St Timothy's Episcopal Church

Youth Mission Trip - Friday Report

2009-06-27T00:14:00.002-04:00

Good evening everyone! This will be our last update to the blog. Our buses will pull out (hopefully) at 5:30 tomorrow morning for our long drive home. Before that though, here is a report from Clay Sexton and Emily Jeske.

Clay -
YARR!!!!! ME MATES!!! That’s been pretty much of my vocabulary this week, I’m not really sure why through, besides the week before this I was at the beach. So needless to say I was already worn out before setting out to go on the mission trip. I kept telling myself that I would sleep longer hours or something or just sleep on the bus to make up for my late nights and early awakenings at the beach. I never did. I thought that I would be destroyed with being tired even before getting to the work site that our church was working on, but somehow I never did. I have remained awake and very alert for the most part this whole trip working extremely hard every day at the work site. However, most people don’t know this yet, but originally I wasn’t even going to go on this mission trip in the first place. The diocese of North Carolina has a mission trip at the same time as this one to the camp we went to for the first mission trip that St. Timothy's Episcopal Church went on. It was planned that I was going to go because I have a lot of diocese friends that I was starting to get to know about 6 months ago and I really still wanted to get to know them a lot so I was going to go with them on the mission trip that they go on. Now, I’m very happy that I went with our church for a lot of reasons. It was David Roses departure that mainly wanted to make me go since I won’t be able to see him later in the year. Most people in the youth group were pretty mad at me when I told them this plan but that’s another reason that I had to go was because they were forcing me too. The last huge reason was my mom. She has come on the mission trip this year along with Raven and I. When she first told me I was pretty mad that she was since I wanted it to just be a kid thing but in the end I am glad that she has come after all, and I can tell tat she is really glad too. Well I’m being told now that I have to stop talking to you all and give some other people a turn. I’ll see everybody on Sunday!

Emily -
Hello all! It is good to finally be talking (and by talking I mean blogging…) with everyone back at home. We have been hard at work and hard at play and this week has been amazing. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Our 3rd mission trip will be over at 5am (I mean, really, 5am?!?) when we roll out of New Orleans and head back to Winston Salem. I envision much napping on the bus ride home. 15 hour long naps may or may not become my new life path (besides professional slip and sliding, of course). Speaking of slip and sliding, we had an awesome one on Wednesday night that can be described as nothing less than epic. It was just a huge black sheet of plastic from Ace hardware and we set it up in the side yard of Aurora UMC (no hills, thanks below sea level!). Add water and soap, shampoo, and conditioner (yes, really, conditioner), and you have a great slip and slide. Just to throw this out there, I was the first to make it all the way to the grass on the other side of the plastic. I definitely paid for it, I have a bruise that is probably 6 inches in length and 2 in width across my hip, I kid you not. But I would say it was worth it.
Our work thus far has consisted of roofing, priming, painting, and various other nailing projects. It has been hard but definitely rewarding. We met all the homeowners and presented them with prayer shawls and blankets which were knitted by Stitch by Stitch (thank you!). It is nice to see that our work is appreciated and much needed. After 4 years, it’s hard to believe that there is still that much work that needs to be done, but there is still so far to go.
Today was our free day in downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter. We got to sleep in until 8:30 (imagine, 8:30 being considered sleeping in), and then we took the ferry from the West Bank where we are staying across the Mississippi. As a big fan of rivers, this was really cool for me. We split into our groups and had a couple hours to peruse the city before we met at the aquarium. Then we had about four hours after that to go back and shop. Lots of good deals at the French flea market and I feel like I got a lot of good buys. But I digress.
This week has been a really great experience for me and the whole youth group. We have all bonded a lot and will all be sad to leave. I will see you all tomorrow night!

Please keep us in your prayer tomorrow as we travel. We're all looking forward to being back home after such a good week. We cannot thank our St. Timothy's family enough for the prayers and support that made this trip possible. See you back in Winston-Salem!

Youth Mission Trip - Wednesday report

2009-06-24T20:45:00.004-04:00

Good evening everyone! Here is a report from three individuals today, Tanner Mann, Raven Sexton, and Frances Miller.

Tanner –
Hello, today was a pretty fun day. I pretty much painted boards all day. It was probably one of the hottest days so far, almost as hot as me. I had to take a lot of water breaks. Last night we had a cookout at the park. We had hamburgers and played in the field. Then we came back and David Rose told us a scary story about Count Dracula. Overall this has been a great trip!

Raven-
Hello bloggers! This trip has been so much fun so far. The heat is terrible!!! Last night all four youth groups went to a park for a cookout. We played a very intense game of human knot, while others played a game of ultimate Frisbee. After dinner there was a hard core eating contest in which I took place in. Our yummy meal was a pickle ( which I hate!!!) on a hamburger bun with chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Now doesn’t that sound yummy?!?!? Now the race started and while all the other four large big tall men were only half way through the whole sandwich was completely in my mouth. Even though I hadn’t swallowed it first it was in my mouth first. And VERY soon after that i threw up behind a tree next to a grill. Not the prettiest thing out there, GROSS! Then back at the church the AC in the girls building was broken so girls from the youth groups had a sleepover in the gym on the floor!!! And then today some people including myself woke at 6:15 am to go to the work site early and get a head start on what needed to be finished. I painted like the whole front of a house on a ladder and it was scary!!! I was helped by my Bennie Boo Boo bear (Ben Cowgill) by him holding my ladder in the HOT sun all day; he is my hero! When all returned back, David Rose surprised us with a slip n slide! It was a blast, it made us feel like such kids again loved it, even our adults took a run or two. It was a fun day and one I will never forget!!!!! :)

Frances- Parent Chaperone
Oh boy, has this youth mission trip been such an inconvenience. I have way too many other things to do, a new project at work, llamas to shave, I’ll miss my daily exercise and the Bailey’s party!
The trip down was so long, two different delays of about 4 hours, the AC on the bus went out and when we finally go to Alabama we found out we were to sleep on the floor. It’s hot, we have to wear long pants, the food is mediocre, the AC in our sleeping quarters is on the blink; the list on inconveniences could go on and on.
After we arrive we find that the 2 delays were accidents that took 3 lives, only an inconvenience for us but a life changing event for those families.
Now we are on the work site and I wonder if the kids will behave, if they will whine. I sure want to as it is hot enough to fry eggs and they are putting shingles on the roof. Instead they are fighting over who gets to work up there all begging to go up. When it’s time to quit for the day, they still want to stay and work. On the way home they talk about how glad they had on long pants because of the hot tar on the shingles, the poison ivy and how they don’t stick to the vinyl seats of the bus. Are these the same children that came from Winston Salem or aliens? A great time to watch our children grow.
We meet Myrna whose house we are working on. She is such a kind and generous person sharing her story with us. We find out that she lost her job, her possessions, her home. She has slept on here mother’s couch for the last 4 YEARS! The one thing she has not lost is her faith and now we are helping her regain her home. I find that in her I found a new friend along with all her extended family of children and grandchildren.
The AC in the church is out and I find out from Lee Prout, an Aurora Church member that this is exactly the same weather that they had after Katrina, except that it lasted 4 MONTHS with no electricity, water, food. More than an inconvenience, why am I complaining about one night? Maybe we are finding out what it might have been like then. The girls all take their mattresses to the gym to sleep and soon our girls are all chatting with girls from other groups, what a great time to meet others.
While we are working, a stranger comes by. He is the pastor of a small church around the corner. They have just turned on the AC and he saw us working and thought we might need a break from the heat. What a gift!
Some kids want to go for a morning run so I can exercise! We have a great time and they come up with new ways for summer Sunday School, will I help them? They are leading me.
Tonight we will worship with the Team Effort Group and then Pastor Simon, the pastor of Aurora Church will join us and share some of his experiences over the past 4 years. I am so looking forward to this. Time to meet new people.
Oh boy, this youth mission trip has been such an opportunity.

Pictures of the Slip-n-slide:

Youth Mission Trip - pictures from yesterday

2009-06-24T08:08:00.005-04:00

Youth Mission Trip - Tuesday

2009-06-23T22:54:00.002-04:00

Greetings once again from New Orleans! Here are reports from Anna Vaughan and Parker Stallings:

Anna Vaughan -
Heyy heyy! Today was a fun filled day here in New Orleans. Today I “flushed wood” and primed a house. “Flushing wood” means you make the wood even to another board and nail it down. It’s not too hard but it’s challenging! We ran out of paint today so we were done early so our chaperones took us to Snow Balls to get snow cones. They were good! The air conditioning got turned off so it was 92 degrees in the girl’s room when we got home. We have chores to do everyday and today we have bathrooms. Not to sure how its going to go but it will be interesting. When we have free time the guys normally play basketball and the girls either join in or watch and talk. We have met some people from the other Episcopal Church from Florida and they are really nice. Even though I am not a member of St. Timothy’s I feel like I am part of the youth! I have had a lot of fun here with everyone, and I will be sad to see this week come to a close. But I can’t wait to get back home to tell everyone the hilarious stories!

Parker -
Today was so hot, high was 101 degrees and 120 degrees on the roof. I was the prince of work, and that means that I get first dibs on the shower. All I did was scrape paint and I was in the air on a tall ladder and I got the whole backside of the house. Right now I’m really bored. Also this blog took me 15 minutes. MOM I miss you. :)

For dinner tonight we had a cook out at a local park. It was a great time where we interacted with several members from the other churches we are working with. Our group had the opportunity to lead the singing for the Chapel service, which was also at the park. As usual. we have ended our day with Night Prayer and a time of reflection on what we enjoyed the most tduring the day, and what we learned during the day.

Will post pictures from today first thing tomorrow morning! It now lights out. Good night!

Youth Mission Trip 2009 - Monday

2009-06-23T08:05:00.003-04:00

Here is a report of our work yesterday from Alex Messick and Erin Gerrity -

Messick-
We were told to be in the gym at eight for breakfast. After we ate we loaded up on the buses and went straight to the worksite but today I lucked out and got dragged around with David Rose for the morning, but in the afternoon I was at the site with everyone else. We ate lunch and stopped at Mickey Ds for a bathroom break. We headed to the site and I started to peel paint. After that I went and held ladders for Amanda, Raven and Stephanie. Also I put primer on one of the houses. Then Alex got named hardest guy worker of the day and I was proud of him. After we were finished working, we went back to the church and started playing the Wisconsin kids in a basketball game.

Erin-
Hi everybody! We are having so much fun. We started out the day by waking up at 7:30 (we were all so excited about that..) then after changing into our work clothes (which have to be jeans!) we had breakfast provided by Teameffort which was sausage, eggs, hash browns, and biscuits. After eating breakfast we headed out to the worksites with the help of our two leaders Dustin and Alyssa. We arrived and saw three houses, all worn down and damaged. One house needed work on the support on the ceiling, one house needed to be primed and painted and have the floor fixed, and the third house needed to be smoothed down so we could paint it and we had to put shingles on the roof. For most of the day I was up on the roof nailing down the shingles, I really enjoyed this job until the roof got really, really hot and I could barely sit on it. Then Emily, David Green, Clay, Tyler, Grace V, Amelia, Josh and I had to get off the roof before we got burned. For the rest of the day I helped scrape paint and put primer on houses.

We have started worshiping three times a day; we are going to do a morning prayer, noon prayer, and Compline every night. This is in addition to the worship Teameffort is holding putting on. Tomorrow morning we might go for a morning youth group jog, (as we did last year ha ha) so we will let you know how that goes. Everyday each church has a chore to do; today we had to help with dinner. The food so far has been pretty good, we had sandwiches for lunch. Well I’m going to go join the basketball game! We are all having fun, staying safe, and staying hydrated so no worries! And we can’t wait to get back and share all our fun!

Check back later today for more pictures and reports from our work.

Youth Mission trip - Monday work pictures

2009-06-23T07:49:00.005-04:00

Youth Mission trip 2009 - Sunday

2009-06-22T11:35:00.002-04:00

Hello and good morning. We arrived in New Orleans late yesterday afternoon, and we had another full day yesterday.

