|
A mist quickly heals all things;
the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat. - Ecclesiasticus 43:22
Fog drip? Never heard of it - until I recently watched the last episode of Monty Don’s American Gardens (a Prime Video three-part series). There, Don ends his journey across the United States in the northern California coastal region, home to the redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) – the tallest trees in the world. In the summer, these trees depend on coastal fog that condenses on the needles forming into droplets, which the trees absorb and shed to the ground where it waters the forest depths.
Having talked his way enthusiastically across the country, visiting all manner of gardens large and small, here, at the end of his journey and in the presence and shadow of these majestic giant trees, Don is speechless. I sat speechless as well as the presenter quietly found his voice to go on and tell the remarkable story of these trees that can live for more than 2,000 years and soar over 300 feet in height. Until the 1850s, the redwoods covered some two million acres of the coast. After the 1849 gold rush, they were logged almost to death - only 100,000 acres with these trees remain today, scattered along the coast.
The redwoods and their diminishment may put us in mind of Henry Ward Beecher
(1813-1887):
O never harm the dreaming world, the world of green, the world of leaves, but let
its million palms unfold the adoration of the trees. Of all man’s works of art, a
cathedral is greatest. A vast and majestic tree is greater than that.
October 4 is the feast day of St Francis of Assisi (d. October 3, 1226) and on the Sunday nearest to it many of our churches invite the children and others to bring their animals and pets to be blessed and sing All creatures of our God and King with the words taken from The Canticle to the Sun by St Francis.
In 1979 Pope John Paul II issued a papal bull that declared St. Francis of Assisi the patron of ecology and of those who promote ecology. In his declaration, the Pope wrote: "Among the holy and admirable men who have revered nature as a wonderful gift of God to the human race, St Francis of Assisi deserves special consideration."
Another pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, on his election in March 2013, took Francis as his papal name in honor of St Francis of Assisi. The Canticle of the Sun’s recurring refrain "Praised be you, my Lord," or, in the Umbrian dialect of early Italian, "Laudato Si', mi signore," inspired Pope Francis to name his 2015 encyclical on the environment and human ecology, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home.
He prayeth best, who lovest best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.
S.T. Coleridge, (‘The Ancient Mariner’)
| |
From the Visible to the Invisible | |
|
If you observe the heavens, says Scripture, their order will be a guide for you towards faith. . . If you then observe the beauty of the earth, it will help you to increase your faith. . . Look at a stone and notice that even a stone carries some mark of the Creator. It is the same with an ant, bee, or mosquito.
The wisdom of the Creator is revealed in the smallest creatures. It is he who has spread out the heavens and laid out the immensity of the seas. It is he also who has made the tiny hollow shaft of the bee’s sting.
All the objects in the world are an invitation to faith, not unbelief.
Basil the Great (330-379 AD)
On Psalm 32, 3.
O Heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath: guard them from all evil and let them sleep in peace. Amen.
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)
| |
|
A Reflection by Philip Beyer,
St John’s, Tallahassee
| |
|
Innocence
Their childhood innocence was stolen from them at an early age by homelessness, gangs, drugs, and now prison. They were mistrustful of me, their teacher, the do-gooder white dude, three times their age. As fifteen hardened faces stared at me from around the table in the prison chapel, I agonized, “How do I reach them?”
“Coloring books,” was God’s answer to me in my desperate prayers while driving home. “Wait, What?” So, at the next class, I piled brand new coloring books and crayons on the table, “There’s enough for everyone, they’re yours.” I took one and began coloring.
Shortly, all inmates but Taylor had thumbed through their coloring books and started coloring. Taylor sat back, arms across his chest, glaring, “What are you doing here old man?” I dropped my crayon, speechless. All eyes were on me, waiting. I finally said, “I’ve asked myself that. Honestly, I’m winging it, following God’s lead.” Taylor refolded his arms and grunted, “Huh,” still refusing to color.
What followed was surreal. Men who had trafficked drugs, violence, and people, resumed coloring, laughing, kidding one another, holding up their coloring book creations…what children do in their innocence. And, as children often do when coloring, they told stories.
