The Society of Catholic Priests

With a celebration of Solemn High Mass at Christ Church, New Haven, the North American province of the Society of Catholic Priests was founded on November 10, 2009.

Why the SCP? To quote the Patron of the Society, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, "If you believe that ordained ministry in the Anglican Church is part of the continuing witness of the whole Christian and Catholic tradition, Eastern and Western; if you believe that the priestly task is to be what Austin Farrer called a 'walking sacrament' (not just a leader or co-ordinator or even teacher); and if you also believe that the specific shape of this priesthood can properly develop as the Church moves on, to include those among the baptised who have regularly been excluded, SCP exists to help you flourish as a deacon, priest or bishop in the Anglican Church."

I and several other clergy in Rhode Island have joined the Society and are planning to host a gathering after the holidays for others who may be interested . For now there is more information at the Society's website: www.thescp.org

Sudanese Bishop visits St. Paul's

The Rt. Rev. John Zawo, Bishop of the Diocese of Ezo in Sudan, will be at St. Paul's for our service of Taizé Prayer on Sunday, November 29, at 5:00 pm. A simple reception will follow with the opportunity to welcome Bp. John and engage in conversation.

Taizé Prayer is a gentle service of song and prayer, using the music of the Taizé Community in France. The service is offered in a setting of darkness, candles and icons. Please join us.

For Veteran's Day

With thanks to Videtur Quod, the blog of S. Stephen's Rector Fr. John Alexander, SSC, here is a video that is powerful and challenging as we approach Veteran's Day while engaged in two wars.

On the other hand...

Recent posts have all been about the work and trials and joys of General Convention, parsing the Archbishop of Canterbury's response to GC 2009, the sturm und drang of episcopal elections... All important things, worthy of attention.

On the other hand, there is this view from our campsite in Vermont. And one is reminded that there is more to life with God than the institutions and affairs of the human part of Creation. The hills of Vermont were here long before the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, and will no doubt be here long after. There is a breadth and depth to the beauty of God's work that evokes wonder and praise - even when it rains (Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew..). How important it can be to change up the rhythm of life. It's amazing how easy it can be to sit in a chair and seemingly do nothing - except look at beauty, and think a thought or two, and offer a prayer. The other rhythms of life will be back soon enough.

And yes, I am posting this from the campsite. Who would go to a campground without wifi?

Northern Michigan election "null and void"

The Presiding Bishop has officially informed the Diocese of Northern Michigan that she has not received consent from a majority of the Standing Committees of the church to the ordination and consecration of the Rev'd Kevin G. Thew Forrester as bishop, and therefore the election is null and void (you can read it here).

Much reaction - prior to the PB's statement as well as now - has decried a conservative campaign against the bishop-elect, a resistance to creativity and innovation and change, and an unwillingness to countenance any new ways to imagine the episcopate (such as the proposed team approach in N. Michigan) - all fueled by the malevolent pressures of blogs and internet.

As a member of a Standing Committee that withheld consent, I have long wanted to say those things are all no doubt true - AND, there have also been thoughtful, reasonable people (enough, in fact, to constitute a majority of the 110 Standing Committees of the Episcopal Church) who examined the evidence, read the bishop-elect's sermons and writings and liturgical creations, studied the materials from the diocese, and concluded that his theological positions and liturgical changes were beyond what one would look for from a bishop of the Church. Yes, the Episcopal Church does have standards.

Either the elected lay and clergy leaders (in the form of the Standing Committees) of the church are nastily reactionary (the recent General Convention would seem to suggest otherwise), or they are so clueless as to have been led around by the nose by those terrible bloggers -- or perhaps the process of review and consent can be entered into carefully and faithfully and will sometimes - very rarely - produce a "no", even when that is disappointing and difficult for a diocese and its bishop-elect.

The Archbishop Reflects

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, has issued a reflection on the recent actions and decisions of General Convention 2009. His reflection can be found here. There is much good comment out there, including at Thinking Anglicans and Seven whole days.

