Christmas Pageant

Dear Good People of Trinity,  

This Sunday is the joyous celebration of our annual Christmas Pageant, a time when the youngest members of our church family not only narrate the story of our Savior's birth but also breathe life into its very essence. They don't just tell the tale; they embody it, infusing it with vibrancy and life. Their portrayal of gentle lambs, angels, shepherds, and figures like Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, brings the story alive for us in new and wonderful ways.  

In their roles, the children extend an invitation for us not merely to witness but to actively discover our own roles within the beauty and power of the Christmas story. Moreover, they invite us to discern our place in the ongoing narrative of God and God’s people. As the children transition through the roles of the pageant, so do we, as we mature and evolve in our faith. This becomes a living testament to the dynamic nature of our spiritual journey, as God continually works within us in unexpected and transformative ways.   I invite you to join us this Sunday, not just to hear the familiar recounting of our Savior's birth but to fully immerse yourself in the profound experience. Come, discover your role in the ongoing narrative of healing in our world. Your presence is not merely that of an audience; you are the living words of the ever-unfolding story.  

Advent Blessings to all,

Advent Credo

I love this poem by Allan Boesak.  It speaks to the mystery of Advent, and particularly to the reality of the in-breaking of Christ into our lives in a profound way. Allan Boesak  is a South African pastor and theologian in the Dutch Reformed Church, politician, anti-apartheid activist, and author. This poem is taken from his book Walking on Thorns. As you read these words, I invite you to reflect on how Advent challenges us to hope; yes even hope against hope.

Advent Credo

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

The Way Things Should Be

“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence--

as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil--

to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!”

These verses from Isaiah 64 will be the first words of Scripture that we hear on Sunday, at the beginning of a new liturgical year. They are words that not only announce God’s coming as a righteous judge, but that long for it and even plead for it. Advent, as the season that simultaneously looks towards the Incarnation (Jesus’ first coming) and the second coming at the end of all things, is a time when these notes of God’s judgment are inescapable. It can be uncomfortable to contemplate, especially when we think of God’s judgment as the same kind of judgment that we experience now from other humans. 

But what if we take God’s difference from us seriously? What if we started thinking of God’s judgment – that wrath to come, as John the Baptist says – not as an act of God’s violence against us, but as the act of a holy God that puts an end to violence once and for all? Isaiah’s vision of God’s kingdom certainly leads us to that conclusion: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

In these days of Advent we see the love of God for this world. This is a love so complete that in God’s good time “the way things are” will be transformed into “the way things should be.”  It is a love so complete that we will know conclusively that the only possible logic of the world is one of peace, of harmony, of new life, of love and redemption. We will know this because the knowledge of God’s truth will fill the world. No longer will we see dimly or guess at God’s designs. We will know at long last what Julian of Norwich saw in her vision: “Would you know your Lord's meaning? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did he show you? Love.” This indeed is something to prepare for – not just by decorating our homes and getting all the festive foods ready, but by making a path in our hearts. 

Yours faithfully in Christ,

The Rev. Cn. Dr. Kara Slade

The power to bless!

Dear Good People of Trinity Church,

In his book, To Bless the Space Between Us, John O’Donohue writes:

“In the parched deserts of postmodernity a blessing can be like the discovery of a fresh well. It would be lovely if we could rediscover our power to bless one another. I believe each of us can bless. When a blessing is invoked, it changes the atmosphere. Some of the plenitude flows into our hearts from the invisible neighborhood of loving kindness. In the light and reverence of blessing, a person or situation becomes illuminated in a completely new way. In a dead wall a new window opens, in dense darkness a path starts to glimmer, and into a broken heart healing falls like morning dew. It is ironic that so often we continue to live like paupers though our inheritance of spirit is so vast. The quiet eternal that dwells in our souls is silent and subtle; in the activity of blessing it emerges to embrace and nurture us. Let us begin to learn how to bless one another. Whenever you give a blessing, a blessing returns to enfold you.”

