In
October 2008, the Vestry announced that The Rev. D.Wallace Adams-Riley
would become the 15th Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown
Richmond. Wallace, age 38, comes to us from St. John’s Cathedral in
Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as Canon. He began his ordained ministry at Christ
Church in Alexandria. Wallace grew up in Columbia S.C., as one of four
boys. He is married to The Rev. Canon Gena Adams-Riley with whom he has
a four-year-old son named Nelson and newborn son named Fin M'Coul.
Any reflections about what you’ve read here that you’d like to share? A prayer
or poem you’d like to pass along? Please click on the link below to contact our
Rector, the Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley, with your thoughts.
"We need beauty and joy and laughter a much as anything. We
need refreshment. With that in mind, I had planned on writing today about
something less difficult and more beautiful, that is, until the Attorney General
crashed my happy party!
So then, and to be quite serious for a moment,
please read here about the AG's
letter of this week, and please read here about a rally
taking place at noon at VCU. While regrettably I may not be able to attend
the rally, I hope you will consider attending, in the name of, a la our
Baptismal Covenant, seeking and serving Christ in all persons and respecting the
dignity of every human being.
Now then, on with the
beautiful: Last night I finished reading Mary Oliver's "Our World," about her
life with her late partner "M.," who died just a few years ago..."
Over 1,000 people turned out today for the rally Wallace+ mentions above, including some people from St. Paul's. Afterward, hundreds of students walked from the VCU Commons to Capitol Square to peacefully and lawfully bring their message of inclusion, equality, and justice to the General Assembly.
Beautiful, indeed.
Update: March 11, 2010
Service members recently deployed to Iraq talk about why they participated in yesterday's rally against discrimination.
If you don't already know, the action being described is the Attorney General's letter to Virginia's universities and colleges that they can not include sexual orientation among the classes protected from descrimination.
As one parishioner said to me, it's one thing to stand up to the Westboro gang, when they show up in town, but what about standing up to Virginians and Virginia's elected leaders when their conduct poses a threat to the dignity of God's children?
There's only one good answer to that question.
Click on Read More for ways Richmonders can stand up for the dignity of God's children courtesy of students at Virginia Commonwealth University and Equality Virginia.
Today, organizers of the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (March 7 - 13) released a strong statement of support by The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. She writes:
"In the United States, HIV/AIDS has lost much of its visibility in the past decade as we have grown complacent about the threat of this disease. Certainly, as we head into this vital week of prayer, there is much to pray for and many to hold in our hearts.
"I would remind churches in The Episcopal Church and beyond that it isn't always immediately apparent who in our communities is suffering from HIV/AIDS; the stigma of this disease has, at times, alienated those who are in need of our love and support. As Christians, our ministry to those living with HIV/AIDS is to be a balm in the midst of suffering, and to empower and connect our own suffering with that of the wider world. I pray that March 7-13 will be a time when our spirits are stirred and our bodies strengthened for the vital work at hand."
This Sunday, the sermon, prayers, and music during our worship will focus on the week of prayer. Our Lenten preacher next week, The Rev. Dr. Jim Forbes, Senior Minister Emeritus of Riverside Church in New York City, was an early supporter of the week of prayer, which started over twenty years ago.
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ writes about the atmosphere at the Virginia Holocaust Museum and VCU Commons yesterday. He concludes with a prayer for the human family from the Book of Common Prayer:
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I'm having a great time enjoying the hospitality of the fine folks at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and it seems like I haven't scared them too much yet. We're spending the week reading Gospel passages and exploring what it might mean for us to live a radical Gospel...The Gospel in the Twenty-First Century is our theme.
Today we read the story from John Chapter 2, the story of Jesus turning over the tables of the money changers in the Temple during Passover. And we talked about when our faith might possibly call upon us to protest.
Then, right after the noon service, we headed over to Virginia Commonwealth University to do just that. Westboro Baptist Church was in town today, picketing the Holocaust Museum, among other sites. Their message is a spewing of hatred and bigotry, and objecting to it was reason enough to protest for sure.
Rector of St. Paul's, Wallace Adams-Riley, joined other clergy from all over the Richmond area to stand in solidarity against hatred preached in the name of Jesus Christ. How wonderful to talk about the call to protest, then go right out and do it . . . a Gospel with feet.
(I want a cool collar like that.)
Editor's Note: A St. Paul's newcomer weighs in... after the jump. Click to read more.
Timely. Relevant. Heart. Soul. And a little bit of WWJD? (What Would
Jesus Do?) Those are some of the criteria Wallace+ uses when writing
and posting to this blog. To continue making this a place worth
visiting, Wallace+ has begun inviting "guest bloggers" to post in this
space. In his first such ask, he decided to approach Bonnie Anderson,
President of the House of Deputies, who kicked off our 2010 Lenten Preaching season. Below is Ms. Anderson's kind and gracious post, written for the
people of St. Paul's.