I found myself taking issue with a couple of things that the Archbishop wrote. The first comes near the beginning, when he disappointingly repeats the notion that a concern for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the life of the church is a matter of human rights and civil liberties. This is usually held out as somehow being in opposition to a Biblically and theologically based concern. He then goes on to suggest that the requisite exegetical and theological work have not been done. It seems clear to me that for many people, the concern for full inclusion is precisely a matter of trying faithfully to live out the demands of the Gospel. For so many people, an attention to the sweep and fullness of Scripture - not just a handful of verses - leads to the conclusion that the church needs to move in new directions. As many have pointed out, exegesis and theologizing have been going on for decades. While there is always a need to do a better job of thinking clearly and deeply, and of communicating that work, perhaps the issue here is that some folks just don't like the conclusions that have been drawn from that work.

Another concern is with this statement: "...a person living in such a (same sex) union is in the same case as a heterosexual person living in a sexual relationship outside the marriage bond;" Is this not the tired, frustrating circular argument that "we will not recognize the validity of your committed relationship, therefore you are living in sin just like a promiscuous heterosexual person because you are not in a valid relationship because we won't recognize the validity....?"

Finally (in order for me to have the traditional three points), Archbishop Rowan raises the thorny question of the need for consensus/agreement across the church in order to make changes. The Communion, let alone the Church Catholic, is not in agreement on these issues of full inclusion, and so we should not be proceeding. Really? While the need to respect the larger church community and recognize our deep interconnectedness is profoundly important, and it can be way too convenient to claim the movement of the Holy Spirit and charge off in our own new direction, must there be full agreement before anything can change? Would we have changed positions on race, or women, or circumcision if everyone had to approve? What about the little matter of the English Reformation - where was Rome's approval?

There is much to ponder and digest in Archbishop Williams' reflection. I invite your thoughts and comments.

Last thoughts on General Convention

One of the challenges of the Episcopal Church is to live up to our slogan: "The Episcopal Church welcomes you." Part of our ongoing work - in Constitution and Canons and resolutions, in processes and structures, in our own hearts - is to live into the deep and life changing hospitality and invitation of the Gospel. It seems to me that General Convention 2009 has taken one more step on the way. In a calm and reasonable way, we tried to describe where we believe God has led us, to say that the Church is made up of all kinds of people - including gay and lesbian and bisexual and transgender people - and God just might call any one of us into one of the orders of ministry or into a committed, loving relationship. As the bishops added: "ain't it a mystery?"* As we heard on the First Sunday After General Convention, also known as the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: "in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us." The life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus has overcome our deeply human tendency to try to decide who's in and who's out, who is worthy and who isn't, who's in the wrong group. Whether it's a matter of circumcision, or race, or sexuality or gender identity, the Church has struggled to live into that new reality. The struggle isn't over, but at least we've taken another step.

*not a direct quote

The power of beeswax

In liturgy, there are grand moments - solemn processions, clouds of incense, thundering preludial music - and then there are the small things.
The "candles" at the altar and the ambo in our worship space are as tall and neat and clean as when we began General Convention so long ago. They clearly are some synthetic material filled with oil. What if they were genuine candles? (at least 51% beeswax, of course) By now they would be shorter, burned down, perhaps dripping down the side. What a powerful symbol - not of depletion or exhaustion, but of people consumed by the Spirit, offering prayer, praise, work, care and love for the Church. May God receive and bless the offering of these past two weeks.

LA Night at General Convention

The Diocese of Los Angeles sponsored LA Night Wednesday evening. The night featured rock music, poetry, Bishop Jon Bruno (top) blessing water for sprinkling the crowd and Brian McLaren (bottom).

"Tavolaro, Rhode Island"

Deputy Tavolaro takes to the floor again. He's on a roll - this resolution passed, too.

Deputation hard at work

Bishop Wolf and Deputies Pedrick and Gunn take a look at the proposed budget for the next three years. The vote comes on Thursday.

The face(s) of The Episcopal Church

President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori were together today at a joint session of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. This happens every General Convention so that the proposed budget can be presented to both Houses.

How old is he?

