A Positively Poetic Priest

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 21 BCP 234) I've done a lot of running during my time in Franklin. Running around town to train for triathlons and marathons, and the Applefest 5K Race for Any Pace. I've also been running in other ways, running towards the future, running towards more support for St. John's outreach programs, running towards God. Not all of us can physically run of course, even my knees are starting to protest, but as we continue to strive in following Jesus, we grow in grace. This coming Sunday will be my last as St. John's priest. Together we will pause in our running and reflect on the ministry of the last five years and start to imagine new futures. I expect this...

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 20 BCP 234) "while we are placed among things that are passing away" Yes, there is a lot changing in our world these days. None of us are sure about how things will look in the next month, the next year, the next decade. While we thought we had gotten the pandemic under control, we are now seeing a resurgence. While we thought we were making strides on slowing climate change, we can see by the weather-caused natural disasters that we have a long way to go. While we can acknowledge that the church needs to change too, it is hard to see it change so quickly.  The Collect of the Day prays that in the midst of all that is changing we are able to hold onto the things...

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 19 BCP 233) Every year's Rally Day is different. Three years ago, we had to bring the Dino Bounce House inside the Parish Hall because of rainy weather. Two years ago, we had a hot dog luncheon on the front lawn. Last year, we had a guest pastor outside because of the pandemic. This year we will also have a guest priest with us, and we will learn more about the season of transition which is upon us.  Transition always brings out a lot of emotions in community. We know this is not new to society today, we have plenty of stories from history and the Bible which show groups of believers struggling and trusting during major transitions. They are our inspiration and guide. They prayed to God, they put their trust in God, and ...

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 18 BCP 233) "Pride" is one of those words in today's world which has a lot of connotations. We can talk about the healthy pride of having accomplished something, we can talk about LGBTQ Pride which is about self and social acceptance, we can talk about unhealthy pride or sinful pride when we put ourselves ahead of others in destructive ways. The Collect for this coming Sunday specifies the kind of pride meant when it prays, "the proud who confide in their own strength." The old proverb, "Pride comes before a fall" is an abbreviation of a Proverb from the Bible. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverb...

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 27 BCP 233) Unfortunately, things are not going as well as we all would like. With Delta variant cases on the rise here in Venango County, we are going to have to return to everyone wearing masks while inside the church buildings. While we might wish this wasn't necessary, we move in this direction out of God's love for all people. Not a single person should be put at risk for illness (or worse!) while worshipping God.  God's love for us and for other people informs all our decisions. When we are steeped in true religion, in following the example Jesus has set for us, love is always the way forward. We may not always be happy with some ...

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 16 BCP 232) Oh, unity. I read the Collect for this coming Sunday and I sigh. The Church, the global church of all Christian believers, hasn't seen unity since... well, ever. In our country, a country with United in the title, unity is a sacred word, its on our money (in Latin: e pluribus unum), its in our documents, and yet, it is definitely not a way of life for us. Unity doesn't seem to be a value we remember on a daily basis.  Unity by definition means being in full agreement or oneness. While many Christians will fully agree on some aspects of our faith and life together, but there are many aspects we do not all agree on. I am sure that this brings God some sadness, and it brings the glob...

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 15 BCP 232) Sometimes we need examples, sometimes we need experience to teach us lessons. Jesus is a wonderful example of godly life. Jesus lived a wise life. We struggle mightily with living into the wisdom God gives us. If we didn't struggle so much with it, perhaps the world wouldn't be in the major world crises it is now in. But, of course, it is the world's problems, not ours. We are doing fine here in our quiet little beautiful Franklin. Yet, we are not either. We are struggling with many issues too. We cannot be blind to them. It seems like many of us are turning blind eyes to the issues at hand,...

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 14 BCP 232) Don’t Hesitate BY MARY OLIVER If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb. I love reading poetry which reminds me to be incarnational. To remem...

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 13 BCP 232) I have loved living in St. John's Rectory the last five years. However, I am not always thrilled about having to clean it. Eight bedrooms, two staircases, three bathrooms, lots of spaces for dust and bugs and random stuff to collect and make a mess. Cleaning can be a specific process. Sometimes I forget this fact and dust after I have cleaned the floors and then realize I got dust all over the floors again. Cleaning takes time and energy and attention to the details. The wood floors need the wood floor cleaner, not the kitchen vinyl floor cleaner. Thankfully though, I do feel happier after everything is clean and neat and smelling fresh.  The Collect for this coming Sunday uses...

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 12 BCP 231) God is our protector. God protects us from evil in this world. However, God does not protect us from the consequences of our own mistakes, our own failures of justice or relationship. God will protect us from the real power of death, but God will not stop us from all the little deaths which lead us to greater life in Christ. God is our protector, and will always protect us from true evil, but God will not protect us from our own freedom of choice. God gave us free will as a gift after all! After the last few years learning ever more about the inequality of different people in our county, my understanding...

