What to do for the Corona blues? April 2020

Wow! Has it been a month of this already? I'm counting the days of our isolation by counting the Sundays before and after Easter Sunday.  I know that we're in the Second week of Easter and all I want to think about is the Resurrection, the coming back to life.

For those of you who have internet access you've got to see a lot of prayer and worship on Facebook and YouTube.  I even gave some virtual hugs and handshakes at the end of the Easter Sunday service for those who stuck around.  But there's nothing like real hugs and smiles when we gather on Sundays and worship God as the assembled Body of Christ.  (Don't forget that if you would like a DVD of our worship services to call and we'll make some extra copies for you.)

I hope you also took a look at our walk through of the remediation work downstairs.  Our contractor will begin putting the downstairs back together next week.  The workers have begone removing the ceiling in the nave this week and as soon as that interior cleaning is finished, the build back will commence upstairs as well.  The Vestry has done a very good job of sorting out the financing for the work.

The two phases of the job have been cleaning and build back.  We have a clearer picture of the costs of  project (please see the financial report). With the additional removal of ceiling and the need to install fans to move air the costs have gone up but are still manageable for us.

I know we will all be glad to be back worshiping in our church building.  But the thing I want to point out above all is this:  Even without a building, We are the Church.  We are the Body of Christ.  The building, as sacred as it is, is not as Sacred as you and I.  And what makes us Sacred is the love of Jesus.  What makes us Sacred is the Message of the Good News. 
Indeed, what makes our building sacred is the fact that We gather there in the Presence of our God. What makes it sacred is that We read Scripture from there.  What makes it sacred is that We celebrate the Presence of God in the Body and Blood of Christ.  And all of this flows from God first.

A beautiful building is a sacred tool to enhance these realities.  But it is important to know and understand that You are the Temple of God in which the Holy Spirit resides.  When we walk through those big red doors I hope you'll remember that they have been opened for heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Why do you worry? March 2020

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/139119075965418599/

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[c] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ----Matthew 6.26-30

You are of much more value than they.  These are truly words to live by.  

Next time that you are outside look up and find a bird in the sky.  Or perhaps he is sitting on his perch. Consider that bird.  He does not plant seeds or harvest wheat.  He does no preparatory work for his food (his most basic need). And yet he has everything that is needed for his life. Jesus' comment is that the Father has given that bird what he needs to survive.  Nothing more, nothing less. And you!  You! Are more important than that bird.

If there is not a bird to see, look on the bluebonnets in the field.  The green grass is covered with the flower like a garment.  There's hardly anything so beautiful in nature than an ocean of blue in a grass field.  But when the short season is over the bonnets and grass both turn brown, are mowed, and used as compost.  Not even the finest statesmen will wear a suit as beautiful as that field.  And you!  You! Are more beautiful to God than that flower or that blade of grass.  God has given you everything you need.

As you and I go chasing around the luxuries of this life, of travel, of education, clothes that make us happy, we continue to add to our expectations of what is required for a happy life.  A good job, a nice car and house, and of course recreational time have become the expectation.  But our world is pausing right now and it's a good time to reassess what is important. 

In the current corona climate we see the stripping away of all the stuff that keeps us busy, the rubbish.  We've been separated from education, recreation, stability in schedules and work.  We're separated from the relative certainty of paychecks.  Even separated from our God-given-call to worship corporately.  

Separated from these things what is there left to do?  Watch TV? Read a book? Don't you get tired of that?

But to have a conversation with the Living God...to pray, to read the word, and listen to what he has to say to you.  To stumble across a teaching of Jesus that catches you at the right moment and resonates with your spirit.  You are inseparable from these opportunities.  And these moments of intersection with God are eternally yours and mine.

During this wilderness of isolation we have been presented with what we asked for and what we need.  So often I hear people ask for our world to slow down a little bit.  Now for many it has almost stopped.  This is your opportunity to smell the roses, to be still and know that God is God.  Do not worry for your life is not your own. You belong to God. 

Annual Report Volume 18.1 January 2020

The Lord be praised.  I’m going to keep it short this year.  There are only a few things that need to be touched on as we’ve weathered the various storms and calms of this year.

I am proud to be your rector, priest, and pastor.  And as I tell everyone who will listen, we have the utmost beautiful expression of the Christian faith here in Brenham, not only in our liturgy but in our carrying out of duties to serve the Lord in the faces of the people around us.

The other written reports in the Annual Report Volume, reflect the good work of sharing our blessings with the people of Brenham and the Brazos Valley so please read those.

As for my report I will address two major challenges that came up this year.  Specifically, we have worked on long-term effects of water infiltration in the church that led to mold.  We also have organized a strategy to call and appoint a new Director of Music.