Yes, Episcopal bishops can be young. The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania, spoke at the joint session of the Houses to receive the proposed budget. At the age of 34, he's the youngest member of the House of Bishops.

Bp. Wright is not always right

The Bishop of Durham (England), N.T. Wright, renowned Biblical scholar and renowned meddler in the affairs of The Episcopal Church, has written a rather over-the-top response to the passage of D025 at this General Convention. Fr. Scott Gunn has an excellent response at "Seven whole days" - check it out.

What's with the shirts?

Back to the really important things (as opposed to the really important things).

Inquiring minds want to know the hidden significance of bishops' shirts. Black, magenta, purple, sport shirts, purple sport shirts.... Does this indicate theological positions? Liturgical preferences? Seniority in the House? Fashion challenged sensibilities?

This is an official call for transparency in bishops' shirts (not in the actual shirts, that would be gross).

The House of Bishops

On Tuesday morning I visited the House of Bishops for their session. It's a smaller, nicer, quieter room, as you might expect in space for 100+ as opposed to the HOD and room for 800+.

The Bishop of the Dominican Republic noted that they always sing in English, and proceeded to lead the bishops in a Spanish song.

Debate is civil and respectful. One of the major items was a resolution allowing for generous pastoral response to the needs of same sex couples, especially in states that have legalized same sex marriage. Things got held up for an amendment to be copied for all to read, so I didn't get to see the result.

The Deputy Testifies

Deputy Tavolaro speaks to a resolution adding gender identity to the non-discrimination section of the ministry canons. The resolution passed overwhelmingly in the House of Deputies. On to the bishops.

Okay, this is what's really important

It's easy to joke about the signposts, or buttons, or the occasional foolishness of the whole General Convention thing, but then one looks to the front of the House of Deputies and there, following the tradition of the ancient councils of the Church, is the Bible. And one remembers that this is a community of Christians, gathered in faith and prayer and worship, seeking to know and do the will of God in our time and place. Of your charity, continue to pray for General Convention.

See how they love one another

Today some fellow Christians, filled with the love and compassion of Christ, came by General Convention to helpfully point out areas where they think the Episcopal Church has fallen short of the glory of God. (Not pictured is the sign that said, "Gene Robinson Minister of Satan")

ABC comes to GC

For the first time since his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams is visiting a General Convention. Tonight he participated in a forum on the global economic crisis. Tomorrow (Thursday) he will lead a Bible study as part of the daily Eucharist, and then he'll be off to the General Synod of the Church of England.

While he's here, Abp. Rowan is also meeting with some individuals and groups, including - for what seems to be the first time - actual gay and lesbian people. It's about time.

What's really important

Budget priorities, ecumenical work, evangelism, liturgical changes, yadda, yadda, yadda...

The really important stuff at General Convention includes: how do deputations decorate their signpost? To the right is the sailboat with "Hope" anchor atop the Rhode Island sign.

Day One in the House of Deputies

You gotta keep your strength up.
Deputy Tavolaro prepares for the opening of the first legislative session with a yogurt/granola/fruit cup.

St. Paul's at General Convention

Not only has St. Paul's contributed three of the eight Rhode Island deputies, but as we turned to leave from the opening Eucharist, there was the children's program processing out, led by none other than our own crack acolyte, Elizabeth Kolakowski.

Another look at General Convention

If you want an always interesting, insightful and entertaining look at General Convention, check out Seven Whole Days, the blog of friend, colleague and fellow deputy Fr. Scott Gunn.

So what do they do there?

The committee I serve on - Ecumenical Relations - began its work today (Tuesday). We had an "unofficial" meeting (since Convention technically doesn't begin until Wednesday) beginning at 8:00 am and going until 11:00. On then to more Convention work: Program & Budget hearing, addresses from the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies, a long introduction to a story sharing technique we will be using to discuss mission, and then orientation for deputies. That left an hour for dinner before the committee reconvened at 7:00 pm for a public hearing on three resolutions. The results of the hearing and committee votes? Resolutions will go the General Convention to: commend the current Eucharistic sharing with the United Methodist Church and to expand the conversation to the historically African-American Methodist churches; take more steps forward in discussions with the Presbyterian Church, including encouraging the reception of Communion in one another's churches and having ordained ministers of one church celebrate the Eucharist with their own liturgical rite in the other church (I was the lone no vote on that one); and initiate a dialogue with the Church of Sweden. Not bad for the day before Convention actually begins.

