Desire

A few weeks ago I shared a poem/prayer by Thomas Merton in a sermon. Quite a few folks requested that I make copies of it available.  Here is the text:

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. 

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. 

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. 

Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

From Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton.

Thomas Merton

1915-1968

This would be a good prayer for all of us to adopt into our prayer life. If you don't have a regular prayer life and routine, I encourage you to make a start with this. Perhaps you could also incorporate periods of silent contemplation and meditation following each phrase or sentence. 

Listening for God in our sound-filled world requires a level of intentionality. So try being intentional about it.  Too often we offer up to God our to-do list and hope our recommendations and suggestions are carried out in a timely fashion. If we are really interested in attending to God's will, then we may well need to relinquish our own. Can our desire we aligned with God's.

Our Fourth Wednesday evenings of pot-luck supper, Bible Study and prayer will resume (beginning August 24 at 6:00 PM). Together we can make this a rhythm of our life as a congregation. Our weekly gathering around Word and Sacrament on Sunday mornings is the central component of our family of faith. This can be fortified with a regular and intentional attention to Bible Study and Prayer. 

In fact, for those who are absent from the Sunday assembly for whatever reason, these Fourth Wednesday gatherings are ideal ways to remain engaged and fortified in faith. Even the regulars of Sunday can be blessed by this monthly supplement. Because of their less-structured format, these Fourth Wednesday gatherings provide an opportunity for a more conversational approach to God's Word and varied experience of prayer and contemplation. Give it a try! 

Looking ahead to Sunday . . .

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 28, 2016

Prayer of the Day

O God, you resist those who are proud 

and give grace to those who are humble. 

Give us the humility of your Son, 

that we may embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, 

our Savior and Lord.  Amen

Readings and Psalm

Proverbs 25:6-7 

Psalm 112 

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 

Luke 14:1, 7-14 

In stories which anyone can understand, today’s readings provide the essence of what we might call distinctive Christianity, specifically the way in which God deals with people. The church in its celebration of the eucharist is the only table to which not only friends and relatives are invited, but also cripples, the blind, the maimed and the oppressed. We can come to it in wheelchairs, with a broken and tormented heart; even our enemies may come. Here we already experience a vision of the future in which all those who are humiliated and discriminated against are exalted. In the liturgy we experience what we cannot fully achieve, much as we would want to. In the liturgy we confess that our love for one another is actually a pure gift of God.                             

—Edward Schillebeeckx, OP

[Edward Schillebeeckx, OP, God Among Us: The Gospel Proclaimed (New York: Crossroad, 1983), 54-55.]

Big Picture

The events of recent weeks caused an impromptu but intentional change of plans for last week's discussion in our Faith Formation class. (The topic of Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue and commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 will be taken up in a series of classes in October of this year.) This coming Sunday we will continue our conversation from last Sunday in light of current events and the question of the church's role and response.

In our discussions last Sunday, I asked us all to consider what may be the over-arching issues that confront us as a society and as a church in society.

Here are some of the responses that were provided by participants: institutional racism, communication, guns, the need for contemplative prayer, inequality, wealth distribution, mental health research, fear, disrespect, understanding, helplessness, disintegration of the family unit, ethnocentricity, unravelling, the other, common sense, and awareness.

The events of this week have proven to be as overwhelming as the last.

There was a memorial service in Dallas on Tuesday for the fallen police officers. President Obama spoke. I've included three excerpts from his address below for our consideration and as one point of reference as we continue our conversation. (No doubt there are others.)

Whether you are black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or of Middle Eastern descent, we have all seen this bigotry in our own lives at some point.  We’ve heard it at times in our own homes.  If we’re honest, perhaps we’ve heard prejudice in our own heads and felt it in our own hearts.  We know that.  And while some suffer far more under racism’s burden, some feel to a far greater extent discrimination’s sting.  Although most of us do our best to guard against it and teach our children better, none of us is entirely innocent.  No institution is entirely immune.  

... 

