Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Sun. July 1, 2012)

Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:

Today’s readings reinforce for us the undeniable reality that suffering is not unique to us or to our times, and that we know very little about the ultimate meaning of death. Wars, hunger, economic disasters abound and may bring us to despair; personal illness, pain, and loss in our families may cause us to lose hope. Sometimes we feel as if we are alone in our pain; we ask, Why me?

And then we read of David’s immense sorrow at the death of his friend Jonathan; we read of Paul’s urgent call for help for the starving in Jerusalem, and hear Jairus’ cry, “O Jesus come touch my daughter so she may healed,” and we recognize that we live in a world that has always contained profound tragedy and that our experiences are not unique. We also are reminded that despite much suffering and destruction, plagues, and starvation, human beings continue to survive and to multiply.

This kind of “endurance” gives us hope in a world where the “predictors of doom” arrive in every generation “to howl in apocalyptic fear.” Some do so out of a tragic misunderstanding of Scripture; others because it suits their purposes, or because of idolatry. It is with astonishment that people of faith hear that 2012 was predicted as the year for the destruction of the world, and that there are youngsters and even adults among us who are terribly afraid because of such predictions; they listen to those who have no faith in a loving God, and not having been taught the truth, allow fear to rob them of hope.

Listen to the contrast in the words of the psalmist:

I wait for the Lord, my soul
waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for
the morning,
more than those who watch for
the morning.

This is the balanced perspective and focus of a person of faith: wait on the Lord. Living and faith both require patience – wait on the Lord. Fear is the result of having no one greater than ourselves to look to. Waiting on the Lord takes away fear.

St. Paul adds another dimension to this waiting – acting in faith. Despite his apparent conviction that the Lord Jesus would return soon, Paul does not hesitate to look after the living. In his great effort to feed the starving in Jerusalem, he is not hesitant to ask for help from all those he had brought to Christ. He is not one to say, “Ignore the poor, ignore the hungry, because soon we all will be taken up.” He knows that life is a gift of God, that it is good, and that the bodies of children and adults must be fed. St. Paul knows what matters because he compares everything to the ultimate gift instead of to apocalyptic fears: “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”

Listening to Paul helps things “fall into place,” helps us achieve a mental and spiritual balance when we focus on the redemptive work of God through Jesus Christ.

And finally, let us look at Jesus. His two encounters in today’s story, one with a sick woman and the other with a dying girl in Capernaum came at a time when Jesus was at his most popular. Hundreds of people followed him wherever he went. The scene is riveting.

He has just arrived by boat and is immediately surrounded by people who are in need of hearing words of hope, by those who are sick and need to be healed, and by the curious.

A man, Jarius, obviously important in his city and synagogue, runs to him, falls on his knees and begs for the life of his child. He says; “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” Is there a more helpless, a more desperate feeling than having one of your children become critically ill? Is there ever a “darker” time than that?

Jesus does not hesitate. He leaves the crowds to go with this father in need. Jarius, the ruler of the Synagogue, knows that his colleagues “would NOT look well” on the fact that he had invited Jesus into his home to heal his little girl. They would be shocked. After all--- What credentials did Jesus have?? By what “authority” did he heal?” None of that mattered at this point.

The Jairus story gets even worse--- servants meet them with the bad news- they tell him ; “Your daughter is dead!” At this point Jesus puts his hand on Jairus shoulder and says ;”Do not fear, only believe.” When they arrived at his house- people were weeping and wailing—and Jesus says—“Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is NOT dead but sleeping.” Then Jesus says, “ Little girl, get up!” And with that- the girl got up and started walking around. Jesus then tells them- “ Give her something to eat.”

The people who had mocked Jesus—had seen that Jesus gave Jairus and his family the gift of life restored.

The other miracle in today’s Gospel story was when a stooped woman approaches and touches his cloak. Not a big deal. He is surrounded by so many people that she is sure no one will notice; she is convinced that the touch will heal her, and it does. Simple enough.

What is unusual about this story is that Jesus stops and asks, “Who touched my clothes?” When the disciples express amusement and surprise at his question, another reporter of this story tells us that Jesus responded that he felt power going out of him. What a remarkable reaction.

There was something in the woman’s immense faith, a total conviction that after years of suffering, she had found the cure in the person of Jesus, and the energy of that faith was more powerful than all the shoving and pulling of the crowd. One touch of utter faith calls forth the creative power of the divine, and healing occurs. The connection of Jesus to the source of life and love, to the one he called Father, is so intense and unbroken that it is like electricity: Jairus “plugs into it” and receives hope, and the woman “plugs into it” and receives healing. Nothing else matters and nothing interferes with Jesus’ purpose. Two people with specific needs have reached out to him and he knows that he can help them. He does.

There is so much fear in this country and in the world today: fear of “the other,” fear of losing a job and not being able to pay the mortgage, fear of crazy people with guns, fear of not succeeding, oh, so many fears. How do we confront them?

