Corpus Christi Sunday - Rector's Rambling for June 22, 2025

     

We are now in a new Church Season, known as Trinitytide, or the Ordinary Season.  It is called Trinitytide because the Sundays between now and November 30 are numbered as Sundays after Trinity.  It is the long season of teaching about the nature of God himself through parables, sermons, and miracles performed by Jesus.  It is called ‘Ordinary’ not because it is not special, but because it is an Ordered series of teachings between now and the restart of the Church Liturgical Year with the Advent Season.

Having said all that, we actually don’t dive into the ‘regular’ routine of this season quite yet.  This week and next we have two special occasions which delay the onset of the green vestments and pulpit/lectern hangings. 

Today are celebrating the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi.  This Feast Day actually falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but is so special we celebrate it again today.  Back in Holy Week on April 17th we had Maundy Thursday where we remembered our Lord’s Last Supper.  It was then that he instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Communion.  In all the busy from Palm Sunday to Good Friday to Easter Day it often gets overlooked, as evidenced by the low attendance at Mass that Thursday Evening.

Yet it is in Jesus’ giving of self in the Sacrament that we continue to receive that assurance of Grace!  “This is my Body” and “This is my Blood” becomes possible in every celebration of the Holy Communion, in fulfillment of Jesus’ words that we  are to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood by which we have Eternal Life. (John 6:54)  Because of how important this is, the Church celebrates it again outside of Holy Week, at the beginning of Trinitytide.

And although we would normally be in the green vestments and hangings of Trinitytide the following week, the 2nd Sunday after Trinity, this year a Prayer Book Holy Day takes precedence.  June 29th is the Feast of St. Peter the Apostle, so we will once again don the red vestments and hang red on the pulpit and lectern. 

Several special feast days fall on a Sunday this year so we will have some deviation from a long ‘green’ season, with St. Bartholomew on August 24th, Holy Cross Day September 14, St. Matthew the Apostle September 21, The Solemnity of St. Michael and All Angels October 5th, and All Saints Sunday on November 2nd this year.

We give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of Himself in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.

 

God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity - Rector's Rambling for June 15, 2025

     Today we celebrate one of the great mysteries, and yet biblically obvious truths of our Faith – that we believe in One God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.

Google is a dangerous place to explore at times.  When I googled TRINITY for images for this newsletter, choices included comics deriding the doctrine, one of which I clicked on out of curiosity.  This lead me on a 30-minute adventure of Web sites set up by various cults and sects claiming to know the actual truth about God and the Bible, all backed up with misquotes and pseudo-historical proofs.  One group has even retranslated the Bible to try to take out any verses that might be construed as biblical proof.  It is remarkable how they believe that God hid the truth from people from 33 A.D. until their group was founded in the 19th or 20th century.

Despite the erroneous claims of some that somehow the Trinity (and the Bible itself) was an invention in the 4th century, we have evidence from the earliest writings of belief in God in Trinity.  The earliest recorded baptismal records tell of baptisms with the Trinitarian formula, as was commanded in St. Matthew’s Gospel, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.“ (28:19)

And Jesus himself speaks of He and the Father being one.  John’s 17th Chapter, called Jesus’ High Priest Prayer, expresses Jesus’ desire to protect his disciples as he prepares for his own death and resurrection.  He prays, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (17:21)  And how can one not see Jesus’ assertion of Divinity and Unity with the Father when in the 8th chapter of John’s Gospel, after a long discourse on He and the Father, Jesus declares, “before Abraham was, I am” (8:58), for which the Jews sought to stone him for blasphemy.

And last week we focused on God the Holy Spirit and his procession from the Godhead upon the disciples to empower the Church for ministry.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost – how Trinity in Unity works may not be definable, but it is believable based on Jesus’ gracious word.            

– from June 4, 2023

 

Whitsunday - Rector's Rambling for June 8, 2025

     Today we celebrate the gift of God the Holy Ghost, who has been sent to us, and dwells within us by virtue of our baptism.  God, the third person of the Holy Trinity, descended upon the disciples 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 10 days after his Ascension.  He was sent to lead them into all truth, and to empower them for the work of being The Church!  And we share the same mission today here at St. John’s Church in Detroit.

Of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, God the Holy Ghost may be the most overlooked. We understand the Father, and the Son Jesus Christ.  We have access to both persons in prayer, and Jesus’ presence continues in a special way in the  Blessed Sacrament of His precious body and blood.

But God the Holy Ghost is also amazingly available to us.  As Jesus says to us, unless we are born again of water and the Spirit we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5).  And since that is true, we also hear Jesus promising that once He ‘goes away’ (ascends into heaven) that He will send to us the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).  We also hear that on Jesus’ resurrection Day when he appeared to the disciples He breathed upon them and said “receive the Holy Ghost” . This was for the beginning of the ministry of reconciliation, which is the forgiveness of sins.  

