#GC78: what the heck this all is, anyway, social media version

What on earth are they all up to in Salt Lake City? The General Convention of the Episcopal Church is up and running! 

House of Bishops
House of Deputies (clergy and lay (non-ordained) deputies, elected by diocesan conventions, which are made up of members of each parish)

Meets every three years
Both houses have to pass resolutions (sound familiar?)

Reunions. More reunions. 
People handing out pamphlets. Or leaving them on designated tables. Or whatever this year's system is that attempts to let people share information without tackling others in the hall.
Swag.
And lots and lots of booths for organizations and books and vestments and so on, including one for religious communities! Two of our sisters are there helping staff it.

And worship. The best part, of course, if you ask me. Even if you don't like the liturgy or the music or the preaching that day, breaking bread together reminds everyone of what - WHO - is more real than anything else. Thanks be to God. (Also, go listen to the last bit of the Widor toccata with jazz from today: https://vimeo.com/131935500 . Just, wow. I love this.)

Here's a video introduction to it. Not short, but not boring. Includes what they think will be the "sleeper issues."  Should we start a scorecard to see what predictions turn out to be correct? 

"Streamed live on Jun 10, 2015

Restructuring! PB Election! Blue Books! Trusted public figures! Witty back-and-forths!"

So that's the introduction.

To follow live, I've set up a Twitter list, so I think if you go to this web address you can follow the conversation.
https://twitter.com/sarahrandallssm/lists/general-convention
You can also search for #GC78. That will have people I haven't found yet, but only those tweets that are actually labeled.

And here is the official media hub:
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/gc/ 

Let's pray for everyone there and the General Convention as a whole, that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit.

For a Church Convention or Meeting
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Book of Common Prayer 1979. p. 818

Why are you fearful?

Proper 7B                                                                                                    

Mark 4:35-41, Charleston Massacre

“A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already swamped.”

Here on the coast you probably know quite a bit about windstorms. I imagine there have been plenty of nor’easters that have slammed through here. To be out on the sea in the middle of one… Have you seen the movie “The Perfect Storm”? Terrifying. A friend told me I’m not allowed to say I saw it because I spent over half of it with my eyes covered.

In our reading from Mark’s gospel, Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when the storm hits. Now these wouldn’t have been small boats. A little wind isn’t going to bother them.  Storms on the Sea of Galilee, though, tend to be sudden and ferocious. Caught in the middle of it - at night, yet - they are understandably afraid. If professional fishermen are frightened, there’s good reason.

This week we’ve been having a storm in this country. Wednesday night’s massacre in the church in Charleston sent us all reeling. It is staggering to think about the depth of hatred that would permit someone to sit for an hour in a Bible study and then shoot the participants. This is EVIL. Not tragedy. Not mental illness. Evil. We don’t talk a lot about evil, but if ever it needed to be named, it’s now. Racism is evil. Hatred is evil. Most of the time it’s better hidden, but the end game is still death. Even in subtle forms, it destroys us all, wears us down. Over time, drops of water created the Grand Canyon. As a friend of mine put it, events like these are more like squalls that are part of a much larger storm system.*

Events like this induce fear. 

But there is fear, and then there is fear. 

In our reading, when the storm hits, Jesus is sound asleep, no doubt exhausted from the crowd they’ve just left behind. And he just keeps on sleeping. Along with exhaustion, he must have had a sense of deep trust – trust in his friends’ abilities with their boats, and trust in God.  So after they wake him and he calms the storm, he asks them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

To which my initial reaction is, “Seriously, Jesus?”

What you can’t tell from our translation is the exact shade of fear Jesus is referring to here. He’s not talking about that gut-level reaction we have, a physical fight-or-flight reaction or the sense of danger that tells us something is really wrong. That’s a protective mechanism God gave us, a signal. If we were never afraid, we’d all go do really stupid things.

When Jesus asks them why they’re afraid, he’s using a word more like our word “fearful,” a word that refers to the kind of fear that makes us timid, causes us anxiety, makes us avoid problems. It’s a lack of courage, a state of fearfulness, not simply an instinctive response to danger. It’s like my hiding behind my hands during the movie, only in real life.

When Jesus says, “Have you still no faith?” he’s not implying that they should have sat calmly and assumed God would tow the boat to the other side without incident. One commentary on this passage states, “From the rebuke (“fearful”) it is clear that faith in Mark (which is the proper response to the gospel…) is not simply intellectual conviction, but also trust in God along with bold action when faced with serious threats to life and well-being.”[i]

And this is where the rubber hits the road–or the oar hits the water, as the case may be.

We are called to a faith that leads to action. This can be difficult. Frightening, in fact.

Responding in faith to the storm of evil we’ve seen this week will take courage.  What this looks like in each of us will depend in part on our personality and our history.

 

For some of us, it will be the courage not to give up after a long struggle, while for others of us it will be the courage seriously to consider the issue of racism for the first time.

For some of us, it will be the courage to speak up, especially when we hear racist remarks or denials of the problem from a friend. Those of us who are accustomed to speaking up, on the other hand, may need courage to keep quiet and learn instead of taking charge.

