The day after Christmas we were gathering our things for the
trip to visit my family in Duluth
when my brother called on his cell phone. He was turning back, he said. Traffic
was moving only 35 to 40 miles per hour. Cars were it the ditch. Just tapping
the gas caused his wheels to spin and rear end to slide.
So, we settled in to wait. We called Duluth, told them we’d be at least delayed,
and would check the reports in a couple of hours. 11:00 AM: no change in the
road condition report. We called again: “Well keep watching until 2:00 PM and
call again. If the roads haven’t cleared by then, we’ll have to wait until
tomorrow. We don’t want to be on icy roads in the dark.” At two Mn/DOT had
still not updated their report. Around then I discovered that Google Earth
somehow collects traffic speed reports along major routes. I-35 north of Hinckley was moving at 35 mph. Finally at 2:00 we called
off the trip until the next day.
Families throughout the Midwest
had similar experiences or, if they were among those in the ditch, far worse
ones. Perhaps after such a Christmas, more than after a normal one, we can
appreciate the struggles of Mary and Joseph. Of course we wanted to travel and
couldn’t, whereas they had to travel and would have preferred not to. But the result
was the same: being kept apart from family and friends at an important time.
For us it was merely a Christmas celebration delayed. For Mary, it meant giving
birth in a stable far from home.
It’s hard to imagine what they went through. Today we can
check the weather, look up the road conditions, and get a cell phone call of
warning. At least we have a chance to know when trouble is brewing. Mary and
Joseph couldn’t even call ahead for a reservation. Was there a midwife?
Scripture makes no mention of one.
Why does the Gospel of Luke provide us these details of
Jesus birth? To emphasize the fact that Jesus was a commoner. His parents had
no special pull, no exemption from the unreasonable demands of the census, no
suite at the birthing center in Rochester.
He was one of us. Or, actually, less well off than most of us. Luke makes the
point again with his report that shepherds, not wise men or kings were first to
receive the news—first to see and honor the newborn.
Why is that important? Well, perhaps it shouldn’t be. But
most of us receive information best from people who are like us. We inherently
trust the word of people we can identify with. We distrust the word of kings
(unless we happen to be one). Witness the old saying about one beggar leading
another beggar to food. Who better to ask, should you need to know where to
find a handout?
God’s ultimate purpose was to bring us a message. So God
selected a vehicle who could speak to the greatest possible number of people: a
baby born in difficult circumstances to a working man and his wife displaced by
larger political forces.
And the message? You’ve heard it many times, yet how
wonderful it is. You are beloved of God.
Forgiven, if you need forgiveness, and loved—regardless of brainpower, station in
life, wealth, lack of wealth, race, creed, color, or any other marker that
people sometimes use to distinguish themselves.
God love you,
Tom
The Rev. Thomas D. Harries
December 2009
During the holidays many,
many people travel home. Long after they’ve established their own households,
usually as long as possible, until it becomes too great a burden for the
elders, people travel to the home of their parents. In many cases, especially
here in Minnesota,
it is also the home that they grew up in. That's the best. I still remember the
Christmas after my parents sold the house I grew up in. Of course it was the
sensible thing for them to do. We all understood. We were still together as
family. Yet somehow everything was slightly out of balance.
What do people do when they
get to their family home? Some families have rituals that they always reenact.
Some have traditional activities. Almost everyone eats! Teenagers may find themselves
bored, cut off from their usual sources of entertainment. But mostly people are
doing the same thing my daughter usually tells me she's been doing at a
friend's house: “Hanging out.” To use fancier language, they simply dwell
together for a while.
St. John in his Gospel writes, "The Word became flesh and
dwelt among us." That's what we're looking forward to at Christmas -- the
Word, God, the Holy Child coming and dwelling among us. It is a simple joy. No
spectacular thrills. No fireworks. Just the warm pleasure of being in the
presence of one we love who also loves us.
Christmas is the sacrament,
the celebration of Christ's coming into the world. Unlike holiday travelers,
however, the Trinitarian God does not go home after a few days leaving us once again
alone. True, Jesus ascended into heaven following his resurrection appearances.
But he returned a short while later in the form of the Holy Spirit. Through the
Spirit the Trinitarian God dwells with us to this day.
Jurgen Moltmann, in his book God in Creation, expands this idea of
God dwelling with us and uses it as the basis for his theology of Creation.
Here is Moltmann's description of God's dwelling in the world: "Through
the powers and potentialities of the spirit, the creator indwells the creatures
he has made, animates them, holds them in life, and leads them into the future
of his kingdom."(p. 14) He takes this approach in part to counter the old
idea of God as a sort of master watchmaker who designed the world, wound it up,
and thereafter let it run on without interference. That notion of a God who
started things up but is no longer involved sets the stage for heedless
exploitation of the natural world. God is both transcendent and immanent to the
world, but the emphasis in most Western theology has been on the transcendence
of God. Our great challenge today is to re-emphasize and reclaim God's immanent
presence.