ECW at GenCon

A General Convention year also includes the Episcopal Church Women Triennial gathering. Your wandering correspondent came across the RI delegation in the lobby of the Convention Center.

General Convention gets underway

RI Deputation hotel

Anaheim Convention Center

Much like the early Christians gathering in the catacombs, Episcopalians from around the country - and beyond - are gathering for the 76th General Convention.

Today is the day to register and not much else, and so perhaps the last chance to take full advantage of temperatures in the 70's and bright sunshine - just like Rhode Island the last two months.

And a little child shall lead them

There is a fascinating story in a recent New York Times Fashion & Style section about a young boy who is determined to go to church. The parents, including the father who almost became a Xaverian Brother but then left the church completely, seem to be typical Boomers who have no use for religion and would rather drink their coffee and read the Times on Sunday morning. Despite their lack of support - "you don't have to go every Sunday" - they seem to be gradually drawn in by their son's faithfulness and seeking.

There is so much to look at here I almost don't know where to start. The parents' abandonment of religion. Their discouraging attitude along the way. The fact the Times sees this as a "fashion and style" story!

But most of all, the joy and wonder of a child who seeks God. How dare we not give our children every opportunity to know and worship the living God?

Blog alert: more to come in the next post.

The New York Times story is here.

(with thanks to biblebeltblogger)

Sunday Worship

On this Trinity Sunday I find myself thinking a great deal about the great mystery of God who is one and at the same time Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not because I can even come close to explaining how God can be three in one - but because God IS three in one. My response is not to explain, but to experience and exclaim! It is to worship the glory and majesty of the triune God.

Here at St. Paul's we do just that. We gather week after week to pray, to praise, to glorify God, to give thanks for all that God has done and continues to do for and with us, because we can do nothing less.

Our liturgy is prayer book liturgy at its best. In fact, I was told several times last Sunday (Pentecost) after the 10:30 service, about how good the service was. And not by strangers, who might have been other places where the liturgy isn’t very good, and there are places like that, but by folks who are here regularly, every Sunday without fail. So I started wondering: why comment last Sunday? Of course it was Pentecost, the red banners were hung, we priests had on beautiful copes, the procession was long and festal, complete with bells, the music was great, there were babies baptized, the Eucharist was celebrated – so I suppose that might have been it. But I suspect it was something less tangible.

Liturgy is the work of the people – and last Sunday 135 people showed up. Last Sunday, unlike lots of Sundays when there are barely 80 people, the church felt more full. Yes, there were extra folks from the baptismal families – but they don’t account for the big bump in attendance. We just had a higher percentage of our regular folks here than usual. And so our liturgy, our worship of God, was strengthened, and we as the body of Christ were renewed. So don’t think your not being here on a given Sunday doesn’t matter. It does matter. It matters to you, to the other members of our parish family and it matters to God.

I realized as I preached to those who did attend church this Sunday that I might have to give the same sermon illustration three or four times before everyone in our parish family might hear it. So maybe this blog will reach those who were in church last week but who thought it was OK to take this Sunday off.

A recent survey had some interesting responses to questions about church attendance. Of those who responded that they attended church "regularly" a large percentage then answered the question: how often do you attend? "one or two Sundays a month. Is that really how we define regular?

As we move into the lazy days of summer will our attendance fall off even more? Or will we, as the people of God take seriously that which God calls us to do: come and worship? How will you respond to God's call?

Breaking News: (Fr.) Cutié

Breaking news, as they say, is that the Rev'd Alberto Cutié, the telegenic and now former Roman Catholic priest caught on the beach with his girlfriend, has been privately received into the Episcopal Church and is on his way to being received as a priest. Is anyone else distressed by this and wondering why there might not be time taken to consider questions of vows, commitment, obedience, clarity of vocation...?

