Jesse anointed David

After Jesse called his youngest son, David, the Lord said to Samuel, "Rise and anoint him, for this is the one." And so David was anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel to become the greatest king Israel ever had.

Jesse's sons

The Old Testament lesson next Sunday tells the story how the prophet Samuel was instructed by God to choose a new king from the sons of Jesse to replace Saul.  Jesse lined up his sons and they all passed by Samuel, but the Lord did not choose any of them. Samuel asked Jesse, "Do you have any more sons?" Jesse said, "Only one, the youngest, but he's watching the sheep. "Send him," said Samuel.

Hello from the Vicar 03/25/11

Hi, all!

I was brought up in a family of stoics. If we were hurting, we tried not to show it. So when I'm hurt or in need, it's hard for me to admit it. And it's hard for me to ask for others to pray for me, even though I totally believe in healing prayer.

This week was different. I've had some pain in my shoulder, and an x-ray revealed that I broke my collarbone. So on Wednesday after Centering Prayer, Bill Proctor asked if he could pray for my shoulder.  When he prayed for me, I could feel the Holy Spirit at work through his prayer. And my shoulder is feeling better already.

The times I've asked others to pray for me have been profound experiences. A deep relaxation comes over me, and I seem to go to a deeper level in my being. The tension drains away, and my burden is lightened. 

It takes a lot of trust to ask someone for prayer. But the next time you're in need of support, I hope you won't be afraid to ask for prayer. Many of us find it a privilege to pray for others, and we'll be glad to pray for you.  

This week I visited Eleanor Brook at Northwoods. After a month in the hospital, she's working to regain the strength in her legs. "I'm determined to get better," she told me. I believe her! I also visited Eunice Brodde at Clearbrook. Eunice fell last week and broke her arm and a couple of ribs, so her mobility is limited until she recovers. Please keep her in your prayers.

Over the years, many of us have received small art works created by Adrienne D. as birthday and anniversary cards. Adrienne is a gifted watercolor artist, and many of us treasure the beautiful cards she's sent us. Now's the time for us to reciprocate. Adrienne has been slowly recovering from surgery last fall, and her birthday is coming up next Monday, March 28. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she got a shower of cards from us?

We're approaching the third Sunday in Lent, and we're well along in our Lenten journey. Hope to see you this Sunday as we approach the throne of grace, in full assurance of God's mercy and love.  

Bill 

The woman at the well

The Gospel for Sunday is the story about Jesus and the woman at the well  (John 4:1-26). This is my attempt at a portrait of the woman at the well. At least, this is a portrait of an Arab woman, and the woman at the well might have looked like this. I think of her as mysterious, sensuous, and distant. But there are a lot of ways to imagine her. Perhaps she was older, worldy-wise, and cynical? Burned-out, wrinkled, and jaded? It's all up to your imagination.

Moses struck the rock

One of the strongest images in the Bible is the story of the Israelites complaining in the desert that they have no water. Moses prays to the LORD, who tells him to take his staff and strike the rock. Moses strikes the rock, and the water flows.

Ever afterward, the story was remembered as a time of unfaithfulness at Massah and Meribah.

Jesus at the well

The Gospel story for Sunday is about Jesus and the woman at the well. I imagine Jesus, all tired out from his journey, dozing by the well as the woman comes to draw water.

Hello from the Vicar 03/18/2011

Hi, all!

I've been watching the news about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the heroic efforts to avert a meltdown at the nuclear power plants. Realizing that many thousands of people have died, that people are struggling to live without water or electricity in subfreezing temperatures, that millions live in fear of radiation poisoning -- it's overwhelming to me.  

I want to turn away and find something else to think about. Avoidance and denial are the usual ways we avoid the reality of human suffering. I'm trying to remember the people of Japan in my daily prayers. It's the least I can do to stay engaged with the suffering of so many people. I hope we'll all keep Japan and its people in our prayers.

In addition, we'll continue to accept offerings to help the people of Japan through Episcopal Relief and Development. Last Sunday we sent $450 to ERD to help with the Japan effort. Checks written to St. Antony's with ERD on the memo line will be sent on to ERD.

The photo directories have finally arrived! If you had your photo taken at the Olan Mills sessions, you may take one of the directories. We have a few extra we'll save for newcomers, so they can learn names and faces more easily.  

  

I'm glad to report that Allison Edmonds has agreed to be our new church secretary. Allison, who is also our organist, has a rich background in the Episcopal Church and a great deal of experience in church administration. We're fortunate to have her.

I'm glad to report that Eleanor Brook has moved to Northwoods for rehab after her surgery and complications. I'm sure she'd appreciate cards and brief visits. 