Being at St. Paul's:
Reflections from a Lenten Preaching Series Preacher
There was not one thing they missed in preparing me. Except, of course, to tell me how welcome I would feel. In retrospect that makes perfect sense, given the refreshing, palpable humility that beats like a healthy heart just under the surface of this thriving congregation.
Not one person walked by without greeting me. Some stopping to ask if I needed anything ("Yes, may I please bundle you all up, take you with me and sprinkle you around the Episcopal Church.....)
But it was more than just hospitality. It was also sense of purpose; of knowing to whom they belong; of knowing that they are marked as Christ's own forever and that they have promises to keep because of it.
The Lenten Preaching Series is a gem. All the ingredients of community are there. People are listening, reflecting discussing, sharing a meal, building relationships, singing, praying. "Shine in our Hearts, Lord Jesus"!!
As announced last week, St. Paul's Episcopal Church urges our members to join in promoting a message of tolerance and inclusion at tomorrow's rally at 1:30 pm at the VCU Student Commons. We know that some of you, including our Rector, also plan to stand in solidarity with the Virginia Holocaust Museum in the morning. Below is an update, cross-posted from the Web site of the Gay Community Center of Richmond, with more information about both of these events.
Cross-Posted from the Gay Community Center of Richmond
The LGBT and faith groups decided to endorse a rally at VCU organized by VCU Hillel, Queer Action and Men Against Violence in response to the upcoming protests. "The VCU community stands for, and promotes diversity and we thrive on how well we work together'" say the organizers. "This is an opportunity to make a stand against hate and discrimination as one." The rally will be held at the VCU Commons at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 2nd. This rally was endorsed by the LGBT and faith groups as the most effective way to promote a message of tolerance and inclusion without engaging the Westboro Baptist Church members directly. The rally is being promoted with its own Facebook page: (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=325327553042&ref=mf) (Facebook membership required.) Information will also be updated on GayRichmond.com.
These groups are also lending their support to the Virginia Holocaust Museum in its efforts to counter Westboro's plans to protest at this solemn memorial to the millions murdered by intolerant bigots. Jay Ipson, President and Executive Director of the museum has announced an 11:00 a.m. gathering Tuesday at the museum where supporters will be briefed in advance of the announced 11:45 a.m. arrival of Westboro Baptist Church members. Ipson asks that supporters do not bring signs, and that each commit to no personal engagement with any WBC picketers. He says of our community's efforts, "We would appreciate your numbers standing shoulder to shoulder with us." Also, the Virginia Interfaith Center has organized an online "Phelps-a-Thon," to benefit the museum in which they're asking supporters to make a donation for every minute the protesters picket outside the museum. (https://secure3.convio.net/faith/site/Donation2?df_id=1500&1500.donation=landing)
This week, I write to you from the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes in Austin, Texas. Yet, the news is not here, but it's in Richmond, Virginia. As you have no doubt heard, a group devoted to hate -- of the LGBT community, those of the Jewish faith, and so many others -- has decided to come to Richmond on Tuesday, March 2.
They claim their hatred is rooted in God, but it is no such thing. And as it is St. Paul's mission to proclaim Christ in the heart of the city, it is our responsibility to proclaim Christ's gospel of all-consuming, all-powerful love for all of God's people. As the Executive Director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum, Jay Ipson, put it: It's not about hating our neighbors; it's about loving our neighbors.
Your clergy and a number of lay leaders plan to attend the anti-hate rally at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the VCU Commons that is supported by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. I invite all of you who are downtown or who can get downtown to please join us in this affirmation that God -- by whatever name we give our God -- is about love and compassion.
In case you missed it, on Tuesday of this week the Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial page published "Ministry: Lent at St. Paul's." In it, the board described their recent meeting with our first Lenten preacher this season, Bonnie Anderson, as the "most compelling interview" they have conducted in three decades. That is saying something! They also had this to say about her appearance:
[Anderson] visited Richmond to participate in the Lenten programs sponsored by St. Paul's, the venerable church across from Virginia's Capitol. Lent at St. Paul's is a Richmond tradition that includes lunches, music, and sermons by guest preachers. The spirit is ecumenical. The speakers are not limited to Episcopalians but represent diverse faiths. Anderson's appearances made history as she became the first lay person in some 25 years to receive the honor of preaching during the series.
Greetings from Austin, Texas! Due to some technical difficulties yesterday, Wallace's latest Word from Grace Street didn't go out until today but it's as thought-provoking as ever. In it, he writes about Diocesan Council on Saturday and why he spoke in support of ordaining (non-celibate) gay and lesbian people and blessing same-sex unions. Wallace+ writes:
"An essential question is: How long do you ask someone to wait for what is rightfully theirs? Dr. King's "Letter from the Birmingham Jail" comes to mind (which, in case you haven't read it in a few years, demands re-reading).
"God meets us in the present, and God calls forth from us, in the present, courage and determination and faithfulness, and much more; and he gives us what we need to do his will. Some things must be defered; others must not. And, when it comes to weighty moral matters involving the dignity of God's children, any time delay is suggested, we best be skeptical, very skeptical."
