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 That creed is contained in the “Historical Documents” of the current 1979 Prayer Book.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)

Third Sunday of Easter

The disciples were having dinner together when they saw a phenomenon that was hard for them to comprehend. Jesus appeared and they were frightened. Jesus calmly said, “Peace be with you.” The disciples surely wondered if they had some sort of hallucination as they knew Jesus had been resurrected. Jesus knew they had doubts and he said, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"  “Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.”


Jesus then showed them his hands and feet. The Gospel last week shows us that Jesus had appeared before and it is amazing that in such a short period of time the disciples would loose sight that Jesus had truly resurrected. It is often said that seeing is believing but imagine when the seeing frightens you. Jesus didn’t scorn the disciples for not believing he simply wanted to make sure they weren’t frightened.
Jesus went on to say,


“Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” After Jesus had calmed them down he showed them his hands and feet. The disciples were joyful as they loved Jesus, not only as Lord and Savior, but also as friend (part of their family). Jesus knew that people would think ghosts couldn’t eat so he said, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in their presence.
The risen Lord said to them,


“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you -- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” He opened their minds to understand the scripture. He then said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”


Is it only when we come to church that we remember that Jesus is alive and well? Do we act like the risen Lord can still perform miracles, or be everything we need? As Episcopalians we hold central the belief that when we partake in the Eucharistic feast every Sunday that Jesus is truly present. We know this to be a Holy Mystery. It is a deep mystery to consider we deserve something such as grace which is freely granted to us. Whether that grace is given when we need a helping hand, or when we, or a loved one is ill. Or, whether we obtain the same grace we receive at our Baptism that starts our spiritual walk with God in obtaining salvation through the Sacraments, it will remain a deep mystery. May we live for God and show his love one for another. Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Amen.

 

Collect:

O GOD, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of the bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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, Tom Fagiana, and Pete Stanish.

 

Announcements & Reminders:

***The Adult Forum class will begin at 9:30AM on Sunday Morning at 9:30AM.

***Invite any kids you know on Sunday morning as we want to begin a youth ministry at St. Paul.

***Next Sunday after Mass there will be a brief meeting for the PR/Publicity Committee and all are invited to attend.

 

(1st Reading Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 2nd Reading I John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48)

Second Sunday after Easter (April 15, 2012)

Deacon Steve gives us a glimpse in his homily into the Holy Land.  Yes, the Holy Land all the way over in the western part of the state called Memphis.  Memphis is well known for barbecue and Elvis Presley.  During the tour of Graceland Estate I asked how long Elvis had lived here and I instantly got a sigh from the tour guide.  ''We don’t refer to this as the place Elvis lived, but as the place he lives,'' she said.  I thought it has been over 30 years since Elvis died and these people really act as if he is still alive.  People have seen Elvis in various places and in various objects.  It is amazing how fanatical these fans are in regards to the King of rock-n-roll.

Here in the southern United States we adhere to a belief that we refer to as the southern trinity: barbecue, the Bible, and football.  It is difficult to believe that people can actually think of someone that was pronounced dead in our modern society as being larger than death.  Elvis fans even go as far as dressing up as Elvis and singing his songs and dancing the night away swaying their hips as he did as a way to remember him.  There are even fans that believe there was a conspiracy and his death was a hoax and that he never died to begin with.  No matter what you believe about Elvis it is apparent he still has a very loyal following so many years after his death.

So, let’s consider what Elvis has to do with today’s Gospel.  The disciples were gathered with the doors locked for fear of intruders when Jesus stood among them.  Jesus had already been crucified and the disciples knew he had died on the cross and been put in a tomb.  Jesus tells the disciples ‘’Peace be with you.”  He showed them his hands and his side that had been pierced.  He breathed on them and said, ‘’Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”  Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus had appeared.  So, when Thomas arrived the other disciples told Thomas what had happened.

Thomas doubted what the others told him.  Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”  A week went by and the disciples again were gathered and this time, Thomas was present.  Although the doors were shut and locked Jesus again appeared and said, ‘’Peace be with you.”  Jesus told Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe.”  Thomas then expressed belief because he had seen Jesus with his own eyes.  The risen Lord says, ‘’Blessed are those who believe and yet still have come to believe.”

Sit back and relax.  Really think about whether, or not you believe Jesus lives, or if he was resurrected.  It is easy to say you believe this, but do you really?  If you consider what it means to believe that Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried it makes you realize that you have to live differently.  You have to acknowledge that even with your shortcomings you serve a risen Lord.  Are you aware of the joy you should be spreading?  Are you aware of the love and concern you should be providing?  A living and loving God requires that we live our lives in a way that would set the world ablaze.  We have to wake up and start living out our duty as followers of Jesus in a way that would inspire others to want to follow.