We worshiped with Fairhope UMC yesterday morning and then took our time travelling from there to New Orleans. One of the highlights for me was that we drove along the MS coast and saw the same area we worked in 2 years ago with Mission on the Bay. I was struck once again by the ammount of devation Hurricane Katrina left in her wake. When we arrived in New Orleans, Bill Stallings led us to the Lower Ninth ward and showed us where the Industrial Canal broke through the levee and flooded the entire area. We then drove by the Superdome, and 20 minutes later, we arrived at Aurora UMC, which will be our home for this week.

Today, we begin our work. Actually as I am writing this our youth are hard at work. We are working on three different houses, stripping paint, finishing laying shingles on a roof and cleaning up an empyt lot. It was HOT here by 9am. There will be pictures of the work we are doing today posted later tonight.

Here are a couple thoughts from David Green and Will Carter regarding our trip yesterday, which they both wrote last night.

Will-
The trip has been ok so far were finally here and his has taken forever. A total of 2 days and 3 hours. Now were staying at Aurora UMC in New Orleans Louisiana. We got here put our stuff in our rooms, which are fairly nice, and we went straight to Wendy’s and we got there so late we had to get it to go. We ate all of our food in the van and then walked straight into the service where it was amazingly fun, and after we had night prayer and now we are getting ready to sleep.

David Green-
Today we started by getting up and going to church at Fairhope UMC after staying their for the night. I really enjoyed the service but was excited to get on to the final destination that is New Orleans, Louisiana. The car ride was a good three or four hours with the temperature getting hotter as we went. Everyone knew when we reach New Orleans because of the huge skyline and all the bridges. But by far the best part of the ride was the listening and singing to the Taylor Swift CD. So far this trip has been fairly enjoyable with most of us being stuck in the car.

Check back soon for reports and pictures regarding our actual work here in New Orleans! Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!

Youth Mission trip '09

2009-06-21T09:05:00.003-04:00

Good morning! As I write this, we are waking up at Fairhope UMC. We had a long day in the busses yesterday, and we are looking forward to a much shorter drive today to New Orleans. However, after yesterday, we discovered that nothing goes exactly as planned!

Here are two of the youth, Ben Cowgill and Hannah Forsell to tell you about their day yesterday -

Ben –
The trip so far has been pretty fun. We had some traffic jams near Atlanta, so the driving portion dragged on longer than expected. We had a lot of fun singing on the bus. Unfortunately, one bus’s air conditioning broke, so we had to open all the windows. It turned out cooler than the air! Our pickup truck had a flat tire, but other than that, there were no accidents or slow-downs. Then we got to church around 10:00 or 11:00 in Eastern Time! We looked around the church, and went to sleep. Can’t wait until we get to New Orleans!

Hannah –
So far we have had fun with the few activities we’ve participated in. I missed the first four hours of the trip however, because I was out of town. After meeting up with them at the Marriot Hotel, the fun began. While in the bus we played cards, sang songs, went to sleep, and spent time growing and bonding as a group. Fairhope UMC, where we are staying, is such a beautiful and nice church! Everything in it is either new, or kept up so well it looks that way. We are all so thankful to be staying here. After arrival, we all played video games, ping pong, hung out, and showered. After getting used to the new church we all gathered for night prayer, and then went to sleep.

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2009-05-18T07:55:00.002-04:00

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Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 5/12/09

2009-05-12T10:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday a member asked a very good question: "Why didn't we celebrate Mother's Day in church?" The question was not asked in an accusatory way, rather one of curiosity. With her permission, I said I would answer in today's morning email.

I remember growing up our tradition on Mother's Day was to wear a rose to church. Many of you know this tradition, a red rose signifies your mother is still living and a white rose means your mother is deceased. I always enjoyed that tradition and still do.

Mothers are incredibly special people. They deserve more than one day of celebration and thanksgiving! Mother's Day is not, however, on the Church Calendar. Mother's Day was made an official US holiday in 1914. It was started by Anna Jarvis in 1912 to honor mothers and their great sacrifice and labor in raising all of us up. There is a Christian version of this in England. The 4th Sunday of Lent is known as Mothering Sunday. It started as a commemoration of "Mother Church" and the Virgin Mary. Like good old fashioned "homecomings" in the South, worshipers in England would return to their home church for worship. Over time Mother Church also included mama, and boys and girls off at school were allowed to go home for the weekend (to see mama!). But even this Church celebration did not start out honoring our biological mamas.

So why not make the Second Sunday in May a Sunday for Mothers? We can, but here is another view. Traditionally the Eucharist has been in two classes - a conventual Eucharist and a votive Eucharist. The conventual Eucharist is your Sunday morning Eucharist. It is for all of the people. The votive Eucharist is for specific intentions or celebrations. A funeral Eucharist is technically a votive Eucharist because the Eucharist is for the departed.

The Sunday service, the conventual Eucharist for everyone, should be just that. The Gospel proclamation should always be, as we say, catholic (universal). I have served churches were the tradition was to honor the oldest mother, youngest mother, etc. While I think these are fun traditions, I also noticed ladies looking sorrowful because they did not or could not have children.

So while we can wear our roses and take our moms to lunch and pray for them on this and every Sunday, a better celebration of Mothers in the Church would be to have a votive Eucharist, another celebration for the specific purpose of giving thanks and praying for mothers, and to keep the Sunday service rooted in the proclamation of the readings of the day. The same is true for Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, Veteran's Day, and so forth. These individuals are worthy of our celebration and prayers.

By the way, if you are completely bored and would like to read a history of the votive Eucharist in the Anglican tradition, here's a paper I wrote for the degree of Doctor of Ministry I'm working on.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 5/11/09

2009-05-11T09:29:00.001-04:00

From Ambrose of Milan, a morning hymn:

NOW that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high,
That He, in all we do and say,
Would keep us free from harm to-day :

Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife :
From anger's din would hide our life :
From all ill sights would turn our eyes :
Would close our ears from vanities :

Would keep our inmost conscience pure :
Our souls from folly would secure :
Would bid us check the pride of sense
With due and holy abstinence.

So we, when this new day is gone,
And night in turn is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained,
Shall praise His Name for victory gained.

All praise to God the Father be ;
All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee ;
All praise for ever, as is meet,
To God the Holy Paraclete. Amen.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 5/7/09

2009-05-07T09:46:00.000-04:00

If you pay attention to our worship bulletin and newsletter you will frequently see the words WORSHIP, LEARN, CONNECT, and SERVE. These four highlight our goal to live as four dimensional Christians. Each week we strive to worship God, learn about our faith, connect with others, and serve Christ in each person.

Continuing with this 4-D worldview, we're adding another "T" to the time-honored triad (say that five times fast) of stewardship: time, talent, and treasure. Now we are also including Temple.

Stewardship, as we've said many times, is not about money. At least it is not just about money. It's about living as stewards to all the things that God has given us. God has given us time, our talent, our resources ($$), and God has given us the earth and our bodies. This is where the Temple comes in (as in, 'your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit' 1 Corinthians 6.19-20).

Look for initiatives in the future promoting environmental stewardship (as in all of our worship bulletins are printed on 100% recycled paper) and bodily/health stewardship. So, eat a salad and walk up the stairs! Remember the gifts God has given us, and be thankful! Time, Talent, Treasure, Temple.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 5/6/09

2009-05-06T10:46:00.000-04:00

The other day I shared with you the lyrics to a Lyle Lovett song which basically lamented that no one likes him and people have not been liking each other since Cain invited Abel out for a walk. Relationships are fascinating, really fascinating.

Tonight we are going to look at what may be a completely different way of viewing our relationships. Instead of viewing conflict, emotional stress, etc. in a cause and effect sort of way - as in a billiard ball hitting another ball, we're going to look at it in terms of how our relationships are arranged - as in how when one pipe bursts in a home, the other pipes are forced to deal with the stress.

We're also going to look at what Jesus and Paul said about dealing with folks. I'm really excited about this topic because it can lead to amazing transformations in how we live and interact with others.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 5/5/09

2009-05-05T09:38:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday we were all enriched by the work and witness of our youth in worship.

In case you didn't hear or would like to hear it again, go here to listen to all three youth sermons.

Have a fantastic rainy day!

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 5/4/09

2009-05-04T10:23:00.001-04:00

There's a Lyle Lovett song, They Don't Like Me, with a memorable chorus:

They don't like me
I can feel it
And I don't like them
It's the same old song
They don't like me
I just know it
But I'd be happy
Just to get along

Maybe Lyle read Psalm 41, the psalm for Morning Prayer this morning:

My enemies are saying wicked things about me: "When will he die, and his name perish?"
Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words;
their heart collects false rumors; they go outside and spread them.
All my enemies whisper together about me and devise evil against me.
Even my best friend, whom I trusted, who break bread with me, has lifted up his heel and turned against me. (41:5-7, 9)

This is one of the jewels of the Bible - honesty. How many times have we felt like the world and the people in it are out to get us? Passive aggressiveness, rumors, gossip, etc., etc., etc. It's there. Truth be told, sometimes they don't like us, for good reason and bad. It's the same old song.

But there is a new verse to the same old song.
"In my integrity you hold me fast, and shall set be before your face for ever." 41:12

Do they not like you? Hold to what is true. Know thyself. Rejoice.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from age to age. Amen (41:13)

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/30/09

2009-04-30T11:08:00.001-04:00

Good morning! Got a little technology update from St Timothy's for you. Last night we tried out a new piece of technology that allows us to record everything in Drake Hall and in the Church. So, this means that you will be able to listen to every activity (Adult Studies, whatever) in Drake and every service in its entirety in the Church.

To listen to last night's topic on Resurrection, go here. Of course, no matter how much technology we can and hope to employ in bringing recordings of our events online - nothing beats being there in person. Nothing beats community.

Have a great day!

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
336.765.0294 - office
336.602.0370 - cell

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/28/09

2009-04-28T08:55:00.001-04:00

Our Wednesday Rekindle the Gift series has been distracted for the month of April. We had Holy Week, Easter Week, last week we had a wonderful stewardship event, so tomorrow night is really the only 'regular' Wednesday we'll have in April under our theme Rekindle Resurrection.

But here's where we're gonna go: 1) what do we mean by resurrection and 2) how can we, as intelligent folks, honestly make such a claim?

Easter is the centerpiece of the Christian year and these are two very good questions that we may never have asked before. I'm excited! I've missed the Wednesday nights so I'm getting ready. PS: we're having chicken pot pie and all the fixins.

Ok, so here's my other thought for the day. As a new resident of North Carolina and a new participant in our state's pollen plan, I made a sneezily trip to CVS last night for some medicinal assistance. My house is jumping on the Dave Ramsay bandwagon, so I passed up the name brand Claritin for the CVS version. Here's what I didn't know. You can't just pick that stuff up. You have to take a card and surrender your driver's license to even buy it. Why? I asked. To make sure I won't make crystal meth. I can barely make sweet tea, I wouldn't even know where to start in transformation from allergy medicine to illegal drug.

But again, like the Mentos and Diet Coke, it makes the point that so much of our day is based on how we react with the people and events we encounter. Claritin can be used for relief or it could be used to destroy your body. Every person and every situation can be used for something good or for something bad. The choice, really, is ours.

St Paul has a good thought for us, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." I take that to mean when life is viewed through the lens of faith then everything can be used as a building block or a bridge to something wonderful.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/27/09

2009-04-27T09:33:00.001-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I showed Abby and John Thullbery the best form of cheap entertainment I know. Many of you have seen this, I'm sure, but it never gets old for me.

I had a 2 liter Diet Coke and a package of Mentos (breath mints). Cherilyn had bought me a special contraption just for this purpose at Cracker Barrel. The Mentos are stacked in a test tube like thingamajig and placed over the top of the open Diet Coke. When you pull the string and all of the Mentos fall in the Coke, you get an eruption that seriously tops 12 feet.

Here's a YouTube video of someone doing the same thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3oV4rqjcew

Here's the theological observation: Diet Coke and Mentos, who knew there would be such a reaction? We never know what might react with us today (or what/whom we might react to).