May we, on this Thanksgiving Day, find ourselves filled with gratitude for the many gifts that God has given us, and in doing so rediscover our power to bless one another. Undoubtedly changed, may God’s loving kindness and blessing flow abundantly from our hearts in all that we do and say so that the parched deserts of this world will overflow with the wellspring of God’s love.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Paul

A Litany of Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to God for all the gifts so freely bestowed upon us.
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in our lives, revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
We thank you, Lord.
For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.
For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.
For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
We thank you, Lord.
For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.
Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
To God be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Thanksgiving Day

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Call to Prayer

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

This past Sunday, we had an inspiring Adult Forum where we engaged openly and honestly in conversation about the current complexities of the world in which we live. This dialogue was prompted by the recent violence in Gaza, serving as another painful reminder that war and violence have sadly been recurring themes in our shared human history - the ongoing Ukraine and Russia crisis is yet another graphic example of our inability to coexist peacefully. And still, many other regions around the globe have violence and atrocities just as painful and horrific but often do not make international headlines. So, where do we go from here? What do we do? What does it do to our souls? 

It's entirely understandable that people grow tired of hearing well-intentioned promises of prayer. As Christians, however, prayer is a cornerstone of our faith. Prayer informs us, shapes us, and sustains us as we strive to embody the enduring hope of Christ that is in us. 

Therefore, prayer is exactly what I'm asking all of us to do. I'm asking everyone in the parish to intentionally offer the Prayer for the Human Family each day for the foreseeable future. May its words shape, inform, and challenge us as we find our way forward with the fervent hope that one glorious day, its words and intention will be realized. 

Prayer for the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and peoples may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Forward in Faith!

Peace and blessings to all,

For more information about the Episcopal Church and the conflict in Gaza, visit:

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/10/24/anglican-leaders-call-for-global-support-of-diocese-of-jerusalems-ministries-as-war-intensifies/

The Right and The Good

When I am feeling particularly self-righteous, my friend Dave asks me:

“Wesley, would you rather be right or would you rather be happy,” and I’m embarrassed to say that my initial response is usually “Yes.”

This past week, I posted something on social media that I was convinced was “right” (I am sure I am not alone in this).  An acquaintance commented very strongly that they thought my post was inappropriate and offensive. And my first thought was “But I’m right.” People in 12 step recovery often talk about “restraint of pen and tongue,” and I might add, thumbs. Does it need to be said? Does it need to be said right now? Does it need to be said by me?

The gift of social media, especially platforms like FaceBook and X, is that we have immediate and instant access to content and news that even 25 years could have taken weeks to trickle down to us. Actress Carrie Fisher once quipped, “The problem with instant gratification is that it takes too long.” We live in a world where everything can be at our fingertips at Amazon Prime speed. But what do we lose?

I am currently in discernment for priesthood in the Episcopal Church. It’s not a quick fix , fast-track, done deal. It’s a process. In fact, our recently consecrated Bishop ofNew Jersey, Bishop Sally French, has put the entire process on hold while she prayerfully and carefully reviews and considers the steps and procedures that lead to ordination. Now, as a newly minted seminary graduate and your newly employed Lay Pastoral Associate; and as someone who is closer to Baby Boomer than Millennial, I could be anxious and nervous about who what when where and how “my” time will come. Or, I could be appreciative of the opportunity God has given me to more deeply ponder and consider the vocation I truly believe I am called to.  The choice is mine. Which choice will bring me more peace? And more importantly, which choice will make me a better priest?

Every day, we are given the choice between right and happy. And often we don’t even take a breath before we plunge into opinions and arguments that are out of our depth, or nastily debate issues that require far more context and nuance than can be reduced to a 280 character tweet. And I want to be clear that I am not at all saying that we don’t have the right to our beliefs and convictions. Many times we need to forcefully passionately take sides. But when we take the dive into the abyss of our surety, our chances of meaningful conversation and dialogue vanish. Alone in our “rightness.”

Proverbs 17:19 says, “Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin.” And Jesus said, “No one is good—except God alone.” (Luke 18:19).

Oh, and I deleted the post. And apologized. To God be the Glory. 

One in God's Love

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,  

The world gasped in horror at the images from the most recent outbreak of violence in Gaza. And gasp, we should. Horror is a correct and appropriate response. But what do we do after we  gasp? How do we fully understand the situation? How do we process? How do we respond?  

