Category: Religion

Epiphanies at the Chapel of St. Hubert the Hunter in Bondurant, Wyoming

Gay and I were in Bondurant on Sunday for worship and the annual barbecue at the Chapel of St. Hubert the Hunter. In the service of worship, at which I presided and preached, and in the crowd at the barbeque, I was conscious that I was there on a mission from God. I didn’t just happen by or show up. I was sent there on a mission and equipped by God with “good news” of the kingdom of heaven for all sorts and conditions of people. In the midst of that mission to others, I experienced God’s reign myself.

Seated at one end of our table were two young men from Israel. They were driving along, saw the sign, and turned in to enjoy some genuine western barbecue beside an Episcopal Church. They asked about lodging and things to see on their way to Yellowstone. We took delight in suggesting things we’ve seen and done during our brief time here. We have been welcomed in their land when we traveled there; here was an opportunity to extend hospitality to them as they traveled through ours. When they started to leave, we wished each other “Shalom.” In the exchange of that ancient word of peace, our eyes met. We understood one another in some new way. Strangers became friends as our kinship with our Creator was acknowledged. I experienced God’s reign on earth, transcending time and space and even barbecue.

At the other end of the table was a couple from a neighboring state. They have been riding their motorcycles to Bondurant for years to participate in this annual event. After a short conversation, one of them raised the subject of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. Gay gently expressed our approval of the decision and what it means for so many people whom we cherish. Silence. Then, they talked about what it means for them, their daughter and her partner. Our eyes met. We understood one another in some new way. Strangers became friends as our kinship with our Creator was acknowledged. I experienced God’s reign on earth, transcending time and space and even barbecue.

On my way to the car, a member of the band that played for both the service of worship and the barbecue approached me. She thanked me for the service and told me that although she was Baptized at an early age, this was the first time she’d ever received Holy Communion. She said that her decision to come forward on this occasion was made when she heard me say, “Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and wherever you may be on your journey of faith, you are welcome to share in this banquet.” In that moment in time, in that particular location, she knew that she is included in God’s love and hospitality. Our eyes met. We understood one another in some new way. Strangers became friends as our kinship with our Creator was acknowledged. I experienced God’s reign on earth, transcending time and space and even barbecue.

Our recent readings from Mark’s Gospel concern Jesus during his Galilean ministry, crossing back and forth between Jewish and Gentile territories. God’s reign became evident in the encounters between Jesus and the people to whom he was sent. You and I are called to recognize the signs of God’s reign when we see them in our encounters with others. Even more, we are privileged to be heralds of God’s reign wherever we may be to help others recognize God’s reign for themselves.

I’ll see you in Church!

July 2, 2015
Sermon at the Chapel of St. Hubert the Hunter in Bondurant, Wyoming ~ June 28, 2015

The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Listen to the Sermon for June 28, 2015

Note: The sermon was recorded during an outdoor service at St. Hubert's before the annual barbeque and there is sound from people arriving and passing vehicles.

Read the Sermon for June 28, 2015

June 28, 2015
Sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole ~ June 21, 2015

The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Listen to the Sermon for June 21, 2015

Read the Sermon for June 21, 2015

June 21, 2015
Sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole ~ June 14, 2015

The Third Sunday After Pentecost

This sermon was preached at the 8:00 a.m. service and no audio recording was made.

Read the Sermon for June 14, 2015

June 14, 2015
Sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole ~ June 7, 2015

The Second Sunday After Pentecost

Listen to the Sermon for June 7, 2015

Read the Sermon for June 7, 2015

June 7, 2015
With God’s Help, I Will

The Catechism of The Episcopal Church can be found on pages 844-862 in The Book of Common Prayer. This brief summary of the Church’s teaching is also known as “An Outline of the Faith.”

Among the teachings we find in the Catechism is a description of how the mission of the Church is carried out and by whom:

Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
A. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.

Q. Who are the ministers of the Church?
A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.

Q. What is the ministry of the laity?
A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.

That means every member is a minister and every member has a ministry.

During this time of transition, we are going to emphasize this teaching in a variety of ways. The vestry has appointed a discernment task force to work with me in this emphasis. The first thing we did was to bring the vestry a plan for increasing the effectiveness of our committees, guilds, and ministry groups. The plan, adopted by the vestry at its May meeting, provides for recruiting additional participants, rotating participants and leaders, and providing up to date descriptions of the expectations of each committee, guild, and ministry group. We are now in the process of implementing this plan, which we believe will add to the vibrancy and fruitfulness of The Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole.

Our emphasis has included a series of sermons and articles that called attention to five practices that shape and sustain fruitful congregations. The concept of fruitfulness is rooted in the teachings of Christ; “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name” (John 15:5, 16).

