Talking Church in an Uber - Rector's Rambling for August 25, 2019

While out of town the other week I got a ride in an Uber (ride sharing service, like a taxi).  Traveling in my clergy clothes is an open invitation to others to start a conversation about God, faith, and prayer.  I enjoy that about traveling dressed this way.

My Uber driver that day took up the invitation by announcing that he would be moving soon to begin his study for the ministry.  He was involved in a “Holiness” Church, a mid-19th century movement that grew out of the Methodist church with an emphasis on a secondary conversion after baptism leading to living one’s life without sin by living according to various holiness rules (modesty in dress, etc.).  He was happy to hear that I was acquainted with the movement and I commended him on his desire to serve the Lord by going into the ministry.

The clergy collar then invited him to ask me a question because he assumed I was a Roman Catholic priest – why Catholics “worship” Mary.  I explained to him that they do not worship her, but rather venerate (give reverence) because of her role and participation as the mother of Jesus.  He had never heard it explained that way but thanked me for the clarification.

After I explained that I was in the Episcopal Church he then asked if “Episcopal” was because we use the Epistles instead of the Gospels.  I have to admit this was a wonderful guess at where the name Episcopal comes from.  I explained it came the Greek word επίσκοπος (epískopos) because we are a church with bishops in apostolic succession compared to the Presbyterians (πρεσβύτερος) who are governed by a non-apostolic board of elders.

The rest of the conversation was about Jesus himself, whom we both love and serve.  I am glad that he was my Uber driver that day.  It was a wonderful opportunity to share our common love for our Lord, dispel misconceptions, and inform others about our church.  One never knows where the opportunity will arise to share the faith, as well as correct mistaken information.  Another good reason to be regular about worship, study, and learning.  May Timothy grow more and more as he prepares for the ordained ministry to our Lord.

Not just for Sunday! - Rector's Rambling for August 18, 2019

Prayer – it’s not just for Sunday!  I know that sounds simplistic, but I would venture a guess that for many in the Church, Sunday is the only time of the week spent earnestly in prayer.  And even then, I fear that the 75 minutes at St. John’s is all that many are getting in, if at all.

The late bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, Richard Emrich, wrote that any renewal that could happen in the church must start in prayer and worship, and he is exactly right.  A praying church is a growing church.  In fact, during his tenure as Diocesan bishop (which then included all of the eastern half of the lower peninsula) there were 49 missions and parishes established.

As Anglicans, we have as a great gift in The Book of Common Prayer.  We use it on Sunday for our worship: Holy Communion and Morning Prayer.  And during the week, Holy Communion and Evening Prayer are prayed in community as well.  They are great opportunities to gather together in His name, to worship, to hear scripture read, and to put ourselves for 20 to 30 minutes fully into His presence.

And YOU can use the Book of Common Prayer every day of the week.  We have free, used copies in the parish library if you want a copy.  You can pray Morning and Evening Prayer at home, or, if you are not ready to commit yet to that much formality, then there is also a section called “Forms of Prayer to be used in Families” (p. 587 to 593).  This is a collection of prayers to begin and end the day in prayer.  Plus, there are lots of other prayers and thanksgivings for all sorts of occasions on pages 594 to 600, as well as pages 35 to 53.  These prayers are time-tested and very helpful.

Formal, written prayers are a great way to “prime the pump” and direct us in right doctrine as we pray.  But we should also be regular in praying from the heart, speaking comfortably and relationally to the Lord.  The formal prayer is a good start, but be sure also to check in in personal prayer as well to stay close and intimate with Jesus.

St. Clare - Rector's Rambling for August 11, 2019

Continuing our August review of some of the Saints, August 11 on the modern calendar is the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi.  She is the foundress of what is known as the Second Order Franciscans, and now better known as The Poor Clares.

Born into upper middle class affluence in 1194, she happened upon the happy band of faithful led by St. Francis himself, who had eschewed all property ownership and were living in absolute poverty in order to serve the Lord more closely.  Desiring to follow this way, she approached Francis when she was 18 years old and, against her parents objections, had her hair cut, was clothed in a religious habit, and then placed in a Benedictine Convent until the details of her unique vocation could be worked out.

Although she would have been happy to live a life like the men, sleeping on church floors, begging for food, and working as iterant preachers, as a woman in the 13th century, this was too dangerous.

For 40 years, Clare gathered around her other women desiring to live a life of absolute devotion in poverty to our Lord, offering prayer in reparation to God on behalf of an ungrateful world.

One notable wonder attributed to her occurred in 1240 “...On the occasion of an invasion of that region by a band of Saracen (Muslim) soldiers who were intent on despoiling the convent and ravishing the nuns.  Clare had no protection against them except her faith.  Hence she took the Most Holy Sacrament from the altar, saying: have no fear, my daughters; trust in Jesus.  And leading her sisters, she marched out through the enclosure door, with the Sacrament as her weapon, as if to attack the Saracens therewith.  Who were so amazed by the evident and strange courage of these dedicated women, that they turned and fled.” (Anglican Breviary, p. 1381).

The Poor Clares in Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism continue their ministry of prayer and reparation today.

St. Jean Vianney - Rector's Rambling for August 4, 2019

Today we are celebrating the Seventh Sunday after Trinity.  But August 4 is also the Feast of St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney.

Jean Vianney was a most unlikely candidate for the priesthood, but God doesn’t look on earthly circumstances or human measure of skill when choosing who will serve him, and ultimately become a saint.

Born to a poor family in France, he was not given a formal education but rather was given the charge at a young age (8) to tend the sheep to help support the family.

He may not have been properly schooled but what was instilled in him was a deep faith and burning desire to serve the Lord as a priest in His Church.  This was happening at a time when the Church in France was under brutal attack by the revolutionary forces with priests and bishops being killed for the faith by the secular French leadership.

His own parish priest, sensing his vocation, took it upon himself to begin tutoring his parishioner, despite his being described as “slow of mind and could scarce master his lessons”.  Jean Vianney gave all the credit for what he was able to learn, just enough to qualify him for ordination at a time and place where the Church was desperate for clergy, as a result of prayer rather than academic ability or labor.

After serving as an assistant in his own parish, he was sent to a small town called Ars, where it was thought he couldn’t do much damage.  But the sheer force of his submission to God’s will, and his deepening holiness brought the parish and the town to great conversion.  It also in his lifetime became a place of pilgrimage by those seeking the holy priest who “apart from the time necessarily devoted to sleeping or eating, he was either at the altar, in the pulpit, or hearing confessions”.

A Third Order Franciscan, he died at the age of 73 on August 4, 1859, and is venerated as the patron saint of parish priests.

~ Quotations from The Anglican Breviary, p. 1372–1373