Happy Anniversary to me

I have a friend, who on her birthday, answers each phone call with a joy-filled, “Happy birthday to me!”  It makes me smile.  

Twenty three years ago today I was ordained priest at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church. Happy anniversary to me!
That January day, freeze warnings were out, and folks dear to me traveled over treacherous roads to be there to support me and Christ’s Church. 
The morning was spent with my family folding worship booklets. Early afternoon, some women of the parish gave me a manicure. The children of the parish sang the prelude. The preacher, who had been my spiritual director while I was in seminary, told me to be:
Ready. Willing. Unable. 

Today, this anniversary of being as ready as possible. As willing as I can. Unable to do anything, without God’s help, I started the day at the hospital praying with a parishioner before surgery. Afterwards, I had quiet time in my prayer room at home,  incense lit, preparing to officiate at the burial of a parishioner’s father. I’ll have lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant with the woman who was the chair of the Search Committee that has led me to eighteen years serving as rector of St. Mary’s. 

Praying another year to be ready. To be wiling. To be unable. 


Third Sunday in Advent


At St. Marys’s this past week, our Advent theme was peace will stamp out war. I am mindful of the many kinds of wars we experience, beginning with the wars within ourselves and in our relationships. These are a very good place to begin our stamping out.With Jesus’ help. 

I am reminded today of the variety of weapons we use in our individual wars.   Words.  Apathy. Selfishness. Self-centerness. Greed. Fear. 

Then there are actual physical weapons. 

I have never owned a gun, fired a gun, or even held a gun except a water pistol, which I expect doesn’t count.  The only knives I have are in my kitchen. I have used my hands to injure, I am sorry to say. I am not without sin to be forgiven, that’s for sure 

Because I am not personally a gun owner, I’ve been intentional to listen to parishioners who own and collect guns to help me understand the passion for gun ownership. I do live in Texas, after all. 

In all of our conversations, we have been united in our concern for gun safety although I wouldn’t say we have come to consensus on what that looks like and how to achieve it. Of course, in my experience, if challenges were easy to solve, we’d have already done it. 

I hope we can agree to pray about the violence that leads to all sorts of war.  Then to listen for the answer God invites us to be to that prayer.  

Today is Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath and many parishes will use this litany for the Prayers of the People.   Will you pray with us?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giver of Life and Love, you created all people as one family and called us to live together in harmony and peace. Surround us with your love as we face the challenges and tragedies of gun violence.
For our dear ones, for our neighbors, for strangers and aliens, and those known to you alone, Loving God 
Make us instruments of your peace. 
God of Righteousness, you have given our leaders, especially Barack, our President, our Governor, the members of Congress, the judges of our courts and members of our legislatures, power and responsibility to protect us and to uphold our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For all who bear such responsibility, for all who struggle to discern what is right in the face of powerful political forces, Loving God 
Make us instruments of your peace. 
God of Compassion, we give you thanks for first responders, for police officers, firefighters and EMTs, and all those whose duties bring them to the streets, the lobbies, the malls and the homes where the carnage of gun violence takes place day after day. Give them courage and sound judgment in the heat of the moment and grant them compassion for the victims.
For our brothers and sisters who risk their lives and their serenity as they rush to our aid, Loving God 
Make us instruments of your peace. 
Merciful God, bind up the wounds of all who suffer from gun violence, those maimed and disfigured, those left alone and grieving, and those who struggle to get through one more day. Bless them with your presence and help them find hope.
For all whose lives are forever marked by the scourge of gun violence, Loving God 
Make us instruments of your peace. 
God Who Remembers, may we not forget those who have died, more than 30,000 this year, in the gun violence that we have allowed to become routine. Receive them into your heart and comfort us with your promise of eternal love and care. 
For all who have died, those who die today, and those who will die tomorrow, Loving God 
Make us instruments of your peace. 
God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Empower us to change this broken world and to protest the needless deaths caused by gun violence. Give us power to rise above our fear that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change. 
For your dream of love and harmony, Loving God 
Make us instruments of your peace.
All this we pray in the name of the One who offered his life so that we might live, Jesus the Christ. Amen. 

A Litany for the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath 
written by the Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Episcopal Bishop of Maine

A final note:  if you’ve gotten this far, it means you’ve likely prayed this prayer. I received word that someone in the parish I serve had been offended by this prayer and felt that it was part of a larger political agenda.  Please know. This is a prayer.  I’m still personally figuring out what it means to serve and follow the Prince of Peace and need all of you to help me find my way. I wonder if you do, too. 


Second Monday in Advent: Be

The Society of St. John the Evangelist word today is. BE. 

A good word as I leave from retreat mode, travel on planes from Santa Fe to Denver, stop awhile, then travel from Denver to Redmond, Oregon, hoping to be in Bend for Jonas’ 3rd birthday hug in the morning. 



My retreat Sunday was a glorious day in God’s beauty hiking, drawing, picnicking, labyrinth walking, and celebrating Holy Eucharist with a mountain view. 

Packed up, I’m enjoying a final scone and coffee at Iconik in Santa Fe. Last minutes of retreat and quiet being before the delightful grandma shuffle being begins.  

Be:      Contentment is more about being than about doing, or acquiring, or mastering, or craving, or searching. Contentment is about being satisfied given the limitations of our present life.

-Br. Curtis Almquist


Second Sunday in Advent: A priest on retreat

These annual Advent trips to New Mexico began as vacations. They have transformed into retreats.  They are a rhythm to begin the new liturgical year–full of possibilities and surprises. 

I’ve been to retreats in monasteries, in people’s homes, churches, camp sites. I’ve attended as a retreat leader and facilitator and as a participant. I’ve been on silent retreats and retreats that involved praying through community art. I’ve been on business planning meetings that were called retreats that were really work. 
These Advent retreats in New Mexico have a Benedictine flavor. They are an opportunity for a mindful balance of prayer, reading, walking, conversation and listening, friendship, play, eating, and, always, possibilities and surprises. 
There are fires and hot coffee and tea. There are skies that offer a variety of ever-changing messages throughout today. 
This is the Sunday of my retreat. A rare day to cease to work and to be. Having been able to stay out late on Saturday night enjoying a four hour dinner with friends, I allowed the sun to wake me up this morning.  
Now I am off to the Wild Rivers wilderness to hike and pray and have Communion. 
Possibilities and surprises.