Here's a collect for Grace from the Prayer Book that fits nicely:

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.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

St Tim's Video

2009-04-24T09:45:00.000-04:00

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/22/09

2009-04-22T10:52:00.001-04:00

Last night I cracked the book, "The Unlikely Disciple" by Kevin Roose. I found this book last week next to two other books that I just loved, "The Year of Living Biblically" and "The Know-It-All" both by A.J. Jacobs. A.J. Jacobs is a writer who immerses himself into a subject and then writes about it. In "The Know-It-All" he ordered and read every word of the Encyclopedia Britannica. For "The Year of Living Biblically" he followed to the best of his ability every word/commandment in the Bible. Both are fascinating and funny.

His writing assistant, college student Kevin Roose, has followed in his boss' footsteps. Roose is a student at Brown University and it is by his own admission, secular. While doing research with his boss, he found himself in the foyer of Thomas Road Baptist Church, AKA Jerry Falwell's church. He did not know an evangelical. He was not a church goer and he wanted to know what it would be like to spend a semester at Libery University - the school founded by Falwell. So he transferred from Brown to Liberty for a semester. He immersed himself into every aspect of school life - just to keep an open mind and see what happens.

I've only read 63 pages. So far, it's funny. And it's fair. I went to a Christian college, but compared to Liberty University, my college looks like the Delta fraternity in Animal House. I'm curious to see how it ends.

One question that has come from this book and the books from Jacobs is this: what would happen if we would just commit to immerse ourselves into our faith - our church? Just jump right in and let whatever happens happen. Call it - a leap of faith.

I say give it a shot. And who knows, you might make some money by writing a book.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/21/09

2009-04-21T10:10:00.001-04:00

Butterflies have always been symbols of the resurrection, for obvious reasons. When the caterpillar enters the chrysalis it looks as if it has entered a tomb. When a new butterfly emerges, it is new life.

I must not have paid attention in biology (in fact, I know I didn't), because I did not know until very recently what exactly takes place inside the chrysalis. The process from becoming a caterpillar to a butterfly is holometabolism, or a complete metamorphosis. When the caterpillar enters the chrysalis, digestive juices break down much of the body leaving just a few cells intact. These cells will generate the butterfly parts using the nutrients of digested larva. Basically, the caterpillar breaks down it's building blocks and reassembles them into something completely different.

This takes the butterfly as a symbol of the resurrection to a completely different level. Resurrection is not spiritual CPR. It is not resuscitation. It is a new body - a new creation. Jesus was recognized by those who knew him - but not all the time. He ate with this disciples like he did before his death - but he also appeared out of nowhere. He was the same - but he wasn't. Resurrection. New Creation. Amazing.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/20/09

2009-04-20T10:22:00.001-04:00

You have not been kicked off the morning email list, but with Holy Week and a little R and R, the morning emails have been percolating in the computer.

Last night at Devout Stout (Sunday evenings at 7:30 at Finnegan's Wake downtown), I mention Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. I don't remember how I was exposed to Bishop Sheen, for he died the year I was born, but he has always been a hero of mine. You may remember his television show in the 50s and 60s, Life is Worth Living and the Fulton Sheen Program.

He was a pioneer in using the new medium of television to present the faith and he did it with such ease and entertainment. Imagine, a Roman Catholic Archbishop having a prime time show on ABC in the 50s.

If you don't know him, I'm including two clips, one serious and one funny.

The first is a famous rift against communism and the second was his appearance on What's My Line. Enjoy:

Communism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVBXzf4eUJg

What's My Line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prgvEA2D4sw

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Holy Week Letter

2009-04-02T11:11:00.001-04:00

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 4/1/09

2009-04-01T07:35:00.001-04:00

Be, Lord,
within me to strengthen me
without me to guard me
over me to shelter me
beneath me to stablish me
before me to guide me
after me to forward me
round about me to secure me.

Amen.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3/31/09

2009-03-31T08:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I took Cherilyn and the children to the Greensboro airport as they departed to spend a week in sunny Florida visiting family. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy spending time in airports (as long as I'm not delayed). Airports, perhaps more than any other location, contain the most diverse grouping of people in one place. From all colors, nationalities, languages, faiths, you name it - you can see 'em all hurrying with their carry ons to their concourse.

I was one of many saying goodbye to travelers. Hugs and kisses and 'call me when you land' could be seen and heard in many languages. Sitting in the airport, or while on the plane, I've often wondered where my travel mates are going. What's their story? Who (or what) will meet them when they land? We all in transition together.

My seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, had a very unique chapel. It wasn't designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but it looks like something he might have done and in fact, I believe parts were inspired by his design of Unity Temple in Illinois. The first day I walked in the chapel I didn't like it. It was too modern for me - too abstract. It looked like a bus station inside.

Come to find out, that was exactly the point. It was designed to look like a train station. Parts of the chapel, including the altar, had places where you could see right through. Parts were not finished. The chapel was the perfect place for seminarians. Women and men completely in transition. We were not were we began and we were not yet at our destination. We were travelers.

Think about this the next time you walk in St Timothy's (or any church). When you sit in the pews, remember that you are sitting in the nave. We believe the word nave comes from the Latin, navis, for ship. Look up. See the ceiling? Looks like hull of a ship, doesn't it? Again, that's the point. We are travelers. We are not were we started and we have yet to arrive at our destination but we are always moving. And with God's help, we are moving together.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3.27.09

2009-03-27T10:15:00.001-04:00

From the Inspiration Department, here's a story I saw on the news this morning. Makes you wonder what our excuse is, doesn't it?

From the Associated Press.

ST. LOUIS - Arizona State sophomore Anthony Robles has lost in the semifinals of the NCAA wrestling tournament.

Born with one leg, the No. 12 seed at 125 pounds made it to the semifinals of the NCAA wrestling tournament Saturday before losing to unbeaten top seed Paul Donahoe of Edinboro. Donahoe (35-0) prevailed 5-2 in a mostly defensive match.

Robles (28-7) tied it at 1 with an escape 9 seconds into the final period before Donahoe used his strength to pull away in the final 1:29.

Robles said Donahoe didn't beat him because he was born with one leg, but because Donahoe was the better wrestler.

NOTE: He was the national champion in high school. Here's a quote I found in an interview after he won the high school championship: "I think God gave me a gift by only giving me one leg," Robles said. "Other people may not see it that way, but I do."

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3-25-09

2009-03-25T07:46:00.001-04:00

Good morning. Don't worry, you haven't been kicked off the Morning Email list. The past few days have brought Vestry Retreats, etc. etc. etc. and so the Morning Email has dropped off a bit. But we are back!

This morning I finished up my article for the April newsletter. I want to share it with you a little early because it will segue into tonight's adult study discussion. Here it is:

Years ago Cherilyn brought me a print she bought from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She correctly knew that I would like it because it looked like an illuminated manuscript adorned with embellished Latin. For a long time I thought the Latin phrase that dominated the print, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum was Shakespeare's famous line from As You Like It, "All the world's a stage." That shows you how rusty my Latin is. Actually Theatrum Orbis Terrarum means "theatre of the world" and the print was from the first modern atlas created in the 16th century.

"Theatre of the world." "All the world's a stage." Church.

As Episcopalians we have a connection to the liturgy (worship) of the Church in a way that makes us unique among our sister denominations. That connection, while being very real, is often hard to explain. We are protective of our liturgy and we value even the smallest act or detail that from the outside may seem insignificant or even petty. Deep down in our liturgical DNA, however, we know that the Church is the "Theatre of the Universe" and is the stage in which the drama of our salvation is played out each and every week.

This is especially true during the season of Lent and Holy Week. The hard truth of human sin and suffering is presented in real dramatic fashion in our liturgies. What is more dramatic that having a cross of ash inscribed on the forehead with the words, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return?" But at the same time, the Theatre of the Universe also presents in dramatic fashion the love of God. Every Sunday liturgy in Lent begins, "Bless the Lord who forgives our sins. His mercy endures for ever."

Worship is a play, but not in the sense that it is make-believe. Worship is a play in that the eternal is presented and the unfolding story of human beings returning to the love of their Creator fills every scene and act.

To say "Alleluia, Christ is Risen" is not just to make a theological statement, it is to join in a chorus. It's a chorus not only sung here, but everywhere and in all times. The beauty of our liturgies is that all the Church is a stage and every worshiper plays a part. The liturgy draws us into the story and gives us a role because we share in God's story! There are no minor characters. There are no understudies. There are no stage hands.

We are all in the spotlight of God's love. We bask in this love in the liturgy as the story is played out. The Church is the Theatre of the Universe. Let us come not to watch, but to act out God's salvation.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Tonight we will explore the drama of liturgy with an emphasis on the drama of Holy Week - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter. This is my favorite topic.

A couple of other things:
Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. Take a moment to meditate on the Archangel Gabriel visiting Mary and saying, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you."

Also, some previews into our new website that will be unveiled soon.
The video from Sunday's sermon is here .
Some pictures from the past few weeks are here .

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

What Happened on the Cross?

2009-03-18T08:04:00.001-04:00

I remember a few years ago my father calling me on the phone with a 'theological question.' You must realize, my father has never asked me a 'theological question' so I was all ears.

He was driving down the road and saw a billboard that said, "Jesus died for your sins."

He had a very good question: "How did Jesus die for my sins?"

In other words, what happened on the cross? We confess that Christ died for us, but a deeper question is how did his death save us? We confess the 'what' but we are uninformed about the 'how'.

Christ's work on the cross is called the atonement. There have been many ideas throughout the history of the Church has to what the atonement did. Tonight we are going to explore this very simple, yet incredibly profound question - how did Jesus die for our sins?

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - St Paddy's Day

2009-03-17T09:40:00.002-04:00

On this St Paddy's Day, I thought I'd share a little bio about the good saint:

Patrick was born about 390, in southwest Britain, somewhere between the Severn and the Clyde rivers, son of a deacon and grandson of a priest. When about sixteen years old, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. Until this time, he had, by his own account, cared nothing for God, but now he turned to God for help. After six years, he either escaped or was freed, made his way to a port 200 miles away, and there persuaded some sailors to take him onto their ship. He returned to his family much changed, and began to prepare for the priesthood, and to study the Bible.

Around 435, Patrick was commissioned, perhaps by bishops in Gaul and perhaps by the Pope, to go to Ireland as a bishop and missionary. Four years earlier another bishop, Palladius, had gone to Ireland to preach, but he was no longer there (my sources disagree on whether he had died, or had become discouraged and left Ireland to preach in Scotland). Patrick made his headquarters at Armagh in the North, where he built a school, and had the protection of the local monarch. From this base he made extensive missionary journeys, with considerable success. To say that he single-handedly turned Ireland from a pagan to a Christian country is an exaggeration, but is not far from the truth.

Almost everything we know about him comes from his own writings, available in English in the Ancient Christian Writers series. He has left us an autobiography (called the Confession), a Letter to Coroticus in which he denounces the slave trade and rebukes the British chieftain Coroticus for taking part in it, and the Lorica (or "Breastplate" a poem of disputed authorship traditionally attributed to Patrick), a work that has been called "part prayer, part anthem, and part incantation." The Lorica is a truly magnificent hymn, found today in many hymnals (usually abridged by the omission of the two stanzas bracketed below). The translation into English as given here is by Cecil Frances Alexander, whose husband was Archbishop of Armagh, and thus the direct successor of Patrick. She published nearly 400 poems and hymns of her own, including the well-known "There is a green hill far away," "Once in royal David's city," "Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult," and "All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small."

You can read about every saint of the day here.

Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3/12/09

2009-03-12T09:44:00.001-04:00

A short one for this Thursday - here is a document I created a while ago that I handed out to the 8:15am Wednesday Adult Study on Lenten Customs and Traditions. Go ahead, impress your friends with what you know. It's okay.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3-11-09

2009-03-11T10:52:00.001-04:00

"Behold the wood of the cross on which was hung the world's salvation."

This quote comes from the Good Friday liturgy as the cross is processed down the church. Tonight I've got a very interesting presentation on just that - the cross. It's part art history, theology, and just all around interesting stuff. For instance, did you know that in many churches you will see what we know as the swastika? We'll talk about that and many more interesting tidbits.

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3/9/09

2009-03-09T10:03:00.001-04:00

The 'springing forward' of our clocks this weekend reminded me of an enigmatic portion of the Book of Ecclesiastes:

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace." (3:1-8)

The New Oxford Annotated Bible describes the preceding 8 verses in this way: 'a rhythmic series of antithetical pairs that together (seven sets, each with two pairs of opposites) represents the totality and variety of the times and seasons encountered by human beings. These events include those that simply happen to people (like being born and dying) and occasions to which they must respond (like planting and plucking up what is planted).

