St. Martin, 11 November 2009

Today is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours.

I was sponsored for ordination by the people and clergy of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.  I feel a special connection to St. Martin, and I find his story compelling.  Martin was a former soldier in France in 397 c.e. and when he was confronted by a beggar in need, Martin ripped half of his cloak and gave a half to the man in need.  He was extremely generous, and surely half of his cloak did a lot of good for this man in need, and it is an interesting model of stewardship - very generous giving paired with some level of responsibility for oneself.  Should he have given the whole cloak away?  Should he have traded places with the beggar and given him the horse as well?  I don't know.  What I do know is that it can be very difficult to give away even 10% of one's income.  Martin embodies radical giving, along with the real-world sense that we can't all do as St. Francis did, and give it all away.  All that we have is from God, and we strive and work to live and to give a significant portion back to God's people in need.  Martin gives away more than most of us are able, but his story may compels to give more - and also to not feel guilty if we also have practice prudent stewardship of what we retain.

May we remember Martin, and do our part to live up to his example!

"they were all of them saints of God and I mean, god help me to be one too"

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Lord God of hosts, you clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy steps, that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Thank you veterans!

It is Armistice Day, also known as Veterans' Day,  and on this day at 11:11 on the 11th of the 11th month, the First World War ended - the "War to End All Wars" certainly was not.  Today, we remember and honor our veterans, and we pray for those who are serving in the military.

Thank you.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Here are two prayers from the "Prayer Book for Soldiers and Sailors" which the Episcopal Church gave to those in military service, and was published in 1943   See more HERE

 FOR THE NATION

    O eternal God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR ALL IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY

    O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father Matthew takes on the saints

Or, is it Father Matthew's take on the saints?

Either way, he continues to do outstanding work!

Three new great videos from Father Matthew on the topic of the saints; these are outstanding!

Check them out by clicking on the embedded YouTube videos below,

Cheers!

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

The leaves fall, fall as if from far away...by Rilke

A poem for a morning in Fall, a few leaves still cling to branches here in Virginia...

The leaves fall, fall as if from far away,

like withered things from gardens deep in sky;

they fall with gestures of renunciation.

And through the night the heavy earth falls too,

down from the stars, into the loneliness.

And we all fall. This hand must fall.

Look everywhere: it is the lot of all.

Yet there is one who holds us as we fall

eternally in his hands’ tenderness.

~Rainer Maria Rilke: Selected Poems, translated by C.F. MacIntyre

Proper 28, Year B "Revised Coffee Lectionary" Bible Study today

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Greenwood, VA

Lectionary Bible Study – The “Revised Coffee Lectionary” ~ 

9 November 2009

The Rev. Peter M. Carey

1 – First Thoughts

2 – Words that JUMP

3 – Questions /Observations

4 – Theological Questions / Observations

Things to check out:

http://www.io.com/~kellywp/  - the lectionary page…with readings for the week

www.textweek.com – all sorts of helpful information on the lectionary

www.revisedcoffeelectionary.blogspot.com  - a blog for this Bible study group

www.emmanuelmensbiblestudy.blogspot.com/ - blog for our men’s Bible Study

www.deepchurchblog.blogspot.com/ - blog for our “Deep Church” Theology Group

www.wordle.net – lots of fun to be had a wordle.net !

www.santospopsicles.blogspot.com – my blog…a variety of stuff…

Sunday closest to November 16 – Proper 28 – Year B - RCL

1 Samuel 1:4-20  1 Samuel 2:1-10  Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25  Mark 13:1-8

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 1:4-20

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the LORD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: "O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head."

As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, "How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine." But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time." Then Eli answered, "Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him." And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your sight." Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah prayed and said,

"My heart exults in the LORD;

my strength is exalted in my God.

"There is no Holy One like the LORD,

no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly,

let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the LORD is a God of knowledge,

and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken,

but the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.

The barren has borne seven,

but she who has many children is forlorn.

The LORD kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low, he also exalts.

He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap,

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,

and on them he has set the world.

"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;

for not by might does one prevail.

The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered;

the Most High will thunder in heaven.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king,

and exalt the power of his anointed."

Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25

Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

"This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds,"

he also adds,

"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.]

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mark 13:1-8

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs."

Great venn diagram: what do people call Steve Miller?

from the Huffington Post 

Covenant

Do we really need another Covenant?

