Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 160 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Sunday, March 10, 2024

St. Patrick's Saltire, and Laetare Sunday - Rector's Rambling for March 10, 2024

     Today we are having our St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon in the Undercroft after the 10 AM Service.  This of course is a week before the actual Feast Day (March 17), so I will write more about him next week.  But note that on the ministry center flag pole we are flying the Saint Patrick's Saltire, which is the flag of the Anglican Church of Ireland. We flew the flag of Wales in honor of St. David’s feast day March 1st, and we plan on flying a the flag of St. George for his feast day on April 23rd.

Happy Lætáre Sunday!  This Sunday is also known as Rose Sunday (take a look at the vestments and hangings today to figure out this title), and in our mother Church of England it is known as Mothering Sunday (like our Mother’s day in May).

Still a Sunday in Lent, this Sunday is a mid-point when we “lighten up” a bit.  The deep penitential purple vestments are replaced with the lighter rose.  The Latin title gives us a hint as to this lightening up of the day.  Lætáre is the opening word of the liturgy in Latin, on which our liturgy is based.  The first word of the Introit, sung by the choir at the 10:00 AM service, is “REJOICE”.

Although a penitential season, on this Sunday we rejoice that we have passed the half-way point of Lent.  We rejoice because Passiontide (the last two weeks before Easter) and Holy Week are in sight.  We rejoice because Easter is just around the corner.  We rejoice because, to date, we have kept a good Lent, OR because we still have a chance to have a good Lent starting today.  But above all, we rejoice because we have a Saviour, Jesus Christ, who paid the price of our sins.  We rejoice that in Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of those sins and are reconciled unto the Father through His blood.

So if you haven’t started “keeping Lent” there is still time to give something up, and to take some things on like extra prayer at home or attending special services here at St. John’s.  And, of course, Fr. Kelly and Fr. Bedford

Tuesday, March 05, 2024

Stations of the Cross - Rector's Rambling for March 3, 2024

     As we spend time in Lent looking at the destructive effects of sin in our lives, both how they affect us in the flesh as well as our souls, we do so with a purpose.  That purpose is to place our sins at the foot of the Cross and let the Blood of Jesus wash them away.

“Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins”.  This is the only reason we merit heaven.  Eternal Life has been bought for us by the death of Jesus Christ.  We will be reminded of this in the readings on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday.  But it is an awesome act by a loving, sinless, God-made-flesh, that he should die for us.

One poignant way that we remember this gift is by praying the Stations of the Cross.  Every Friday in Lent at noon, we gather in the church and begin a 25 minute journey covering the last hours of Jesus’ life.  We walk as a group, starting at the foot of the steps to the sanctuary, and circumambulate the interior of the nave (seating area).  We stop at each of the 14 Stations to be reminded of that journey Jesus took from his being sentenced to death by Pilate, carrying his cross to his death on Calvary.  At each station we begin by saying, “We adore thee O Christ, and we bless thee, because by thy Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world.”  Next we hear a description from scripture of a part of that journey, pray a Collect for that portion, and then move on to the next station while singing verses from the ancient hymn Stabat Mater.

At least once in Lent you should take the opportunity to join us to pray the Stations.  It is a powerful reminder of the selfless, loving act that Jesus Christ did for us.  It is so easy to gloss over the crucifixion with a pretty cross or picture.  But spending time meditating on that journey drives home the big reality of God’s love for us.

We have 11:15 AM Mass before, and  Benediction follows, but the Stations are that unique Lenten Devotion that YOU should take advantage of this year to be reminded just how much Jesus loves you.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated to the campaign to purchase new chairs for the Choir Rehearsal Room.  As of the writing of this column we already have donations for 12 of the 24 chairs needed. Please let us know if you would like to contribute for the remaining 12.  The old set has lasted over 60 years, here’s to the next 60, God willing.

 

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Lenten journey, votive candles, and an anniversary - Rector's Rambling for February 25, 2024

         I hope that by now you have gotten into the groove of keeping Lent.  This is now the second Sunday of Lent, and as you can see from the chart on the right, we are well into this season of fasting, abstinence, and almsgiving. This wonderful illustration is a reminder of how we built up into the season with the gesima Sundays, had our first week and a half Lent with Ash Wednesday and then last week we had 3 Ember Days where we prayed with special intention for those preparing for the ordained ministry.  Now we are working our way to the meat of the season and heading toward Passiontide.  The Christian Life is a journey toward heaven and this illustration  helps us to envision it.