We also know what Chief Brown has said is true:  That so much of the tensions between police departments and minority communities that they serve is because we ask the police to do too much and we ask too little of ourselves.  As a society, we choose to underinvest in decent schools.  We allow poverty to fester so that entire neighborhoods offer no prospect for gainful employment.  We refuse to fund drug treatment and mental health programs.  We flood communities with so many guns that it is easier for a teenager to buy a Glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book -- and then we tell the police “you’re a social worker, you’re the parent, you’re the teacher, you’re the drug counselor.”  We tell them to keep those neighborhoods in check at all costs, and do so without causing any political blowback or inconvenience.  Don’t make a mistake that might disturb our own peace of mind.  And then we feign surprise when, periodically, the tensions boil over. 

... 

In the end, it's not about finding policies that work; it’s about forging consensus, and fighting cynicism, and finding the will to make change. 

Can we do this?  Can we find the character, as Americans, to open our hearts to each other?  Can we see in each other a common humanity and a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us?  And it doesn’t make anybody perfectly good or perfectly bad, it just makes us human.  I don’t know.  I confess that sometimes I, too, experience doubt.  I've been to too many of these things.  I've seen too many families go through this.  But then I am reminded of what the Lord tells Ezekiel:  I will give you a new heart, the Lord says, and put a new spirit in you.  I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

That’s what we must pray for, each of us:  a new heart.  Not a heart of stone, but a heart open to the fears and hopes and challenges of our fellow citizens.  That’s what we’ve seen in Dallas these past few days.  That’s what we must sustain. 

Remarks by the President at Memorial Service for Fallen Dallas Police Officers, 

www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/07/12

President Barack Obama talks with Mick McHale, President, National Association of Police Organizations, after meeting with activists, civil rights, faith, law enforcement and elected leaders on building community trust, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House, July 13, 2016. In the background, Black Lives Matter activist Mica Grimm hugs Col. Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent of Police, Louisiana State Police. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

At times last Sunday our discussion became fairly embroiled in very specific areas of detail and concern. This coming Sunday, I challenge us to pull back a bit and look at the bigger picture. May we also consider our own individual culpability and the role that we as members of an institution play in the challenges and possibilities we face together?  

In 1951, H. Richard Niebuhr, considered one of the most important Christian theological ethicists of the 20th century, published Christ and Culture. In this work Niebuhr provides a history of how Christianity has responded to culture. This Sunday we will review the five prevalent viewpoints that he outlines. This will serve, I hope, as another point of references for our ongoing conversation.

By the way, everyone and anyone is welcome to attend this class on Sundays at 8:45. Come as you are and listen, participate, and share. The are no prerequisites! It will help you live a more engaged and informed life as a disciple of Jesus in the world throughout the week.

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9th Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Prayer of the Day

Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ, and you make yourself our guest. 

Amid the cares of our lives, make us attentive to your presence, 

that we may treasure your word above all else, 

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Readings

Genesis 18:1-10a 

Psalm 15

Colossians 1:15-28

Luke 10:38-42

Mercy & Mission

Paula Modersohn-Becker, The Good Samaritan, 1907

The tragic events of this past week are horrifying and incendiary. In the midst of violence and retaliation, we gather tomorrow to consider the mandate to be mindful of our neighbor with love and mercy. The contrast between current events and Jesus' teaching is striking.

I'll have more to say about all of this tomorrow, but for now, I invite you to take a few moments to read Luke 10:25-37.  In this selection you will find the familiar parable of the so-called Good Samaritan. Notice however, that this parable is not the whole of the passage. Jesus tells this parable in response to the second question from the lawyer (who is my neighbor?).

A map of Palestine in the time of Jesus. 

Jericho is just north of the Dead Sea, 

with Jerusalem to the west.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.  Deuteronomy 6:4-6

What does mercy look like? When have you seen it last?  How have you experienced mercy? How have you shown mercy? As we consider the mission of the church, how might mercy inform us?

8^th Sunday after Pentecost

July 10, 2016

Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, your mercy delights us, and the world longs for your loving care. Hear the cries of everyone in need, and turn our hearts to love our neighbors with the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen

Readings and Psalm

Deuteronomy 30:9-14 
Psalm 25:1-10 
Colossians 1:1-14 
Luke 10:25-37

Knee-High

Maybe you've heard the saying that corn should be knee-high by the fourth of July. I'm not certain that it worked out that way this year -- at least in the fields of corn I noticed today. Harvest time may be a long way off, but there is a great deal to be anticipated as we live into the rest of these growing weeks and months in the meantime.