I like that description. Two things simply happen - birth and death. Everything in between depends on our response.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3/6/09

2009-03-06T09:27:00.003-05:00

This morning I did something that I;ve been putting off. My office computer had at least 150 icons, files, whatever cluttering the screen. Computer folks tell me that when the screen is cluttered and things are not put in their place, the computer gets a bit sluggish.; It's good to clean things up. I think the spirituality in that is obvious. Remove the clutter. Run better.

That's why I'll never omit the Collect for Purity at the beginning of the Eucharist (except when it's called for):
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PS: If you want to try something new - Stations of the Cross at 5pm in the Church today.

Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3/5/09

2009-03-05T09:36:00.001-05:00

Blog_Reader
I think this is funny. This is from the Times of London:
Chrch sez stop txtn 4 lent. Or, put another way, the Italian branch of the Roman Catholic Church wants its followers to forswear text messaging,
social-networking Web sites and computer games in the run-up to Easter.
While many Italians traditionally give up fatty foods or, in extremis, alcohol, the appeal to go without some of the trappings of
the modern world, including Facebook, iPhones and computer games, on Fridays — and on other days if possible — is unprecedented.
It appears to stem partly from Pope Benedict XVI's recent warning to the young not to substitute "virtual friendship" for real human
relationships.
The Pontiff warned on his YouTube site in January that "obsessive" use of mobile phones or computers "may isolate individuals from
real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development."
Pope Benedict also has personal experience of the distractions of obsessive texting. President Sarkozy of France, a renowned
technophile, came in for withering criticism for checking his mobile phone for text messages during a personal audience with the Pontiff.

I like the fact that the Pope said this from his YouTube page!. Here's a video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkbXNNGk6Jo )of the pope talking
about the internet.
PS: Don't forget about the Day of Caring ( http://www.sttimothysws.org/index.php?option=com_ckforms&view=ckforms&id=1&Itemid=102 ).
�

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Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 3/4/09

2009-03-04T12:19:00.001-05:00

Blog_Reader

Sorry this email is a little late today!
Bob McGee shared this story with me yesterday from the Iranian poet Saadi (Middle Ages):
A fox who lived in the deep forest of long ago had lost its front legs. No one knew how: perhaps escaping from a trap. A man who lived on the edge
of the forest , seeing the fox from time to time, wondered how in the world it managed to get its food. One day when the fox was not far from him he
had to hide himself quickly because a tiger was approaching. The tiger had fresh game in its claws. Lying down on the ground, it ate its fill, leaving
the rest for the fox.
Again the next day the great Provider of this world sent provisions to the fox by this same tiger. The man began to think: "If this fox is taken
care of in this mysterious way, its food sent by some unseen Higher Power, why don't I just rest in a corner and have my daily meal provided for me?"
Because he had a lot of faith, he let the days pass, waiting for food. Nothing happened. He just went on losing weight and strength until he was
nearly a skeleton. Close to losing consciousness, he heard a Voice which said: "O you, who have mistaken the way, see now the Truth! You should have
followed the example of that tiger instead of imitating the disabled fox."
With that in mind, I want to share and/or remind about our Annual Day of Caring. On this day we focus our attention and efforts on 'taking
food to the fox.' There is a display in Drake Hall that describes all the different ways we can volunteer on the Day of Caring. Some may wish to
stay at St Timothy's on that day and prepare boxes for Operation Shoebox (this provides basic comfort items to our men and women in the Armed
Forces). It's only from 9am-1pm and it's only one day – March 14. You can find out more and sign up in Drake Hall, or since you're already
at your computer, go here ( http://www.sttimothysws.org/index.php?option=com_ckforms&view=ckforms&id=1&Itemid=102 ) and sign up online.
PS: Wednesday Night Dinner tonight! Topic – Rekindle Lent (it'll be fun).
�

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Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 2/3/09

2009-03-03T08:09:00.001-05:00

Blog

Black Ice.
Beware of the darker side of snow. When it falls, it is beautiful. Large flakes that seem as large as your hand. Everything is covered, the
air is crisp, while young and old alike enjoy playing out in the yard (at least for a minute). But then the sun warms. Yesterday it sounded like a
rain storm at St Timothy's as the melted snow rolled off the roof of the church. It saturates the ground and puddles and then as the sun goes down
– it freezes. Black Ice. Black ice occurs when water freezes and there are only a few air bubbles trapped inside. It's not black – just
transparent. It provides an almost invisible coating to whatever is underneath and it can be dangerous.
It reminds me to something Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if you eye is healthy, your whole
body will be full of light; but if you eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great
is the darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23)
One could interpret this is many ways. But for me, today in this first week of Lent, I'm reading it as good counsel to keep my eyes open – not
necessarily to look for the creeping things that hide in the shadows – but in terms of being self-aware. Do I know myself today? Am I seeing
myself and my situation clear? Can I detect those invisible (hurtful) coatings around me and those around me?
And most importantly, am I in the light?
�

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Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 2/2/09

2009-03-02T08:50:00.001-05:00

Blog
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7
On this snow day I present to you a slide show of our beautiful church washed in snow.
Click here ( http://picasaweb.google.com/frsteverice/Snow?authkey=Gv1sRgCPGM7qbN8NvBDg&feat=directlink )for the slide show.
�
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Fr. Steve's Morning Email - 2/28/09

2009-02-28T09:41:00.002-05:00

I grew up in a church where we said the Apostles' Creed every Sunday. Sometimes we would use creeds from other churches, but mainly the Apostles' Creed. We used the old language too, confessing that Jesus will judge 'the quick and the dead.' You can imagine what my childhood mind, "Is it better to be slow and alive so we won't be judged?" Anyway...in the Apostles' Creed, we never said "(he) was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell." We would leave out the sentence, "He descended into hell."

That sentence always confused me when I heard it in other churches and I never heard a good explanation as to why it was said. Why would Jesus descend into hell? Was he not sinless? Was he not the Son of God? Yes and yes.

The answer comes from tomorrow's Epistle reading from St Peter. Within that text is this sentence: "He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water."

It's the "made a proclamation to the spirits in prison" that is the key. Those three days between Good Friday and Easter Morning Jesus descended into hell and proclaimed his salvation to those souls in prison. Logically this makes sense. If the only way to the Father is through Jesus, then those before Jesus would still need his redemptive love.

Isn't that amazing? Even those who had died before him were loved by him. I think St Paul sums it up nicely (Romans 8) that neither life nor death can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

I leave you with an icon of the resurrection. See what Jesus is doing? He's pulling those souls out of prison, one of whom is Adam.

Ash Wednesday, Part II

2009-02-26T10:00:00.001-05:00

The strange thing about Ash Wednesday is that despite being perhaps the most somber services of the year, it is also one my most favorite. The reason is, as I mentioned yesterday, is that as we confess our sins and are moved to look deep within at the brokenness and hurt, we are not alone. At both services that sense of community permeated the recitation of the 51^st Psalm and the Litany of Penitence (both of which, by the way, are found on page 266-269 for those of you playing at home with your Prayer Book). It's a wonderful feeling knowing that as we plead our need for God, our voices are joined with others pleading their need for God.

Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent also call our attention to a subject that most of us try to avoid – mortality. During the imposition of ashes yesterday I couldn't help but reflect on the 8 persons I've buried since my arrival at St Timothy's. I also knew that during my time here, some of those for whom I said, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return" I will also say, "we commit his/her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." It's a sobering feeling.

Let us appreciate life today. Let us appreciate those in our lives. Let us think of God, say a prayer, and do good.

PS: As requested by Lilana Hines - incense was used at both services yesterday and the topic of the MASSIVE thurible came up. This comes from a cathedral in Spain. If you can't see it on your screen, click here. Enjoy!

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz

2009-02-23T09:59:00.001-05:00

Plop, plop. Fizz, fizz. Those were the sounds in my kitchen this morning. A little NyQuil last night and some Alka Seltzer this morning. Yep, the crud has descended upon our house. 'Tis the season, I suppose. It's literally in the air.

This is actually a theological way to describe sin. It's in the air. For a long time it was thought that original sin was passed down from one person to another as a genetic defect. Sin was hereditary. That has been the Western view. In the East, however, original sin has been viewed more as being in the air we breathe. It's not a genetic defect, but it's in the atmosphere. Either way, we can't escape it.

It doesn't take a theologian to recognize that from the moment we can – we rebel. Our thoughts rebel, our words rebel, our actions rebel. Sometimes the rebellion is tiny and sometimes it is colossal, but rebellion it is.

It might be helpful to view sin as a cold or the flu. For we know that if we don't wash our hands or get right in the way of a cough or sneeze, we are exposing ourselves to the germs. Is it not the same when we place ourselves in positions were sin is just waiting for a partner?

Catholic tradition has given us nine ways in which we can participate in sin: 1. by counsel, 2. by command, 3. by consent, 4. by provocation, 5. by praise or flattery, 6. by concealment, 7. by partaking, 8. by silence, 9. by defense of the ill done.

We're gonna get sick – there's nothing we can do about it. We're gonna sin – we can't stop it.

But we can use the spiritual ZiCam or Vitamin C as a preventative: self-examination, prayer, and repentance.

Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Down the Mountain

2009-02-21T08:56:00.001-05:00

The Feast of the Transfiguration is perhaps my favorite feast day outside the biggies (Easter, Pentecost, Christmas, Epiphany). We actually get to hear the transfiguration story twice each year – this Sunday and on August 6 (my ordination to the priesthood was on August 6 – so that adds to my attachment to this feast). The story of Peter, James, and John going up the mountain with Jesus always speaks fresh truth.

If it's been a while, go on over to Mark 9:2-9. Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the inner circle) up high on a mountain. It was there that Jesus was 'transfigured.' We don't know exactly what Jesus looked like as he was transfigured, other than his clothes became whiter than all the Clorox in the world. It was a revelation to Peter, James, and John that Jesus is of God – he is God. If that wasn't enough, Moses and Elijah appeared beside Jesus. To put that in perspective, think George Washington and Abraham Lincoln appearing beside a politician giving their endorsement.

A spectacular event. So spectacular that Peter didn't want to leave. "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." The Gospel writers chastise Peter for saying this. I've always wanted to defend Peter because – why wouldn't you want to stay there? Why not bask in the presence of God and his prophets?

Because there was much to do down the mountain. Down the mountain was a boy who needed healing (9:17-29). Down the mountain were people who needed to hear good news. Down the mountain…

Tomorrow is our Annual Parish meeting. We will elect new vestry members at noon in Drake Hall. At both services I'll give the State of the Church. We'll talk about all the wonderful things that St Timothy's has done for the Kingdom of God. But we'll also talk about the work that remains to be done…down the mountain.

Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

We've Won!

2009-02-18T08:02:00.001-05:00

I've got great news. This morning as I checked my email I discovered correspondence from a barrister in the UK. I don't know him, but he was left several million pounds from a relative's estate but he needs help transferring it to the United States. If I can only provide some critical financial information, he will wire me the money and let me keep a portion of it for my troubles. Isn't that wonderful! I'm rich! Because I love my job, I'll continue to work for free!

Obviously this is a scam. It's become so common that we don't even notice when we get these types of emails 'phishing' for our financial information. It is certainly too good to be true. No one would ever just give us something, not something as truly incredible as a life free from financial worry. There are always strings attached, right?

While we do live by 'caveat emptor' (let the buyer beware) and we are careful knowing that we never get something for nothing, the irony is the foundation of our salvation is based on a free gift. Grace. Gratia. Charis.

It's not earned and there is nothing we can do to pay it back. It's free. But aren't we required to live a life of faith and love and holiness? We are, but look at it this way, if you inhale, aren't you required to exhale? Yes and it comes naturally. The moment we become aware that God loves, truly loves us, is the moment we starting learning how to 'exhale' faith and love and holiness. Faith, love, and holiness are not conditions of grace – they are the fruits of it.

Martin Luther was changed when he realized this. John Wesley was changed when he realized this. How about us?