Roberts unwrapped the paper from a crayon, “At school I stole crayons and ate them on the way home cause I had no food.” Gibson’s tornadic circles in his coloring book personified his chaotic childhood, “Never even went to school, lived wherever, sold oxy.” Mills added, “This is the first place I had a bed.” “Prison saved my life,” Hawkins said. “All the brothers I ran with are all dead.”
Coloring books and crayons were the outward and visible sign of God’s grace: unexpected, freely given, enough for all…no nubs, scraps of paper, or hand-me-downs. God’s presence overcame the distrust brooding in the chapel, making way for laughter and glimmers of childhood innocence.
The inmates wanted to color again next time. Taylor grabbed the remaining coloring book and crayons on his way out. “See ya next week.”
For Reflection:
During childhood, what experiences most influenced your later life? Have you ever sensed glimmers of God’s grace?
| |
|
Interview with George Maskubi,
Founder, Biblical Journeys
| |
Please meet George Maskubi, whose firm Biblical Journeys has organized pilgrimages from our Diocese for the Rev. Jerry Smith, the Rev. Aaron Smith, and the Bishop’s Institute. In addition to pilgrimages to the Holy Land, in 2022, Biblical Journeys took us to Assisi and Rome ‘In the Steps of St Francis.' Registration is open for a Bishop’s Institute pilgrimage to Italy and Greece ‘In the Steps of St Paul’ on March 11-21, 2025. We are longing to be able to return to the Holy Land. | |
|
About George.
1. George, please introduce yourself to us.
I was born and raised in Jerusalem. I belong to the Aramaic speaking community of the Church of Antioch, so we grew up speaking Aramaic at home. After high school, I moved to New Jersey, where I was a pre-medical student. I was never interested in history or tourism, my whole life, I was more interested in science. The Lord led me, though, to a different path, which I appreciate every day.
After I graduated college, and I was doing extremely well, I found myself going back to Jerusalem, starting a masters program in human medical genetics. At the time, my father worked as the guardian of the Garden of Gethsemani, and even though he had tried to talk me into going into guiding, I always declined. It just happened then that a relative was interested in taking the tour guiding course, and he convinced me to join him. Something I reluctantly did, but it turned out to be an amazing decision.
I excelled at guiding Christian groups for years, starting in the year 2000. In 2014, I decided that I wanted to be able to do more for pilgrims, and since I was with pilgrims on sites, I noticed that in a lot of cases, they were not given the full potential of a trip to the Holy Land. This is when and why Biblical Journeys was started. We started in the Holy Land but over the years we have expanded and now we can serve any destination the Christian traveler looks to go to.
About Biblical Journeys.
2. George, please define where a company like Biblical Journeys ‘fits’ into the wide world of the travel industry. Is it a ‘tour company’ or is there a better, more accurate definition of your business and what you offer?
As I mentioned in the previous questions, Biblical Journeys was born to help make Christian tours better for the Christian traveler. Better from a financial standpoint, where we try to do more with better quality and less cost, and better from the standpoint that I know what the Christian pilgrim needs, being a guide myself. We are a tour company, but we specialize in serving Christian travelers, which is why we pride ourselves in the way we positively impact lives. I allow myself to look at this as a ministry.
About pilgrimages.
3. Tell us about pilgrimages. What defines a pilgrimage and makes it special or different from a regular tour or holiday?
A pilgrimage in a journey of faith. You are following in the footsteps of The Lord or the Apostles, indulging as you go into local cultures of respective countries. Personally, I love seeing how lives have been impacted, being quoted in a sermon on a Sunday, or just receiving an email saying how impactful that trip was.
About pilgrims.
4. You help Christian groups from different denominations with their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and other holy sites in the Mediterranean region and across Europe. What unites these groups? How are they similar? How are they different?
Faith in Christ is what unites us all as Christians. The love of the Lord and the desire to visit the holy sites in also a uniting factor. There are some differences in some destinations based on church doctrines and teachings and we are sensitive to that.
Growing up in Jerusalem.
5. On my first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we were led by you, an Aramaic Christian, and our excellent coach driver was Muslim. You and the driver had known each other for many years growing up in Jerusalem. Is that experience unique for a young person growing up in Jerusalem?