Fruitful congregations understand that every member is a minister, called by and connected to Jesus Christ. From him they draw the divine resources to carry out his work in the world. They intentionally repeat and deepen certain fundamental activities, seeking to perform them with excellence: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. In this parish, these five practices are carried out under the leadership and engagement of our committees, guilds, and ministry groups.

During the month of June, we are asking each member to “Get Involved” in one or more ways in response to the Christ’s call. We’ve published a brochure that provides brief descriptions of many ways to get involved along with a Ministry Interest Indicator, which you may use to let the discernment task force, the staff, and me know where you believe you are being called to serve.

You may already be involved. If so, great! Let us know if you want to continue to be involved in that way. Or, you may sense that it is time to move to another ministry. We’d like to hear from you about that. And, if you are not involved, tell us where you believe Christ wants you to bear fruit.

“Get Involved” brochures are available in the Narthex, Hansen Hall, and the Parish Office. You can also access the brochure and the Ministry Interest Indicator online. CLICK HERE.

Healthy transitions between settled rectors are times for the congregation to be especially engaged in the life and mission of the parish. I hope you will see this as a time to discern your ministry at St. John’s and pursue it “with God’s help.”

I’ll see you in Church!

June 4, 2015
Cultivating Fruitfulness: The Practice of Extravagant Generosity

Since Easter, we’ve been reflecting on five practices that are vital in fruitful congregations. This week, we focus on the fifth practice, Extravagant Generosity. Robert Schnase says,

Generosity describes the Christian’s unselfish willingness to give in order to make a positive difference for the purposes of Christ. Congregations that practice Extravagant Generosity provide ministries that address our spiritual need to give in ways that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. Fruitful congregations thrive because of extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving out of love for God and neighbor.

Through the practice of Extravagant Generosity, we offer our resources in a manner that supports the causes that transform life and relieve suffering and that enlarges the soul and sustains the spirit. God uses our giving to reconfigure our interior lives and form us anew.

Later this year, you will be invited to consider extravagant generosity toward God and the Church in relation to your material treasures. During the month of June, we will be conducting a parish-wide initiative that focuses on stewardship of time, talent, service, and witness as we invite you to get involved in one or more of the ministries of this parish. If you are already involved, great! This may be a time for you to consider serving in another way or a different way. If you are not involved, this is a time for you to consider ways you can lend your time and energies to the impact of St. John’s on the community and the world.

Our catechism in The Book of Common Prayer teaches us that, “The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.” That means every member is a minister. Each one discerns the ministry to which he or she is being called by God in a particular time and place. When God calls a person, God also generously provides the resources that are needed to serve in generous ways, working, praying, and giving for the spread of the kingdom.

In the short time I have been at St. John’s, I’ve heard some say, “It is difficult to get people involved.” But I’ve also seen how quickly and generously so many have stepped forward when invited to take an active role in the Church’s life and ministry. I am banking on that observation to be the rule and not the exception in this vibrant parish!

We have distributed brochures with the invitation, “Get Involved.” In the brochures, you will find brief descriptions of many of our committees and ministry groups, along with a response form you may use to indicate your interests. This brochure and response form are also available online.

Take some time during the coming month to read the brochure. If you see a place of service that seems to be calling your name, ask God if it is a ministry in which you can be generous in service to Christ and his Church. If you believe God is calling you to serve in this way, indicate that on the response form and send it in. The vestry’s discernment task force will be in touch.

I’ll see you in Church!

May 27, 2015
Sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole ~ May 24, 2015

The Day of Pentecost

Listen to the Sermon for May 24, 2015

Read the Sermon for May 24, 2015

HERE is the link to my reflection concerning the tragic loss last week in Jackson Hole.

May 24, 2015
When you don’t have the answers, hold on to the promises.

On Sunday morning, an avalanche took the lives of two young and vibrant members of the Jackson Hole community, Luke Lynch and Stephen Adamson. Two others, Zahan Billimoria and Brook Yeomans narrowly escaped. Their families, friends and associates, and the entire community are stunned and grief stricken. St. John’s caring clergy, staff, and communicants have reached out to the families and offered our ongoing support.

Two of Luke’s three children attend Bright Beginnings Episcopal Preschool. His wife, Kathy, participated in our mission to Cuba and shared her story with worshipers after their return. Stephen represented several of our members in legal matters and was involved in civic causes with others. He leaves behind his wife Sara and their two children. All of their lives are woven into the fabric of the Jackson Hole community in so many ways.

When something like this happens, especially to people who are in the prime of life, we are compelled to ask, “Why?” The simple answer is that there are no simple answers. Pastors and theologians have struggled for generations to answer such questions and we are never quite satisfied with our efforts.

But we do have the profound promise that in death life is changed, not ended. There is more to life beyond the grave. That conviction is not a matter of logic or scientific fact, but a matter of trust in our Savior who promised, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).