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Michael Phelps

2009-02-17T09:27:00.001-05:00

The 2008 Summer Olympics in China were impressive on so many levels. I don't know if we'll ever see an Opening Ceremony quite like the one pulled off in Beijing. And then there was Michael Phelps. I think my household watched every race in which he won a gold medal. Cherilyn would wake me up if I feel asleep just to watch it. He emerged from Beijing as one of the greatest Olympic champions ever. The Wheaties cereal box cover was his. Endorsements from Rosetta Stone software to Speedo swimwear were on their way. People were inspired to swim or at the very least try the breast stroke in the bathtub.

And then like so many heroes, Michael slipped. A picture snapped with him smoking marijuana has not only jeopardized his endorsements but also his standing with the public. While not condoning drug use, one laments that a person who has worked so hard to achieve so much may see much of it diminished by a single act of poor judgment.

I often wonder if that is what keeps many from the Church. I wonder if there is a perceived expectation that one must be as spectacular as Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals to be an active participant in the life of the Church. Is that what keeps some of us away? Knowing that we will, because of that nagging truth called human nature, slip up and fall short of expectations, we don't want the scrutiny that might come?

I bet Michael Phelps will not be caught smoking marijuana again. I bet he's learned his lesson. But more than anything, I hope he will be given a second chance. I hope he will be shown forgiveness.

The Church calls us to holiness, that's true. The Church also recognizes that we are human beings and that part of being such a creature is making mistakes. I hope our call to holiness is matched by our call to forgive, so that those who see our faith in action will see a people called to live in love and holiness, but also with grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

While Standing in Line...

2009-02-14T09:34:00.001-05:00

This morning as I was standing in line for my morning nourishment, the gentleman behind me mumbled under his breath, "How long does this take?" Granted, there were three folks ahead of him, including me, and the patron at the counter had a complicated order and the other employee was handling an issue on the phone. For a moment I contemplated how to handle this. The sarcastic side in me wanted to turn around and explain exactly how long it would take. "The person at the counter will be done in 73 seconds and then the second person, depending on what she orders should be finished in 49 seconds assuming her order is considerably less complicated than the first, and I know what I'm getting and since I'm here every day, it will only take 38 seconds, so in a little under 3 minutes you should be set." I didn't. I did, however, pause and wonder what the gentleman was looking for? I'm quite sure he wasn't expecting an explanation of how long it would actually take. He might not have expected any response at all, or he might have been inviting me to turn around and join in.

Are you ever tempted to respond to grumbling or comments made under the breath with "How are you?" or "What's going on in there?" What's inside comes out. Anger, negativity, jealousy, it all comes out in some form or fashion, either in our words or actions.

St Paul addressed the pettiness at Ephesus saying, "…let us all speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil…Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear…Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together will all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you." (4:25-32)

In other words – be self aware. The things we say, even under our breaths while standing in line, can stay with people – for better or for worse.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Change and Transition

2009-02-13T09:40:00.001-05:00

This may sound like a contradiction, but think about how constant change is. Very, very few things remain the same all the time. Presidents change, the economy changes, relationships change, jobs change, and on and on. I've been reading a fascinating book by William Bridges in which he argues there is a difference between a change and a transition. A change, he argues, can be a move from San Francisco to New York City. It happens and it's over. One day you have a California address and the next you have a New York address. But what is not instant is the transition. How long before New York becomes "home" and San Francisco becomes a former residence? The same is true with any change; there is an obvious difference at first but there is always a transition from old ways of thinking, feeling, and acting into new ways. And many times it's the transition that is harder than the change.

I'm sure this won't be the last time I mention this, not only because our lives are always in change and transition, but as your new rector we are currently in a transition. The change has been made – that took place on June 1. Now we are in the transition.

Bridges says there are three phases: 1) the ending, losing, and letting go, 2) the neutral zone, and 3) the new beginning. What is fascinating is that he says the neutral zone, that time when things aren't the way they used to be but we aren't really in a new pattern of thought, feeling, and action, is when the creative energy takes place.

That's exciting. The in-between time – from where we are ending, losing, and letting go and the new beginning is the time of discovery, excitement, and creativity! Bridges was thinking about corporations, but I think it applies perfectly for individuals and yes, even churches.

Are you in a period of transition? Behind the stress and the uncertainty is the potential for creative energy. Take advantage of it!

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Dreaming

2009-02-12T08:19:00.002-05:00

Do you remember your dreams? Do you want to remember most of your dreams? Last night I had series of strange dreams, even to the point of having dreams within my dreams. My undergraduate degree is in psychology, which means I remember we talked about dreams but I don't remember what the professor said! I do believe Sigmund Freud gave us some great advice on interpreting our dreams – 'sometimes a cigar is just a cigar,' meaning some things in our dreams have no interpretation (just the result of spicy food too late at night).

Biblically, however, dreams are all over the place and many times they are the meeting place for God's revelation. If have time in your lunch break, pull out your Bible or go online and look up Genesis 28:12 (Jacob's dream), Genesis 41:1 (Pharaoh's dream), I Kings 3:5 (Solomon's dream), Daniel 7:1 (Daniel's dream), Matthew 1:20 (Joseph's dream), and the book of Revelation (St John's dream). These biblical characters were not suffering from spicy gumbo the night before - they were approached by God.

Why did God use dreams? I don't know. Maybe we are a captive audience in our sleep and are more willing to listen and see. Maybe our guard is down when we dream. In any case, I believe that we can learn a lot about where we are in life and what is going on in our lives based on the elements in our dreams. Do you have a lot of airplanes, trains, or cars? Maybe you are going through a transition in life. Are you falling? Maybe you feel as if you have no control over your situations. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but other times those strange elements in our dreams can clue us in to what is really going on inside. And sometimes what is going on inside is a glimpse of God.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Faith and Politics

2009-02-11T07:22:00.001-05:00

The website poll has declared "Politics and Faith" the subject for tonight's adult excursion into the intersection of our faith and everything else. This topic is fascinating for a variety of reasons. First of all, virtually no politician can rise to the national ranks without a stance on faith. If I say JFK and faith, one will think of the Roman Catholic Church. If I say Jimmy Carter and faith, one will think of a Southern Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia (although President Carter is no longer Southern Baptist, I'll explain that one tonight) and President Obama received much scrutiny for his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. During the last presidential campaign, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, made this statement at a high profile speech on faith:

Almost 50 years ago, another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for President, not a Catholic running for President. Like him, I am an American running for President. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith. Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

It might be fair to say that many public leaders have made similar statements. A question I would like to explore tonight – is a statement such as this valid for a person of faith?

St Paul also has some interesting statement on our relationship with civil authorities. There is also a very interesting document by 3^rd century Church Father, Hippolytus of Rome that says concerning those who could be admitted to the catechumenate (baptism preparation): If someone is a military governor,^a or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected.

This will be a very good discussion. If you can't make it tonight, I hope these questions and thoughts will stir some theological thinking today. Until tomorrow, here's a collect in keeping with the theme of this morning's email:

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, page 820

Peace,

PS: For back issues of the Morning Email - click here.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Process Instead of Recess

2009-02-09T10:38:00.001-05:00

Driving in this morning the local radio station reported that America's recession has spread globally to what is now a world recession. In particular, Japan's automakers are reporting disappointing revenue and layoffs are imminent. If I remember correctly, a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. In other words, the economy is going backwards instead of forward.

This takes me back to the first day of liturgy class in seminary. The professor, obviously responding to a pet peeve, said "We do not recess at the end of the service. We process out!" That was news to me because every bulletin I had read to that point said "Recessional Hymn" or "The Recessional." There is a theological point to be made, he said. We are not walking backwards or moving backwards – we are always moving forward. Every time we leave worship we are stepping out going forth in the world, never backwards.

In the midst of a global move backwards the Body of Christ is called to show what it means to process in the midst of a recess. How can we move someone or some situation forward today?

"…forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:13-14

PS: I received several emails about yesterday's email concerning the self-examination. A note about that: self-examinations are tools to show us our need for God. It is not supposed to be a checklist that one must complete before receiving communion – just the opposite, it is supposed to show us how much we need Christ in the Eucharist.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

A Form of Self-Examination Before Receiving the Eucharist

2009-02-08T06:15:00.001-05:00

Have I believed in God: in Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
Have I trusted in God and in His promises?
Have I been thankful for Gods blessings?
Have I tried to serve God and to keep God's commandments?
Have I worked for God, the Church, and their honor and glory?
Have I said my morning and evening prayers faithfully?
Have I gone regularly to Church? To Holy Communion?
Have I prepared carefully for Holy Com-munion?
Have 1 stayed away from the Holy Eucharist on Sundays or Holy Days except through grave cause?
Have I done unnecessary work on Sunday? Have. I said Grace' at meals?
Have I been irreverent in Church, or elsewhere?
Have I tried to make my home happy and holy, and to be faithful in all my family relations?
Have I at all times tried to do unto others as I would have them do unto me?
Have I been proud, vain, envious, covetous, selfish, discontented?

Have I humbly received counsel and reproof, and been willing to acknowledge my faults?
Have I been angry? Struck anyone? Blasphemed? Used in vain God's Name, or the Holy Name of Jesus?
Have I been cross, disagreeable, fault-finding, revengeful?
Have I borne malice or hatred in my heart? Rejoiced at the misfortunes of others?
Have I failed to be kind, patient, forgiving?
Have I cheated, gambled, wasted money, lied?
Have I been impure in thought, word, or deed?
Have I acted dishonourably in any way?
Am I truly sorry for my sins, and do I truly desire to do better?
(Parish Press 1970,p.1)

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

All Things to All People

2009-02-07T09:25:00.001-05:00

I think it was Abraham Lincoln that reminded us of something we already know: 'you can't please all the people all the time.' I wonder if Abe next said under his breath, 'If you don't believe me, try it." I bet many of us have and all of us have come to President Lincoln's conclusion, we can't be all things to all people. Or can we?

Tomorrow's Gospel lesson from Mark brings us to the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and since we are in Mark, Jesus is very busy. He heals Peter's mother-in-law (yes, the first pope was married), the whole city gathers around him at sunset and he heals those possessed by demons and those sick with various diseases. And then the next morning Jesus and the disciples head out to the surrounding towns doing the same thing.

What strikes me in reading tomorrow's Gospel is that Jesus addressed so many people with so many different issues (that's why I italicized whole and various). Jesus wasn't just an exorcist, he was also a physician. He was a counselor. He was a friend. He was whatever they needed.

Then let us meander over to St Paul and his first letter to the Corinthians and we catch him saying something similar: When I'm with the Jews, I become a Jew. When I'm with the Gentiles, I'm a Gentile, etc. St Paul gave us that famous line, "I have become all things to all people." I don't think St Paul is being disingenuous. Instead I think he is trying to translate the good news of God's love in whatever emotional, spiritual, or psychological dialect is spoken.

Put together and we have a hopeful message that whatever is ailing us – personal demons, our past, our health, our relationship, you fill in the blank, Jesus is whatever we need. The challenge for the church is one of translation.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Retreat!

2009-02-06T12:11:00.001-05:00

This weekend some three dozen St Timothy's ladies are going on retreat. I must admit I smile when I use the word 'retreat.' Are our ladies running from the battlefield? Are they throwing in the white flag, sounding the bugle, and getting out of Dodge? I have the same image when the vestry goes on retreat. Can we no longer handle leadership in the church so we are escaping from the demands and work of shepherding God's people?

I took a little stroll over to Merriam Webster and discovered three definitions for retreat. The first is the white flag waving, bugle sounding, running from the battlefield type. The second is a place of refuge, and the third is a period of group withdrawal for prayer, reflection, and meditation. Obviously our ladies (and the vestry) are exercising the third definition. Although retreating for prayer, reflection and meditation may be the remedy for the weariness of the battlefield.

There is something about space that transports. When I walk into St Timothy's with the slate floors and the high ceilings, I am conscious of my sound and instinctively I grow quiet. I can pray, meditate, and reflect better in the church. That's what I respond to. My office is populated with icons and crucifixes because when the battlefield is dangerous and I am reaching for the white flag and listening for the bugle, those images help me to retreat – not run away, but run to Christ.

Do you have a space like that? Do you have a place where you can allow your thoughts and emotions to be transported to a higher, more peaceful place?