The same can be said of our own spiritual vitality and the ways in which the seed of God's Word grows and develops in our lives and in the lives of others. As you know, it takes time. And time takes time.

In anticipation of a harvest when the time is right, Jesus sends out seventy disciples to spread the word of salvation. Take a few minutes to review the gospel reading for this coming Sunday (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20). Come to worship to hear the story; gather at the feet of Jesus; and then be sent out as an emissary for Christ in your daily life. What may be the obstacles or excuses we use to delay our task of working for the harvest? 

Readings

Isaiah 66:10-14

Psalm 66:1-9

Galatians 6:[1-6] 7-16

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Prayer of the Day

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, 

you are the city that shelters us, the mother who comforts us. 

With your Spirit accompany us on our life’s journey, 

that we may spread your peace in all the world, 

through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen

Hymn for the Day
Because singing a hymn that is unfamiliar can be unsettling, perhaps a bit of introduction is helpful. The hymn “Lord Jesus, you shall be my song” (ELW 808), composed in 1961 and available in both the original French and an English translation, is identified with the international L’Arche communities which provide family-like homes for adults with disabilities. Appropriate for this Sunday, the hymn announces that throughout our life journey, we will sing to everyone about our Lord Jesus. Stanza 4 acknowledges that our journey may be difficult, but that at its end is God.

Listen to this version of the hymn a few times to become familiar with it.  We'll sing it a bit faster than this recording.

Here are the words of Stanza 4:

I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.
And with all of the family you saved by your love,
we'll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.

Lord, Have Mercy

I find myself feeling disgusted, angry, frustrated, and numb in response to the news of the slaughter in Orlando. I wish I had words that could make sense of this tragedy.

In my view it is not as simplistic as jumping to conclusions about motive and affiliation in regard to the gunner. Yes, he squeezed the trigger again and again. Had he lived, he would have been held accountable for his actions. What we need to be held accountable for are the policies and systems that served to set this stage. When he squeezed his finger on the trigger, the trigger happened to belong to an assault rifle. As it turns out, he was perfectly free to purchase this gun in recent weeks, along with multiple rounds of ammunition that are specifically designed to kill people.

It disgusts me that such weapons are held in such high regard by so many. But what really is disappointing is how quickly the debate has become politicized thereby absolving many from self-examination and moral accountability.

I reluctantly share these reflections, knowing full well that some may parse them for offense. But let us all, no matter our stance and posture, see in this event in Orlando a cry for mercy. Lament the deaths of brothers and sisters. Lament along with those who have lost loved ones. Pray for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding to keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.  O Lord, have mercy!

Christopher Frye
June 13, 2016

The Dance of the Trinity

I recently visited a friend of mine to catch up on life. We shared dinner and conversation for nearly three hours. At one point in the conversation, he remarked how nice it was to actually sit with someone and have a conversation rather than simply have a series of email exchanges or electronic messages. While texting and email dominate the way we stay in touch these days, there is no substitute for face to face, one on one conversation.

On the same trip, earlier in the day I had great plans to visit an art museum in Washington DC. As it happened, the weather was spectacular. The sun emerged and the day was beautiful. Blue sky, sunshine, and warmth conspired to derail my plans. So, instead of visiting the museum, I walked around a bit and eventually took a seat on a park bench. While sitting on the bench, I had the opportunity to meet Mark. He has extended family that live in Harrisburg. He grew up in the Southeast quadrant of DC. He said it's a rough place to live anymore. So, as it turns out, he lives in this park in the Northwest quadrant of the city. It's a relative haven from the chaos of his home neighborhood. He doesn't have a cellphone. Nor does he have what most of us would consider necessities.

For the next couple hours, Mark and I and some of his friends sat there on that park bench enjoying not only the beautiful weather, but also the blessing of conversation and community. Mark told me about the time he was stabbed in the stomach while trying to break up a fight on the Metro. He lifted up his shirt and showed me the scare. He said he lost a lot of blood, but was grateful that he could get to the hospital in time for the necessary care.