Some will need courage in order to risk expressing anger, while others will need it simply to face anger and listen to it. 

Standing up for what is right takes courage. So does admitting we are wrong and need to repent. 

Only faith brings this kind of courage. Whether we experience the vulnerability of speaking up or the vulnerability of opening our hearts along with our ears, we need the kind of faith that will allow us to move forward. We need to trust God enough to risk opening conversations about racism that will make most of us wildly uncomfortable. We’re not going to do it perfectly. We might not even do it well, but it beats not doing it at all. This violence is smacking us in the face – and some people in their very sanctuaries – and we can’t pretend it’s someone else’s problem. On Father’s Day especially we would do well to remember that we are all children of one Father. We are all permanently, intrinsically connected.

I’m not going to pretend I know what to do. Here’s what I do know:  Evil doesn’t go away on its own. I might like to cover my eyes as I did while watching “The Perfect Storm,” but hiding or denying its existence just gives evil more room to work. Jesus asks the disciples why they are so fearful.  If we’re disciples of Jesus, he’s asking us, too.

Let’s remember, then, that the story doesn’t stop here – not the story we read this morning – not the story we’re living now.  Jesus does shout down the storm – Peace! Be Still! And Mark says, “They were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” When we realize who, in fact, Jesus is, we remember that more is possible than we can imagine.  Who ever would have thought that South African apartheid could be dismantled without civil war? It’s still far from perfect, but what has happened seemed at one time far beyond the bounds of possibility. Archbishop Desmond Tutu knew otherwise. THAT is what I call faith.

And so this morning I’d like us all to ask God for the grace of trust, the trust that brings courage to take the boat out into deep waters.  There are storms, but Jesus is in our boat with us. With him, together, we can weather anything.

---

[i] Donohue & Harrington, Mark, Sacra Pagina, p. 159

* wish I could remember who posted this so I could give proper credit... 

Benedictine chant from Norcia (Nursia)

And here's a short documentary on them which I haven't yet watched but fully intend to. Later on, I'll posts some of their other videos. Hope to find some that are just plain music, but I may have to save up for the album instead. Or whatever we call albums these days. No cover art for a download!

Description from YouTube:

In the Jubilee year 2000 the monks of Norcia breathed new life into the birthplace of St Benedict. Armed with only their faith and zeal they founded a monastic community which has been attracting men from all over the world to follow St. Benedict's ancient Rule. Many of their friends have long wanted an insight into the inner workings of their life and so they have produced this high quality up to date film which shows the monks as they go through the daily ora et labora. The title of the film, "Quaerere Deum", means to Seek God. This is the true calling of all monks, the first and most essential quality of an authentic monastic vocation, as laid out in the Rule of our Holy Father St. Benedict. 

For information, please contact:

Monastary of San Benedetto 
monastero@osbnorcia.org

PBS video on Haiti and The Dominican Republic

As we wait to find out what happens with this border crisis, I'm hunting around online. I'm looking for prayer resources, but I keep getting sidetracked. Sigh. But I have found good things. Now, this is an hour long PBS special, so needless to say I haven't watched it. It's PBS, though, so I feel safe posting it in case it should prove helpful to anything else - and also so when I have enough time, I can sit down and watch it all myself. 

The blurb below is from the PBS site, to which I have provided a link below. The video itself is a YouTube upload of it since I wanted to share it directly, and I don't know how to embed the code. You may, however, wish to see the set of programs of which it is a part. (You can also buy the DVD set if you like.) 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/haiti-the-dominican-republic-an-island-divided-watch-full-episode/165/

Keep praying.  None of this is simple.

prayers, please, for the DR/Haiti situation

The situation going on in the Dominican Republic is not good, not good at all. Looks as though deportation of Dominicans of Haitian origin will begin tomorrow. Being born in the DR is no longer enough for a person to be a citizen. This ruling was originally made in 2013, with time being given for people who look Haitian, more or less, to prove they and their grandparents and so on are/were there legally; tomorrow that time expires. Those born after 1929 who can't prove their parents were there legally/were citizens will be deported. Never mind that it is and was a bit difficult sometimes to get paperwork in order... and back to 1929... really??? There are many people whose grandparents may not, in fact, have been there legally; who knows. That was a long time ago. These are people who have in many (most?) cases never been to Haiti and don't speak Creole.

The bloody origins of the Dominican Republic’s ethnic ‘cleansing’ of Haitians

Of course, none of this is new. And the history between the two halves of the island goes back centuries. What is now Haiti used to rule the entire island at one point. The US ran the whole island at one point early this century. Lots of things happened in between. 

Here's the Washington Post article that tells what's going on and the history of the past hundred years or so:
The bloody origins of the Dominican Republic’s ethnic ‘cleansing’ of Haitians

Some news outlets claim that everyone who is in the process of registering as a foreigner will escape deportation. Others claim that only 300 people have actually received their completed paperwork and that just being in process is not a protection. And then there are those who refuse to register as foreigners because they are Dominicans, period. A deadline being reached might not, in fact, mean mass deportations will happen tomorrow. Pretty sure it wouldn't up here. But buses being arranged and military personnel ready doesn't bode well.