We can learn a thing or two about being Christian from Elvis fans.  We should be able to see Jesus alive and well in various objects, places, and people.  We truly serve a King that has royal blood and that is the only begotten Son of God.  When people act as if Jesus is dead we should be astounded and let them know Jesus is alive and well. We are required to seek to serve Christ in others.  May we all be more loyal to Jesus than Elvis fans are to the king of rock-n-roll.  And, thank you Jesus for good barbecue, the Holy Bible, and good football. Amen.

Easter Sunday (April 8, 2012)

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FATHER SWANN'S HOMILY FOR EASTER:

Starting on that first Easter Day a series of “strange things” began to happen. “God has raised Him to life again,” the disciples declared, as they interpreted those happenings.... It is as if Jesus’ life of caring and his fundamental message that God is love were written on a document. Then by raising Jesus from the dead, God has, as it were, stamped the document with His great seal. He ‘ratified it’ and declared...This is utterly TRUE!” Let’s look at this a little more carefully.

From Scripture we read: “On the first day of the week, at early dawn the WOMEN took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb-- BUT-- when they went in they did not find the body.” These same women-- Luke identifies them as Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others-- are the ones who “trembled” before the ‘incandescent holy beings’- without running away, and were the first to witness the empty tomb of Jesus.

By the way- these were the same brave souls that watched Jesus die his agonizing death, and who followed his lifeless corpse to mark the place where it was entombed by Joseph of Arimethea.
We might ask a “legitimate” question- where were the men? Where were Jesus’ disciples-- his closest disciples--- Peter, James and John-- the “pillars” of the community?? Where were Thomas, and Matthew, Andrew and Philip? Had all of them “scattered” like frightened sheep after Gethsemane and Golgotha? Had they left Jesus when he needed them most?

They all knew that if a criminal was executed-- so should be his accomplices. So the disciples fled the scene, seeking no more than to ‘save their own skins. Obviously, the Apostles were not anticipating Jesus’ resurrection. He was dead and entombed. They, like the other Jews-- looked for a distant “corporate resurrection” at the end of time. Obviously- something “very dramatic”- something very “new order” has occurred.

Reginald Fuller, a New Testament scholar has said that even the most “skeptical” of persons- must admit that something mysterious - an “X” factor- must have occurred to get the Christian movement going. Think about it, How did any kind of “beginning” flow out of such a disastrous end--- let alone a “beginning” that would change the face of the world. How did this Jesus-- executed as a heretic-- come to be known as “Lord?” How could a condemned criminal and a disavowed prophet- end up being proclaimed as “Savior?” How could he be called “the Son of God.?” Lastly-- how could this group of “boneheads” -the Apostles- this frightened hiding bunch-- emerge from this event-- proclaiming not only the Gospel of Jesus-- BUT- Jesus himself as the Gospel?”

The “X FACTOR”-that changed history-- is of course- the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus was “really” dead-- and the Father “really” restored him to life. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus’ body in his post resurrection appearance-- was not merely “resuscitated”- after all--- it was three days later and a body would seriously deteriorate, but was in some way “transformed.” That is the reason that Christ was not always ‘recognized’ at first sight, and could appear and disappear in surprising ways.

Paul, after spending three years in Arabia to “sort out” his Damascus Road experience- returned to Jerusalem to spend 15 days with Cephas and James. It was from them and from his “Damascus Road experience”- that Paul received the “Christian Formula” on the resurrection. Paul could proclaim that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and after the resurrection he appeared to Cephas and the twelve. And then appeared to more than five hundred at one time.

Paul could further proclaim: “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 shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If Easter is merely a “wonderful event” that happened a long time ago- the way God worked once – but not since—then the resurrection has little relevance to our lives today. But Easter means more: It is a ONCE-AND- FOR-ALL-TIME TRTH.

In the Easter event, the “Resurrection Principle” is disclosed. IN CHRIST ALL IS MADE ALIVE. Whatever “tomb” that you might be in. Wherever you expect “deadliness” and have given up “hope,” Christ can ‘raise you up – for the “power” that took Jesus through death and beyond gives us the capacity to triumph over all the forces of creation. AS we live by this assurance of “Christpower,” we come alive in hope. That is what Easter Life and Easter Love are all about.

If you leave this Easter celebration and think that Jesus was simply “a great teacher,” then you will have “missed the point” of this great feast day of the Church. For on this day we gather NOT to remember something Jesus taught. WE are gathered today to remember that God raised Jesus from the dead as the first fruits of a new creation.For all that, THANKS BE TO GOD- ALLELUIA CHRIST IS RISEN. Amen.