The Visitation

Monday, June 1 is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (transferred from May 31). This major Holy Day celebrates Mary's visit to her kinswoman Elizabeth after hearing from the Angel Gabriel that Elizabeth, as well as Mary, will give birth to a child. There Elizabeth's child - John the Baptist - leaps in the womb in witness to Our Lord, and Mary sings the Magnificat, her great song of praise. St. Paul's will celebrate The Visitation on Monday at 7:00 pm with a Eucharist in the Lady Chapel.

The Ascension of Our Lord

St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles tells us that forty days after Easter, Jesus commissioned his disciples to be his witnesses "to the end of the earth", and then ascended into heaven. As the Book of Common Prayer says, he "ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things." St. Paul's will celebrate this major feast day of the Church on Thursday, May 21, with a choral Eucharist at 7:00 pm. Please join us.

A Catholic and Comprehensive Way

In the midst of all the blog and other interweb chatter, a new blog - Comprehensiveness for the Sake of Truth - now comes to commend to the Church a way to think about our life together. It offers what, in my occasionally humble opinion, is too often lacking in our conversation - a theological thoughtfulness that is at one and the same time carefully rooted in our tradition and available to the ongoing movement of the Holy Spirit. In short, it raises up the points of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral (the Scriptures, the Creeds, the Dominical Sacraments, the Historic Episcopate) along with the Book of Common Prayer and the other authorized liturgies as the standard for our worship, and response in the name of Christ to the needs of our neighbors and the world as our apostolic ministry, as a way to ground our thought and reflection as a church.

The site is here. What do you think?

Holy Week Reflections

Three holy days enfold us now
in washing feet and breaking bread
in cross and font and life renewed
in Christ, God’s firstborn from the dead.
Hymn 731 Wonder, Love and Praise

This week finds us entering the most sacred time of the liturgical year: Holy Week. It culminates in those three holy days, the Triduum Sacrum, one liturgy stretching from Thursday night through the Great Vigil of Easter and into Easter Day. From the earliest time the church has gathered to commemorate these days, following Jesus’ death and resurrection liturgically. In the forth century a nun, likely from Spain, left us an account of the liturgical life of the church in Jerusalem. Egeria records for posterity how the Triduum is celebrated at the very places tradition says they unfolded in Jesus’ life. These liturgies are, in some ways, very similar to our own these centuries later.
This sense of walking in the way that Jesus’ walked in his final days, as countless Christians have for centuries, produces a sense of awe and wonder for me. Each year I am amazed on Palm Sunday as we sing in procession the hymn, “All glory, laud, and honor” (Hymn 154) with a text written before the year 821 and music written in the 1600s. On Good Friday we sing the traditional chant, “Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle” with words composed before the year 600. At the Great Vigil of Easter the deacon chants one of the most ancient chants of our liturgical life, the Exsultet. It was likely written between the years 400 and 600.
This is not to say that all we do is rooted in the past alone. Much of the music we sing during these three days is much newer. But it is precisely this great wealth of tradition complemented by the more contemporary that is so striking. As Christians have done from the start, we at St. Paul’s Church now do, adapted to express who we are.

Children and Holy Week

The events of Holy Week, the most sacred time of the Christian calendar, define who we are as Christians. The liturgies are designed to help shape our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, to be a Christian, and the wonderful thing that God did for us through Jesus. On Palm Sunday we watch with the crowd as Jesus makes his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday, the first of three Triduum liturgies, we participate as the disciples did in the foot washing, learning what it means to serve as Jesus served, and to love as Jesus loved. On Good Friday, we pray for the world, for those who suffer in it as we gaze upon and reverently touch the cross upon which Jesus, in life and in death, bore all of our suffering. At the Easter Vigil we carry the light of Christ through the dark, participate in the sacred stories of the Old Testament, initiate new members into the body of Christ through the waters of baptism, renew our own baptismal covenant, shout alleluia in recognition of Christ’s resurrection. As we move through the Holy Week liturgies we experience again in wonder the gift of Christ. We are called to participate (by our posture, response, prayer, song, our outstretched hands at the peace and in the receiving of the eucharist). These multi-sensory, experiential liturgies are ideally suited for our young people. So bring them – come and see with them – and let them share with us this greatest of mysteries through their eyes!

