High holy days

Some days are ordinary. We get up at the usual time, have breakfast as always, go about our daily routines. These days are familiar, comfortable. Thank God for ordinary days.

But some days are holy days. Days when the architecture of time is slightly jarred and the ground shifts beneath our feet. When we pay attention to God in a sustained and purposeful way, we enter holy time.

That's what we're doing this week. We're in the high holy days of the Christian faith, and we're entering the mystery of the last days of Jesus' life. Here are the times we've set aside for contemplating the mystery:

7:00 pm, Thursday, March 28 - Maundy Thursday
Washing someone's feet is a profound act of humble service. We'll follow the example of Jesus as we remember his last supper with the disciples. Then we'll share bread and wine with each other and strip the altar and remove the decorations of the church.

12:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Friday, March 29 - Good Friday
We'll walk the Stations of the Cross as we recall the last hours of Jesus' life, and we'll pray for the Church and the world with the Solemn Collects. This is the deep time of the Christian faith, the time we connect with the suffering of Christ and the world.

6:00 am, Sunday, March 31 - Easter Vigil
We start in darkness and end in light. We start in a bare, empty room that is transformed into a place of splendor with beautiful linens, flowers, and gleaming silver. This is our experience of the resurrection of Christ.

10:00 am, Sunday, March 31 - Easter Day
With joyful music and uplifted hearts we celebrate the resurrection of Christ with a festive Holy Eucharist, followed by the frolic of an Easter Egg hunt for the children.

I hope you'll enter the deep time, the holy time, of this week with us.

In peace,
Bill

My sister's holy week

Holy Week is not easy. As we walk with Jesus in the last hours of his life, we encounter darkness and light in strange guises. Jesus takes us where we'd rather not go.

My little sister, Betty, has been in the hospital the last couple of weeks for an infection. It's made worse by the hepatitis she's been living with for twenty years and damaged her liver. She was transported by ambulance to the University Hospital in Denver on Sunday, and our whole family is holding our breath, praying.

Betty told me that she's had some dark moments. "I'm scared," she said. "I'm in a dark hole and I can't find a ladder. I laid here all day and just prayed."

I wish I had magic words to tell her that would make the darkness go away. But I don't. I listen to her as gently as I can and offer my prayers. And I think of Jesus in his last hours. His suffering gives him solidarity with all human suffering, and every person has access to his compassion and love.

Betty is slowly recovering, and I'm hopeful she'll be able to go home in a few days. In the meantime, I take comfort in the knowledge that she's not alone, that Jesus is with her in this holy week.

In peace,
Bill

Lent Day 4 - Finding and being found

In today's scripture reading, there's a lot of finding going on. When Andrew meets Jesus, he goes to find his brother Simon. Then Jesus finds Philip, and Philip goes to find Nathanael. And Nathanael finds Jesus.

What's with all this finding? Part of it is just the disciples getting acquainted with Jesus. Through their relationships and networks, a community of disciples begins to form around Jesus. And of course we know that there are women disciples joining this group, too, only they aren't mentioned here.

But part of this is about "finding" on a deeper level. When we become acquainted with Jesus, we find that we are found by him. At a deep level of our soul, we found that we are already known and loved by God for who we are. I think this is what Nathanael is expressing when he asks Jesus, "When did you come to know me?" He discovered that he was already known and loved, even before he met Jesus.

As we pray in the Prayers of the People, Form II,
   I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. 
   Pray that they may find and be found by him.

Who have you found? And how have you been found?


Peace,
Bill

Behold the Lamb of God - Lent Day 3

Hi, all!

Today is the third day of Lent. Two days ago we received ashes on our foreheads and heard the words, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return," a reminder of our mortality. This afternoon we will gather for the memorial service for Adrienne Daugherty who died last Sunday.

Adrienne was an artist and a person of prayer, and I'm sure she was familiar with today's scripture passage from the Gospel of John, "Behold the Lamb of God." These are the words of John the Baptist as he sees Jesus approaching. 

I like the old-fashioned word, "Behold." It says much more than the weaker, "Look."

Behold is what we do when we pay deep attention. John tells us to behold Jesus, the Lamb of God, in a deeply attentive way.

Today we commend Adrienne into the nearer presence of God, and we think of her at last truly beholding Christ and being in his presence. 

Peace,

Bill

P.S. Today's scripture passage in John 1:29-34. Tomorrow's passage is John 1:35-42

What are you doing for Lent?

Hi, all!

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. At noon and at 7 pm, we'll gather to hear the invitation to "the observance of a holy Lent," and we'll receive the mark of ashes on our foreheads as a mark of our mortality and penitence.

Ash Wednesday is a powerful call to repentance. Whenever I make the sign of the cross with the ashes, and say, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," I feel the seriousness of those words.

Being reminded that we won't live forever makes us freshly aware that our relationship with God is important, and now is the time to renew that relationship. "Create in us clean hearts, O God," Psalm 51 reminds us.

Today, the day before Ash Wednesday, is a good time for us to think about what spiritual discipline we might take up for Lent. Some people give up something for Lent, others take something on. What are you doing for Lent?

If you're looking for ideas, I might suggest you join us in reading the Gospel of John during the weekdays of Lent. We'll provide the verses to be read from the Daily Lectionary in the Prayer Book, and you can look them up in your Bible. If you have the Forward Day by Day booklet, you'll find the readings in there.

Tomorrow's reading is John 1:1-28, the beginning of the Gospel of John. You might want to find a time each day when you can open your Bible and meditate briefly on the passage from John. Each day is only a short reading, less than a chapter. The Gospel of John is written to inspire belief in Jesus as the Christ, and each day our faith will grow. From time to time I'll send an email reflecting on what we've been reading.