Pray for our ladies as they go on retreat. And husbands, ahem, I've been told that the guys and kids take the Sunday off when the retreat weekend comes. What better way to honor their retreat by coming to a sacred space of your own? Let us retreat to Christ.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Church Silence on the Economy

2009-02-04T04:02:00.001-05:00

A thought provoking column from David Waters in Newsweek back in September. Here's the link. Click here for this morning's email.

I've been waiting for a week for at least one major Christian denomination to help us gain some spiritual or even scriptural insight into Wall Street's moral failings, first brought to our attention by Brother Alan Greenspan in 2002.

"An infectious greed seemed to grip much of our business community," the then-Fed chairman told Congress. "It is not that humans have become any more greedy than in generations past. It is that the avenues to express greed had grown so enormously."

Since Wall Street began melting down last week, the only avenue of greed the major Christian denominations have felt called upon to inspect this has been the one that leads to their church pensions. Good news, clergy and lay employees of the United Methodist and Episcopal churches. Your pensions are safe. No word on how your parishioners are doing during the current housing/credit/debt crisis, and not a hint of rebuke for the free enterprise faithful who caused all of this grief, but your billions of investment dollars are being looked after.

"The greatest challenge is assuring participants that we have a disciplined process, that we're adhering to that process and that they should ignore short-term fluctuations in stock prices," said David Zellner, chief investment officer for the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, which claims to be the largest faith-based investor in the U.S.

"In light of the recent market volatility, the Board and staff of the Church Pension Fund want to reassure participants in the Clergy Pension Plan that the Fund's financial condition remains very strong, with assets well in excess of liabilities," the Episcopal Clergy Pension Board reported.

Last time I checked, assets and liabilities were not how the church measured its work or worth. Greed is still one of the seven deadly sins. Covetousness hasn't been amended out of the Ten Commandments. Depending on your interpretation of scripture, Christianity either strongly cautions against or forbids charging interest and accumulating wealth and debt, not to mention gambling.

So why aren't the leaders of our major Christians denominations saying anything about the economy? They've had plenty to say during the past week about other pressing moral issues. Catholic bishops remain focused on abortion. Southern Baptist leaders continue to condemn abortion and defend Sarah Palin, and National Baptist Convention leaders fretting about aging congregations and applauded Michelle Obama. Presbyterian leaders expressed concern about gun violence, Assemblies of God about hurricane victims, Lutherans about poverty, United Church of Christ leaders about peace. None of them said anything about Wall Street.

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did express some concern about how the economic crisis might be affecting the welfare of others, but only to remind LDS about the church's own welfare program "based on the principle of self-reliance."

"If you build self-reliance in people," Dennis Lifferth, managing director of the LDS welfare program, explained on the site, "everybody grows; it is the essence of the welfare plan. Lives can be changed by personal interest and attention."

Self-reliance. Personal interest. Everybody grows. Sounds like capitalism to me, but at least LDS is acknowledging the situation, and offering some guidance.

I'm not saying our religious leaders should threaten to withhold communion from the greedy sinners responsible for the economy's going to hell in a financial basket, because that might include just about all of us. I know I've taken advantage of lower interest rates, mortgage refinancing, home equity growth (remember that?), stock options and other little 'trickle-down' perks we get during the bubbles.

I'm not even saying our religious leaders should withhold endorsements from candidates whose policies, votes or views encourage the sort of risky business that blows parts of our economy into bubbles that burst all over us. Those are people we've all voted for.

I am saying that the best moral analysis of these financial failures shouldn't come from Alan Greenspan, who arguably is as responsible as anyone for our growing indebtedness.

Jesus said nothing about abortion, homosexuality or pension plans (although he did say not to worry about tomorrow). He had plenty to say about money and moneychangers, greed and wealth, and the root of all evil. He had good news for the poor, not for investors.

As "On Faith" panelist and nondenominational leader Jim Wallis wrote, "The behavior of too many on Wall Street is a violation of biblical ethics . . . It's time for the pulpit to speak -- for the religious community to bring the Word of God to bear on the moral issues of the American economy. The Bible speaks of such things from beginning to end, so why not our pastors and preachers?"

Why not?

Tonight's topic at our Wednesday night adult Bible Study is the economy - specifically our faith and the economy. This column will certainly be at the center of the discussion.

Delayed

2009-02-03T09:04:00.001-05:00

2 hour delay. That was the news on the radio and on the television. Ice on the roads, not safe to drive, you're delayed. There is great spiritual irony in this. I usually take Abby to school, but because of the delay, my morning has to be rearranged if possible – because of the delay. How about this scene? Standing in the airport staring at the departures board and in big red letters – DELAYED. Then follows frustrated calls on the cell phone to whoever is picking us up or expected us upon our arrival. Or this one – red lights (another delay). Busy signals (another delay). Our lives have been so structured (and so full) that the slightest delay, even if it doesn't really impact our schedule, twists our emotions all out of sorts.

The spiritual irony in this is that throughout the Biblical story and in Church Tradition, we are called to delay to notice God. Perhaps we should tape Psalm 46:10 to our dash boards (or our cell phones!): "Be still, and know that I am God!" I don't think we are much unlike the raging waves of the Galilee. Restless, churning, even violent. Then there were the words of Jesus, "Peace. Be still." (Mark 4:39)

St Augustine once echoed the waves of the sea, "Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thought, behind the shadow of Thy wings. Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in Thee, O God."

If you have a two hour delay, how will you spend it? If you're at a red light and you cannot move, where are your thoughts? If you're on a concourse and your plane is delayed, what now?

What about silence? Thinking of God and holding other people in your thoughts of God. Think about those for whom you are at odds and ask for God's blessing on them. The Lord's Prayer. Enjoy the delay. Be still and know God.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Groundhog Day

2009-02-02T09:55:00.003-05:00

This is from my morning email. If you'd like to subscribe, click here.

Today is Groundhog Day. I don't think I can ever disassociate Groundhog Day from the Bill Murray comedy of the same name. A cynical weatherman reporting at the home of Puxatony Phil finds himself trapped in a Twilight Zone cycle of waking up every day to the same day. The same events happen, the same words are spoken, and the only one who knows the day is repeated over and over is Bill Murray's character. The only way the cycle could be broken is if his love interest fell in love with him. Who knows, maybe Groundhog Day is a modern take on Beauty and the Beast.

It's been a while since I've watched the movie. I wonder if I watch it now I will see a social commentary that unless we find true love, all of life is just a mindless repeat of days and nights. I actually think there is something to that. In reading St Paul's very familiar chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13, I think he alludes to the mindless repetition of life without love.

"If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."

Granted, we hear this most often at weddings, and I think it does speak of love between people, but it most certainly speaks of the love of God. Bill Murray knew that life was more than just a mindless repeat of the previous day, but it couldn't figure out how to break the cycle. Doesn't that sound familiar to so many?

The answer was love.

Show love to someone today. Tell someone you love them. Break the cycle.

Eternal Father, you have to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of your salvation: Plan in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Collect for the Holy Name.

PS: This Wednesday we will take a look at current events and hold them in tension with our faith. If you have second, go on over to this page and vote on which topic you'd like to cover this week.

Episcopal Pepsi?

2009-01-28T08:05:00.001-05:00

From a parishioner...

As you may know, Pepsi was founded by a pharmacist, Caleb Bradham, in NewBern, NC in 1898. An excerpt from that story goes on to read: "Folklore has its naming tied to Christ Episcopal Church next door (to the pharmacy where it was invented). Some say that Bradham who enjoyed gazing outside his window every day at the historic church, took the word "Episcopal," scrabmled it as best he could, and came up with Pepsi-Cola."

It goes on to say, "...according to official Pepsi history, 'his drink was developed not only as refreshment, but also as a means to invigorate a tired soul."

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

The Adoration of the Magi

2009-01-06T04:06:00.001-05:00

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Read more on Wikipedia, New Advent, and learn about the Orthodox celebration of January 6th.

Today we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany with a Eucharist at 10am.

From the Mouths of Babes

2009-01-05T05:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Sunday the 4th, the second offering of our children's communion class was a blast. Some 11 children with their parents sat with me on the steps of the sanctuary and together we learned what we do and why at the Holy Eucharist. Over the years I have talked with many parents, grandparents, godparents, etc. who are concerned that children 'don't get' what goes on at communion and are in effect worried that the children are bordering on irreverence by receiving Christ's Body and Blood. A couple of things; absolutely - some children have no idea that the Eucharistic celebration is among many things a sacred meal. But on the other, neither do many adults who have confirmation credentials under their Prayer Books. We should be diligent to share the profound good news of God's self-giving in the sacraments (that's priest talk for saying we should constantly talk about the sacraments). The Eucharist is the central act of Christian worship and identity. We will spend a lifetime discovering what happens when we eat the bread and drink from the cup. And even then we will, at best, have a foretaste of its fullness. Until then, here's a snippet of today's conversation:

Me: What did Jesus say when he held the bread?
Children: This is my Body.
Me: What did Jesus say when he held the cup?
Children: This is my Blood.
Me: What does he mean when he says that?
Children: That he is with us.
Me: Why does he want to be with us?
Children: Because he loves us!

I think they got it.

Here are some pics.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

The Saturday Morning Email

2009-01-03T12:45:00.001-05:00

http://frsteverice.com/index.php?option=com_acajoom&act=mailing&task=view&listid=1&mailingid=4&Itemid=999

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

December at St Tim's

2008-12-15T10:37:00.002-05:00

Here are some pictures of St Timothy's in December. Included in this slideshow are scenes from the Advent wreath workshop, volunteer appreciation lunch, OWLs lunch, and St Nicholas Day.

We're Back!

2008-12-15T09:58:00.002-05:00

After 8 days of fighting some sort of virus, we're back online! The cold and norovirus are going around Winston-Salem, so be sure to wash your hands frequently (and don't stick them in your mouth!).

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer recovered the practice of baptism as full initiation into Christ's Body. This means baptism makes a person a full member with access to the fullness of the sacramental life of the church. Previously, under the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, confirmation was required for persons to receive communion. Confirmation before communion is the practice familiar to so many. But with the recovery of baptism as full initiation and confirmation being moved more and more to 14 and 15 years (instead of 11 or 12), how can we help parents feel as if their children are being taught what the Eucharist is without denying them the Eucharist until they are teenagers?

Last night we had our first children's communion class. This is not exactly like first communion, since all who attended last night have already received the Eucharist. Instead this is a class on what we do every Sunday and why. We talked about Passover and the Last Supper. We talked about how Christ is present with us because he loves us and we are never alone. We learned how to receive the bread and wine (and we even rang the sanctus bell!). We took a tour of the sanctuary, looked in the tabernacle and took a tour of the sacristy. Finally we made bread. On January 18 the children will share what they have learned and the bread they made will be used for communion. It was truly a great night.

The next class (covering the exact same thing) for those who missed last night will be January 4 at 4pm.

Still Here, Just Sick

2008-12-10T10:23:00.001-05:00

To the readers - I haven't given up blogging, just been sick for several days. I'll be back soon.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Sunday's Sermon (11/30/08)

2008-12-01T05:28:00.000-05:00

Go here to hear it.

PS: Look for pictures from the Advent Wreath workshop later....

Sunday's Sermon

2008-11-24T05:57:00.000-05:00

Click here for the audio.

Save Canterbury!

2008-11-23T06:58:00.003-05:00

The Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal has now reached the £9 million mark. The Appeal, established to fund an extensive £50 million conservation and development programme, has made good progress during the two years since its launch enabling critical conservation work to be carried out.

Following its high profile launch in October 2006, the Appeal quickly settled down to business and has been attracting donations from a number of sources. The focus for the Appeal in the first two years has primarily been the local community of Kent.

Commenting on this new milestone, Matthew Butler, Chief Executive of the Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal, said; "We have seen a tremendous response to the Appeal in the last year, particularly when considering the current economic climate. We have continued to be delighted by the generosity of people who have donated financially, run events or volunteered their time. There is still a long way to go - £41 million to be precise, and we have much planned for the next few years to ensure we secure these donations."