Christmas is a great time to
begin. For on this holy day we remember how Christ came into the world—an infant
yet seeming wise. We recall how angels declared the wonderful news to shepherds
keeping watch over their flocks, how a star in the heavens brought those same
glad tidings to wise men far away. On the Sunday after Christmas we will read
John's account of Christ's presence with God at the very creation of the world.
May you enjoy the loving
presence of Christ this Christmas. May you continue to be sustained and
supported by his indwelling presence throughout the year.
Christ’s Peace,
Tom
The Rev. Thomas D. Harries
Parish Nurse
Dear Members and Friends of the Church of the Holy
Communion:
The New Year is upon us and we are inclined to reexamine the
old year’s good intentions before making personal resolutions for the coming
one.Reflection is useful to help us
deepen self-awareness.Recall times of
yore that were challenging and how they were faced.Recall times that were full of joy and
energy.What we want to identify are our
personal values and priorities and then live by them.
Perhaps last year we set too many goals or ones that were
too hard to obtain.In the New Year, we
could choose to let go of such high expectations.We are all human and we can make mistakes.That’s how we learn.Perhaps in the year to come we could let go
of some of our perfectionism and enjoy having more time and more energy for
reflecting and experiencing our feelings.We are human beings, not human doings.
We could choose to avoid procrastination.This would take away the “rush” we feel when
we create a crisis mode.Planning ahead
and slowing down allows for more time to think and enjoy the process of
whatever the tasks are we choose to do.Let’s have our actions reflect our values.Let’s say no to things that aren’t valuable
to us or that are redundant.
Do we really need to spend so much time in front of the TV,
talk so long on our cell phones, and use our computers from morning to
night?Of course, work related
activities are necessary, but we can integrate exercise, meditation, music,
dancing, etc in our work-free hours.When we do incorporate these activities, we will be rejuvenated,
energized, more productive, and achieve the peace and calm that we seek.
If we value our time,
others will, too.We don’t have time to
gossip or carry on negative conversations.We do have time to organize our lives, to eliminate mental and physical
clutter.We can simplify everything and
stop doing things that aren’t a good use of time.We can choose two or three projects, groups,
or organizations to be involved with.We
don’t have to participate in everything or say, “yes” to every request.Our motto will be:“Do less and have more time for things we
enjoy.”
Resolve to seek joy in life by living each day to its
fullest.Be fully present and experience
each moment to give your life more meaning and richness in the New Year.
With love and care,Judy Gardner, Parish NurseJanuary, 2010
“Life gives you
time and space, it’s up to you to fill it.”
“When is the last
time you did something for the first time?
***
Fuimano,
J.The Journey Called You: A Roadmap to
Self-Discovery and Acceptance
Mackay,
H.Some timely bits of advice to keep in
mind as we hit 2010. Star Tribune, Monday, December 28, 2009.
Reyer,
L. Reconnect with your inner self to
prepare for the future. Star Tribune,
Monday, December 28, 2009.
December 2009
Dear Members and Friends
of Church of the Holy Communion:
This month we anticipate
the birth of Christ and celebrate through music and liturgy the new life that
changed our history forever.We reflect
on Biblical accounts that foretell the Messiah, that describe an Angel coming
to Mary to announce her motherhood and that tell of her husband, Joseph, who
provided a loving and protective home for her in a less than supportive
environment.We feel amazed with the
shepherds at Christ’s birth.We fall on
our knees with the wise kings to honor the long awaited Messiah.And we sing, Hallelujah!
We celebrate new
life.We celebrate continuity. We
celebrate our heritage.
Even before her birth,
Alexandra Marleen Flory, born on October 26, was anticipated by all of our
parishioners and many friends and family worldwide.Her parents carefully prepared for her
comfort and safe arrival while we watched and waited with them.She traveled with them everywhere as they
enjoyed a healthy pregnancy.Upon her
arrival, grandparents from Russia,
Bulgaria and Florida as well as aunts and uncles from various points
in Europe and the USA
welcomed her in person or by telecommunication. Beautiful baby with flaming red
hair and sweet personality, we celebrate your new life.
In a small town in Kentucky, one hundred
and one years ago, October 2, 1908, Marion Edward Gardner fulfilled his
parents’ wishes for a son.He grew up in
a large family, was educated through elementary, secondary and college years in
Berea, Kentucky,
and graduated with a law degree from AmericanUniversity in WashingtonD.C.Besides being a talented lawyer in the
department of Health, Education and Welfare, he served in the U.S. Navy,
married and raised a family, and led an active life in retirement. An
inspiration to his eleven great-grandchildren, their parents and grandparents,
great grandfather Marion cares for each of his flock and keeps up with their
activities from his armchair.Thankful
for his friendship, humor and sage advise, we celebrate continuity.
Joshua George Weisenfeld
celebrated Bar Mitzvah on his thirteenth birthday, October 21, 2009 at ZionTemple,
St. Paul, MN.I listened to him read and sing Hebrew from
the Torah and then give his analysis of the passages he read.It takes five years to prepare for this rite
of passage.Coming of age in the Jewish
tradition means becoming a man, taking more responsibility, learning and
leading and teaching the lessons that we all know as the Old Testament.At the same time, doing a special project in
the community is expected.I listened to
Joshua and was reminded that Jesus grew into manhood with the same
tradition.As I participated in the
ceremony, and acknowledged Josh’s efforts, I once again hoped that we celebrate
our heritage.