Most people in Jerusalem and in the Holy Land in general get along or try to get along with people from other faiths and backgrounds, be that Jewish, Christian, or Moslem. It is not unusual to see that sort of harmony amongst different groups.
Travel to the Holy Land now.
6. We had to abruptly cancel the Bishop’s Institute Holy Land Tour for late October 2023 after the attack on Israel October 7 that month. Have the pilgrimages resumed to the Holy Land?
Now, and since October of last year, no pilgrimages are going to the Holy Land. We are not seeing any reservations for 2025 either. We will keep praying for peace in the Land of Peace.
| |
Rector's Picks: October Books | |
Craig Brown. A Voyage
Around the Queen (Hardcover) - October 1, 2024.
Critics are praising Craig Brown for his well-researched biography of Elizabeth II and for his approach that is more anecdotal (and readable) than chronologically intensive. Elizabeth II was a strong and effective witness to a life led by Christ.
‘As the “Queen”, for over 70 years, she was the most famous woman of her time. . . She appeared as a waxwork in Madame Tussauds at the age of two and was four when her first biography was published. . . Anne Frank pinned up a postcard of her in her bedroom wall in Amsterdam; Paul McCartney won a prize for writing an essay on her coronation.’ --- The Tablet
| |
|
Ilia Delio O.S.F. (Author), Keith Douglass Warner O.F.M. (Author), Pamela Wood (Author). Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth (Paperback) –February 26, 2008.
‘If we are blowing our Franciscan horn here, it should have been blown much earlier and much louder! This is the wisdom that our world so desires and needs today. We can no longer see ourselves as separate from the 'great chain of being,' and we can no longer see this as a non-religious issue. Francis intuited all of this 800 years ago.’ Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
| |
|
Pope Francis. Laudate Deum: Apostolic Exhortation to All People of Good Will on the Climate Crisis Paperback – November 20, 2023.
This exhortation comes eight years after Pope Francis delivered Laudate Si. What has changed.
From the title climate change has become climate crisis. This Orbis edition of the Pope’s exhortation includes the text of Laudate Si for comparison sake.
| |
Diarmaid MacCulloch. Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity (Hardcover) – April 15, 2025.
‘The message of Lower than the Angels is simple, necessary and timely: to pay attention to the complexity and contradictions in the history of Christianity. The reader can decide from the story told here whether there is a single Christian theology of sex, or many contending voices in a symphony that is not at all complete.’—Amazon review
McCulloch’s book has been widely reviewed but will not be available in the US until April 2025. You can order it now on Amazon by changing to Amazon UK on the Amazon site and get it fairly quickly (or perhaps Kathryn Bissett in the Cathedral Bookstore can order it for you).
| |
Mirabai Starr (author), Richard Rohr (Forward). St Francis of Assisi: Brother of Creation (Paperback) - 2013.
Mirabai Starr writes beautifully the story of St Francis in all his blessedness, uniqueness, and humanity.
| |
|
Charles Strobel (author), Ann Patchett (forward). The Kingdom of the Poor: My Journey Home (Hardcover) – September 17, 2024.
This is the testimony of a faithful Nashville priest who founded the charity Room In the Inn to serve the unhoused in Nashville. Charlie Strobel believed everyone deserves a home.
“If we’re lucky, we’ll meet someone who truly opens our eyes to the suffering of others, and so our hearts to the healing power of forgiveness, compassion, and simple kindness. That someone for me was Charlie—our Charlie full of Grace.”
—Emmylou Harris, singer-songwriter and activist
| |
|
Looking Forward:
All Saints' Day (November 1st)
| |
|
V. Ye are no more strangers and sojourners;
R. But fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
O God, who in the Church of thy dear Son hast advanced us to the fellowship of the crowned saints, to inward room and seat in their hearts even as in thine: Set us so steadfastly to follow them in humble boldness of love, that we may be found worthy to share the glory which they have eternally from thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
| |
|
Archdeacon's Corner
All Saints' Day
| |
 | |
As the temperatures cool and the leaves begin to fall, we in the church will soon celebrate All Saints’ Day. The origins of this celebration can be traced back to the early Christian church, which sought to commemorate martyrs who had died for their faith. By the fourth century, various regions celebrated a day for all martyrs, though the specific date varied.