The psalmist’s answer is to “wait on the Lord;” St. Paul’s answer is to remember what Jesus did for us; and Jesus’ answer is to be whole. This wholeness, “holiness” in theological terms, is possible only when we are focused on the one who brought us to new life with a trust so complete that it takes away fear, even fear of death.

For that “thanks be to God.”  AMEN.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (06/24/12)

Full Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:

I have always enjoyed the Old Sherlock Holmes Mystery Stories, from the time of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, playing Holmes and Dr. Watson----to the very modern version recently shown on PBS. I sometime listen to the radio version of Sherlock Holmes on CD as I drive the car. I recently ran across the following little story involving the “ever brilliant” Holmes and the somewhat “dull witted” Dr. Watson.

The story goes like this: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. They set up their tent and fell asleep. Some hours later, Holmes woke his faithful friend up."Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."Watson replied, "I see millions of stars." "What does that tell you?" asked Holmes. Watson pondered for a minute. "

Astronomically speaking,” it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.

Horologically, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.

Theologically, it’s evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.

Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Then after a pause, Watson said: “Well, Holmes, what does it tell you?"

Holmes was silent for a moment and then he said. "Watson, you imbecile, can’t you see that someone has stolen our tent."

There is a danger, even when we come to Scripture, that we look for the “complicated” and overlook the sublimely obvious. Lets look at Mark’s Gospel for today with that in mind.



Jesus and the disciples are in the same boat. It is night, a dangerous time for sea journeys. And yet, even though it is dark, Jesus invited then to go “sailing.” Sure enough a “great gale” arose, and the waves beat into the boat – so that the boat was being “swamped.” It’ s dark, it’s dangerous, and they are alone in the boat with no one but Jesus to protect them– and He is asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat




In their fright, they call out, “Teacher , don’t you care that we’re sinking?” This is a “prayer” that the “powerless” disciples pray. In the parlance of current 12 step Programs– they are “ready.” They no longer live under the delusion of “self deliverance.” They have given up on the “idea” that they can “fix it themselves.” Jesus wakes up– calmly “rebukes” the wind and waves saying “peace be still.”

And having spoken to the “sea”- he now speaks to his people, and says, “why are you afraid?” Don’t you have faith? Notice he does not say why WERE you afraid- rather- he says why ARE you afraid? After all he just “stilled” the storm and waves. No doubt that event scared the “dickens” out of the disciples. Then the disciples say to one another: Who is this—even the waves obey Him?

That question: WHO IS THIS is always ‘on the table’ when we get in the “boat” with Jesus. William Willimon has said that they were afraid for two reasons: the first most obvious is the “fear” of the death dealing storm. The second is a kind of “fear” like the fear on that first Easter Morn- the response to the ‘risen Christ’ was not joy, but profound fear. -- -that- Easter just might be true- Even death is subject to Him. It isn’t over til He says its over. He makes a “way” when there was no way. In today’s Gospel His power is greater than the wind and the waves. That is “scary.”

Even in a congregation as small as St Paul’s- no doubt some of us are dealing with a “storm” of one sort or another-- in our lives. If not dealing with one now– we have had personal storms and no doubt will have more at some time.

Here is what a “storm” in your life or mine– DOES NOT MEAN. It does not mean that God does not love you. It does not mean that God is “angry” with you. It does not mean that God is “paying you back” for something. Storms “happen” - we live in a complicated “fallen” world where things happen. There is a degree of “randomness” built into God’s creation. In other words, good and bad happen to all.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of total deliverance from evil, no matter how grim or overwhelming that evil appears in the life of a believer. This is the bedrock faith of the Church.

The “faith in Christ” that withstands life’s storms is not--- only available to the great major personalities in our faith tradition–BUT-- is available to all of us --the “rank and file”--- in all of the storms that come our way.

The Apostle Paul, writing on the firm ground and assurance of Christian hope, in the face of all storms, states emphatically: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It seems to me that three obvious points come out of our Gospel reading this morning:

1. Christ converts Chaos into Calm.

2. Christ Comforts His Companions in their Concern.

3. Christ is in Control.

God is here!! God is involved in our lives. And WE want to be in control ?? We must move from “control” to trust. The only way to ‘control life’ is to trust the only One who can control it.



AMEN

Third Sunday after Pentecost (Sunday 06/17/12)

Full Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:

IN today’s gospel message Jesus speaks in parables—again. Jesus frequently uses this particular literary “literary device” to get his point across. We know that parables are “brief stories” that illustrate a particular religious or moral construct. They are NOT fables or legends, in that they are “true”—BUT—they are not like non-fiction narratives in that they are NOT always strictly factual.

Parables are a kind of “extended metaphor”- which is one way--and maybe the best way - of grasping the limits of human language.

WE hear two parables in today’s gospel. The parable of the “self- growing” seed and- the parable of the “mustard seed.” As a society we usually measure success by size. But “big” is not a “Kingdom value.” Often God works best with small and with weak, and with sinful because all the scriptures remind us: “God’s power is made perfect in weakness.”