Regarding our mold remediation work we have finally completed the roof replacement needed to finalize bids for remediation.  At the writing of this letter we are waiting for the second bid to be evaluated by the Church Insurance Co. Vermont and to ascertain the overall cost and portions that St. Peter’s is responsible for.  

The nature and timing of the roof-work allowed us to continue worshipping in our nave through special services like Christmas and a wedding.  Once remediation work starts there is a high probability that we will be out of the nave for a period of time, but it is currently unclear how long that will be. That information has not been relayed to us by the remediation company.   I thank Charles Schubert and the folks that have helped him communicating with Remediation and Roofing contractors as well as Church Insurance of Vermont.  This is an ongoing work that most parishioners haven’t seen, but the end of the tunnel is approaching.

In September we said farewell to Linda Patterson who served St. Peter’s for over 26 years in ministry to children and music.  We honored her hard work on September 29^th while at the same time created a plan for the future of music at St. Peter’s. Thank you to Beth Appel and Amy Schramm who picked up the baton early in the gap in October to bridge us to our interim music director. 

We have formed a Music Search Team- to help articulate the musical values of St. Peter’s in a job description for prospective candidates.  This team will also help me identify and interview candidates for the roles of Interim and Permanent Director of Music.   The first phase of this process was accomplished by the grace of God with the arrival of Gavin Craig in October.  Gavin has been received very well by our choir and staff.  He is a pleasure and blessing to minister alongside.  Gavin and St. Peter’s are committed to each other during this interim period and he is eligible to apply for the permanent position.

I express my thank you and appreciation to the Search Team Chaired by Dr. Wendy Bergin, Lloyd Behm, Beth Appel, Roger Ross, Amy Schramm, and Chris Hilton.

Our growing edges that need focus.

I am over the top proud of your response in the October stewardship drive.  Your faithful commitments and increase in offering is what will permit the vestry to balance the budget and maintain good operating accounts for the campus, staff, and program ministry.

Do your best to keep those commitments first, before hobbies, before vacations, your commitment to St. Peter’s should be first.  It’s not that God needs money.  It’s that God calls us to be faithful as he is faithful.

For my part you have the commitment of my household.  Mine and Kate’s full tithe comes from our combined salaries and my housing allowance and we freely offer it for the operations of St. Peter’s with no stings attached.  Our $10,800 tithe is our obligation and faithful response to God’s care for us and is our commitment to you, because it is by your faithfulness that we are even able to be here. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Regarding this year’s stewardship, we are going to build a team that will in a timely fashion faithfully discuss a theme, timeline, and implementation for October’s drive.  I want four people on that team.  (You want to be on that team)

Church Security- There has been an increase in public violence against houses of worship which has created anxiety among many people  It is my responsibility to teach and assure you that this world is a temporary place for each of us, and our hope for eternal life and security rests in God alone.  I confess to you that I have no fear in violence to myself but, at the same time, we have a duty to keep safe, to the best of our power, the sanctity of our fellowship, worship, and lives of those entrusted to our care.  As such there is renewed fervor to create a written policy and plan of action for surveying and monitoring safety in our buildings during worship.  I intend to form a steering committee to evaluate diocesan policies and local practices that will provide a written policy and procedure for St. Peter’s.  While no open space is perfectly safe from violence there are things we can and will do to increase safety in our gatherings.

Finally, we have been presented with an opportunity to host a large organization for mom’s with young children on a bimonthly basis.  Moms Inc. of Brenham has asked if St. Peter’s could take up support for their organization on two Thursdays per month from 9-11am.  Moms enjoy fellowship and learning programs while their children are cared for in the classrooms and nursery areas of our church.  We intend to provide chapel services for the children and other discipling program as we are able.  Of course this will not take place until we get a clean bill of health from our remediation company.

Transitions and thank you.

In January Kerry Hughes step away from ministry to help care for her family.  She faithfully passed care of our youth and children to Pam Knebel.  Thank you both.  Pam is doing a good job of planning activities, we hope that some of our fellowship outing will encourage youth gather more frequently.

Thank you to Cathy Stuckert for your transitional leadership in passing the torch to Cornelia Estey as Lector/LEM scheduler.  It’s been a very smooth transition and I’m thankful to both of you for that.

Ongoing appreciation and affections for Mary Mabry and all the altar guild.  Your reward is great in heaven, but for now you’ll have to suffice with a thank you from me.

To Margaret and Peter Broadbent and all of you on the bereavement hospitality (that whole group is phenomenal.  Thank you to the faithful service of the Sunday hospitality teams, also to Doug Peck and Sunday Breakfast team. Thank you to the outreach committee for your labor. You’re incredible.

