Shut down again - Rector's Rambling for 11/22/2020

 As of this writing, we are once again facing being shut down for public worship by the Ecclesiastical Authorities of the four dioceses in Michigan.  This is happening despite the fact that we, and all the parishes that have opened the past 20 weeks for worship, have done so without a single outbreak of COVID-19 in any of our congregations.  Our Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches are now on their 25th week of COVID-free worship.

So we are making arrangements for as many people to be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament as possible within the “10 people at worship” limit prescribed to us.  We will announce soon what that will mean for worship on Sunday.  Weekday Masses will continue as scheduled, since attendance at those services does not breech the limited number level.  God willing, this curve will be quickly flattened, and the three-week “pause” announced by the governor for the state, will be only three weeks and will expire then, along with our latest diocesan directive.

As it is all sorted out, I need our parishioners to pray earnestly, fervently, and frequently for a quelling of the virus’ spread AND for a return to public worship before Christmas!!!!

Once again, here is a prayer for the parish, written by our Fr. Fredrick Faber, Rector of St. John’s from 1905 to 1914:

Almighty God, who feedest Thy flock and callest Thine own by name, look down in mercy upon our parish, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind.  Hallow and bless to us the sacraments and services of Thy Church.  Inspire our clergy to show forth Thy truth by their preaching and living, and daily to minister according to Thy will.  Keep our communicants in singleness of heart, from unbelief and worldliness, giving them grace, both in their homes and callings, faithfully to confess Thy Holy Name.  May all our children be taught of Thee.  Bring back all such as have erred, and draw to the cross those who are hardened by sin.  And, we beseech Thee, heal the sick; comfort the sorrowing; relieve the distressed.  Move Thy people to give as Thou hast given to them; fill the workers with the Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind; and while we plant and water do Thou give the continual increase, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Update (not a Rector's Rambling per say) for November 17, 2020

 Since Sunday's Rector's Rambling was a repeat from a previous year I wanted to say a couple of quick things for the blog.

1) Even though the dioceses in Michigan are shutting down for public worship again, we will be offering multiple opportunities for '10 or fewer' gathering to have Holy Communion.  Stay tuned to www.stjohnsdetroit.org and www.facebook.com/stjohnsdetroit for more information.

2) A few people have asked me 'have you been losing weight on purpose?'.  Interesting question, and the answer is ABSOLUTELY YES.  Using the Keto eating lifestyle, and exercise (mostly rowing which I returned to this summer after 33 years away from the sport) I have lost 72 pounds since May - on purpose.  I am now 10 pounds away from my high school graduation weight and I feel healthier (and am healthier) than I have been in decades.   

3) New headshot deployed for our weekly parish chronicle.  Note the difference from the old one.  See number 2 for the reason why.  

All Saints/All Souls - Rector's Rambling for November 1, 2020

     
Today and tomorrow we have a wonderful celebration of those who have gone before us, the faithful who have died.

Today is All Saints’ Day, and we give thanks to Almighty God for those who have lived lives of holiness here on earth, and the church believes that they are in the presence of God.  These are the people who have striven to live in a State of Grace, giving their lives to Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and seeking to make their own lives conform to God’s will for them.  This involves being obedient to His Commandments revealed in Scripture, and when they fell short were quick to repentance and desired to amend their lives to not sin again.

The Saints are a great example to us since they were human, and in life sinful at times.  Some were seemingly holy from an early age. Others struggled to find sanctity later in life after either a major moment of conversion, or the slow creeping toward sanctity, like taking baby steps.  Some were born into wealth and others were poor all their lives.  Some found sanctity as their education and intellect increased, while others remained simple when it came to things academic, but were great in devotion and service in other ways.  No matter what their status in life, in their love of the Lord they were transformed by cooperating with God’s grace-filled blessings to become saints here on earth.

Whenever I read about the saints I am both inspired by their holiness and what God has accomplished through them in an in them.  But it is also a stark reminder of just how far I have to go to that type of holiness!

Not all of us are completely holy (or perhaps not too close to it) when we die.  We are saved by Grace and judged on Jesus’ merits, not our own (Thanks be to God!!!)  But we do want to remember those who have died and perhaps were not what we would think of as saints.  And more importantly, we want to remember the departed who are near and dear to us!  For this reason, the Church also has All Souls’ Day, which is celebrated on November 2.

Whereas the Holy Communion Service today is quite festive in remembering the saints, tomorrow’s Masses are more like our regular Funeral Service, called a Requiem Mass.  We offer this “among the dead” by having one at Elmwood Cemetery were most of our early members are buried, and the other in our chapel where the ashes of parishioners are interred in our columbarium.  We remember them at the altar, while the residual effects of their sin is being purged, outside of our space and time, to be in the presence of the living God.

Be sure to submit the names of those you would like to have re-membered by name at the 12:15 PM Requiem Mass to be held in our chapel at St. John’s.