How is your Lenten spiritual practice coming along? I'm doing my best to keep my Lenten practice of making a daily sketch of the Bible lessons for the upcoming Sunday. You can see them at my sketch blog at www.billfulton.net  

This Sunday is the Second Sunday in Lent, and we'll hear the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus in the night. Hope to see you in the holy place! 

Bill 

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Did he come at night because he didn't want to be seen by others, or because he wanted a private interview? Either way, it seems like a furtive, daring mission by Nicodemus. He was a seeker who couldn't keep away from this Jesus who was so intriguing.

Abraham with his flocks

I imagine Abraham travelling with all his flocks and herds and lots of people. Must have been a slow journey as they let the sheep and animals graze along the way.

Abraham the patriarch

Yesterday I made a sketch of the wrong lesson. The Old Testament lesson for Sunday is about Abraham. God said to Abraham, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) My image of Abraham is that he had a strong face.

Lenten series: The people quarreled with Moses

In the Old Testament lesson for next Sunday, the people quarrel with Moses in the desert, saying, "Give us water to drink."

Hello from the Vicar 3/11/2011

Hi, all!

Smudging the foreheads of my people with ashes is perplexing. As I say those words, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return," I often feel a twinge of pain. For those who are older, I'm reminded that I might preside at their funeral. And for those who are younger, especially children, the words come as a grim shock. How could we even think such a thing? Ash Wednesday is a sobering liturgy. 

This year for Ash Wednesday we rearranged the chairs so that we sat in two banks facing each other, as if we were sitting in the choir stalls of a great cathedral. It created a very different atmosphere, and most of us found it helpful. The music during the evening service was lovely because we could hear each other singing. Allison's accompaniment was just right. 

I'm sure most of us have heard the news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan this morning. I emailed Bill Cleveland, who is working at a Naval shipyard in Japan, but I haven't heard from him yet. The Kitsap Sun website says that all shipyard personnel have been accounted for. In northern Japan there have been many deaths and much destruction. Please hold the people of Japan in your prayers.  

I'm very happy to report that Eleanor Brook was sitting up and alert when I saw her last in the ICU. You can send her cards at Harrison Hospital, 2520 Cherry Ave., Bremerton 98310. Please remember Ashton Scalf in your prayers as she fights a nasty virus. She needs to recover so she can continue to sell Girl Scout cookies!

For many months we've had a number of people in our prayers for employment. I'm glad to report that Peter and Sandy Stockwell's daughter and son-in-law, Lara and Jon, have found work as architects after many months of searching. And Roger Zabinski is working in the biotech field again after a period of searching.  

I see that the USS Stennis has returned briefly and Kristen Fabry is back with her family before the ship departs again. We've seen some new families from the USS Nimitz which recently came to PSNS. These comings and goings remind us that an important part of our mission at St. Antony's is to support our Navy families and provide them a caring church family. 

May the peace of Christ be in you, 

Bill 

He was famished

The Gospel for this Sunday is the story of the temptation of Jesus:
"After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished." (Matthew 4:1)

When I think of fasting forty days, I think of being weak and spaced-out. Hardly fit for a struggle with the devil. But that was when Jesus fought against the temptations of the devil -- when he was famished.

I made this sketch using this photo of a memorial to the Irish Famine of the 1840's.

The serpent was crafty

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made." Genesis 3:1

Ash Wednesday

I've decided that during Lent my spiritual discipline will be to make a sketch every day of the scripture lessons coming up for the week. Today my sketch is for Ash Wednesday.

On Ash Wednesday, the Prayer Book says, "I invite you to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word."

Hello from the Vicar 3/4/2011

Hi, all!

Last week I pruned the forsythia bush in our front yard. Katy took some of the cuttings and put them in a vase on the table. The warmth of the house made the twigs think it was spring, and they burst out in glorious yellow flowers.

It makes me think of what promises are in store for us, even when we think we're in a dead, cold winter season of our life. God promises good things for us, even when we can't yet see them or imagine them. I guess that's what the resurrection of Jesus is all about.

Next week Peter Stockwell and his crew will serve up stacks of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Don't forget to come back the next day for ashes and sackcloth on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent!  I'm pondering what my Lenten discipline will be this year. Are you?

A note of transition for our parish: our parish secretary of fifteen years, Elisabeth Demmon, has been offered increased responsibilities at her library job and has therefore tendered her resignation as secretary at St. Antony's as of March 31. Elisabeth has requested that we not make a big deal about this. But we all know how much she has meant to us and how important she has been in the life of our parish. Thank you, Elisabeth.

O God, you have given us all we need to be your people, and you have raised up servants in every age to carry on the life of your Church. We give you thanks for all those who have carried the banner of Christ and served you faithfully from day to day and age to age, in good times and bad, through difficulties and in joyful seasons, in darkness and in light, and all for the love of your Christ. Amen.  

Peace, 

Bill