To the Daughters of King, if it weren’t for your prayers I would be drowning. Thank you.

Picking Favorites Volume 19.1 February 2020

On Sundays we have been reading about Paul, Apollos, and Cephas in the first letter to the Corinthians.  It seems that the church in Corinth was divided by their affinities for the different leaders.  Perhaps some liked Apollos' pastoral nature, Cephas' work ethic or Paul's fervor and certitude.  Who knows why some were liked over others?

But the letter from Paul puts each leader in perspective.  One plants, another waters, and God provides the growth. Paul's response is to redirect the devotions toward leaders back to Jesus.  He asks if anyone was baptized in his (Paul's) or Apollos' name, or if he himself was crucified?  No! It is Christ who performs the actions of salvation therefore it is to Christ we should direct our loyalties.

At this same time I am reading through Genesis in Morning Prayer.  The stories of Jacob, Leah and Rachel are very troubling.  Jacob loves Rachel, but has been tricked into marrying her older sister Leah.  Leah is able to bear him many sons while the favored, Rachel is barren.

With each new child Leah prays that, "finally my husband will honor/love me."  At the same time, Rachel has the affections of Jacob but cannot bear children.  In a society where progeny was critical to life this is full of heartache for both women. Jacob picked his favorite but neither of his wives were content.

Eventually God is moved to have mercy on Rachel and she will bear children for Jacob.  And ironically despite Jacob's desires and favoritism of Rachel it is Leah who's lineage, through her son Judah, will bear Jesus' genealogy recorded in Matthew's gospel.

There is the tendency among God's people to pick sides.  It happens in the church as well.  We like one staff member over another, we like this priest, or we liked the previous priest better.  Or! We can't wait for the next priest.

Don't do that!  What I am inspired by in these lessons is that we are all here to serve Jesus Christ.  We are all brothers and sisters of the same Lord.  We have different ways of serving.  There are some administrators that do things differently than others,  there are musicians that do things differently than others, there are priests and Sunday school teachers that do things differently than others.  But we all serve the same Jesus. Praise the Lord!

Abbreviations cause a stir! Volume 17.1 December 2019

Abbreviations cause a stir!

Merry Xmas, Xmas sale, Xmas lights, Xmas gifts, Xmas, Xmas, Xmas!!!  Looking back, my mind cannot recall the time when I was first introduced to the icon “XMAS.”  Whether it was a billboard sign in the 1970s advertising holiday sales or “Xmas” written on the cardboard boxes up in the attic containing our Christmas lights and fake tree, I only know that I recognized “X-mas” as something to do with Christmas.  Growing up, it didn’t bother me at all; it was just another part of the symbols of our culture which was then still arguably Christian.  In the south, we were still thumbing our nose at the oppressive Supreme Court ban on prayer in school.  We still had blue laws restricting retail sales on Sunday.  Those were the good ol’ days!  But “X-mas” had not become as scandalous amongst the faithful as it has become today.

In fact it didn’t really bother me until some protestant radio pastor told me it should.  “They’re taking ‘Christ’ out of Christmas!” was the battle cry.  With the shifting of our culture through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, secularism became more aggressive against the religious traditions of our society.  “Xmas” became one of many battlefields for traditionalists to defend (along with manger scenes on city squares and “Christmas” gift exchanges, and “Christmas” concerts in our public schools).

Well the joke is actually on the secularists and our excitable fundamentalist brethren.  They should read their ancient history a little more closely.  The “X” in “Xmas” is actually a Christian symbol.  It has been in use at least from the third century (A.D.) when Constantine painted it on his shield and went out conquering in this sign.  Constantine actually inherited the symbol from existing customs.  In the 16^th Century (1500s) "X" was mass produced with the advent of the printing press.  “Xmas” was more frequently used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

“X” is the Greek letter Chi (pronounced kai) and is the first letter of the word Christos (Xristos).  Christos is the phonetic form where we receive the title “Christ” (Anointed One).  “X” therefore had for centuries come to abbreviate Xianity, Xians, and Xmas, xtc.  So, as troubling as it has become for the Faithful to see “X-mas,” it’s important to understand this symbol’s origins are as innocent as rendering United States of America thusly: USA.

What's troubling is that Xians continue to lose there understanding of ancient symbols that were intended to be reminders of our faith in Jesus Christ.  In fact we are surrounded by these symbols that often go unnoticed. Or, if we notice, we don’t bother to ask what they mean. 

Examples include Alpha and Omega and Chi and Rho. The former represents Jesus Christ as the Beginning and the End of all things. (Alpha is the beginning of the Greek alphabet, and Omega being the end.)  The latter, “Chi and Rho” are simply the first two letters of Christos.  Perhaps if we abbreviated Christmas thusly “XRmas,” we would be less offended.