When I celebrate the Holy Eucharist in St. John’s Chapel, I lift the silver chalice and can read the inscription memorializing Robert McLeod, the son of Dr. Donald McLeod, who was killed in a snow slide in the Pass in 1946. It is a reminder that this is not the first time sliding snow has claimed the life of a beloved member of this community or visitors to it.

It won’t be the last time. It possibly could be if we played it safe from now on. But we won’t, because we can’t. The impulses to adventure, to explore, to pioneer, and to master the elements, were planted in humanity by our Creator in the beginning. The account of creation in the first chapter of Genesis tells it this way:

"God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth'" (Genesis 1:28).

I do not want to minimize the danger. But let us not forget that those uniquely human qualities and abilities that led those men up Mt. Moran are among the things that make us human and permit us to be partners with God in the ongoing process of creation. Every significant advance in human society has been accompanied by risks, natural obstacles, limitations, and failure of others who went before.

One of the contributions of the Judeo-Christian heritage is the assertion that the human creature is at the top of the order of creation and not subject to it. We don’t pray to the god of the wind, the god of the moon, or to an array of agricultural deities. Instead, we pray to the God who is above all gods, the Creator and Sovereign of the entire universe who created us for himself, loves us as the apple of his eye, and who has more in store for us when this life comes to an end, whether early or late. God gives us amazing resources with which to live this life to the fullest and to be stewards of this planet. Abundant life is God’s desire for all of us. And that is why in this life and in the life to come, our whole trust is in God alone, for he has promised to watch over us and provide for us no matter what. It is not answers so much as promises that give me a perspective on tragedies like this.

These reflections may not make it any easier. But I share them because I do believe the promises on which they are based to be true. When Episcopalians are faced with tragedies and crises, our response is prayer and action. This response is prompted by the Great Commandment, to love God and our neighbor with everything we have. So we pray for those who have died and for those who mourn, for in prayer we place our trust in God. And we surround those who mourn with our steadfast compassion and care because together God makes us stronger.

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in your mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I’ll see you in Church!

P.S. On Tuesday, May 26, at the conclusion of the memorial service for Luke Lynch, this song was sung a soloist with everybody joining in on the chorus. I thought it kind of echoed my thoughts about answers and promises, especially these lines,

So when there's music all around you and you just can't seem to hear
When the answer's just around the bend, but it never shows up clear,
And when there's darkness right above you, it's hard to know and understand,
But there's a heart out there that loves you, and there's a promise in your hands.

Click HERE to listen to "Spirit Song" by Bill Staines.

May 21, 2015
Risk-Taking Mission and Service

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. – John 15:16-17

A grumpy parishioner hugged the Rector after church one Sunday morning. “I'm so glad you preached an historical sermon,” she said. The Rector, shocked by this unusual praise beamed thanks. The parishioner continued, “Yes, because I am sick and tired of hearing about love all the time.”

If it seems that you’ve been hearing about love quite a bit during this Easter season, that’s because you have. You are not imagining it. Our readings, particularly those from the First Letter of John, contain some important and powerful material about God’s love for us and our love for one another.

Consider the Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter:

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today, I invite you to consider how love, Love Divine, makes it possible for us to be a fruitful congregation through risk-taking service and mission.

In Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase writes,

Mission and Service refers to the projects, efforts, and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever become part of the community of faith. Risk-taking pushes us out of our comfort zone, stretching us beyond service to people we already know, exposing us to people, situations, and needs that we would never ordinarily encounter apart from our deliberate intention to serve Christ. Congregations who practice Risk-taking Mission and Service offer endless opportunities for people to make a difference in lives of others through service projects, [involvement] opportunities, and mission initiatives.

St. John’s has a long-standing commitment to service and mission. At points along the way, many of our endeavors have involved risks. Housing several non-profit groups, sending our missionaries to Cuba, opening Browse ‘N’ Buy, insisting on being an inclusive congregation for marginalized people, and even starting an Episcopal mission here in the first place took guts!

When people in this community hear that I am your Interim Rector, they have good things to say about the example St. John’s sets. The risk-taking mission and service in this parish are “good things God has prepared for those who love him.” When those who took these risks rolled up their sleeves and started in these ministries, they no doubt soon understood the rest of the collect; “Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire.”

Several years ago, I Baptized a child named Ava. When I was telling Ava about the meaning of Holy Baptism, I explained that the word sacrament means “sacred promise” and in our Church we understand that Baptism is something we do that is more than words to tell us about God’s promises to us. A little later in the conversation, I asked her if she understood why we don’t need to be Baptized more than once. She answered, “Because God never breaks promises.”

God never breaks promises. We must never hold back when presented with the opportunity for risk-taking service and mission, for if it flows from love for God and love for our neighbors, we have the promises of God to rely on. And, God never breaks promises.

I’ll see you in Church!

May 13, 2015