Holy Saturday (April 7 - Baptism of Vivien and Lisette Webb)



Baptizing babies seems to be quite a controversial practice these days andoften the baptizers are accused off louting biblical principles for the sake of unbiblical tradition. Fundamentalist Christians argue that we should only be baptizing believing adults because they are the only explicit biblical examples of believers’ baptism in the New Testament and because baptism is reserved only for those that have expressed faith in Jesus.

The Episcopal Church is certainly not opposed to baptizing believers, and regards that practice as biblical and indeed mandatory.

Baptism is a sign of the faith we profess and a mark that differentiates Christian persons from those who are unbaptized; and it is also a sign of regeneration or new birth by which, as by an instrument, those who receive baptism rightly are grafted into the Church, the promises of forgiveness of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God are visibly signified and sealed, and faith is confirmed and grace increased by virtue of prayer to God. The baptism of young children is under all circumstances to be retained in the Church as a practice fully agreeable with the institution of Christ.

Four fifths of the above article refers to the baptism of believers, but as the article confirms, we also hold that it is biblical for (believing) parents to baptize their small children as a sign and seal of the new covenant, in continuation of the sign and seal of circumcision under the old covenant.

The question we must ask then is what was circumcision all about?

In Genesis God made a covenant with Abraham to bless families from the entire world. The covenant sign would be the circumcision of all the males in Abraham’s household, including the butler, the domestic help and the children (Genesis 17:9-14). Abraham’s descendants were to keep the sign by circumcising all male babies.

Circumcision was then applied to those who had not yet expressed their faith in God. This may seem to be at odds with our natural evangelical inclination to see faith as a prerequisite to almost everything, but Paul explains the reasoning in Romans 4:11 when he refers to circumcision as a “sign” and a “seal”. As a sign circumcision marked out the covenant people and illustrated that salvation involves the shedding of blood. As a seal circumcision was a visible pledge from God to honor his covenant for those who expressed faith in him. The seal is simply a visible pledge from God that when the conditions of the covenant are met, the blessings he promised would apply.

Under the new covenant this principle remains true, as Peter implied when he told the Jewish crowd that the gospel promise was for them and their children (Acts 2:39). The covenant sign is no longer circumcision as the shedding of blood has already taken place, but the sign is now baptism which pictures the washing away of sin (cf. Colossians 2:11-22). So baptism continues to function as a sign and a seal of a family’s faith in God and thus in the New Testament we have examples of whole families being baptized when a parent becomes a Christian (cf. Acts 16:30-31, 33). When men and women in the New Testament turned to Jesus they were baptized (believer’s baptism) and children present were also baptized as a visible pledge from God that he would fulfill his covenant promises when the child in the future fulfilled the covenant conditions or obligations.

Both believers’ and infant baptism must therefore be understood as visible pledges or observable reminders from God to us (like the Lord’s Supper), not pledges from us to God, of the gospel promise that all who trust is Jesus will be accounted righteous.

John Calvin wrote, “Since God imparted circumcision, the sign of repentance and faith, to infants, it should not seem absurd that they are now made partakers of baptisms unless men choose to act against an institution of God…For it is most evident that the covenant, which the Lord once made with Abraham, is not less applicable to Christians now than it was anciently to the Jewish people, and, therefore, that word has no less reference to Christians than to Jews.

Why then do we baptize believers’ babies? Because God’s covenant, the framework within which he operates, has not changed. Since Baptism is an outward sign of inward grace babies are entitled to just as much love and care by God as everyone else. Thank you God for the gift of Holy Baptism. This is not all of the information related to infant/toddler baptism but it is a nice summary of why we will continue performing this Holy Sacrament on all age groups.

Maundy Thursday (April 5, 2012)

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FATHER SWANN'S HOMILY:

In main stream Christian Churches all around the world tonight- the faithful gather to celebrate the establishment of the great sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Our Liturgy tonight has some changes-- The important thing is what we all do. Remember that "liturgy" means -"work of the people.” We have some “work to do” tonight. This is a “special” night also- for the MANDATUM- the night we remember that Jesus gave us a “new commandment” (maundate). The new commandment was “to love one another.” We get “Maundy Thursday” from our ancient relatives in the English Church—who re-labeled Holy Thursday into the more common Maundy Thursday.

