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Reverend's Reflections
Dear People of God at St. Luke's,
From yesterday's sermon I drew from St. Luke's account of the 2 disciples on the road to their town, Emmaus, in the late afternoon on Easter Day...they are discouraged and confused by Jesus' death and reports of his appearing alive again-this is strange, very strange. Jesus joins them on the road, but they don't recognize him. They explain why they are sad to this stranger when he asks. He teaches them about why Jesus had to die and rise again according to the prophets. They urge him to stay with them, because evening is at hand. He does. They sit down to supper. He picks up the loaf of bread on the table, breaks it, and suddenly they recognize who it is just sitting right there. He vanishes-the point of their faith must transfer from the physical person of Jesus to the spiritual presence that can spread to all who hear the good news.
They ask him to stay, as it turns out because something about him made their hearts burn within them even before they knew he was. In our life of faith we first acknowledge that we are on a journey. No matter how routine our days, we aren't standing still-our bodies change on the levels of cells each day, we eat food that can affect our mood and our health, we talk to others, the events of the world around us unfold...our journey may be slow and seemingly routine, or they may have leaps: a loved one returns after a long time apart, an old friend we lost touch with reconnects, we go through adolescence, we become adults with jobs, which change: we journey.
To be a person of faith who wants to grow we have to invite God to be with us, stay with us, as the things of our lives continue to also change and grow. The prayers at bedside of an 8 yr old can be comforting, and yes, in some ways we need to receive God as if we are children, trust. However, our spiritual selves need to grow. If we don't tend to that aspect, it grows weeds, just as the garden bed I'm looking at right now.
We don't grow alone. We do it with others on the journey-there were two disciples. They returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples, shared their good news and heard the other reports. Come to church to receive the bread Jesus breaks for you, his body, and to be with others traveling the way. Be with others of faith intentionally outside of Sundays-book groups, prayer groups, one on one spiritual partners. Look for Jesus, encounters with the Holy, in your 'routine; lives. Routine doesn't seem to be so that much after seeing God working in you and others every day.
Invite others to be on the journey with you. Maybe you don't have a story to share with others yet about your heart strangely warmed, your encounters with the holy. See the 2 paragraphs above. Do you have a story to share? I'm not suggesting you accost a stranger or casual friend with how you went to Sunday School as a child, and then drifted away from church, but as a teen or adult found God again, and in this crisis, and that blessing, I knew God. I mean sharing, first, just the reality: 'when I was in a similar situation I found that God helped as well as the teacher/relative/doctor/mechanic/(priest?).'
From yesterday's service, 2 Episcofacts that were included along the way:
During Easter season, after a Lent of confession and fasting, we do not say the confession and absolution. That ends after 40 days, with the Ascension (ten days after that, Pentecost). After facing again our sins and mortality, we stand before God, restored to dignity and assured of eternal life.
The Fraction: it appears in the bulletin each week. Stop a minute-can you remember where? Ok, it means the breaking of the bread after we have asked God to transform it into the body of Jesus. We leave a brief period of silence. It honors Christ's crucifixion. It is necessary, this breaking up, for all of us to now receive....just as Jesus was known to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, in the breaking of the bread.
Evening Prayer, in our Book of Common Prayer, that can be said privately by anyone, every night (as can Morning Prayer, Noonday, or Compline, can conclude with this Collect (prayer). I could tell you where in the BCP to find them all, but the Table of Contents can do that. However in this day and age you can follow links from the
St. Luke's website
at the top is menu, and next to Home is Episcopal Faith find under it a variety of links for prayer resources, including the Daily Office and special prayers for times of trouble.
A Collect for the Presence of Christ
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day
is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and
awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in
Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake
of your love. Amen. Page 124.
Sr. Helen Prejean recently tweeted, "People are worth more than the worst thing they've ever done."
The article's author: "We sometimes reduce people to a single story. In the case of convicts, we reduce people to the worst story we can tell about them. We see them as the antagonist of a single damning narrative."
Peace to you in your journeys; may it bring joy in the good times and comfort in the hard,
Grant +
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Church School News
Have you seen the daffodils blooming in the front garden of the Church? The children planted them last fall in honor of St. Francis Day.
Calendar:
May 7th- Regular Classes
May 14th- Regular Classes
Last day of Church School is May 21st.
Help us with the Church School Ministry!
Would you like to teach next year or help with the Gathering? Please contact Kittie Marrone or Bethany Bergin to be part o a great team!
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Creation Care: Mason Bee House Project
Attention Bee House Recipients: the bee houses are back ordered but should arrive by May 21st. We will let you know as soon as the shipment arrives. 70 new condominiums will be dotting the landscape, for Mason bees that is, when the delivery comes. You will receive a wonderful informative brochure developed by Bethany Bergin when you pick up your bee house. Thank you for helping the children with this project!
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Bishop Bud received a bee house as a gift from the Church School when he visited us in April. Here's what he said:
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Hi Grant, Joyce, Bethany and Kitty,
I can't tell you enough how thrilled I was to receive the hive and other goodies that celebrate our neighbors the bees and flowers !!
It's one of the best gifts I ever received from a parish and kids.
I will send a check to you soon to support this ministry and green witness.
You all are an amazing gift to St Luke's, the kids and God's Creation!
If I can help you let me know--
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Bible Study Continues
We are continuing adult Bible Study after the Sunday services. Currently we are reading Exodus. Please join us!
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Seeking Spiritual Testimonials
As part of the Tending Roots activities, we are seeking volunteers who can share their own spiritual testimonials during the announcement time. The presentation can be very short (7 - 8 minutes) We had several presenters in the past few months and the testimonials were very well received. Contact Meijia Yang for more information.
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Post Office Food Drive- May 13th
The Scituate Food Pantry has been serving Scituate families for 25 years. This Drive is our major source of food donations. In 2016: we served 220 families, 450 people, provided 6,000 bags of food and $56,000 in food vouchers. Look for the convenient P.O. Food Drive kit in your mail on May 3rd and 4th. Support us by leaving non-perishable food items at your mailbox or post office box on the morning of the 13th. Your Letter Carrier will deliver your donation to the Food Pantry. If you prefer to make a financial donation, visit our website-www.scituatefoodpantry.org/
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Community Dinner- May 28, 5pm
Join us for a delicious meal of Meatloaf, Hash Brown Potato Casserole, Mixed Vegetables, Salad, Rolls and Sheet Cake for dessert. Help is needed with Meatloaf an Casserole- recipes provided. Please sign up in the narthex. Thanks for your support!
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Grant's Long Goodbye:
Look for details for June, July and August: a movie to sign up and attend as a group, a book a month to discuss, and a restaurant to sign up for (both on South Shore and at least one in Boston/Cambridge) once in each month. All will have sign up sheets.
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