Smallness is a focus of today’s gospel reading – the Parable of the Mustard Seed. From God’s perspective, things are often not what they appear to be at first. The tiny mustard seed may seem small and insignificant, but within it looms something very valuable, a usual part of creation.

Doesn’t this parable help us realize that size can be deceiving? Doesn’t it help us understand that out of a small thing can come something grand and wonderful and powerful? In this parable, Jesus spoke to the truth that smallness has its strengths and advantages and possibilities.

Smallness is a norm to which Jesus returned again and again in his ministry. And we know, too, that smallness is the

basis on which the church began. The church operates best when it carries into larger ministries the insights and techniques of smallness.

We are at our best when we engage in individual ministries because we have but one ministry as an example – that of Jesus himself. He gathered around him a small band of followers, totaling at best two dozen people. He worked closest with a select band of 12 who gathered with him at the Last Supper and heard his message of servanthood. When the church was forming itself, it first felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry the good news of Christ out into the world. It found expression in a small group of 11 who became empowered by the risen Lord in an upper room of fear.

The people Jesus chose to carry on his work were, by the world’s standards, “small men” – fishermen, unlearned, probably illiterate. One was a despised tax collector. They were simple people, ordinary people. Some of his band of followers were the very rejects of society. By all outward appearances, they were small people. This, of course, is based on the judgment and standards of quantity and wealth and education and worldly power.

But by the standards of “quality and stature” in God’s eyes, they can be seen as the greatest of people. And we can learn that, in the midst of a worldly culture that idolizes bigness, for the Christian there is a norm that honors smallness – the kind of smallness with which Jesus worked. We can see that no matter how large a congregation may grow in numbers, its success as a part of the Body of Christ depends on its ability to maintain standards illustrated by Jesus. This means maintaining concern for individuals, providing opportunity for ministry for everyone, promoting the feeling of worth in everyone, making sure that all are interconnected, so that, for example, there is somebody to miss you when you are absent.

Small-town people and those who live in “tight neighborhoods” in urban areas understand the value of natural and easy connectedness, of fellowship in the Christian sense. Others in different settings do well to work hard to make this kind of small community connectedness a reality in the midst of a mass culture. Congregations, small or large, can learn to live into the power of such a dynamic.

If, spiritually, we become “too big for our britches” – if bigness and its illusion of power becomes a problem for Christians, individually or as a faith community – the mustard seed image remains instructive. The small size of community does not devalue its potential. From the right kind of “small thinking” can flow the values and mission that Jesus gave to his first followers who have passed it on to us. This parable reminds us that it is not the size that is important but what comes from it. It is not the size of the seed that is important, but what counts – in God’s eyes – is the quality of God’s love that we can spread among each other and into the wider community. This is what we “embody” –or at least try to embody here at St. Paul’s Church.

A story that “connects” – I believe on this Father’s Day. WE all have a biological father- somewhere, somehow. But we need to be reminded that we have a heavenly Father—as well. This story is attributed to Fred Craddock who has East Tennessee connections.

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One morning they were eating breakfast in a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, "I hope he doesn't come over here." But sure enough, the man came over to their table. "Where are you folks from?" he asked in a friendly voice."Oklahoma," they answered."Great to have you here in Tennessee," the stranger said. "What do you do for a living?""I teach at a seminary," he replied."Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you?

Well, I've got a really good story for you. And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down. The professor groaned and thought to himself, "Great. Just what I need -- another preacher story!"The man started, "See that mountain over there?" He pointed out the restaurant window. "Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up because every place he went, he was always asked the same question: 'Hey, boy, who's your daddy?'

Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question: 'Who's your daddy?' He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast, he “got caught” and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?' The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

The new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to the scared little boy: 'Wait a minute! I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.' With that, he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance -- go and claim it.'

With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again.

Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a child of God. 'The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, "Isn't that a great story? "The professor responded that it really was a great story.

As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably would never have amounted to anything!" And he walked away. The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked, "Do you know that man who was just sitting at our table?" The waitress grinned and said, "Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!"

AS an aside, Ben Hooper was pointing toward Newport.

Good old Baptist Ben Hooper—knew who his most important father was.

AMEN.

Second Sunday after Pentecost (Sunday 06/10/12)

Full Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:

Family. We all come from one. Some are loving, some are quirky, some are dysfunctional, some are abusive, and some are a combination of those things. No matter what type of family we have, we have a ‘role to play’ within it: the Peacemaker, the Pretty One, the Black Sheep, the Smart One, the Religious One, the Baby, and so on. But what happens when the Black Sheep starts acting like the Smart One? Or the Peacemaker becomes the Artistic One? The delicate system of roles is shaken and the other players must try to put the person back in their role or adjust to the new role that is being played. Guess which one folks usually choose?