Now, as we prepare for
Christmas, may we celebrate the gift of life, the lives of all near and far,
and the lives of those who have gone before us, preparing the way.
With love and care, Judy Gardner, Parish Nurse December, 2009
Verger
It Happened on a Midnight Clear
As
all of us decorated our homes during this past yuletide season, dragging out
the lights, holly greens, and Christmas trees,
festooning every nook and cranny that we own with ribbons and colored balls and
Santas, I realized that the most beautiful of all of those decorations for mehas always been the church’s Christmas crèche. It
sits unobtrusively in many of our churches, with its ancient figures silently
re-telling that story of so long ago, of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Where
did the idea of the Christmas crèche come from?
Several
months ago Father Tom suggested to me that I read the story of St. Francis of Assisi. Although not
understanding at the time why, I read it anyway. I have marveled ever since at
what a wonderful man St. Francis was, how many answers I found to my questionsabout my spiritual life,
and much more. What I found in this particular context was that the story of
the origin of the Christmas crèche rests with this very holy man, St. Francis
of Assisi.
In
the year 1223, Francis, then a deacon, was visiting the town of Greccio to celebrate
Christmas. Greccio is a small Italian town built on a mountainsideoverlooking a beautiful valley. The
people of the area had cultivated the land with vineyards.Francis realized that the chapel of the hermitage would be too
small to hold the congregation for Midnight Mass. So the story goes that he
found a niche in the rock near the town square and set up the altar there.
However, this Midnight Mass would be very special, unlike any other Midnight
Mass before.
St. Bonaventure (c.1217-1274) wrote, in his
life of St Francis of Assisi:
“It happened in the third year before his
death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Greccio to commemorate the
Nativity of the infant Jesus with great devotion, St. Francis determined to
keep it with all possible solemnity. Lest he should be accused of lightness or
novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff, then prepared
a manger, and brought hay and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The
brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the mountainside resounded
with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and
brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God, St. Francis,
stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and
radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ.
Then he preached to the people around the Nativity of the poor King; and being
unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, he called Him the Babe
of Bethlehem. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Greccio,
who for the love of Christ had left the warfare of this world and become a dear
friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an infant marvelously
beautiful, sleeping in the manger, whom the blessed Father Francis embraced
with both his arms as if he would awake him from sleep. This vision of the
devoted soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him who saw
it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. The
example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient
to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ, and the hay of
that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of
cattle and many other pestilences, God thus in all things glorifying his
servant and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest
prodigies and miracles.”1
So
the next time you see a beautiful Nativity scene in a church and are reminded
of the night that Christ was born, I hope you will make a place for him in your
heart, a place for that babe in swaddling clothes who came into this world to
redeem all of us from sin.
Your
brother in Christ,
Richard
E. Tostenson
1Bonaventure MS n.d.,cited in Thieleman J. van
Braght “Martyrs Mirror” c 1660, trans. by Josef F. Sohm 1892.
December 2009
What's with all this kneeling, sitting, and standing?
I’m tired just thinking about it!
Have you ever brought a friend to one of our services? Has
he or she ever asked the question in hushed tones, “What’s with all the up and
down and sitting motions?”
Well I have, and as always I wanted to have an answer that
my guest could understand.
So with some looking around and reading about church stuff,
I began to think …
Kneeling? Subjects kneel before kings, some men do it when proposing marriage, and
Episcopalians have historically done it in
church. The dictionary says it’s an act of obeisance to authority, ofhonor to royalty,
and ofcontrition for sin. It is also one of
three postures we Episcopalians assume in any
of our worship services.
Generally we kneel to confess our sins and to pray, although
standing for prayer has been around for years too.
As Episcopalians we kneel much less often than we used to. No, it’s not because
we have gotten lazy over the years. It’s because we have learned to believe
that our faith is less about endless penitenceand
more about rejoicing in the great sacrifice and forgiveness that Our Lord Jesus
Christ has given us with eternal life.
So how about when we stand?
We do so to show
respect, like during the Gospel reading. We also stand for the Creed, a
1,600-year-old statement of our beliefs. We stand when we sing. It not only
helps us to sing better, but also allows us to lift our voices on high in great
thanksgiving to Our Lord.
Now how about when we sit?
When we sit we convey our readiness to learn, just like we
did in our school days. We sit to listen to the Old and New Testament lessons,
the Psalm, and the Sermon. Fairly simple.
I read somewhere once that what we Episcopalians do during
church is referred to as
“pew acrobatics”, but our desire to participate comes from
the belief that worship is not a spectator sport. We are a liturgical church,
the word liturgy meaning “work of the people.” Kneeling, sitting, and standing
are all about inspiring us to say thanks to Our Lord for all he bestows upon
us.
Now I have some answers for my inquiring friends, and
hopefully you do too.