Politicians will rally their supporters mostly to secure a victory in the next election. Pundits will  offer their “unbiased” insights to enlighten the “misguided.” Preachers will offer prayers and  sermons to appear both pastoral and prophetic. And whether we are consciously aware of it or  not, each of us inevitably will take a side, and then, everything we hear, see, think, and say will  be filtered through our position, “our side,” which is undoubtedly the right side.  

There is no question that the attack by Hamas against innocent people is evil and wrong. Likewise, this does not give Israel permission in the cause of self-defense to do whatever they deem appropriate to crush and destroy the Palestinians. Defending does not mean annihilation. 

The current violence and carnage are as old as humanity. It is another chapter in the ongoing  story of sinful people acting in sinful ways. Broken people acting in broken ways. Traumatized  people acting in ways that traumatize more people. It’s the story of sin and our inability to be fully human, as God intended. And since we cannot live fully into our own humanity in God,  again and again and again, we dehumanize others because we’re scared, insecure, and broken. 

I must now ask myself and us, “What should we do as the people of Trinity Church, as  Christians, and as human beings?” And let me tell you that whatever we do will not be perfect  and, for many, will fall miserably short of their expectations. 

I would, however, like us to gather for a conversation on Sunday, October 22, in Pierce-Bishop  Hall during our Adult Forum hour. We will discuss not just the current issue in Israel and  Palestine but how we live with the atrocities of our world and the atrocities in our own lives. The things we cannot fully understand, the things we will never be able to solve. What does it  do to our souls and our common humanity? How do we resist the temptation to let these  events eat away at our humanity, leading to further dehumanization of the other?  

I am fully aware that there is no way that one forum conversation will be sufficient. Still, I believe it is necessary to take one step, a first step, to find our way to the next step on our journey to healing, redemption, and the fullness of our humanity when we are truly one in God’s love. 

Peace and blessings, 

Paul

It Is Not Good For Us To Be Alone

In response to my recent e-pistle article titled "The Great Dechurching," two parishioners shared with me an insightful piece by Nicholas Kristoff that addresses the pervasive loneliness epidemic not only in America but across the globe.

Loneliness crushes the soul, but researchers are finding it does far more damage than that. It is linked to strokes, heart disease, dementia, inflammation, and suicide; it breaks the heart literally as well as figuratively.

Loneliness is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and more lethal than consuming six alcoholic drinks a day, according to the surgeon general of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy. Loneliness is more dangerous for health than obesity, he says — and, alas, we have been growing more lonely. A majority of Americans now report experiencing loneliness, based on a widely used scale that asks questions such as whether people lack companionship or feel left out.

Our innate need for one another is woven into the very fabric of creation. In Genesis 2, God proclaimed that it's not good for us to be alone. We are designed to live in community, fostering connections with both the divine and our fellow human beings; it's literally in our DNA. Yet, it seems increasingly challenging for people to discover genuine community and meaningful connections.

Early on, some thought that Facebook and other social media would bind us together, but many experts now think these platforms have instead made us more lonely. People look at Instagram feeds and conclude that everyone else is having fun. Meanwhile, time with screens substitutes for time with human beings. All this may help account for the crisis in mental health of young people over the last dozen years. We often think that older people are most lonely, but polls find that young adults are twice as likely as seniors to report loneliness.

The good news is that we possess the ultimate Good News—the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our faith calls us to be part of a community, for we do not lead our Christian lives in isolation but always in relationship with others. In these times, the church is perfectly positioned to offer a remedy to the growing pandemic of isolation and loneliness. We can provide a sense of community and belonging! One of the individuals who shared the article with me rightly stated, "Recently, a Trinity member told me that they come to Trinity for the 'Community,' and the religious services are an added bonus. If I am honest with myself, I feel that way too. I think we should invite people to join the 'Trinity Community,' not just the church services. We should 'Invite a friend to join in our Community.'" 

How true! We aren't merely inviting people to attend a 'service'; we're inviting them to become part of a community, a family. We're inviting them to share in our lives as we wholeheartedly embrace God's love, as revealed to us through Christ. I hope you share my enthusiasm for inviting people to be a cherished part of our Trinity family! It is not good for us to be alone!

Peace and Blessings,

Paul