The Sunset Juggler (formerly The Dragon's Mouth)

Well, today is my birthday.  And, because I am less than full time at St. George’s, I get an occassional Sunday off.  This was one of them — even though it’s Pentecost.  So we planned a trip (my birthday present) around getting in to worship at St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco.  We’ve been talking about doing this for some time. (more…)

This won’t be eloquent.  It’s simply an expression of my sorrow, for all those who were told today that they aren’t people like other people:  they cannot marry the person they love.  It may be, as a matter of law, that the people of California have a right to change their constitution.  And I am relieved for those whose marriages, though threatened, were preserved by the ruling.  (I’m talking about the same sex couples people wanted to tear apart.)  But I am deeply saddened by a law, passed by a majority of our voting citizens, that takes basic human rights away from some of our citizens because they are different.  I can’t imagine God would approve.  I hope we change the law very soon.

Episcopal Café offers the following “weekly collection plate of some of the good things that Episcopalians and their congregations have done that made the news this past week.”  In many people’s minds, this may be mission and ministry.  And I guess I wouldn’t disagree.  But in my mind, this is also stewardship in its most basic fashion:  taking care of God’s creation.  In my mind, that’s what God called us to do (dating all the way back to the mythic garden, which sets up and defines our relationship with God).  I guess it’s a question of whether we start with baptism and gifts and ministry or we start with creation and our place in God’s creation.  Both are places I’ve been known to start.  Anyway, here’s the “collection:” (more…)

Here’s an interesting excerpt from an Easter sermon on inclusion given by “the sarcastic Lutheran.”

As many of you know, last week Seth and I attended the Rocky Mountain Synod assembly – the legislative body for this region of the Lutheran church.  For more than 10 years my denomination has been talking about human sexuality.  Much like the early church who were convinced that gentiles could only become Christians if they changed into being Jews first (which, for the record, involved a rather unpleasant process), (more…)

Roshi talks about why we pray and what we really expect when we pray.  He begins by saying:

The basement of St. Mark’s coffee house was filled with Holy Doubt tonight.

We were reading from Acts, 1 John and John.

But it was John 15:16 that set the Spirit free and the debate poured out and flooded the basement. Here’s the Scripture that set off the debate about prayer, whether it works and why we pray: “…the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.”

This promise of God granting our prayers occurs again and again in the Gospels.

But he also says:

One woman spoke of her mother dying of cancer. One man spoke of runaway children not returning. One spoke of fear that doesn’t go away. And I could not help but think of my Mother’s suicide. All spoke of prayer and prayers not answered.

If you want to see the whole thing, click here.

Bishop Dan did a quick writeup on the most recent draft.  (This is a proposed document for defining the relationship between all member churchs of the Anglican Communion, including the Episcopal Church.)  I’d link you, but it’s all here:

I still haven’t digested the document. But it all seems to turn on section 4, the enforcement clause. And apparently the ACC has not approved that except as a discussion document. So the thing really isn’t even on the table yet for voting by anyone. It is more like a motion made so the subject can be discussed. We should therefore discuss — but as in the case of germ fears, don’t panic.

I have mixed reactions to yesterdays election results.

On the one hand, the whole budget process is a mess.  I think the system is broken.  And I don’t think the propositions that failed yesterday would have fixed things.  I also understand that people are angry (and why they are angry).  I’m angry too.

On the other hand, I think we just put a lot more people out of work (and lost a lot more services).  A lot of that was going to happen anyway.  But more of that will happen now.

My wife is a teacher, so she could be inpacted.  People at church work for the state, so they may be impacted.  And the extra job losses will impact everyone (and likely delay our economic recovery).

That’s my take, anyway.  It might be worth it if the system was fixed.  I see no signs that will happen.  Instead, I see fewer jobs and fewer services.  And the likelyhood that we will tend to write off the needs of those who are marginalized.  Biblically, I’d say that’s a challenge for all of us.

Well, most of our plots are now assigned.  Last I heard it was 15 out of 24 plots, but that was at least a week ago, and there were names working through the system.  This week, we’re making contact with the Fair Oaks Community Garden, which has a 2 or 3 year waiting list for plots.  Enough of those folks live close by that I suspect we’ll be full by the end of the month.  Nothing has come of the contact with the scout troop, so far.  But we do have one plot for a senior facility (I understand we not only waived the annual “water” fee, but bought some plants and seed for them).  It’s great to see folks out working in their gardens most any time I happen by the church.

Another thing that’s happened is that money has been donated towards our expenses (upwards of $5,000 in startup expenses so far) in memory of Lukas Keye — the 20 year old son of 2 of our members, who died earlier this month.  Somewhere in the ballpark of $1,000 has been donated in his memory, I’m told.  We plan to put up some kind of a permanent memorial marker in his name.  And we might do that for others as time goes on.

Much remains to be done.  The rules have to be finalized.  Someday we may have storage for garden tools.  We’ll want more water outlets.  We hope to expand to about 74 plots in 2 more phases.  And I think we’d like to fence in the perimiter eventually.  I think someone said this would be at least another $25,000 to $30,000 in expenses down the road to get set up.  But we have time.  And we’re trying for some grants.  And things are well underway.  And I’m quite pleased with where we are now.

Bishop Dan writes on his blog:

A recent letter to our diocesan newsletter chided church leaders for failing to teach that homosexuality is a “sin.” I don’t want to tackle the question of whether homosexuality is a sin or not on a blog. It takes more words and more serious reflection than this medium affords. But it does raise an important question I want to ponder a little. What is a “sin”?

The letter to the editor sparks this question for me because Scripture does not define homosexual acts as sins. Only one specific homosexual act is prohibited and it is described as a ritual purity violation, which is quite a different matter. Ritual purity violations are in the category of planting two kinds of crop in one field or wearing a poly-blend suit, not the category of murder, theft, adultery, and other such moral issues having to do with justice and integrity. But if something is not defined as sin in Scripture, that doesn’t resolve the question. Scripture doesn’t say anything about “enhanced interrogation techniques” (torture), toxic waste dumping, or human trafficking – but I feel certain in my heart that those things are sins. So how do we know if something is a sin?

That’s the start of what I find to be a very interesting article.  You can find the whole thing here.