Thoughts on Lent IV

The lessons appointed for this Sunday (March 22, the Fourth Sunday in Lent) raise yet another paradox of faith: when caught up in the power of God, that which was destructive, even deadly, becomes life giving. The poisonous snake, striking down the Israelites, when lifted up on Moses’ staff becomes the source of healing. The Cross, an instrument of shame, humiliation and death, with Jesus lifted upon it becomes the place of our salvation. The key, at least by way of these lessons, seems to be a willingness to look unflinchingly at - dare one say, embrace - that which we would rather avoid. Easy words for a blog or a sermon; very difficult in real life, when it means facing the death of a child, or the ending of a marriage, or a deep hurt, loss or disappointment. And yet the hope and the promise are there. It is the pulse of Holy Week and Easter. It is where we are going these last few weeks of Lent. May Christ walk closely with us.

Where do you find Jesus?

glumbert - Jesus Is Spotted Everywhere

Now sanctify this water...

Our recent parish survey provided the opportunity to raise questions and offer comments on our common life. One aspect of our life that sparked response is our baptismal pool. As I tried to suggest in the parish discussions that we had a couple of weeks ago, the issue for me is not that we must for some reason use a black plastic backyard pool when we baptize. What is important is that we reflect the Prayer Book understanding of baptism by having a way to gather as a community and to have an abundant use of water. The reality is that things do change in the life and practice of the Church, and our stone font with a shallow bowl and room for six people to stand around simply doesn’t work.

We are entering into the season of Lent, a season that grows out of the centrality and power of baptism in the Christian life. In the early Church, there was a long and careful (up to three years) time of preparation for baptism, which would take place at the Great Vigil of Easter. The catechumens (those preparing to come into the life of the Church through baptism) would come into the last phase of that preparation – eventually set at forty days – as a time of learning, fasting and prayer before they were immersed in the waters of baptism. There they were touched and renewed by the Holy Spirit, there sins and an old life were washed away, there they were mystically united with the crucified and resurrected Christ – there they were reborn. A Sacrament of such power and meaning requires a rich and full celebration. Those baptized at St. Paul’s are no less touched and changed by the presence and power of the Holy Trinity.

The Vestry here has begun a creative conversation about a way to incorporate our historic font with abundant water and to create more space to gather as a baptizing community. What are other parishes doing these days for baptism?

Taizé Prayer

The Taizé religious community in France has given the Christian world the gift of their gentle chants and a service of prayer that is peaceful, engaging and moving. Our next service in the style of Taizé at St. Paul's is this Sunday (February 8) at 5:00 pm. All are welcome; a simple reception follows.

Going on Retreat

It's hard to believe that by the end of this month we will move into the season of Lent. Lent is a time when we seem to pay particular attention to our spiritual journey. It is a time when we look more intentionally for ways in which we can strengthen our relationship with God. Going on a retreat is one of those ways. It is a way through quiet, through prayer, through reading, walking, and even sleeping, to make space in our hectic lives to hear God's voice.

I remember one particularly wonderful retreat about fifteen years ago out at the Episcopal Conference Center. It snowed all weekend long. Sitting on my bed with a book in my lap I realized that time had simply stopped. For those few short days I had all the time in the world to sit with God. Later one of the other retreatants and I silently (yes it was a silent retreat - and yes I can be quiet for an extended period of time) decided to walk in the woods at sunset. We took our walk in silence and somehow it became even more clear why Jesus calls us into community. Together, side by side we walked, in silence and in safety, each enhancing the journey of the other by virtue of simply being there for each other.

As we prepare for our Parish Retreat in March (more information on our website) I'm wondering about other folk's experiences with retreats. Have you made a retreat part of your spiritual journey? If you haven't been on a retreat, what holds you back?