The establishment of a universal feast for all saints, not just martyrs, gained momentum when Pope Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to All Saints and set the date of the feast on November 1st. This date was chosen to coincide with, and perhaps Christianize, pagan festivals of the dead, such as the Celtic festival of Samhain. Pope Gregory IV later extended this observance to the entire Western Church in the 9th century.
During the medieval period, the celebration of All Saints’ Day became deeply entrenched in Christian practice. It was a day to honor the spiritual achievements of saints and seek their intercession. In some traditions, the eve of the feast, known as All Hallows' Eve or Halloween, incorporated a mix of Christian and folk traditions, eventually evolving into its own distinct celebration.
Today, All Saints’ Day is observed by various Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and some Lutheran churches. The day is marked by attending church services, where the faithful honor all saints known and unknown, and ask for their prayers. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the virtues of sainthood and the call to holiness in the Christian life. Some communities hold processions and offer candles and flowers, particularly in regions where the commemoration extends into a time of remembering deceased loved ones.
In contemporary practice, All Saints’ Day continues to emphasize the unity and communion of believers, for we are all saints. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual connection among all of us and our shared journey towards holiness, inspired by the exemplary lives of those who preceded us.
Praying that our Lord finds you and yours well.
Archdeacon,
The Ven. Mark Richardson
| |
Bishop's Institute Spring 2024 Pilgrimage | |
|
March 11-25, 2025
A Tour led by the Rev. Canon Douglas Dupree with the Archdeacon, Mark Richardson and the Rev. Deacon Annette Sines
Join the Bishop's Institute for an extensive journey from March 11- 21, starting with a flight to Greece and then traveling to various historical and archaeological sites. On arrival in Athens, the group will visit Corinth to see ancient ruins and the Corinth Canal. The following days include a tour of Athens' significant monuments like the Acropolis, Parthenon, and the Acropolis Museum. The journey continues to Vergina, Thessaloniki, and Philippi, following the footsteps of St. Paul, visiting ancient tombs, and significant early Christian sites.
The tour then proceeds to Rome, exploring key locations associated with early Christianity, including the Abbey of the Three Fountains, St. Paul's Basilica, the Catacombs of Santa Domitilla, the Colosseum, and the Vatican Museum. The trip concludes with visits to significant basilicas and the Vatican, reflecting on the early Christian history in Rome, before flying back home.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with history and faith in some of the world's most storied locations. Book your spot today and be part of this enlightening and inspiring journey!
| |
|
Calling all wardens, vestry members, and your clergy!
VITAL Retreat
The Bishop's Institute for Ministry and Leadership
| |
 | |
Dates: Friday, January 10, 2025 - Sunday, January 12, 2025
Location: Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center
Time: Starts Friday 5 p.m.
Cost: $35 to $285
Join us for the Episcopal Diocese of Florida’s VITAL Retreat (Vestry Inspiration, Training, and Leadership Retreat), taking place January 10-12, 2025, at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center.
This retreat offers workshops on leadership, communication, church canons and bylaws, financial management, and essential church resources, with plenty of inspiration and opportunities for worship.
Participants will engage in large group workshops, focused breakout sessions, and dedicated time for church-specific discussions for Vestry groups attending together.
Whether attending the full weekend or participating as a Friday/Saturday or Saturday-only guest, this retreat is an opportunity for Vestry members to deepen their faith, enhance their leadership skills, and connect with others from across the Diocese.
The Rt. Rev. Scott Benhase will be a featured speaker for this program. The Rev.
Becky Rowell from Christ Church, Frederica will also lead us. Called to a ministry of reconciliation, she is a skilled and experienced trainer of clergy and vestries in conflict transformation skills and strategic planning.
We encourage full Vestries and clergy to participate together; however, individual Vestry members and smaller cohorts are encouraged to attend as well.
This is a joint program coordinated by the Bishop's Institute for Ministry and Leadership and Camp Weed's 100 More Committee.
For more information and registration: http://www.campweed.org/calendar/calendar-of-events/vital-retreat.aspx
| | | | |