Also, I saw a forwarded tweet with a picture of the front page of a paper, the headline reading something like "Haitian woman stabs boyfriend to death supposedly in self-defense." The journalist points out that headlines like these are often the precursor to anti-Haitian actions. No doubt... And think about it - a major newspaper's headline is a case of domestic violence leading to murder among people who would usually be ignored? Because that never happens (wish it didn't...)?

https://twitter.com/KatzOnEarth

https://twitter.com/KatzOnEarth

Here's a video I found called "Edwidge Danticat on Mass Deportation of Haitian Families." I don't know this media outlet, so I can't vouch for it, but Edwige Danticat is a well-known Haitian American author, not some random fringe figure.  

Please pray. And share. Whatever it is... I don't know what will happen, but it's not going to be good. May the Lord have mercy on all involved.

entomology question

So who's good with moths? I don't mean "in good with moths" or "a lover of moths" - I wouldn't say I'm normally either, having no love of the ones that might eat a hole in my good winter habit sweater - but I'd love to find someone who might identify this rather unusual and beautiful moth that showed up the other day. I tried Twitter first, but no luck.  Anyone out there know?

I think it must be a Tiger Moth of some sort or at least a relative of that family.  Any guesses?

I moved it off the sidewalk so our dog wouldn't eat it. It didn't look too healthy, but it was able to cling to the paper, at least.

I was guessing "Many-spotted Tiger Moth" while checking out photos on Google, but then I found a description, and they're supposed to be out west. Maybe it hitchhiked on an airplane - I found a receipt from Texas, of all places, lying in our driveway the same day. Stranger things have happened.

Not dead, but not feeling very good, poor thing...

In any case, he or she is lovely, and I hope the rest of you entomologically challenged people will at least enjoy the photos I have and imagine such a creature happily in flight.

ordination

Sr. Emily Louise, Sr. Brigid, and I had the joy of attending Saturday's diocesan ordination.

We left in unexpected rain, but still arrived in good time. To our delight, the rain had stopped, so we had a leisurely walk through the Boston Public Garden on the way to Emmanuel. I peered over at the swan, but she was still sitting on her nest. No sign of cygnets.

Dr. Seuss flowers in the Public Garden.
Anyone know what they are?

small green Dr. Seuss flowers also in the Public Garden, equally unknown to me

Apparently we'd been preceded by a great number of people, as the busker at the pond bridge greeted us with "It's going to be a great ordination!" Well, three sisters in habit might well be assumed to be following the crowd of clergy, I guess. I was amused.

getting ready for the service

After we'd arrived and were finding a seat, someone found us a took us up to a pew in the choir behind the pulpit, so we were right there to see everything. Nice surprise!

I left my purse with the Sisters and went back to join the clergy in process (red stole over habit) and had a nice chat with a priest from CT. Another moment of amusement ensued when she told me she'd seen us crossing the garden from her bus and also figured we were going. Considering most people don't even know there are sisters in the Episcopal Church, I find that even more surprising. Well, she was a priest... but then there are clergy who don't know. I won't comment further...

bulletin cover for the ordination

As usual in June, it was mostly candidates for the diaconate - all transitional deacons this time - along with one priest being received from the RC Church. And what a large group this year! I wish I had pictures of the group, but I turned my phone off instead of simply silencing the ringer. But wait! There is Twitter! and a priest friend who live tweets ordinations. And many other things. So we score anyway.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.... singing that, one feels it happening. The Holy Spirit definitely showed up. Joy, they say, is an infallible sign of the presence of God. But it was almost palpable when we were doing the laying on of hands - all priests were invited to join, so of course I did - at the reception of Fr. Brian as a priest in the Episcopal Church.

And Bishop Gayle definitely preached it! Go BE the Gospel, she said.

The place was packed, so I didn't really get to talk to any of the new clergy afterwards, but beforehand I'd seen the one I know from St. Luke's-San Lucas, Chelsea, where I used to serve. And I ran into quite a few parishioners, too. That, too, was a joy - especially when someone asked if I'd known S, who'd moved away to Nigeria. Yes, I had. And then there she was. I think I nearly shrieked, I was so delighted. Hugs all around. She's flying back tomorrow, but I made her promise to come to the convent next time she came over. Another parishioner assured me they'd already had that discussion. Nice.

By the time we left, it was sunny.

Sr KF texted to remind me to take pictures... oops.  Here's one for her!

We found a bench in the Public Garden where I could attempt to send a few of the pictures I'd taken. Then we just took a few more.

And then a couple of ladies stopped and offered to take one of the three of us. So we took them up on that.

It was a good day.

On the way home, I thought about my own ordination to the diaconate five years ago this weekend, also with Bishop Gayle, and the joy of that day.  So thankful.

5 years ago yesterday

Our Evening Prayer hymn really caught me, especially given my reflections on the day and on my own ordination, so I share it with you to close.

O Thou who camest from above

the fire celestial to impart,

kindle a flame of sacred love

upon the altar of my heart.

Jesus, confirm my heart's desire

to work, and speak, and think for thee;

still let me guard the holy fire

and still stir up the gift in me.