Fear of the “new role” usually wins out, and people often try to sabotage the fledgling before anything permanent can happen. We think we “know what is best” for the other person because really, it is best for us.

Take any self-improvement – losing weight, quitting smoking, going back to school, going to a counselor – and there will be people who will not be encouraging because it makes them look at the improvements they need to make and aren’t. They fear change in their lives, so why should they support the changes in yours? It takes a strong person to become who God created us to be and to continue to make positive changes when it puts personal relationships in jeopardy.

Look at Jesus coming back to his hometown where his family lived. People were crowding him to see if he would heal them, but some were talking about him, “He’s gone out of his mind,” and “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” People feared what they did not understand. Jesus’ family tried to restrain him, but Jesus faced the crowd.

He was called by God to preach and teach and heal, and that was his focus. He knew his role, but it was not necessarily the “role” that his family or hometown thought he should be in. God was doing a new thing in Jesus. God was expanding what it meant to be “bonded to another person” the way we are in a family, and Jesus called attention to this. God knows what is best for Jesus and for us, not the other way around.

When Jesus declared, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother,” it challenged the Jewish culture around him. No longer are you “close to God” because you were born into a Jewish household; no longer do you just take care of your “own kind;” instead, your family is being extended to anyone who does the will of God.

That certainly broadens the margins and challenges those who took that relationship with God for granted. Today, it challenges us to look beyond our walls, our denominational lines, our socio-economic status, and our faith to see our brothers and sisters and mothers. God calls us to expand our family in ways that are just as shocking as it was to the Gospel of Mark’s first-century audience.

We should come to expect this from God. How successful are we when left to our own devices?

Doing the will of God often means leaving our comfort zones. As Episcopalians, our Baptismal Covenant demands a life that follows God by continuing in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, in the prayers, resisting evil, repenting and returning to the Lord, proclaiming by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves, striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being. This is not an easy road to journey! Yet we readily answer, “I will, with God’s help.”

What do you have to do to be credibly called a Christian, a contemporary follower of Jesus? William Willimon from a sermon said; First of all, you must be willing to be baptized, that is, to be adopted by a new, far-flung, barrier breaking family – the Church. You must be disposed to let go of your ‘innate American individualism’—and be subsumed into a family bigger and more demanding than the one you were born into.

You must join us at the table”—addressing some of the most sinful, ornery brothers and sisters--- just because Jesus loves them to death.

You can see why , when the ‘Jesus movement’ got going as the Church, baptism became the “radical” rite of Christian initiation. Baptism signified not only everything that water means—cleansing and birth, and death and refreshment, renewal, life--- BUT baptism also meant ADOPTION.

AS John the Baptist said; “God is going to have a family, even if God has to raise a people out of the rocks in this river.”

On Good Friday, as Jesus hung on the cross, he performed an amazing last act of invitation and adoption. Having been deserted by most of his family, the crucified Jesus, in a last wild, act of “inclusion”—invited a thief to join him in paradise.

Every Day that the “Family of God” gathers together for the Eucharist ( the Holy Communion), or even a covered-dish-dinner—the world looks at this “odd family” and says, “ Jesus is hanging out with the same reprobates that got him crucified.”

And to that we say ; “Thank God!”

We cannot do this alone. Jesus’ single-minded focus on God’s will is an example to us. We must have God’s help to follow the call of Jesus in order to be the people we were created to be. May we go forth, as the blessing from St. Clare says, to “live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road, and may God’s blessing be with you always.”

Amen.

Rose Mauzy's Passing

Rose Mauzy has finished her journey in this life and has entered into eternal habitations.  She is now present in the company of heaven.  There will be a Requiem Mass held at St. Paul Episcopal Church (1028 Boyd's Creek Hwy Seymour, TN 37865) on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM for Rose.    

Saint Paul reminds us, "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8)." 

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand (John 10:27-29) .” 

Please enjoy ''Take My Hand, Precious Lord" as you contemplate about the reunion that Rose had today with all of her friends and family that went before her to their reward.

First Sunday after Pentecost (Sunday June 3, 2012)

Full Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:

Here we are at Trinity Sunday in the Church year, following the celebration of Spirit and Light that was the Day of Pentecost. This is a Sunday when the “focus” is NOT an event in the life or teaching of Jesus. It is about the doctrine of The Holy Trinity which is nowhere explicitly described in Scripture, but is supported by “interpretation” of Scripture.

Trinity Sunday was popularized by St. Thomas a Becket centuries ago. The feast of the Trinity became so important that until recently Anglicans ‘numbered’ the long Summer Sundays as “Sundays after Trinity.” Since 1979 we count Sundays as being after Pentecost.

AS we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity, we confess the three persons of one God: God the Father, Creator and sustainer of the Universe; God the Son who lived a human life among us; and God the Holy Spirit, the Voice of God within us to inspire and guide.