Remember the Ark of the Covenant?

image from Wikipedia

Practicing radical hospitality, Luke:14:12-24

Luke:14:12-24 

12 He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." 15 One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, "Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.' 19 Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.' 20 Another said, 'I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' 22 And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' 23 Then the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.' "

Talk about your radical hospitality!  Hospitality is one of those words that has great depth, both in theology and practice.  Hospitality is one of those practices that Jesus did in a radical way, he welcomed some a whole plethora of types of people to his table, and spent so much time wandering the streets and highways and byways that he came into contact with all sorts of people.  In the feast that Jesus describes, the owner of the house is insistent that he wants guests for this feast, for this agape meal, for this wedding banquet and implores his slave to go out and find the "poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame" in order to fill the tables and have a joyous event.

God wants all of us to join in the banquet, and so many of us choose to stay away, but God is insistent.  God is going to fill those tables, even if we stay away due to our own poverty of spirit, even if we stay away because we may feel too crippled to come, even if we are too blind to see God's embrace, even if we are not able to follow as gracefully as we might.

God's love for us is ever-present.  God's grace is prevenient Grace, and we are not easily going to be able to stay away.  Jesus describes the radical hospitality of the master in this parable and God offers us his radical hospitality.  May we each accept the invitation the first time, and may we live out this sense of radical hospitality in our own practice of the Christian life.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Bates football comes back to beat Bowdown, 28-24

Awesome!  My alma mater beat up on the Polar Bears!  Well done!!

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey, Bates '91


Read the whole story HERE >>>>>

Sophomore defensive end Tyler Kuehl's interception and 25-yard return for a touchdown gave Bates College its first lead of the game with 9:39 left in the fourth quarter, and the Bobcats went on to win 28-24 over Bowdoin, the Bobcats' first win over their in-state rivals since 2003. Here the Bobcats sing their traditional fight song at game's end on Garcelon Field.

His face to shine upon you

THE Lord bless you

and keep you:

The Lord make His face to shine upon you,

and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

~Numbers 6: 24-26

In preparation for a "Deep Church Theology" group that we'll be having in about a month, I've been re-reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.  In it,  Lewis makes the wonderful, obvious, wise, and often forgotten, point that our days are not "our own," and that every moment of our lives are not, really, "our own."  We do not create time, we can not make a minute longer than 60 seconds, we cannot make a day longer than 24 hours.  It is all gift.  We go through most of our days under the illusion that we do have control of them.  In the midst of coasting through a rather ordinary day, we can be shocked into deeper awareness by tragedy and sadness.   In the midst of a rather hum drum day, we can see the sun shining gloriously over a field - and we remember that we are but the created, not the creator.

The more that we can cultivate the practice of gratitude for all that we are and all that we have, the better and richer our lives may be.  The more that we can accept the blessings that the Lord has shown us, the deeper and more abundant our lives may be.

May we each accept the blessings of this day, and respond with gratitude for them.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

William Temple, archbishop and theologian, November 6

The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.

~William Temple

O God, who by your Holy Spirit give to some the word of wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant William Temple, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

from James Keifer:

William Temple, October 27, 1944

Temple's admirers have called him "a philosopher, theologian, social teacher, educational reformer, and the leader of the ecumenical movement of his generation," "the most significant Anglican churchman of the twentieth century," "the most renowned Primate in the Church of England since the English Reformation," "Anglican's most creative and comprehensive contribution to the theological enterprise of the West." One of his biographers lists him (along with Richard Hooker, Joseph Butler, and Frederick Denison Maurice) as one of the Four Great Doctors of the Anglican Communion.

Ronald Knox described him thus:

A man so broad, to some he seem'd to be

Not one, but all Mankind in Effigy.

Who, brisk in Term, a Whirlwind in the Long,

Did everything by turns, and nothing wrong.

Bill'd at each Lecture-Hall from Thames to Tyne,

As Thinker, Usher, Statesman, or Divine.

more HERE 

Compline, "Be present..."

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake.  Amen.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street - 40 years!

Happy Birthday Sesame Street - 40 years!

Our refuge, Psalm 71

Psalm 71 In te, Domine, speravi

1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; *
let me never be ashamed.
2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
incline your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
you are my crag and my stronghold.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5 For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
my confidence since I was young.
6 I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
my praise shall be always of you.
7 I have become a portent to many; *
but you are my refuge and my strength.
8 Let my mouth be full of your praise *
and your glory all the day long.

Sunday Lectionary Readings for November 8, 2009 - [wordle-icious!]

image courtesy of wordle.net

Proper 27, Year B, Revised Common Lectionary

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Psalm 127
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

Ruth 3:1-5, 4: 13-17 reading via wordle.net:

Psalm 127 via wordle:

Hebrews 9: 24-28 via wordle

Mark 12: 38-44 via wordle: