Holy Water

There are things that I know are there and, yet, sometimes I forget and find myself surprised to find them.  Such a moment came the other afternoon as I entered the local Episcopal Church for a memorial service. Right there just outside the front door of the sanctuary was the baptismal font.  Unlike some I have seen in many churches of my own denomination, it was filled with water.  The baptismal font was not stuck over in some obscure corner where its empty contents could not be seen.  It was a moment I knew what to do.  It was a moment in which I knew what I wanted to do, but I hesitated since no one else was doing what I wanted to do and I was, after all, not an Episcopalian.  

Finally, I put aside any reason for not doing what I wanted to do and did it.  I put my fingers in that holy water and using my wet fingers, I marked my forehead with the sign of the cross.  Even though my wife could have done the same thing, I asked if I could touch the waters and mark her forehead as I had mine.  What a holy moment fell upon us both!  Actually, the font filled with water was placed at the door of the sanctuary for just such a purpose.  Baptism is that ritual of our choosing to be set apart for the work of the Kingdom of God.  It is something good to remember as we come for worship.

The waters which touch us may dry, but I have always allowed myself to believe that once baptized we are spiritually marked in an indelible way as one who belongs to Christ.  Those of us who are afraid of our worship becoming too formal and structured need to let loose of our fears and allow ourselves to experience the hidden mystery in rituals and practices that have blessed so many through the centuries.  A little extra water will never hurt us.   Instead, it may have healing power for the nurturing of our souls.

Grace for All

One of the most popular and oft sung songs of the church is "Amazing Grace."  It was written in 1772 by John Newton.  At the time the song was written, John Newton was an ordained Anglican priest; however, earlier in his life, he was a captain of a ship hauling slaves out of Africa.  It is hard to imagine a man with such a background writing such a hymn, but then as we read the words it is obvious that Newton is writing about a transformation personally experienced.  Even as it is hard to imagine Saul of Tarsus becoming Paul the Apostle, it is hard to imagine a slave trader becoming a preacher of the gospel.   

We have all known stories of personal transformation.  Jesus is not partial to folks who have a good track record of being moral and living decent lives.  When Jesus was dying on the cross, there was a convicted criminal dying beside him who according to his own words was receiving what he deserved.  As the criminal was dying, he said to Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.  To this thief Jesus said, "Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."  (Luke 23:42-43).  

We do not know the crime of the thief, but we do not need to know.  Jesus knew and it did not matter.   None of us have lived in such a way as to put us outside of God's mercy and grace.  There is nothing in our past which is beyond the forgiveness of God.  Neither is there anyone of us who becomes unfit for Kingdom work because of the things we have done,   God does not forgive us to put us in a heavenly trophy room, but to put us to work as servants who make a difference in His work on this earth.  This is not just true for some, but all and that includes you and me.

A Moment of Blessing

One of the striking things about the worship I experienced yesterday at a local Episcopal Church was the obvious value placed on the Holy Sacrament.  While I knew this tradition is more Table centered than my own denomination, I was still surprised that the Sacrament was offered during this memorial service on a Thursday afternoon. When I was growing up, Communion was offered quarterly and only during my ministry did that practice change to every first Sunday.  

However, there are many churches within the Protestant community who might offer it quarterly, or on Christmas Eve, or maybe, not at all.  One of the things I remember about the years of ministry was an awareness that some folks intentionally stayed home on designated Communion Sundays because, "it wasn't real church."  Even today when the Sacrament is offered, it is more like an afterthought done as quickly as possible to accommodate the hurried mentality of those who come to worship.  Offering the Sacrament midst a long ritual would be unheard of in many of the churches which adorn the landscape of our lives.  

I wish our tradition was more like what I experienced yesterday. The Table was slowly and reverently prepared as we watched, the liturgy was read without any sense of the hurried, and those present were invited to come and kneel at the altar with hands outstretched.  When I returned to my pew I was aware of the organist playing the hymn, "Just as I am, I come to Thee," and my own heart saying, "Sometimes we forget we are hungry and thirsty."  It was a blessed moment for my soul.