Below is a picture of our Votive Candle rack in the Church. We also have one in the Chapel.  Lighting a candle for a prayer intention is a wonderful way to make tangible, visibly, that intention.  And your offering placed in the slot is a small sacrifice as well a way to cover the costs of the candle itself.  But please, DO NOT PUT THE USED MATCH INTO THE VOTIVE CUPS!  As you see in the picture on the right, it causes the glass to break and is a fire hazard! Please use the ashtray provided. 

    Finally, the last Sunday in February is the anniversary of my first Sunday as the Rector of St. John’s Church. This marks the completion of my 23rd year as your pastor here.  I am now the longest serving clergyman in their current position in the diocese, and third longest serving rector of St. John’s after I.C. Johnson (28 years) and Tom Frisby (25 years).  I am humbled and honored, and pray that there will many more years ahead together.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Lent's start, and ordinations - Rector's Rambling for February 18, 2024

 “Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou return”.

These words were said, over and over, as ashes were applied on the foreheads of people at St. John’s, and in churches around the world.  This past Wednesday the Lenten Fast began, although it faced stiff competition from the secularized version of Valentine’s Day.  St. Valentine was martyred for his faith in Jesus – we can be sure he doesn’t mind that his feast day was bumped this year.

I like Ash Wednesday because, in addition to our regular worshippers, we see folks in church we don’t see very often, and we get visitors from neighboring office buildings who realize what day it is and dash to the nearest church.  It is nice to see people make an earnest start on this important season of the Church year.

 Two weeks ago a group of St. John’s folks made the pilgrimage to Wisconsin to see our own Cam Walker ordained to the transitional diaconate by the Bishop of Long Island.  It was a wonderful evening and we look forward, God willing, to The Rev. Mr. Cam Walker’s ordination to the priesthood, God willing, in Garden City, NY in September. 

Deacon Cam came to St. John’s as a new parishioner and law school student, and quickly jettisoned his law studies after a semester and began his discernment toward ordination soon thereafter.

Today at 3 PM in Grand Rapids a man who did an internship with us in the summer of 2010 will be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan.  Rev. Alex Quick was a college student at the time, and was discerning whether or not he may have a call to the ordained ministry.  He was ordained a deacon and now, God willing, will be a priest. 

Remember also that not long ago another former intern at St. John’s, Fr. Zack Baker, was ordained a priest in Long Island.  May God continue to use us to help men discerning their vocations to the ordained ministry!

 

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Quinquagesima Sunday - Rector's Rambling for February 11, 2024

     

    Beginning this week things will be getting even busier around St. John’s!  Being Quinquagesima Sunday today, it means that by mid-week Lent begins, and the additional devotions and disciplines take full effect.

Before the fasting begins, we do have one last feast with some frivolity.  On Tuesday evening, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, we will be serving pancakes, sausage and ice cream as we celebrate Shrove Tuesday.  Additionally, we have our second annual Trivia Contest!

On Wednesday Lent begins, and there are three opportunities for worship to make a right start of Lent with the imposition of ashes: 12:15 and 6:00 PM Holy Communion, and 4:00 PM Evening Prayer.

Included in the Order of Service today is our Lenten Brochure outlining how to keep a Holy Lent in the  various opportunities offered here at St. John’s.  The extra weekday services start Thursday with weekly Adoration of Christ in the Sacrament, and then NEXT WEEK on Friday we add an extra weekday Holy Communion service at 11:15 AM, as well as Stations of the Cross at Noon.  Educational opportunities include Adult Education with our Alpha Course on Sunday at 11:45 AM and the addition of the Lenten Lunchtime lessons and Wednesday Evening Lent teaching.  These last two are online, in addition to the Daily Morning Meditations.