Belief in the Trinity as the full revelation of God is a mystery and a paradox. The Holy Trinity as a doctrine, is expressed in the historic creeds, the concept is drawn out of the revelation underlying our experience of God as Creator, Redeemer, and sanctifier.

The strongest explicit use of the Trinitarian formula occurs in Matthew’s Gospel in the Great Commission given to all who follow Jesus-- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

The Church of England – “from whence we sprang”- until recent years required the saying of the Athanasian Creed- always on Trinity Sunday. That creed is contained in the “Historical Documents” of the current 1979 Prayer Book. The American Episcopal Church had the same requirement for many years. That creed begins; “Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith”—and it goes on from there.

Now- to that part I want to focus on- THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE “Catholic Faith” is: the creed now says , - “The Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.”

What then follows in the Athanasian Creed is a series of “tongue tangling statements.” So, lets shift a bit.

The lesson today from Isaiah tells a tale of the prophet having a vision, in which he sees God and shouts, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”

In the face of the majesty of God, Isaiah recoils in fear, conscious of his unworthiness. God showed himself to Isaiah, not to frighten him, but to send him out to tell others about God.

IN the Gospel today, Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. Both Isaiah and Nicodemus sought something they lacked. Jesus tells Nicodemus that if he wants to know what God is doing, he has to “start from scratch,” -- to be born anew.

Nicodemus can’t understand the “mystery” of this statement . How can this be?

Jesus then uses some familiar words. Here they are in the language of an Anglican Bishop and great New Testament scholar; N. T. Wright; “So, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so in the same way the son of man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may share in the life of God’s new age. This you see, is how much God loved the world; enough to give his only special son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost but should share in the life of God’s new age. After all, God didn’t send the son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world could be saved by him.”

The doctrine of the Trinity is a confusing doctrine. Even the finest theologians find themselves at a loss to explain it satisfactorily. Some use the analogy of the masks worn by actors in the old Greek tragedies. One actor ‘wearing many masks’ can play many parts. But it is still just one actor.

Others have used the analogy of water. Under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, water, H2O, is a liquid, but freeze it and it becomes a solid. Heat it and it becomes steam. It is still H2O, whatever form it takes, but it can have three radically different ‘forms.’

Still others have used the analogy of roles and relationships. A man can be at the same time a father, a son, a husband, a nephew, etc. One man but different roles. Those are not perfect analogies, but they are probably the best we can do with the minds God has given us.

The Holy Trinity is one of those many things about life and faith that you and I will never fully understand.

There is much that none of us can understand. Having established that, however, there is a second thing to be said: THE SECRET OF A SUCCESSFUL LIFE IS NOT UNDERSTANDING BUT TRUST.

We can either spend our lives making ourselves miserable about ‘what does not make sense to us’-- or we can live joyful lives based on trust in God.

If we wander outside at night on a crystal clear evening and look up, we see the marvelous night sky. And what we see is only a very small fraction of what is actually there. But what about the part we cannot see?

The heavens are like God. We look up to the “lights of heaven” and in them we see God, but --in the part we cannot see, there is God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit,--- Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, ---Energy, Wisdom, Light, ---Justice, Hope, Perfection. In what we cannot see in life, there is God, hidden, yet eternal.

There, in the mystery, is the goodness of God. Who cannot be captured. AMEN

Day of Pentecost (Sunday May 27, 2012)

On the day of Pentecost the apostles were gathered together when they heard a violent rush of wind which filled the house.  The Holy Spirit had come down on them and they spoke in various KNOWN languages.  This is not the “speaking in tongues” you might hear about from some forms of fundamental Christianity.  Instead these are languages that were spoken by various ethnic groups in the area.  To place into perspective exactly what the Gospel account is referring to in our modern culture, picture a migrant worker from Mexico that does not speak English.  Now, imagine the farm owner only speaks English.  If the Holy Spirit descended on them in the same fashion the two could understand each other even though they have no formal education in that language. 

Jesus reminds us in the Gospel lesson today the Holy Spirit was already in existence much before coming down as God’s spirit to create the church.  The Holy Spirit was being sent as a comfort to the people of God.  God promises to never leave or forsake us and the Holy Spirit having descended upon the earth for Christ’ Kingdom on earth further proves that statement.  The Holy Spirit also convicts us when we do not do what we should be doing.  Whether we are doing good, or bad, God’s love is infinite.  God shows love for us in many different ways.  It is unimaginable that some people blame God when things turn out wrong.  However, just as God knew we would need a comforter (the Holy Spirit) all things come to us in good time.  Thanks be to God.  Come Holy Spirit. 

Installation of our First Rector

You are cordially invited to St. Paul Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 5:00 in the evening. We welcome our Bishop, The Right Reverend George D. Young III, and the Clergy of the Diocese of East Tennessee for the Installation Service for our first Rector, Father Henry Swann. A covered dish dinner will be served immediately following the service.