The next fundraising event will be the Appeal's annual Christmas Concert in the Nave of the Cathedral on Saturday 13th December. "A Baroque Christmas" will feature many popular and familiar classical Christmas pieces performed by members of the English National Opera and the internationally acclaimed choir, The Sixteen. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased on 01227 464764 or by calling into the Appeal's office at 27-28 Burgate, Canterbury, CT1 2HA.

For more information on the Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal or perhaps to make a donation please contact 01227 865346 or visit the website at www.savecanterburycathedral.com.

The photograph attached is of work to the South East Transept roof that has been funded entirely by donations to the Appeal.

End

For further information/requests for interviews, please contact:

Email: nyes@canterburghy-cathedral.org

Notes for editors:

It costs over £14,500 each day to run Canterbury Cathedral which includes £9,000 of daily running costs. Canterbury Cathedral receives minimal external funding and is dependent on its own resources and donations for funding.

It was founded in 597 by St Augustine, who was sent from Rome by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons. It is the oldest institution in the country

In 1170 Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral by four knights, who acted on the words of Kind Henry II "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" Within 3 years, Thomas Becket had been made a saint and Canterbury became one of the leading pilgrimage centres of Europe

King Henry VIII destroyed the Shrine of Thomas Becket in 1538

Canterbury Cathedral has long been associated with literature. The Canterbury Tales were written by Chaucer following a pilgrimage to the Cathedral. Christopher Marlowe was educated here. More recently T.S. Eliot and Dorothy L Sayers wrote plays performed in the Cathedral's Chapter House

The Cathedral houses the finest 12th Century stained glass in the UK. The Quire is the earliest Gothic building in the country and the Cathedral has leading examples of every type of Gothic architecture

Canterbury and Durham are the only two cathedrals in the UK that are World Heritage Sites. Other World Heritage Sites include the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China.

From the Anglican News Service

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Come and See

2008-11-22T19:41:00.001-05:00

Some Pictures Around St Timothy's

2008-11-18T11:56:00.002-05:00

A scene from last night's vestry meeting.

Kids at the After Mass Bible Blast program this past Sunday.

A scene from a Wednesday Night Dinner (come join us, 5:15pm on Wednesday!)

Sermon for November 16, 2008

2008-11-17T12:29:00.001-05:00

Due to the acoustics, etc., the sound is always a beat off. We are working on having a good video with sound of all our services.

Sir, we would see Jesus.

2008-11-12T07:57:00.001-05:00

Take a look and learn a little about Charles Simeon, whose feast is today.

http://intervarsity1.uchicago.edu/kal/simeon.html

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

A Prayer for Veterans' Day

2008-11-11T09:04:00.001-05:00

O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thanksgiving for Heroic Service, BCP 1979

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

Coming Soon to St Timothy's!

2008-11-07T09:18:00.000-05:00

Just kidding.

From the World of King David...

2008-11-06T09:38:00.002-05:00

Yesterday at our 8:15am and 6:30 adult studies, several folks mentioned an article in Winston-Salem Journal about an archeological find around the time of King David. Here's an excerpt from Biblical Archeological Review:

A ceramic shard with what may be perhaps the oldest Hebrew inscription ever discovered has scholars speculating on the nature of King David’s kingdom. Archaeologist Yossi Garfinkel of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is the director of the dig at Khirbet Qeiyafa, an ancient, fortified site near the modern city of Beit Shemesh in the Judean foothills. The pottery shard has been dated to 1,000 and 975 B.C., the same time as the Biblical golden age of David's rule in Jerusalem. Dr. Garfinkel maintains that the inscription and the sophisticated nature of the settlement ruins are evidence that a powerful kingdom existed at the time of King David, a theory that had come under fire from some scholars who say that the legendary kingdom of David was little more than a small chiefdom, if it existed at all. Read the entire article here.

Here's the first paragraph from the NY Times:
Overlooking the verdant Valley of Elah, where the Bible says that David toppled Goliath, archaeologists are unearthing a 3,000-year-old fortified city that could reshape views of the period when David ruled over the Israelites. Five lines on pottery uncovered here appear to be the oldest Hebrew text ever found and are likely to have a major impact on knowledge about the history of literacy and alphabet development. Read it all here.

St Timothy's in the Fall

2008-11-05T13:28:00.003-05:00

From the Desert Fathers

2008-11-05T04:38:00.000-05:00

A hermit was asked how it was that some people said they had seen angels. He answered, 'Blessed is he who always sees his own sins.'

Prayer for Today

2008-11-04T09:40:00.001-05:00

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your
purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, page 822

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws
www.sttims.blogspot.com
336.765.0294

All Saints' Sermon

2008-11-03T13:11:00.001-05:00

All Saints

2008-11-01T10:46:00.001-04:00

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws

Mobile Update

2008-10-31T10:24:00.000-04:00

A reader sent me the following email concerning Christmas decorations on Hardee's. Thanks!

Hey Steve--it is a little early for the Christmas decorations at that Hardee's, but here's something I didn't know until a couple of years ago: Hardees puts out those decorations for the kids in Baptist who are on one of the floors overlooking Hardees...
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

It's Halloween

2008-10-31T08:59:00.001-04:00

Driving past Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center I noticed the Hardee's on the corner was decked out in Christmas decorations - already! We're not at Christmas yet, we haven't even made past Halloween. So in the spirit of taking one day at a time, here are some readings and prayers for today taken from the Book of Occasional Services.

The Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:3-25)

Let us pray.
Almighty and everliving God, you have made all things in your wisdom and established the boundaries of life and death: Grant that we may obey your voice in this world, and in the world to come may enjoy the rest and peace which you have appointed for your people; through Jesus Christ who is Resurrection and Life, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

The Vision of Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:12-21)

Let us pray.
You, O Lord, have made us from the dust of the earth and to dust our bodies shall return; yet you have also breathed your Spirit upon us and called us to new life in you: Have mercy upon us, now and at the hour of our death; through Jesus Christ, our mediator and advocate. Amen.

The Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

Let us pray.
O God, you have called your people to your service from age to age. Do not give us over to death, but raise us up to serve you, to praise you, and to glorify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The War in Heaven (Revelation 12:1-12)

Let us pray.
O most merciful and mighty God, your son Jesus Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary to bring us salvation and to establish your kingdom on earth: Grant that Michael and all your angels may defend your people against Satan and every evil foe, and that at the last we may come to that heavenly country where your saints for ever sing your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws

All Hallow's Eve Carnival

2008-10-30T10:54:00.000-04:00

What's a Sunday Like at St Timothy's?

2008-10-26T17:54:00.002-04:00

Just for Today

2008-10-23T09:44:00.001-04:00

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin, just for today.
Let me both diligently work and duly pray.
Let me be kind in word and deed, just for today.
Let me be slow to do my will, prompt to obey;
Help me to sacrifice myself just for today.
and if today my tide of life should ebb away,
Give me thy Sacraments divine, Sweet Lord, today.
So for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray,
But keep me, guide me, love me, Lord
Just for today.
Amen.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws

Rekindling the Bible in Rome

2008-10-22T07:59:00.002-04:00

Roman Catholic bishops have been meeting in Rome for the Synod of Bishops. The theme for this meeting is, basically, the Bible. It seems as if the Pope and St Timothy's are thinking along the same lines - how can we rekindle love and interest in the Bible - the story of God's salvation of humanity? Today we finish our final Rekindle the Bible gathering. All month we have looked at the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and today we'll talk about making the Bible a part of our daily life and practice (plus some time spent looking at hard parts in the Bible). Come join us! (8:15am - which is about to start!!, and 6:30pm)

For your reading - a link with articles about the Synod of Bishops.
http://www.usccb.org/synod/

Here's a story on the Bible reading marathon started by the Pope.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/06/bible.marathon.ap/#cnnSTCText

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws

Notice Anything?

2008-10-21T08:34:00.001-04:00

Take a look at this Sunday's Old Testament reading.

What sort of things jump out at you as you read this?

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain-- that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees-- as far as Zoar. The LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, `I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD's command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.

Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws

Where Does That Leave You

2008-10-20T16:34:00.000-04:00

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:

   "As I live and breathe," God says,
      "every knee will bow before me;
   Every tongue will tell the honest truth
      that I and only I am God."
So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

Romans 14:10-12
from The Message

--
Fr. Steve Rice
Rector, St Timothy's Episcopal Church
Winston-Salem, NC
www.sttimothys.ws

Habamus Infantum

2008-10-17T21:14:00.001-04:00

We have a baby!
Walker Easton Rice
8lbs 14oz
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Timing Contractions

2008-10-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

I'm blogging from my cell phone. While we are timing contractions, I thought you might like to read an article from the Anglican News Service on Christians in Iraq. This topic was brought up at our Wednesday night program.

------Original Message------
From: Anglican Communion News Service
To: scrice@mac.com
Subject: ACNS4535 Christians in Iraq
Sent: Oct 17, 2008 10:23 AM

Christians in Iraq

Posted On : October 17, 2008 3:13 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/10/17/ACNS4535

Related Categories: Middle East

The Anglican Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, whose diocese includes Iraq,
has expressed his strong solidarity with all Christians there at a time
when they in particular are suffering a spate of violence.

The bishop recently visited Baghdad, where he met religious and
political leaders, including major Shi'a and Sunni figures, as well as
diplomats.

Speaking from Nicosia, Cyprus, he said:

"I am in close touch, as always, with our priest in Baghdad, Canon
Andrew White, and with leaders of our congregations, especially at St
George's church in the north-western suburbs. The threats, injuries, and
deaths in the Mosul area are a deep grief to all Christians in the
nation of Iraq and throughout the world, and fly in the face of
centuries-long coexistence and toleration in the land, where Christian
families have lived and prospered from near the very beginnings of our
faith.

"I am glad to hear that key figures in both the Christian and the main
Muslim communities are united in condemnation of the violence and are
soon to meet.

"It is a comfort, too, to know that Muslim and Christian clerics and
scholars meeting in the UK to discuss interfaith encounter, led by the
Archbishop of Canterbury and by the Grand Mufti of Egypt, have joined in
unequivocally declaring that no one should be persecuted or threatened
on account of their religious faith.

"My prayers are for the whole nation of Iraq, and especially with the
Christian Churches and their leaders, such as the deeply respected
Chaldaean Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, and believers
of all traditions, as well as our Muslim brothers and sisters."

The Anglican church of St George Baghdad regularly sees up to two
thousand worshippers each week, all indigenous Iraqis. The chaplaincy
led by Canon White also currently serves multinational congregations
inside the International Zone of the city.

+ Bishop Michael Lewis

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around
the world.

For subscription INFORMATION please go to:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.cfm

To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your address, please click here:
http://mh.epicom.org/scripts/c.php?L=acns&E=scrice@mac.com

For daily updates on local, national and communion-wide news stories
please visit the ACNS Digest page:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Baby Update

2008-10-16T15:19:00.000-04:00

There is a backup of babies...so we are waiting in line. More later!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Baby Watch

2008-10-16T06:45:00.001-04:00

We're going in at 8. Check back with this blog and I'll email a post when the newest member of St Timothy's arrives!

Teresa of Avila

2008-10-15T07:54:00.002-04:00

Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada (later known as Teresa de Jesus) was born in Avila, Spain, 28 March 1515, one of ten children whose mother died when she was fifteen. Her family was of partly Jewish ancestry. Teresa, having read the letters of Jerome, decided to become a nun, and when she was 20, she entered the Carmelite convent in Avila. There she fell seriously ill, was in a coma for a while, and partially paralyzed for three years. In her early years as a nun, she was, by her account, assiduous in prayer while sick but lax and lukewarm in her prayers and devotions when the sickness had passed. However, her prayer life eventually deepened, she began to have visions and a vivid sense of the presence of God, and was converted to a life of extreme devotion.

In 1560 she resolved to reform the monastery that had, she thought, departed from the order's original intention and become insufficiently austere. Her proposed reforms included strict enclosure (the nuns were not to go to parties and social gatherings in town, or to have social visitors at the convent, but to stay in the convent and pray and study most of their waking hours) and discalcing (literally, taking off one's shoes, a symbol of poverty, humility, and the simple life, uncluttered by luxuries and other distractions). In 1562 she opened a new monastery in Avila, over much opposition in the town and from the older monastery. At length Teresa was given permission to proceed with her reforms, and she travelled throughout Spain establishing seventeen houses of Carmelites of the Strict (or Reformed) Observance (the others are called Carmelites of the Ancient Observance). The reformed houses were small, poor, disciplined, and strictly enclosed. Teresa died 4 October 1582. (She is commemorated on the 15th--why not the 14th, I wonder--because the Pope changed the calendar from the Julian to the Gregorian system, a difference of 10 days, on the day after her death.)

