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SEEN AND UNSEEN
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
---- 2 Corinthians 5.8
I had the pleasure and privilege last month to accompany a group from various churches in our Diocese making a pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome ‘In the Steps of St Francis’. The pilgrimage was organized by Biblical Journeys, owned and operated by a fine Palestinian Christian called George Maskubi, who has organized Canon Jerry Smith’s Holy Land Tours over many years.
Over the course of the week spent in Italy, an episode recounted by St Augustine of Hippo in his Confessions on the death of his mother Monica played itself repeatedly in my mind.
After his baptism in Milan in 387, by Bishop Ambrose, Augustine and his mother, together with a younger brother, planned to return home to Africa. While awaiting a ship in Ostia, the port of Rome, Monica fell ill. She told her sons to simply bury her in Ostia. This upset her sons that their mother was to be buried so far from home. Monica told them both, “It does not matter where you bury my body.” She asked only that her sons remember her at the altar, wherever they should find themselves. When asked if it distressed her to leave her body in a foreign country, she replied, “Nothing is far from God, and I have no fear that he will not know where to find me, when he comes to raise me to life at the end of the world."
Monica’s words came to me in Assisi when we visited a small chapel in the Church of St Mary of the Angels and pilgrims stooped to look under the altar to an image of where St Francis had rested on the cold stone floor. Her words came to me again as we visited the Basilica of St Clare in Assisi and I toured the church but stopped short of visiting the crypt with the other pilgrims. [I had visited her burial tomb previously on two separate occasions.] Her words came to me again after walking the whole vast length of the magisterial basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls and I stopped by the sanctuary entrance as pilgrims continued past me towards the crypt to pray before the grate guarding the tomb of St Paul. “It does not matter where you bury my body.”
What all this means I am not sure I know. It might simply mean I have an idiosyncrasy related to burial sites or shrines or a kind of persistent agnosticism related to the authenticity of relics. But maybe it is a bit more than that. On more than one occasion when faced with taking or attending the funeral of a loved one, especially someone whose funeral is promised to attract a large gathering, I have invariably entertained the thought that I would prefer to simply visit the grave or memorial garden where the person is remembered quietly and on my own at my own pace and in my own time and avoid the funeral.
Interestingly, it was only after I returned from Rome that I discovered more detail about the stone casket that lies in the tomb of St Paul and how it was discovered during archaeological excavations from 2002 to 2006. The casket was buried beneath the main altar of the basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, under a marble slab engraved with the Latin words for “Paul, Apostle and Martyr." After carbon-dating tests on the bones within the casket, scientists confirmed that they likely date from the first century AD.
I also missed in Rome an icon of the Virgin and Child in the basilica of St Mary Major attributed to St Luke the Evangelist. There is a long-standing tradition that claims our Lord’s Mother was one of the people Luke will have known and interviewed for his Gospel and this meets another tradition—that Luke was not only gifted with words but was also a very fine painter—and that his principal icon of interest is the one housed in St Mary Major. I had no idea of either tradition as I sat at the base of an enormous marble column in that very church on a Sunday morning listening to the beautiful sung Mass at the east end of the basilica and watching children chasing one another around the column next to the one where I was seated.
Hindsight is telling me I missed a lot--- while providing me a good excuse for a return visit.
With every blessing to you, and your loved ones, in this month of memorials and Thanksgiving.
Yours sincerely,
Douglas
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All Saints Day: November 1 | |
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FOR ALL SAINTS DAY
November 1
Here, O Lord, do we give thee most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all thy saints from the beginning of the world; and particularly in the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God; and in the holy patriarchs, apostles, martyrs, and confessors; whose examples, O Lord, and steadfastness in thy faith, and keeping of thy holy commandments, grant us to follow, for the honor and glory of thy name.
Non-Jurors’ Prayer Book
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Busy Bees at Grace Episcopal Church,
Orange Park By Bill Spencer, Senior Warden
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On September 27, Bee Keepers from Grace Episcopal Church hosted 7th and 8th grade students, faculty and staff from Grace Episcopal Day School. Susan Howard, Bill Spencer and Linda Spencer gave the students insight into the importance of honeybees and interesting facts into hive behavior.