7th Sunday of Easter (May 20, 2012)

Full Transcript of Father Swann's Homily:
We have arrived at the end of the Easter season in the church calendar.  WE are in that “strange place” between the Ascension ( last Thursday) and next Sunday – the Day of Pentecost.

First - just a bit about the feast of the Ascension.  Ascension day is celebrated on the 40th day, or 39 days after Easter Day.  Ascension is both an end—and a beginning. It is the end of Jesus’ “historical” life on earth, a period when he was a single recognizable human being confined to a particular time and place.  But – it is also the beginning of a new way of relating with both his first disciples – and – with us.  He is going away—yes—BUT HE IS STAYING WITH US FOREVER, NO LONGER CONFINED TO ANY ONE SINGLE PLACE AT ANY TIME.

Throughout the season we heard the stories once again recounting the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and we read about how the apostles, disciples, and followers of Jesus adjusted to the idea of Scripture fulfilled.  Like the apostles, we have been given time, through the stories, to understand how this journey and especially how the resurrection helps us to be what we have been called to be.  This has been a period of “discernment” as we redefine what Easter means and how it changes who we are and our lives.

Today’s gospel takes it to the next level.  This is the point in our journey where we ask ourselves how God is calling us and what God is calling us to be and to do.  This call is “individually” to each of us—AND—collectively, to this new St. Paul Episcopal Parish in Seymour.  Discernment is no easy task.  When each of the disciples was called by Jesus to “follow him,” we remember that most of them dropped what they were doing with hardly a second thought.  We were amazed by their clarity and direction, and we certainly had to acknowledge the obvious charisma of Jesus.

But now, when the disciples needed to fill the spot vacated by Judas, it becomes clear that discernment is not an easy process.  Jesus has not “called” the next apostle; it is up to the community to act, using the model he left them.   Why isn’t it easy then to recognize a call, or to affirm a call, or to act on a call?  There are the lucky few who “seem to know,” with great confidence, what they are called to do.  For others it is not so obvious, but with any luck – or grace – they listen and act.

This reading from Acts seems all too familiar in the church.  Whether it is calling a priest to a congregation, a bishop to a diocese, or any of the various other call processes, discernment is essential.  IN Peter’s calling for the selection of a new Apostle, his leadership role among the Apostles is affirmed; but-- it is clear that God is the one who “guides the events.”  It is tradition handed down through Hebrew literature, that God controlled the “casting of lots” to indicate Divine will, so they end up making their choice by drawing lots.

The caveat here was that, in order to be considered, an individual had to have accompanied Jesus from the beginning of his ministry at the Baptism of John to his Ascension.  Two such men were to be considered, Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias.  After prayer the “lot” fell to Matthias. As a “footnote” Matthias is never mentioned again in Scripture.  Now that the number of Apostles were again complete- the community was prepared for the ongoing work of the Spirit.

The Gospel reading we heard today is taken from what is commonly called “ Jesus’ high priestly prayer.” This reading takes place after supper (QUOTE), “in the night in which He as betrayed.”  Jesus is praying for his disciples, and for us.  He prays for unity, for our joy, and for our safety and protection.  Jesus says that we are not of the world , -BUT—that we should, none the less, remain in the world-- for our ministry is to be IN the world, and FOR the world.  Here Jesus uses the “world” to mean- “business as usual,” the society, the culture, and various human institutions.  Jesus says that the world “hated” his disciples—this is to be the “distinguishing mark” of all who follow Jesus.

I found a little story ( or illustration) taken from a Episcopal priest’s sermon.  It involved oysters.  Everybody knows that oysters sometimes make pearls.  Pearls aren’t “automatic.” If a bit of sand gets inside its shell, one of two things will happen.  The oyster will create a pearl- or—it will die.  The pearl is the oyster’s way of staying alive after something very irritating has gotten past its shell.   Now to “connect” this with Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel.  The bit of “grit”- that get’s into our shell is this: When was the last time the ‘world hated you ( or me) because we belong to Jesus and NOT to the world?”

When was the last time our faith set us apart from “business as usual” so that we were met with anger, ridicule, or hatred?  How about a little bit of contempt?  Mild dislike, How about a tiny bit of ‘irritation?’  It is very important that we “engage” the world to make things better.  To be “faithful” and to remember the way we treat each other, and our time, and our money, and all the things that we call “mine”--- will reflect on “who we are following.”  As we approach Pentecost, let us be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Let us move from the joy of Easter as a re-creation of new life with the hope that guides us all to be God’s love in the world.  Amen.

Collect:
O GOD, the king of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:  Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.

Pray Especially for:
John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, and Pete Stanish.