Our Sunday Lenten worship begins next week the Litany in Procession, alternating each week with the Decalogue.  It is my hope that we will have a 100% attendance day next Sunday to get Lent off to a good start.  The weather hasn’t been the most cooperative lately (snow, fog, etc.), but even on the pleasant weather Sundays attendance can be better..

Lent is a wonderful time to re-evaluate and re-set our spiritual life.  Take advantage of these opportunities by jumping in with both feet: regular Sunday Service attendance, weekday Mass attendance, Bible reading and prayer at home, preparing to make a confession, and keeping the Lenten Fasts and Disciplines to make this an Holy Lent.

 

Sunday, February 04, 2024

Lent/Easter Eagle - Rector's Rambling for February 4, 2024

     Another year of grace is underway at St. John’s Church.  We celebrated our 165th anniversary on December 27th.  What a remarkable thing to think that what was started with a vision by people living in a rural area on the outskirts of Detroit would become this wonderful parish of people with a glorious church building set in the midst of a revitalized urban neighborhood now dubbed The District Detroit.

We had our Annual Parish Meeting on a cold, snowy, and slushy Sunday last week,. Despite the weather, a sizeable gathering of members and guests were here for worship and for the meeting following in the Undercroft.  A soup luncheon was served - thank you to all who pitched in to make it a special meal.

At the meeting we elected new members of the Vestry, reviewed the 2023 year-end financials, and received the reports of the various ministries and organizations in the parish.  God continues to bless us in remarkable ways and we give thanks to Him for them!   I am humbled that I will be celebrating, God willing, my 23rd anniversary as Rector of St. John’s at the end of February.

Looking forward, this edition of The Eagle contains all sorts of information about upcoming events and opportunities for your participation.  Lent is a time when we get pretty busy around here at St. John’s, and it is a very ‘good’ busy.

In addition to the regular Lenten disciplines of fasting and abstinence such as giving up something for Lent, I want to suggest that you also take on some things for Lent as well.  Top of the list would be to not only be regular at worship on Sunday (this is the bare-minimum expectation for all members of the church), but also become more regular about weekday worship at home or here at St. John’s.  Come to a weekday Mass or go online and join us for Evening Prayer.  Take out a prayer book and pray along with us when livestreamed (you can pray along anytime on replay) or pray Evening (or Morning) prayer directly from the Prayer Book by yourself.  If you need a 1928 Book of Common Prayer, we have used copies in the parish library. 

Also, we are offering once again The Alpha Course.  This time it is being offered on Sunday at 11:45 AM after coffee hour.  You are already here for Sunday worship, stick around for the video and discussion.

And of course start inviting people now to join us for Holy Week and Easter at St. John’s!

 

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Gesima Season - Rector's Rambling for January 28, 2024

 As we begin a new season, the pre-Lenten season known as the “Gesima” Sundays, I am reminded of the start of a poem by John Betjeman:

Septuagesima – seventy days

To Easter’s primrose tide of praise;

The Gesimas – Septua, Sexa, Quinc
Mean Lent is near, which makes you think.
Septuagesima – when we’re told
To “run the race”, to “keep our hold”,
Eschew injustice, not give in,
And practise stern self-discipline;
A somewhat unattractive time
Which hardly lends itself to rhyme.

We are now making a start toward Lent, hence the appearance of the purple vestments and the disappearance of the “Alleluia”.  And yet, we still have flowers on the altar and weekday Masses are kept in the “color of the day” rather than the strict purple-only of Lenten weekday Masses.  It isn’t quite the heaviness of the full penitential season, but it is a three week reminder that the time is coming, and that you should be thinking of the disciplines you will be taking on, and that which you will be “giving up for Lent”.  Don’t let Ash Wednesday, on February 14, sneak up on you unprepared!

 Today, after the 10:00 AM service, we will hold our Annual Parish Meeting in the Undercroft.  I hope that you will come downstairs for a bite to eat and to stay for the meeting.  Generally, the meeting is less than an hour long and is a wonderful way to stay informed of what is going on around the parish.  We find ourselves overwhelmed with blessings here at St. John’s, and the Annual Parish Meeting is a wonderful way for us to not only give thanks to God for these blessings, but an opportunity to look forward to what God may be calling us to do in the year (and years) ahead.