Students were also told how the honey is made by the honeybees and harvested by the beekeepers. They were then given a safety briefing and then taken to the apiary to watch Susan Howard feed the bees and do maintenance on the hives. The final treat was that everyone was allowed to sample honey that was harvested from the hives on September 6.
Thanks to Grace Episcopal Day School for allowing our Grace Beekeepers to share this time with the wonderful students.
If anyone is interested in a tour, class or to buy some honey, please contact Bill and Linda Spencer at B2Lspencer@bellsouth.net.
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An Interview with Barbara Stevenson,
Licensed Lay Minister for Gateway Ministry
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Gateway is a rehab center in Jacksonville dedicated to addressing the needs of those seeking recovery from addiction to alcohol and drugs. Under the guidance of a member of the clergy, Barbara Stevenson from St. Mark’s, Jacksonville and four lay ministers from the Church of the Good Shepherd, Jacksonville, are conducting Sunday worship and ministering to the Gateway community.
Here Barbara shares some of her insight and knowledge of the Episcopal Church ministry at Gateway with us.
1. What is Gateway?
Gateway Service Center, 555 Stockton Street, Jacksonville, is a multifaceted center for addressing the needs of those seeking recovery from addictions to alcohol and drugs. It was founded in 1978 and has served over 300,000 individuals in that time.
The four key divisions are Detox with both residential and outpatient options, Residential which provides therapy, medication management, family and trauma counseling and other services, Outpatient day programs at three levels of care making services available to those who are able to function in the community but in need of recovery help, and Adolescent which has inpatient and outpatient care for adolescents in need of recovery from addictions.
It is a 501(c)3, not for profit organization which is largely funded by private donations.
2. What is the specific Christian ministry that you serve at Gateway? How did it get started? What is its goal or mission? How did you hear about it and how were you recruited to it?
The specific Christian ministry in which I am involved is taking Holy Communion to those residents who wish to attend. Currently our team provides the worship service on the second Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m. We use a generic liturgy of the Word and provide Eucharist with juice instead of wine and wafers. The ministry was started by a member of the ordained clergy who is also recovering alcoholic. That clergy person knew of my involvement with 12 Step programs and asked that I join the team. The mission is to bring the light of Christ to those who are seeking it but may not have a house of worship where they are comfortable due to their issues with addiction and family separation.
3. Do you see your work at Gateway as part of a call to ministry? If so, what do you think the Lord is asking you to do?
Having been involved in 12 Step programs for over 30 years and knowing how successful the programs at Gateway are I have indeed felt a call to provide what I can as a Christian witness to the power of God and to the blessing that working toward recovery in this safe setting can be.
4. Who are your fellow ministers? Do you work as part of a team? What are your specific responsibilities?
Currently there are six members of the team—the clergy person who initiated the ministry, four members of Good Shepherd and myself. There have been other team members in the past, including other clergy who have felt called to this ministry. The team comes together to assist with the worship service—distributing bulletins, recruiting members of the congregation to read the lessons of the day and providing a welcoming presence to everyone there. My role has been to co-ordinate with the clergy person, assisting in the distribution of the elements as instructed.
5. You have completed two separate Licensed Lay Ministry courses organized by the Bishop’s Institute and you are currently enrolled in a Foundations course organized by the Bishop's Institute. Does this training help and support you in your ministry?
My course work with Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL) and Licensed Lay Pastoral Care Minister (LPCM) has most certainly enhanced my skills of communication, awareness of unspoken needs and the protocols Involved in providing the Eucharist to those present.
6. Anything else you would like to share with us? How might members of the Diocese support the Gateway ministry further?
The best help from the Diocese would be making donations to support the work of the staff. Also to have lay and clergy consider joining in the services to receive the blessing that we get each time we are there.
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SAINTS, PROPHETS AND WITNESSES
November is a great month of remembrance and thanksgiving. It begins with All Saints Day on November 1st and continues with Veterans Day November 11 and Thanksgiving Day on November 24. Allison+
Among the many saints remembered on their special day of commemoration in November there is:
(a) a theologian;
(b) a monastic;
(c) a queen;
(d) a social activist
(e) an abolitionist preacher
Match these saints with their name:
______ Duns Scotus
______ Elizabeth
______ Hilda
______ John La Farge
______ Sojourner Truth
Click here for the quiz answers.