(1st Reading Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, Psalm 1, 2nd Reading 1 John 5:9-13, Gospel John 17:6-19)

Sixth Sunday of Easter - Homily

                                FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FATHER SWANN'S HOMILY:

Welcome on this 6th Sunday of Easter and Mother’s Day. You may (or may not) remember last week in the Homily we were talking about how ‘’connectedness’’ with God is the first step in bearing ‘’good fruit’’ for the Kingdom. This week we are going to be talking about our ‘’connectedness’’ – our relationship – with each other. As we move through the ‘’Great Fifty Days of Easter’’ toward Pentecost our lessons high light the ‘broad spectrum’ of what the Christian faith brings to the people of God. Both the Epistle and the Gospel lesson today are about the great commandment God gives to ‘’love one another as I have loved you.’’ Most of us have a basic understanding of this simple message. The question is –How well are we able to follow this commandment of God.

The Epistle today – 1st John –is a guideline to developing fellowship with Christ. In our lesson we discover

that it takes confidence in our lives to be able to relate to such fellowship. To express the truth of love toward others as we love ourselves is NO easy task. Many people have difficulty in loving themselves.’’ The great glory of our Christian faith is that it is designed to prepare us for life and to fit us for living that life. God created us to be confident, adequate, and full of assurance so that WE can do that which God has planned for us. It is told of John Wesley that when he was a very young newly ordained Anglican priest, he became aware of his own sin and the immensity of God’s grace in Christ –his first reaction was to go to an isolated hut in the wilds of Yorkshire—to dedicate his life to meditation and prayer.

In the end- his plan to ‘’shut himself off from everyone’’ came to nothing. Wesley was reminded by an older and wiser Christian that –‘’there is no such thing as solitary Christianity.’’ The New Testament has many things to say about the life of the Christian community. However the foundation of that life is in the foundation statement; ‘’As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.’’

This might possibly seem to be contrary to our usual understanding, based on the teaching that - we are saved by the good News of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, unconditionally, and regardless of behavior. But- NOT REALLY – Jesus is NOT speaking to ‘’unbelievers.’’ He is speaking to people who are already His disciples. This passage only makes sense when we remember that it is a continuing part of last Sunday’s reading. The disciples to whom Jesus’ words are addressed are the ‘branches’ that are already ‘attached’ to the vine, to Christ. What Jesus is teaching us is NOT the way to be ‘’saved’’ BUT—the kind of life Christians ‘’ought to live’’ – BECAUSE they are saved.

In thinking of “Christian love” – what does it really mean to love my brother or sister? Who is my brother or sister? From the first verse of our Epistle today we heard; “Everyone who believes that Jesus Christ has been born of God…. Is a child of God. WE are family. If we love the Father , we will likewise love the other children of the family. We are talking about the ‘’extended family’’ of God. WE are talking about a relationship with each other in the body of Christ. C.S. Lewis, the great lay Anglican theologian, once wrote: ‘’Don’t waste your time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this – we find one of the great secrets.

When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone, that you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a ‘good turn,’ you will find yourself disliking him less. AS most of you know, the Episcopal Church has orders of monks and nuns. The convent of the Order of Saint Mary is situated at Sewanee, Tennessee. Sister Miriam Brasher, of St. Mary’s Convent gave a sermon that connects well to Mother’s Day. It contained a story showing the great love of a Christian mother for her son and her husband, and her commitment to ‘’truly follow Jesus’’ in the worst of situations.

The story is ‘’set’’ in South Africa in a courtroom. It is after the time of Apartheid when South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was working to bring to justice those who perpetrated many ‘’horrors.’’ The scene is a courtroom trial in South Africa. A frail black woman, over 70 years old, gets slowly to her feet; Facing her are several white security police officers. One of them, a Mr. van der Brock, has just been tried and found guilty in the murders of the woman’s son and husband. He had come to the woman’s house, taken her son, shot him at pointblank range, and burned his body while he and his officers partied nearby.

Some years later, the same van der Brock and his cohorts returned for her husband as well. For months she heard nothing of his whereabouts. Then, almost two years after her husband’s disappearance, van der Brock came back to fetch her. How vividly she remembered that night. They took her to a riverbank where she say her husband, bound and beaten, but still strong in spirit, lying on a pile of wood. The last words she heard from his lips as van der Brock and his fellow officers poured gasoline over his body and set him on fire- his words were; ‘’Father forgive them…’’

Sometime later --- when the woman stood in the courtroom and listened to the confessions of van der Brock--- a member of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission turned to her and said; ‘’So what do you want? How should justice be done to this man who has brutally destroyed your family?” The old black lady said, ‘’I want three things.” 1.) ‘’I want to be taken to the place where my husband’s body was burned – to gather up the dust and give him a decent burial.’’ 2.) “My son and husband were my only family. So I want Mr. van der Brock to come twice a month to my house and spend the day with me, so I can pour out on him whatever love I have remaining in me.’’ 3.) “Finally,” she said, ‘’I would like Mr. van der Brock to know that I offer him my forgiveness because Jesus Christ died to forgive. This was also the wish of my husband.’’

‘’I would kindly ask someone to come to my side and lead me across the courtroom so that I can take Mr.

van der Brock in my arms, embrace him, and let him know that he is truly forgiven.” Amen.

