Thursday, February 19, 2009

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?

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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.

Monday, February 2, 2009

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?