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Advent begins on Sunday November 27 and ends on Saturday, December 24, 2022. It is not too early to sort out some Advent reading material to follow as a daily devotional. A few suggestions are below.
All of these books, suggested by the Rector of the Bishop’s Institute are available, in addition to many other Advent titles, for ordering and purchase at the Cathedral Bookstore by clicking here or the button below.
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David Bannon. Wounded in Spirit: Advent Art and Meditations: A 25-Day Illustrated Advent Devotional for the Grieving with Scriptures and Stories Drawn from the Works and Lives of Artists, Poets, and Theologians. October, 2018. | |
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas. August 30, 2010. | |
Kate Moorehead Carroll. I Witness: Living Inside the Stories of Advent & Christmas. August, 2017. | |
The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell. Walking Backwards to Christmas. September, 2015. | |
The Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam. Sleepers Wake: Getting Serious About Climate Change: The Archbishop of York's Advent Book 2022. August, 2022. | |
Diane M. Houdek. Advent with St. Francis: Daily Reflections. September, 2017. | |
Henri Nouwen. Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen. September, 2004. | |
Richard Rohr. Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent. September, 2012. | |
Evelyn Underhill (author) and Christopher Webber (editor). Advent with Evelyn Underhill. September, 2006 | |
Jane Williams. The Art of Advent: A Painting a Day from Advent to Epiphany. September, 2018. | |
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One traditional Advent theme is that of contemplating the ‘four last things': Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have cross’d the bar.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1809-1892
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Shalom to you and to yours. When you travel to Israel, as you come and go you will hear the local Jewish people say Shalom. In today's world the word Shalom can mean either hello, goodbye, or peace, but there was a time when it meant much, much more.
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word Shalom’s most basic meaning is wholeness, or to make complete. As in all Jewish words Shalom is built on other root words. Some of these root words are shalem (whole), meshulam (paid in advance) and mushlam (perfect). In ancient times the word referred to something that is complex with lots of pieces and that is in a state of completeness or wholeness, like a stone wall with no cracks or gaps. Or, it may refer to something that has been made perfect by a price paid in advance, i.e. as Job says:
“You will laugh at destruction and famine,
and need not fear the wild animals.
For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace (shalom) with you.
You will know that your tent is secure;
you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.” (Job 5:22-24.)
Shalom literally means to make complete or restore, so Solomon brings Shalom to the unfinished temple when he completes it. Or it means to make amends, such as if you accidentally damage your neighbor's property you will bring them Shalom by giving them a complete repayment for their loss. The same goes for human relationships, e.g., in the book of Proverbs to reconcile and heal a broken relationship is to bring Shalom (peace) and when rival kingdoms make Shalom in the Bible, it does not just mean they stop fighting but that they also start working together.
The prophet Isaiah looked forward to a future king as a ‘Prince of Shalom’ (peace) and his reign would bring Shalom with no end. It would be a time when God would make a covenant of Shalom with his people and make right all wrongs and heal all that has been broken. This is why Jesus’s birth in the New Testament was announced as the arrival of Eirene (Elpnvn) the Greek word for peace, and Jesus came to offer his peace to others as He said in the Gospel of John,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” (John 14:27).
Remember that the word Shalom at its root means to pay in advance, to restore to wholeness and completeness. Jesus by his death and resurrection has once and for all, paid in advance the price for us to be restored completely to God--- that we may be whole and one with God as it was always meant to be. So, when we think of the word Shalom we need to remember, not only is it a word that offers a greeting of peace and tranquility, but a wholeness that has been paid in advance, once and for all, that all might be one (complete) with God and thanks to our Lord Jesus the Christ.
This is why the apostle Paul can say,
‘For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,’ (Ephesians 2:14-15).
Author Cornelius Plantinga best describes the biblical concept of Shalom:
“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”
Wishing you and yours Shalom.
Praying that our Lord finds you and yours well,
The Ven. Mark Richardson, Archdeacon
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