Today we celebrate the greater outpouring of God the Holy Ghost, so that the Gospel could be powerfully preached to those who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Pentecost (50th day after the Passover).  The Holy Ghost spoke through those disciples in a variety of languages so that everyone else present in Jerusalem could hear the Good News in their own tongue.   And then with the Feast over, could take that Good News back with them to their hometowns!  This is why we often call Pentecost the birth day of the Church.

Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten us with your celestial fire!  The same Holy Ghost is active and at work in The Church.  Ask Him to help you to pray, to read Scripture, to share the Good News, and to use His gifts to serve.

 

Outreach Sunday - Rector's Rambling for June 1, 2025

     Today we welcome the recipients of our 2025 Outreach Grants.  For the past 10 years, St. John’s has partnered with various ministries in the neighborhood and beyond, supporting them prayerfully and financially, as well as making available our facilities for their use as necessary.  We are grateful for their good work in our community! 

This program began while we were in negotiations to lease some of our property for development.  It was the strong opinion of the vestry that the gift of land given to us by Henry Porter Baldwin in 1858 has blessed us in innumerable ways over the decades and that just as well have been blessed by it we need to use it as a blessing to others. 

The biblical model of showing gratitude to God is by tithing - giving the first 10% of our income.  It is with that biblical example before us that we decided that we need to be generous outside of our selves with that 10% to double down on the blessing of the 90% that we can use.  I continue to feel very strongly that this attitude of gratitude and charity must underpin our decision making by giving away this tithe of what has been freely given to us, so that the other 90% will continue to be a blessing to us.  These are the organizations for this year.

The Arc Grosse Pointe/Harper Woods – protects the rights and supports full inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community by facilitating activities, advocacy, employment, education and meaningful relationships from childhood through adulthood. After school enrichment programs, friends group, summer camps and family support.

 Building Beds for Kids – funds used to purchase lumber, hardware, mattresses and bedding. Developmentally disabled young adults build twin size wooden platform beds, which are distributed along with new mattresses and bedding to families in need.

 Cass Community Social Services – dedicated to making a profound difference in the lives of the diverse population served by providing basic needs – including serving 700,000 meals annually, housing for 300 men women and children nightly, medical and mental health services, vocational training; promoting self-reliance and encouraging community involvement.

Chance For Life - a special program for inmates in Michigan prisons. Mr. Adams and Ms. Taylor visit a number of prisons across Michigan to teach and guide prisoners how to transition back into the community. They also connect Returning Citizens to mentors and job training once they are released.

 Corner Shower and Laundry – Builds and operates clean and safe shower and laundry facilities where the homeless and others in need in our community can shower and launder their clothes. Located at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

 Detroit Horse Power – provides under-resourced youth a safe and enriching space that furthers their future development. Horses teach children critical traits, including perseverance, empathy, responsible risk-taking, confidence, self-control and taking responsibility for another living being. These lifelong lessons that our kids learn through their horse experiences will help them succeed in school and in life.

Incarcerated Youth Ministries – brings God’s word to those incarcerated- “locked up but not locked out of God’s love and protection”. Bible studies, worship services, chaplain visits, on site retreats, Christmas & Easter celebrations. Provide clothing, hygiene products to those being released.

 Georgia Street Community Collective (GSCC) - with the help of volunteers, and the Garden Resource Program, empty lots have been revitalized to become GSCC Gardens/Farm.  GSCC helps seniors and youth of the neighborhood through education - using the garden/farm to mentor students and teach others to start their own garden.

 Keep Growing Detroit (KGD) – promotes a food sovereign city where most fruits and vegetables are grown and consumed by residents within the city. Assists at least 7 community groups in establishing or improving vegetable gardens by installing 27 new 4”x8” raised metal (longer lasting) beds. All sites selected for improvement will receive KGD garden development assistance.

 NOAH at Central Methodist - A central hub for services, resources and relationships assisting individuals on the path to stable housing. Serves as a drop-in center for the unhoused community - providing case management, lunch, showers (M&W), street outreach, etc.

 Vista Maria – Fosters restorative relationships and delivers innovative care, treatment and education so vulnerable girls believe in their worth, heal and build skills for success. Funds to be used to support Shepherd Hall Transitional Living Program, serving low-income young women and adults 16-24 aging out of the foster care system and in need of combined affordable housing and supportive services.

 Wayne County Jail Outreach Ministry – serves individuals affected by criminal offenders and their families. Also provides returning citizens with education, job assistance and medical/dental services. Serves individuals spiritual need and promotes emotional and long-term goals – including job and life skill training.

A hearty thank you to the Outreach Committee members who contacted applicants, visited ministries and made decisions about grant giving.  This is important work for St. John’s.

Speaking of gifts, today before the 10 AM Service we will be blessing new altar linens, given in memory of longtime Altar Guild Directress Virginia Burton.  The Altar Guild works hard to keep shiny and new the things used for worship at St. John’s, and Altar Linens are an important part of that work.  Thank you to all who give of their time and labor, as well as of their treasure for this work.

We are now into our summer Choir Quartet season and I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Lewis, Grace, and all the members of the choir for their musical offering and leadership in worship!