Teresa is reported to have been very attractive in person, witty, candid, and affectionate. She is remembered both for her practical achievements and organizing skill and for her life of contemplative prayer. Her books are read as aids to the spiritual life by many Christians of all denominations. Her Life is her autobiography to 1562; The Way of Perfection is a treatise on the Christian walk, written primarily for her sisters but of help to others as well; The Book of Foundations deals with establishing, organizing and overseeing the daily functioning of religious communities; The Interior Castle (or The Castle of The Soul) deals with the life of Christ in the heart of the believer. Most of these are available in paperback. 31 of her poems and 458 of her letters survive. Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is 15 October. The Lutheran Church (ELCA) commemorates her on December 14 together with St. John of the Cross.

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

from here.

Sunday's Sermon

2008-10-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

We're experimenting with podcasting. Stay tuned.

PS: This is the statue that now resides in Bowling Green park in NYC.

She's a Theologian (and a morning person)

2008-10-13T09:19:00.001-04:00

My four-year-old pops in the bedroom this morning.
"God told me to get up."
"God told you to get up?"
"Yep, he made the sun shine in my window."

Can't argue with that.

More on the financial crisis...

2008-10-09T10:40:00.000-04:00

from the Anglican Communion News Service:

Web users looking for support during the current financial situation have boosted traffic to a Church of England website section focusing on debt advice by over 70 per cent, and increased visitor numbers to the Church’s online prayer page by more than a quarter.

The Matter of Life and Debt website section - containing a new ‘debt spiral’ feature so visitors can work out if they are one of the many families who will be seriously affected by the credit crunch, and useful advice for those worried about debt - has seen a 71 per cent increase in traffic in recent weeks.

It can be viewed by visiting www.cofe.anglican.org/debt.

A new Prayer for the Current Financial Situation has been viewed nearly 8,000 times since it was published online in September - increasing traffic to the popular Prayers for Today section by 28 per cent.

It can be found online at www.cofe.anglican.org/prayers.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, recently said: “At this time of international financial turbulence, it is important that the Church should be offering the opportunity for prayer and reflection.”

Prayers for Today also contains many other useful contemporary prayers - covering issues such as exam stress, and world peace.

Prayer for the Current Financial Situation

2008-10-08T04:29:00.000-04:00

from the Church of England

Lord God, we live in disturbing days:

across the world,

prices rise,

debts increase,

banks collapse,

jobs are taken away,

and fragile security is under threat.

Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer:

be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands,

and a light in the darkness;

help us receive your gift of peace,

and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found,

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing of Hands

2008-10-07T11:52:00.001-04:00

Funny...

2008-10-06T10:56:00.001-04:00

Pope: financial crisis shows futility of money

2008-10-06T10:47:00.001-04:00

from Yahoo news:

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI says the global financial crisis show the futility of money and ambition.

Benedict says that "now with the collapse of big banks we see that money disappears, is nothing and all these things that appear real are in fact of secondary importance." He urges those who build their lives "only on things that are visible, such as success, career, money" to keep that in mind.

The pontiff was speaking Monday as he opened the works of a meeting of 253 bishops at the Vatican.

Benedict says "the only solid reality is the word of God."

Rave

2008-09-29T10:00:00.003-04:00

I don't know what a rave is, but I went to one last night. 30 of our youth enjoyed what they always enjoy on Sunday nights - a Bible Study (Ephesians), food, and a great time. One thing I do know - a rave involves black lights, strobe lights, and a lot of fun.

The ABC at Lourdes

2008-09-25T09:35:00.003-04:00

ABC is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Lourdes is where Bernardette saw the Virgin Mary 150 years ago.
This is the ABC's sermon.

This sermon (and his presence) has created quite a little wave. What do you think?

Mad Max

2008-09-23T08:56:00.003-04:00

In 1982, the sequel to the Mel Gibson movie "Mad Max" hit theatres. This movie was entitled "Road Warrior" and was set in a post-apocalyptic world where gas was the most scarce and sought after commodity. This movie came to mind today when gas stations locally are out of gas the oil jumped $25 a barrel yesterday. What will gas prices be tomorrow? What about the stock market and AIG? Years ago C.S. Lewis wrote "The Screwtape Letters." "Screwtape" is a (obviously) fictional collection of letters between two demons - one seasoned and the other, a novice. In their correspondence is a lesson on the future. The seasoned demon, Screwtape, advised his novice nephew to cast his "patient's" attention on the future, instead of the present. The future is uncertain and unknowable. Who knows what will happen with gas prices and energy costs? We cannot afford to avoid, however, the present - the here and now. As we are worried about (and rightly so) about our brothers and sisters in Galveston and other hurricane devastated areas and our own futures, we can't forget our own spiritual status right now - our connection with God -right now. How we are treating others - right now. As Jesus reminds us - tomorrow will have it's own worries. Let us live today, in the here and now. Let us pray for those who are suffering. Let us be responsible with our energy. Let us not forget our need for daily bread.

Sermon for September 14

2008-09-22T11:11:00.002-04:00

per a request. This is unedited (which means I think faster than I type and what was in my head and what came through my fingers may not always match, be spelled correctly or make grammatical sense).

___

In a few minutes, after the sermon and after the Nicene Creed and after the Prayers of the People, the Confession, and Absolution, we’ll exchange the peace.

Friday morning I had a delightful conversation with some friends and this thing we do – the passing of the peace – came up. And this isn’t the first time that I’ve been asked about the passing of the peace so let me share a little bit about what we are doing and why.

First of all, if this is your first time with us at St Timothy’s and especially if this is your first time in an Episcopal Church, after we have come together and heard the readings and listened to the sermon and said the creed and prayed for the people in the church and the world, and after we have confessed our sins and received absolution, I will say “The Peace of the Lord be always with you,” to which you will say, “And also with you.”

It’s a lot like watching a Stars Wars movie, except we are not saying, “May the Force be with you,” but “the peace of the Lord.”

And then a lot of different things happen. Some folks will turn and face those around them and say “Peace be with you” or “the Peace of the Lord be with you” or simply “Peace.” Some other folks will go up and down the aisles greeting everyone, and typically I stand in the middle and say “Good morning, peace be with you!” which is my nice priestly way of saying, “sit down!”

When I was in the Methodist Church we had fellowship time. I would say “let us greet one another in the name of Christ,” and for five minutes we’d smile and slap people on the backs and glad hand and talk about the football game the day before or the potluck dinner that’s coming as soon as church is over. I know they have this in Baptist and Pentecostal Churches too.

Too many times we are running late to church and we have places to go as soon as it’s over, we’ve got company coming in or there’s a ballgame our kids have to go to, and it’s sometimes impossible to greet people in our church family. But that’s not what the passing of the peace is for.

Nor is the passing of the peace one of those things on our liturgical check list that we have to do. It’s not designed to be cold or informal and it’s really not designed to be a time of catching up either.

The passing of the peace used to be a kiss. In the early church newly baptized members were greeted by everyone by a kiss, not unlike the new baby that is passed around to aunts and uncles at Thanksgiving. Everyone gets to hold the baby and before they pass him down, that little kid gets a kiss on the forehead. The newly baptized, whether they are 6 months old or 60 years old, were passed down to all the spiritual aunts and uncles and before he was passed down, that little kid or very grown up person, received a kiss.

Over time the kiss of peace was exchanged by everyone all the time. It even had a hierarchy. The priest would kiss the altar, the place were Christ’s Body and Blood reside and would then kiss the deacon and the deacon would kiss the sub-deacon, and the sub-deacon would kiss the acolyte, and the acolyte would kiss the first person in the pew and so on until it was all passed down.

Nowadays we don’t typically kiss, we shake hands or nod or make a slight bow, but the point is still the same.
Now that we have come together as the Body of Christ, and we’ve heard the readings that proclaim the good news and the reconciliation and peace in Christ, and we’ve heard sermons sharing the application of this peace and we’ve confessed our faith in Christ, prayed for each other and received forgiveness of our sins, we are now called to put all that we’ve heard and proclaimed in action!

It goes back to what Jesus said in the 5th chapter of Matthew’s gospel: “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first to be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

If there is anyone here that we are at odds with, fighting with, or holding something against, we are called to make peace. Before we go to the altar, we are called to make things right.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Sunday before Lent begins, the church gathers together for evening prayer. On this night something incredible happens. Everyone there, including the clergy, goes to everyone in the church – everyone gathered that night – and asks for their forgiveness.

One person stands in front of another and says “Forgive me, a sinner.” The person responds, “God forgives.”

I tried this one time. It wasn’t the Sunday before Lent but it was on Ash Wednesday. After everyone had received the imposition of ashes we all snaked around the church and went to every single person and asked for their forgiveness. Husbands and wives were crying, having the opportunity to say things to each other that their pride would not allow them to do behind closed doors – here in the midst of a Church, forgiveness was taking place, ice was melting and hard feelings and bitterness and resentment was slowly, but surely, being replaced…by peace.

There was one person in that room that did not stand up. No one had to stand up and ask for forgiveness, this was a new and strange thing we were doing on Ash Wednesday and I didn’t expect everyone to participate. But there was just one. I think he thought no one else would stand up either, but when everyone else did, and people were being honest and real and sincere just by saying, “forgive me, a sinner” this one person was so overwhelmed with the need for forgiveness and the need to forgive that he left.

Of all the diseases that Jesus encountered, the one that he addressed the most was the cancer of a hard heart.

Jesus tells a parable about a king who wanted to settle his accounts. There was a slave that owed the king 10,000 talents. The slave could not pay. 10,000 talents was the equivalent of 100 million denarii. The average worker made ONE denarii per DAY! It would take him 100 million years to pay off the debt. The slave pleads with the king and the king forgives him his debt.

When that same slave, the one just forgiven 10,000 talents or 100 million denarii, sees another slave that owes HIM just 100 denarii or a little over 3 months of wages, the slave grabs him by the throat and demands that he pay up.

But the slave could not pay. He didn’t have the money. So he begs for forgiveness and mercy JUST LIKE THE OTHER SLAVE DID TO THE KING. But he would not have mercy and he would not forgive his debt and he threw the debtor into prison.

When the king heard about this he was furious. He seized the slave and asked him, “Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?” And the king had the slave tortured until he could pay his debt.

Now first of all, it would be impossible for a slave to have borrowed 100 million denarii, but Jesus wants to get our attention. He is comparing what God has forgiven us to what we are called to forgive others. God has forgiven us 100 million denarii and we are called to forgive 100 denarii.

God has mercifully restored us to new life and we could never even begin to work off our debts, but we are so many times reluctant to forgive the smallest infraction done to us.

If we do not forgive then we are stuck in one place, one time, and with one person. If we refuse to forgive we can never move forward. We are always thinking about, steaming about, complaining about things that happened back then and when we do that we can never fully enjoy and experience the here and now and we cannot look forward to the future.

How can we enjoy a life that has been forgiven when we do not forgive?

Forgiveness is a process. God can forgive and forget in an instant, but we are not God. It takes us time. It takes us time to work through it and gain perspective and to let go. If we refuse to forgive we are refusing to let go. If we refuse to forgive we are allowing other people and other events to have control over our thoughts and feelings, and if someone or something has control over our thoughts and feelings – then we are not free. And if we are not free – we do not have peace.

In a few minutes we’ll pass that peace. In other words, done right and with sincerity, we’ll pass forgiveness. We’ll pass freedom.

And the hope is that we’ll take the peace, the freedom, the forgiveness and spread it beyond the people in the pews in front of us, beside us and behind us. The hope is, and the call from Christ is, that we’ll take it to our homes and to our jobs and to our friends and to strangers. The hope is that we’ll always remember the unpayable debt that has been forgiven us – and that we’ll not pay it back – but pay it forward.

And pass the peace. Amen.