Mark also told me about a friend of his that has been in jail for nearly two years for stealing a slice of pizza from a street vendor. While he admitted that stealing the pizza was the wrong thing to do, he was frustrated over such a punishment. As it turns out, the fine that was set as his initial punishment was beyond his ability to pay. So, he was locked up. While he was locked up, he lost his job. And because he lost his job, he lost the ability to pay the fine on time. The result of all this is that he has been in prison ever since.

I experienced what I can refer to as emotional whiplash. This one-on-one conversation with Mark on the park bench reminded me how much I take for granted. Not only did it open my eyes to see the fallout of racial prejudice and systematic stereotyping, it also was a pointed reminder of the blessings that are available when we take the time to encounter our neighbor where they are. At the end of our visit, Mark asked me to pray for him. I asked him to pray for me as well.  Then he gave me a hug and a handshake and invited me to visit again. (He apologized for not smiling for the picture, but he was self-conscious because he is missing most of his front upper teeth.)

This Sunday (tomorrow!) as we gather for worship, the Church celebrates the Holy Trinity. This is a reminder that God has been revealed as a community. The unity that is God is revealed as Trinity. There is much room here for acknowledging the mystery. And we appropriately consider our own invitation to participate in the dance of the Trinity.

Weather its a lofty doctrine or the ordinariness of a park-bench conversation, God shows up. Have you had any God-sightings this week? Have you allowed your own plans to be derailed long enough to recognize the ways in which The Triune God is still a God of incarnation? Blessings abound when we take the time to attend to the Christ in our midst.

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Tomorrow is a busy day.  We will also be observing Celebration Sunday. Our 2020 Vision campaign has lead us to the point where we will all be asked to consider what type of commitment we will make in support the mission before us. I'm looking forward to our time together tomorrow. Rain or shine, may our fellowship be one that is graced with the Holy Trinity as we remember our identity as baptized children of God who have every reason to grow in boldness and hope!

Priority One

I'm pretty sure that I've previously shared this story, but it is worth repeating here. The Dean of Students at my high school (Lebanon Catholic High School) also served as one of the religion teachers. His name was Hubert Conner. Mr. Connor was an intense and passionate lover of God. Flawed to be sure, yet wholly driven by a desire to serve the Lord.  He was fond of regularly pronouncing, Seek first the Kingdom! He taught me many other things, but this counsel has reverberated for decades -- sometime softly, sometimes loudly.

As we approach the Festival of Pentecost this coming Sunday, we are also mindful that we are hip deep in week-four of our capital campaign, 2020 Vision: Growing in Boldness in Hope.

Being hip deep in something means you're in it as active participant and not simply as passive observer or feckless victim. Holy Baptism was like that once.  We used to wade into the water, hip deep if you will, and both actively engage and willingly submit to being buried with Christ in the water so that we might rise with him in newness of life. (Now, we sprinkle, dribble, and pour water across the forehead -- still a viable means of God's grace -- a practical if not timid expression of God's extravagant, amazing grace!)  

Heeding the call to seek first the Kingdom of God, necessitates an examination of our priorities. Not everything and everyone can be at the top of our lists. It's of no surprise that most would rather not do this work. And it is a discipline -- a practice, not a punishment. Yet, the good news is that we don't have to do it alone. We are surrounded, empowered, and equipped to be faithful to that which God calls us. 

Practicing our principles is no exception. Pentecost is a reminder that the Holy Spirit of God is still active and alive. Maybe it needs to be stirred up on occasion, like chocolate syrup in the bottom of a cold glass of milk.

Don't let the fog get you down. The burning light of Holy Spirit fire comes upon us! May we continue to shine this light through our lives into the lives of our neighbors, seeking first the Kingdom of God!

Early Saturday Morning in May near Mercersburg

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Day of Pentecost

May 15, 2016

Prioritize: Practice our Principles

Matthew 6:19-33

Prayer of the Day

God our creator, the resurrection of your Son offers life to all the peoples of earth. 

By your Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love, 

empowering our lives for service and our tongues for praise, 

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.