In May 1373 Julian of Norwich, an English mystic, lay on what she thought was her death bed. There she received a remarkable series of “visions”, many of which graphically dealt with our Lord’s suffering and death. Some 20 years later, she wrote in the “Revelation of Divine Love” that she had prayed for years after her recovery to understand the meaning of these visions. She finally received this understanding—“Wouldst thou know thy Lord’s meaning in this thing? BE WELL AWARE: Love was his meaning. Who showed it thee? LOVE. What showed He thee? LOVE. Why did he show it thee? FOR LOVE. The Gospel’s appointed for tonight (in this year’s cycle of readings) comes from John--- who does not “explicitly” recall the “details” of the establishment of the Holy Eucharist (The Mass). Jesus ‘astonishing act’ at the Last Supper, according to John’s account” was Jesus demonstrating the humility of serving-- as he took the towel and washed feet, demonstrating that serving is more humble than receiving.

The other remarkable thing about tonight—detailed in all Gospel accounts except John’s--is the establishment of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, The Mass , the Lord’s Supper—call it what you will.

The Holy Eucharist may seem the same as every Sunday, but tonight you can remember in a slightly different way "the night in which he was betrayed." Listen to it as if you were hearing it for the first time.

In retrospect, for disciples, the night would have been different anyway-- because it would be their last time together--but also—the things Jesus would say and do—foot-washing, and a very different way of blessing and sharing bread and wine. Jesus “enacted” a profound truth by symbolic action, just as he had done in riding into Jerusalem, and cleansing the Temple--and the like. His action-- that night long ago--would be an “action” forming the basis of worship for literally billions of people ever since.

In the earliest written account of the Last Supper, Paul, (who was, of course, not present), says that Jesus, as the ‘president’ of the meal took real bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and then identified it with his body. In the same manner, Jesus took the cup of real wine and identified it with his shed blood of the New Covenant. In these remarkably simple gestures, Jesus commanded his disciples to, “do this in remembrance of me,” reliving his sacrifice until he comes again. Thank God that Jesus instructed them to “take and eat” and did not command “take and understand”. We know that sacramental theology for the last 2 thousand years has tried, without complete success, to “explain” literally what happens.

Happily- we Anglicans (Episcopalians), in our branch of the catholic church, have always held as central-- the notion of “The Real Presence” of Christ in the elements of bread & wine in the Holy Eucharist--without-- any attempt to unravel that profound mystery. I have used this famous line from Queen Elizabeth the First- more than once- BUT IT IS STILL VERY GOOD. She said, in the face of the great arguments between the Catholic minded folks in her realm of England and the Puritan (protestant minded) regarding the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist : "His was the word that spake it, He took the bread and brake it, And what His word doth make it, That I believe and take it."

Our Epistle reading tonight-- gives us some very familiar words-- we hear the "words of institution" used at each celebration of the Holy Eucharist. That meal that started that night--as a common well-loved meal, a good time together--ended up-- AS SOMETHING NEW. It became a "channel"-- a "means of grace"--by which we are sustained in our life.

In the Holy Sacrament- we are ‘closer to Christ’ than any other way in this world. In the sacrament He comes to “strengthen, refresh, empower and enable” us to serve Him in the spread of His Kingdom on earth. God has a problem in "reaching " us. He is infinite, we are finite. He is "spirit"-- we are "flesh." He is limited by nothing except his love-- or His own chosen "self limits" --while we are "bound to earth," surrounded by matter, engulfed in the hard necessity of making material things serve our needs. If God is to reach us at all-- he must, among other ways, DO SO THROUGH OUR SENSES-- AND THEREFORE MUST USE MATERIAL THINGS.

Since our life consists of, touching , hearing, seeing , tasting and smelling our material environment -- in which we live-- IT IS BY THESE AVENUES THAT THE CREATOR MUST COME TO US. In the Sacrament of the Altar our Lord took the “Passover meal” of the Jews, transformed it, and gave it a NEW significance. He himself becomes the "outward and visible" sign in terms of our humanity-- of God's love and grace. In this meal we are joined to God and joined to one-another. WE are joined to the “great communion of saints”- past and present. WE are surrounded by that “great cloud of witnesses” of which St. Paul speaks. We are in the company of “Angels and Archangels”—and the unnamed “whole company of heaven.” AS we continue our ‘journey’ in this life—on our way to that “larger life” – where we will all join around that “great banquet table”----- let us be strengthened day by day, week after week – with this “foretaste” of that great banquet as we receive His most blessed Body and Blood.

In these last days of Holy Week we are invited to enter deeper into the “great Mystery”—the mystery of God’s love for us. WE participate in the glorious mystery of Christ’s perfect gift- the revelation of Divine Love in all its fullness—as Christ hands over to us, through his suffering and death and resurrection,—the gift of eternal life. Brothers and sisters—love. Love one another—and all people—as Christ has loved us. That we may be—truly—the Body of Christ for each other, and for the life of the world. For the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar--let us continually give thanks. AMEN