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 11 BCP 231) Franklin has a beautiful fountain. It is gracefully proportioned and placed in the center of a lovely park. It shows up in pictures for all types of personal celebrations: weddings, graduations, proms, family gatherings, Saturday morning playdates. It is always giving, that is, when it is turned on. The water flows from top to bottom and around again. Throwing out water no matter who is around. In the wind, it sprays the rich and the homeless. It is a focal point, not hidden, out and available for all.  Fountains are lovely images for metaphors. God, as the fountain of al...

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10 BCP 231) We are not left to our own power. When we pray to God for guidance and we understand what we are called to do, we are not left to our own power to accomplish what God calls us to. God gives us the power to do what we have been called to do. God never leaves us hanging, knowing what to do without the power to do it. Sometimes we don't realize we have the power we need, but God will make it known at the right time.  In all the conflicts we get ourselves into as people and as a nation, we always have a choice in how to react and how to proceed. When we blow our options by responding with malicious intent, we often escalate situations we could h...

7/2/21 Our Heart's Devotion O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 9 BCP 230) "Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart..." The Collect for this coming Sunday reminds us that our full heart's devotion should rest in God. However, that is much much easier said than done. My heart can be fickle. Devoted to following God's will one moment and then solely focused on what I want the next. My heart can get caught up desiring attention and other's love at times, when I am called to devote myself to God's path instead. My heart fills up with envy or jealousy or hurt when it wanders away from being devoted to ...

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 8 BCP 230) If you've ever read through Paul's seminal letter to the Romans, you'll know he put his mind to work writing it. Paul uses every trick and device of reason and scripture to appeal to the new Christians living in Rome. He uses his great reasoning skills to bring to fruit some of the best theology we have from the Bible. He outlines faith in Christ and begins the Church's understanding of Christology, he outlines justification by faith and God's work of salvation through Christ.  Paul didn't have tradition or the Church to fall back on when he started writing his letters...

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 7 BCP 230) "Tradition! Tradition!" One of my favorite musicals is Fiddler on the Roof. Set in the first decade of the 20th century in Russia, the musical follows Tevye and his family (5 daughters!) as they change with the times and eventually are evicted from their town for being Jewish. At the beginning of the story, Tevye and the village have been following the Jewish customs and traditions they have known for generations. As the story unfollows, gradually these traditions and customs are faced, some with understanding and some with... well, stubbornness.  As we have been faced with changing times and customs, many of our older traditions have had to be looked at. We have h...

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 6 BCP 230) In thinking about foundations last week, I naturally thought about the Episcopal Church's foundations in scripture, tradition, and reason; the three legged stool attributed to Richard Hooker from his "Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie," despite never actually writing about a stool. However, scripture, tradition, and reason are the ways in which the Church holds fast to the foundation of God throughout the generations and centuries.  We live in a very fluid and rapid time of history. We eat fast food, we have instant conversation across millions of miles, we expect to pre-order and know things ahead of time. And sometimes in the midst of all this ...

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 5  BCP 229) Even as self-labeled Christians, it can sometimes be easy to forget that our foundation is in God. Thankfully, every time we engage in prayer or Church services or spiritual practices or Bible study, we are given another reminder that God is the foundation of our identity. The Collect for this coming Sunday states this straight away: "O God, from whom all good proceeds." All which is good in this universe, including us, start with God. With God as our foundation, the slings and arrows of this world are a bit easier to bear. We have already been known as "good" by our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We don't have to worry if we are 'good enough', we have been claimed by G...

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday BCP 228) Trinity Sunday! The most confusing liturgical holy day on the calendar! Despite our continued confusion about the Trinity which is our God, Trinity Sunday is also one of my favorite holy days. This is one of the Sundays we cannot even pretend to understand everything. On Trinity Sunday we acknowledge the awe-inspiring mystery of God. In focusing our energy most of the year on stories of Jesus in the gospels during church, we can almost start to get the sense that we can understand God through Jesus. However, when we ...

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday BCP 227) Christian history has a good number of big moments. However, this coming Sunday we celebrate the second biggest. The coming of the Holy Spirit. The followers of the Way, as followers of Jesus called themselves early on, may have only ended up as a footnote in history if it weren't for Pentecost. All their courage in sharing the Good News in front of rulers and those who threw them in jail came from this moment. Even Jesus' resurrection (the biggest moment in history) didn't quite propel them into the streets proclaiming the story and making disciples, until the H...

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 and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Sixth Sunday of Easter BCP 225) "Pour into our hearts such love towards you..." Keep on pouring God! Oh wait, our hearts are already full! If you pour it will simply overflow and we won't be able to hold that. We need to empty our hearts of all the other stuff we put in them so that God can pour love into them, and then we can share that love with others.  I definitely feel like my heart has gotten way too full this last year. I am slowly trying to process everything that has happened and what it means for me. As I do so, I am able to empty out a little bit of my heart, and I hope God will pour more love...