Spiritual Kinsmen

Today I went to a memorial service being held at a local downtown Episcopalian Church. A long ago Episcopal friend and priest often reminded me that this tradition and my United Methodist tradition had common spiritual roots.  The Episcopal Church is the American version of the Anglican Church, or the Church of England.  After the Revolutionary War no one wanted to pledge allegiance to anything English so in that moment of change, the Anglican Church in America ceased to exist and the Episcopal Church came into existence.  Of course, John Wesley, the father of Methodism, was an ordained Anglican priest and was until his death; thus, the connection between the two traditions.  We have roots that make us ecclesiastical brothers and sisters.   

One of the more obvious differences is the use of liturgy.  The Episcopal Church is a church much more immersed in liturgy.  Some of the prayers prayed from "The Book of Common Prayer'" are prayers prayed by people we only know as ancestors.  The ritual brings those who use it into a stream of spirituality that has been practiced by the people of God for generations.  It may lack the spontaneity of some of the more modern and contemporary churches where formal is an ugly word, but it also true that many of today's younger worshipers who are living in a world of constant change are finding a safe and comfortable place midst the traditions and rituals that have stood the test of time.   

The pendulum is always swinging.  In the beginning of my years of ministry, most people who attended church went to what might be characterized as mainline denominations and now many mainline churches hide their denominational branding.  It is also true that yesterday's worship was organ and pulpit centered and now the more modern churches depend upon a band with guitars and drums and pulpits have been put into the historical room.  People change.  Churches change. In this world of change, let us remember,   "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8)

The Peace of Christ

Restlessness is something which settles over us causing us to feel like we are walking on uneven ground.  At first it is unidentifiable.  It is not something which can be explained.  It is as if something is floating over us, or even within us.  It is experienced as if our heart is missing a beat or two.   Restlessness often causes us to sense that something is not right though we may not be able to put our finger on it right away.  Restlessness takes away our peace,  Sometimes it slips upon us so quietly that we are unaware of its presence in the beginning.  It is only as it continues, quietly persistent, that we sense its disconcerting power.   

In days when life is turned upside down and we are seeking to make sense of the new world into which we are being thrust, restlessness is likely to become a companion.  There is an uneasiness about it that shatters our sense of well being.  In such moment I am often reminded of a Word Jesus left with us.  In that wonderful and powerful 14th chapter of John where Jesus speaks of so many things which touch our hearts and souls, we hear Him saying, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."  (John 14:27)     

Today as I was revisiting in my mind the storm which has caused such widespread suffering, I spoke with a farmer and heard the anguish in his voice as he talked not just about the financial loss ahead, but the way his heart was broken over a crop not to be harvested.  In those moments I thought about the ritual observed Sunday after Sunday as we look at one another, offer our hand or a hug, and say to another, "The peace of Christ be with you."  Instead of mumbling a few words of meaningless gibberish born out of my sense of inadequacy, I wish I had simply ended our phone call by saying, "The peace of Christ be with you," for such is what he needed and I as well.

Everyday Calling

It is easy to fall prey to the false idea that God's call goes out only to the clergy. The truth it there are no spectators in the Kingdom.  Everyone who says "Yes" to Jesus is called to serve.  Baptism is a public announcement to the world that we are ready to do whatever God calls us to do. Not a one of the twelve disciples were seminary graduates and neither did any of them have aspirations to become one.  Many of them were called from fishing nets to serve Christ.  As we look at the Biblical giants, we see that none were born with a wish that would put them in place of confrontation with the political powers of their world. They would have been content to fish, or to tend sheep, or to take care of sycamore trees.   

The church has at times presented the call of God in such a way that those being called to full time ministry might hear it without engaging the energy of those whose hearts were simply bent toward service for the Christ.  There is too much work that needs to be done in the Kingdom for anyone to think that only an elite group are called.  Everyone is called.  We are all called.  The ministry of the church and the Kingdom is too great not to involve the many instead of the few.   

The question we all need to be asking ourselves is the question which asks God what He has for us to do today.  Or, maybe another possibility is that our morning prayer should include some personal word from us that we are available to do whatever He wants us to do.  "Lord, if there is something You want to get done today and I can help, please know that I am available,"  is a good word to begin each day.  But, there is one more thing.  Once we declare ourselves available to whatever He might call us to do today, we should enter the day full of expectancy and with eyes wide open.