and affection found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We are reading New Testament scripture in the order that it was written and are still in the very early letters, before the first gospel was written.
Our conversation absorbed the information about the date, authorship, and context of this letter and then focused on the key concepts and passages found in this gem of an epistle. We explored the idea of joy (what it means, how it differs from happiness, how and when is joy possible in the midst of suffering) and also began our exploration of the key concept of our faith of Kenosis or self-emptying. We will continue an exploration of this topic and other questions related to this text this coming Wednesday. All are welcome. Please email Mother Barbara for the Zoom link.
To access the written material for this evening session, please click below.
This past week, our faithful volunteers served meals to our hungry neighbors, by offering take out packages of delicious food. We are noticing that more people are showing up in need, as we are serving many more meals that we previously did. We are grateful that we are able to continue this ministry as helping others, as Jesus did, is at the heart of our being. Thank you to all who contribute to this ministry in many ways. If you would like to make a donation to help cover the expenses of these meals, you can do so by writing a check to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and write “Community Meal” in the memo line.