We see other uses of alphabetic abbreviation on bibles and altars.  Iota, Heta, and Sigma (Ihs).  These are the first three letters in the Greek name of Jesus ( Ihsous;  pronounced eeyay-soos)  If you look close enough at some altars or processional crosses you’ll find this abbreviation.

Now the point of this article is not to deny that the Christian religion is losing its favor in our society.  In fact I agree that we have turned a corner in America in which secular values (even good values) have supplanted the principles of Xianity on which western culture and our nation were founded.  I lament this truth.  Yet the issue for me is that we as Christians need to be more familiar with our own heritage as Xians and we need to understand that the words “Xmas” or “Christmas” are not what will bring a person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

The reality is that the only people that can take “Christ” out of the world are the people who bear Christ in the world.  If Christ is taken out of Christmas it is because Christians have not properly put Christ into Christmas.  If you and I do not bear Christ throughout the seasons of our lives then we will do little to change the lives of the people around us in this Christmas Season.

As you read this, remember, we Christians are in the Advent Season (what I also call the shopping season.)  

We are to bear Christ whether it’s Christmas or New Year’s, or the Fourth of July.  Be mindful of your Faithful obligation to worship God and be a disciple of Christ whether it’s Christmas, or Easter, or the 11th Sunday after Pentecost? 

Blessings friends,

Fr. Stephen+

How to avoid temptation Volume 16.1 November 2019

"Lead us not into temptation' often means, among other things, 'Deny me those gratifying invitations, those highly interesting contacts, that participation in the brilliant movements of our age, which I so often, at such risk, desire."

--C.S. Lewis-Reflections on the Psalms

Who doesn't appreciate being in the limelight or at least on the side of the limelight?  Who doesn't want to sidle up-to an important figure, a senator? a bishop? a movie star? baseball hero? Taylor Swift?

To say, "I've met someone famous" or more especially, to be the friend of someone famous is alluring.   

You know, I met Brene' Brown once.  I watched her checking into a room at Camp Allen carrying luggage and extra pillows like everyone else.  She's become famous due to her important and extensive research and analysis on the topic of shame.  Her books are helpful and have become best sellers.  She's even in cahoots with Oprah.  And I met her once! (crickets)

There's nothing more annoying than a name dropper.

Let me simply be content with who I am and with what I have in life.  Let me be what God has made me, let me have what God has given me.  So this also goes with cutting edge podcasts and the like.  I've hosted my own podcast for several years now. I've posted over two-hundred sermons over 4 1/2 years.  I don't have much of a following of listeners.

Was I tempted to become a short-sermon sensation? Admittedly, "Yes!"  I had hoped that my sermons would somehow capture people's imagination and they would share and share my podcast until my site went viral.  The same goes for my blog.  But it too has a trickle of readers.

Honestly though.  I am grateful for what I have.  I have God! my family, and St. Peter's.  Who could ask for anything more?

Priorities Volume 15.1 October 2019

Ohhh! Writer’s block…  Something like a brick wall exists between my mind and my fingers as I type.

We’re balancing a lot at St. Peter’s right now.  Y’all have been so patient. We have been so patient waiting for roofing to start and finalizing plans for mold clean up. I’ve learned a new phrase, “Brenham Time.”  You become spoiled, when you are used to contractors bidding for a job and getting right back to you in Houston.  It takes longer to start projects or even to schedule them.  I’m learning the slower pace, and it’s okay.

Coupled with Stewardship and Vestry elections, staffing changes, and really important pastoral duties, I’m sitting here thinking, “What do I write.”   I want to say something positive, holy, inspirational, spiritual. And nothing comes out of my fingers.

Then I remember. Pray, Pray, Pray.  Everything starts with prayer.  Everything!  Prayer is a conversation.  It is a conversation between God and me, between God and you, between God and us. And God initiated the conversation.


Think about this:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1.1-3

The very first act of prayer God speaks and light and life begins.  He started the conversation in the beginning.  He still speaks to us today.  If you don’t hear him through all the white noise and distractions of your daily life I suggest that you stop what you’re doing right now and talk to him.  Put down the pens, keyboards, schedules, and expectations, and talk to God.

You don’t have to use religious words to talk to God, just tell him what’s on your mind.  Tell him you wish things would go a little faster, but you’re willing to wait.  Tell him you wish some things would slow down; Tell him you wish things weren’t as difficult as they seem to be.  Just talk to him.  Or just stop and say, “Our Father who art in heaven…”

So I prayed, and all of this came out.  Oh! And, we need folks to step up for vestry.  Don’t wait to be asked. And we need to increase our revenue…please speak with God about that.

Love to you all,
Fr. Stephen+