Collect:
O GOD, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives an reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray Especially for:
John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, and Pete Stanish.

(1st Reading Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 2nd Reading I John 5:1-6, Gospel John 15:9-17)



Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 6, 2012)

Philip was told by an angel to go "toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."  There was an Ethiopian eunuch that had came to worship in Jerusalem.  He was reading aloud from the writings of Isaiah.  Philip was compelled to run up to the eunuch and he asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"  The man said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?"  The passage read, "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 

In his humiliation justice was denied him.  Who can describe his generation?  For his life is taken away from the earth."  The eunuch does not understand the passage.  He asks Philip for guidance on it.  Philip proceeds to tell the man how the sacrificial lamb is Christ and of his atonement reconciles us to God by grace.  The two men came upon an area with water where the eunuch asked to be baptized.  Philip baptized him and once the water was applied the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch then proclaimed the gospel of Christ to everyone he met on his way until he came to his destination city, Caesarea. 


Many scholars believe this story is related directly to one of the earliest forms of Christianity called Coptic Christianity.  This church today still exists almost entirely without any change since the beginning.  In our reading last week Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd.  Now today we see him referred to as a lamb led to slaughter and also as a vine (or plant).  We explored last week a common theme again this week in which we are reminded that Christ plays many roles in our lives, but the main role is always Savior. 

God makes manifest the love He has for us in his Son Jesus' divinity.  As always all things work together for good for those that love God.  We are reminded in today's gospel lesson that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.  He reminds us that if we are up to no good God will deal with us by removing us.  He is referring to our state of grace.  It is not that God hates us, or forgets about us, but instead spends more time on us.  Jesus

says, "Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." 

This simply means God will not force anyone to do anything (he could, but he will not).  Some Christians believe this Scripture proves God gets his way, or out with us.  However, would God act this way after sacrificing his precious Son?  Nothing can separate us from the love of God.  For grace, love, and peace thanks be to God.

Collect:
ALMIGHTY GOD, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Pray Especially for:
John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, and Pete Stanish.

(1st Reading Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:24-30, 2nd Reading I John 4:7-21, Gospel John 15:1-8)

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Sunday April 29, 2012)

Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away."  A common practice among shepherds that are good vs. a hired hand that just collects a salary, is that danger does not concern them when it comes to protecting the sheep.  A shepherd would often sleep where there was a gap in the fence to prevent a sheep from crossing out of the fence into danger. 

We know Jesus was talking in regards to the crucifixion when he said he would lay down his life for the sheep.  What do the sheep do to deserve such protection?  The fur that comes from the sheep is used to make clothing and various other items.  Now, consider how the sheep are innocent and how they do not harm anyone.  I believe they have every right to be protected especially seeing that they are harmless and only provide help in the form of their bounty. 

What about you and I?  We harm one another and do not always act like God wants us to.  We enslave one another in various forms and we still expect protection which we do not deserve.  When one of the flock of Christ goes astray Jesus will nudge us back into line with whatever is fitting at the time.  It has been said that, "Sometimes the only way for the Lord to enter our hearts is to break them" (Archbishop Fulton Sheen).  As Episcopalians we don't often want to think of God, or of his Son, breaking our hearts, but in reality sometimes he does. 

Would it make you think any less of our Father for doing so?  It shouldn't as he is always there waiting to bring us back into the fold no matter how far astray we go.  Sometimes breaking our hearts may be the only humane thing to do to avoid physical harm.  In this realm of life we are all but infants in regards to our will and that of God.  To obtain a mental image of this truth think back to your childhood.  Do you remember when you would do something like touch the stove and you were scolded, or perhaps your hands were pushed away?  It either broke your heart, or you were rebellious and considered it humorous to continue. 

If you had not been warned and you remembered that then you probably wouldn't think so fondly of the incident.  If you play with fire you will eventually be burned.  Sometimes when God trust to correct us, or show us His will, we want to get angry and we are so bothered by the notion that we have a boss.  However, when things work out it is so easy to praise.  Isn't the sacrifice of Christ enough?  If God did nothing else for us our whole lives  we have already been given grace which will see us through that we could not obtain on our own. 

We will all struggle with our faith and the questions life can pose, but lean on faith.  Jesus goes on to say, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.  No one takes if from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. 

I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.  I have received this command from my Father."  Can you believe Jesus includes those stubborn among us (or our unwillingness to listen to the concerns of the other faithful because it makes us uncomfortable)?  It is refreshing to use this insight our Lord gives when recalling the early history of our Anglican roots in which we were to become a unified body with differing opinions where we can come to corporate worship and value one another and partake in the Holy Sacraments.  "God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything... the Spirit he has given us." (I John 3:16-24).  For this and all things, Thanks be to God.

COLLECT:

O GOD, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you, and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Pray especially for:

John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, and Pete Stanish.

(1st Reading Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, 2nd Reading I John 3:16-24, Gospel John 10:11-18)