Another take on evangelism

Fr. Matthew Moretz is a young priest in Rye, NY. In this piece on YouTube he shares important thoughts on evangelism. Enjoy.

Bishop Robinson's Prayer

Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson (New Hampshire) began the inaugural festivities for our new President with a prayer. As always a faithful and prayerful witness, here is what Bishop Robinson prayed:

Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God's blessing upon our nation and our next president. O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic "answers" we've preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be "fixed" anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger

Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion's God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States. Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln's reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy's ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King's dream of a nation for ALL the people.Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times. Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead. Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims. Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters' childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we're asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace. AMEN.

Not your father's pilgrimage

Our Journey to Adulthood class is on its pilgrimage. The photo reveals that pilgrimage-ing may not be what it used to be. But... while pilgrims throughout the ages may not have traveled by Southwest, complete with i-pods and sunglasses (and a New York Yankees hat!?) the destination then and now is the same: a deeper life with God. May they find something of God in Florida - and back in Rhode Island.

Anglican Music?

This Sunday we celebrate the life and witness of the Rev’d Martin Luther King, Jr. Using the Hymnal 1982 and its supplement, Wonder, Love and Praise, we sing music from the African American tradition. We do this not because we are a primarily African American congregation, but precisely because we are not. The work of the Civil Rights movement, both in the church and in the culture, is not finished. It is important to be reminded of this and seek those places where we can make justice and further the work in our own time and place. It is also important for us to sing music from other traditions.

New music, especially music from traditions and places not our own, can raise the question, what is Anglican music? While some might disagree, I think it is music written by Anglicans, primarily for use in Anglican liturgy, and music from other traditions appropriated and/or modified for Anglican worship. This definition includes a lot of music. What unifies it, however, is liturgy. Anglican music is music used to worship God when the community gathers to pray. It does not exist solely for the edification of people (though that may happen); it does not exist primarily to move us (though it may); and it is not to entertain us. The object of Anglican music is God, not us. While we may seek to make the best music possible, it is not for the sake of the performance but to offer the best to God.

So using music in our liturgy from other times and places is an Anglican thing to do if the music is made in praise of God. In the experience of this new music we may be changed. Music has the power to transform: individuals into community; strangers into friends; the weak into the empowered. Throughout time and space music has formed people into cohesive groups, even empowering them to fight oppression. Central to the Civil Rights movement, and other movements around the globe, is the power of music in the resistance of injustice.

Journey to Adulthood Pilgrimage

On Friday our Journey to Adulthood class leaves for their pilgrimage to the Faith in 3D Conference in Orlando, Florida. With a 3Day Park Hopper as part of the package this may seem more like a vacation than a pilgrimage. But for this group of teens who have spent time talking and wondering about different Christian denominations this conference hosted by the Baptist, Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches will be an exciting way to meet God through the eyes of fellow teens some of whom worship in different ways as they worship, study and play together. When we renewed our Baptismal Covenant on this past Sunday we promised again to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to continue in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of the bread, and the prayers. By going on pilgrimage our teens will find many ways to live into their promises - some expected and some very unexpected. And when they come back I hope they will share some of their experiences. For now I ask your prayers for them and their chaperones, and for all who are planning, leading and attending the conference.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This coming Sunday (January 18) comes just before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. While we are normally quite strict about observing Sundays, and not secular holidays that might be close by, our practice at St. Paul's is to have the liturgy take note of this holiday. This happens primarily through music, but the preaching also tries to make the connection. We do this because, despite the progress that has been made, racism is alive and well in the land, and the struggle for civil rights continues. This year we have great readings about the call of prophets and apostles, as well as the impending inauguration of our new president. It should make for a rich celebration.

Do other parishes find ways to mark Dr. King's day? How so?

What!? Another blog?

This initiates a blog from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pawtucket, RI. The staff of the parish will be posting occasional thoughts and reflections on life, faith, parish ministry, Christian formation, music... We welcome your thoughts and comments.