Whatever your spiritual practice during Lent, I hope it will build you up and increase your faith in God.

Peace,
Bill

Hello from the Vicar 04/16/2011

Hi, all!

It’s here. Holy Week. The holiest time of the year. It’s called “Holy Week” because these are the high holy days of the Christian year. The days we walk with Christ through his suffering, death and resurrection. Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. Easter Sunday.

I have mixed feelings about Holy Week. On the one hand, it’s uncomfortable. Hearing the passion story on Palm Sunday starts me thinking what it was like for Jesus. When we observe Jesus’ last supper with his disciples on Maundy Thursday, I sense the tension in that room. On Good Friday I imagine the nails going through Jesus hands, and I cringe. Holy Saturday is the grief of the disciples.

But something attracts me to Holy Week as well. After all, this is the heart of the Christian faith. This is what gives the Christian message its deep credibility: Jesus’ love for you and me is poured out on the cross. All the rest of the year, when I receive holy communion, I’m reminded of the events of holy week, and I feel Jesus’ deep love for me. This is important stuff.

This morning (Saturday – I’m a little behind) we had an energetic work party with lots of folks washing, cleaning, trimming, weeding, and making palm crosses. My thanks to Ken Stephens and Loretta McGinley for making this a success.

We have a new name on the list of members of the Armed Forces. Recently a visitor named Petey worshiped with us for two weeks. She said she truly enjoyed her time with us and asked us to pray for her son Russell Vial, who’s in the Navy and is leaving for Iraq as an individual augmentee.

This afternoon I stopped by Clearbrook to see Eunice Brodde. Eunice is recovering from a broken arm and rib and now she’s got pneumonia. I got to meet her twin sister and well as several great-nieces and nephews who had come to visit. Please keep Eunice in your prayers.

Also, please remember Linda Robuck and her mother Kay. Linda and her daughter Kristen drove to central California this week to be with Kay who is near death. In this difficult time, we remember Linda’s family and ask God to give them comfort and strength.

See you tomorrow at church (wait till you see the fantastic palm fans behind the altar!).

Bill

Jesus' Entry Into Jerusalem

On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem seated on a donkey, to fulfill the prophecy that the king would come on a donkey. This sketch is a copy of an 1860 print by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld.

The Valley of Dry Bones

Hello from the Vicar 04/08/2011

Hi, all!

I spent the first part of this week at the annual clergy conference at Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal near Belfair. You may be wondering, "What do clergy do at a three-day conference?"

Well, we spent a day with our bishop, Greg, discussing the nature of ordination and doing some diocesan business. Then we had a day and a half retreat with Eugene Sutton, the bishop of Maryland. Bishop Sutton emphasized to us the importance of being grounded in an authentic spirituality before we can do the work of a priest or a deacon. 

Your ministry is what you do, he said, and your role is the position you are called to, but your vocation is your deep calling from God that resides in your soul. Keep in touch with your soul, he said.

What I really enjoyed was catching up with my clergy colleagues and making new friends. There are some amazingly talented and diverse clergy in our diocese, and it's wonderful to be with them. I had the privilege of singing in the choir under the direction of Jim Friedrich, a gifted musician and liturgist. I learned a lot.

I arrived back home to deal with a broken furnace at church. Last Sunday we had to keep our coats on in church because it was so cold, but I think we've got the furnace repaired. At least, it was working when I stopped by today.

I'm glad to report that Allison Edmonds started her new job as church secretary this week. She's had an avalanche of information to deal with, but she's a quick learner and I have no doubt she'll master it quickly. Her office hours are 10-1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 10-2 on Thursdays. Stop by and say hello!

We're drawing closer to Holy Week and our observance of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. It's a profound and holy time and I hope it will deepen and strengthen your faith. On to Jerusalem!

Bill 

He worshiped Jesus

This is the sketch of the day for tomorrow's Gospel lesson about the man born blind. Jesus made mud with his saliva, rubbed it on the man's eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. When he did, he received his sight. Later, when he saw Jesus and discovered it was he who had healed him, he worshiped him.

Hello from the Vicar 04-01-2011

Hi, all!

Will it ever stop raining? It seems like it's been raining forever. I don't remember it being this wet in previous years, and I see that we're well above the average rainfall. When will spring come?

When I get in a funk about all the rain, I remind myself that, after all, this is Puget Sound, and it rains here. The beautiful green forests depend on lots of rain, and so do the salmon streams and the aquifers under the ground. This is just nature's way of keeping the balance.

I'm grateful to live in such a beautiful place. The smell of salt air, the tall stands of fir trees, the ever-changing seascapes all around us, the profusion of green things, the snowy mountains  -- we're surrounded by staggering beauty. God's creation is a web of life with such amazing diversity and complexity. So when I take a walk in the rain, I remember that this is God's gift to us, and the rain doesn't bother me.

I've enjoyed seeing some new faces at St. Antony's recently, and it seems like there's a good spirit about our parish gatherings. I hope you'll introduce yourself to newcomers and make them feel welcome. It's what we're really good at!

I was glad to hear that Heather George's daughter, Kathryn, found work at Bainbridge Jewelry. Kathryn wants to get into sales and marketing and this is a great opportunity. And recently Mary Zabinski was hired at the Kitsap Visitor and Convention Bureau, a great place for her skills to be showcased. Last week we said goodbye to Michael Deboer, who was transferred by the Navy toHawaii. Michael and his wife Sally will finally be stationed together.

The Gospel story for Sunday is the story of Jesus healing the man born blind, and what it means to have sight. I hope we'll see each other - really see each other - on Sunday for Holy Eucharist.

Bill 

The man born blind

Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes. John 9:6

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 

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.