In January, I blogged of how Hate Begets Hate in reference to a Ugandan bill to kill its citizens who are gay. That bill, authorizing genocide, is now law.
Pastor Rick Warren has spoken of "not taking sides" in the political life of other countries. Parker is dead right that "it is in certain cases extreme, unjust, and un-Christian not to [take sides]."
Please consider calling and/or writing the President and our/your representatives in Congress and telling them so. This is a time to take sides. No doubt, that's what Jesus would do.
White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213
U.S. Capitol Switchboard
(202) 224-3121
Ask for your senators' and representative's office.
"Our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about things that matter."
- The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This Sunday at 4 pm, Good Shepherd Baptist Church will host our annual joint MLK "I Have a Dream" Celebration with our congregations, the staff and students at Woodville Elementary School, and others in the community. It will be a great celebration, as befits a tribute to one of the world's most inspiring leaders, a man who gave his life in the name of bringing about a more just and loving society.
Equally as important a tribute to Dr. King's legacy -- though more solemn -- is the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (March 7 - 13). Earlier today I had the opportunity to attend and address a gathering of
Richmond Faith Leaders committed to this week of prayer. Dr. King's words echoed
throughout the morning's session, which was organized by
The Balm in Gilead.
Please mark your calendars for Sunday, March 7, when faith communities
across America, including St. Paul's, will speak and pray with one
voice about something that matters so very much: the healing of AIDS.
As the
40 days and 40 nights of Lent continue, let us keep on our minds and in
our prayers God's children living with HIV in Richmond, as well as in
our partner parish of St. Andrew's, in Mwitikira, Tanzania, where so
many children have been orphaned by AIDS. There is hope for a brighter
future, but there are many who have not yet received the balm in Gilead. The work goes on.
Welcome to Lent. Below is my homily for today, Ash Wednesday. With prayers for a holy and life-giving Lent.
+
Each summer my family and I spend a week in Vermont, in the beautiful little town of Woodstock, where my wife Gena grew up, and where her parents still live. Along with taking long, leisurely walks, and meals at our favorite spots in the area, there are also a number of shops that we are always sure to visit.
One establishment, at which we make an annual stop, is a novelty shop situated right in the heart of town. We rarely buy anything, but it's always fun to go, to see the kitsch, the colorful curiosities of all sorts.
Well, the cards they sell are always of interest, and there was one card in particular, I'll never forget: on the card is a picture of the most adorable little puppy you can imagine, leaning right up into the camera, with big, bright eyes, and with the sweetest, most plaintive look on his face; with the following words underneath, "Oops, sorry I pooped on your stuff."
Gena and I practically fell over laughing at the time, right there in the store...
The opinion section of today's Richmond Times-Dispatch features an article by Wallace+ about Lent and Ash Wednesday. It appears as part of "Religious Literacy," the paper's series on issues relating to faith. Wallace+ writes:
"Ash Wednesday is a day when we are
especially aware of our creatureliness and mortality; and it begins a
season of reflection and prayer, of rethinking and re-examining; a
season to prepare for a change, a transformation, even a rebirth.
. . .
"This day also marks the beginning of our Lenten Preaching Series at
St. Paul's, a downtown Richmond tradition dating back over 100 years.
While our theme this year is "A Gospel for the 21st Century," our hope
every year is that this offering is a way for Richmonders to know and
experience afresh the deeply human and ageless spiritual need to get in
touch with -- and to get back in touch with -- the presence of the
Divine in our lives and in the world, as we each move through the
seasons, both natural and spiritual, of our lives."
As I imagine you have heard or read about by now, last week the Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill outlawing the forcible implantation of microchips in people's bodies. The bill's sponsor explained to the Washington Post that the chips might well be the "mark of the beast" spoken of in the book of Revelation, which in turn would be used by the Antichrist at the end of days. When I told a good friend of mine (not a Virginia resident) about this, he said, "How dumb do they think the Antichrist is?!"
As they say, you can't make this stuff up. (I have laughed out loud several times this week thinking about my friend's remark, which, needless to say, he meant tongue-in-cheek.)
Meanwhile the NRA is winning the day (yet another day) on Capitol Square, and we slide further away from responsible gun policy (see last week's post re the senate committee hearing I attended).
Yet we must not despair, as despair gets us nowhere. And, while indeed government often disappoints, on the other hand, as Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried."
So then, let us pray for our elected leaders, for good sense and for courage. And let us pray, as well, for guidance as to what part we ourselves have to play in the questions of our day.
If you didn't see it, or even if you did, I recommend Sunday's "Nelson Mandela's Captive Audience," in the "Week in Review" section of the New York Times.
"....the victory of dignity and hope over despair and hatred, of self- discipline and love over persecution and evil..."
I was especially taken by the first entry in this collection
of short essays. Jack Mapanje's words hold a special poignancy for me,
personally, as I lived in Malawi during the Banda regime. I was an
innocent adolescent boy, the son of the American Anbassador. And, on
reading his words, I can't help but think about and feel the
weightiness of the choices that we Americans make by allying ourselves
with this or that regime. I was an innocent American boy; and yet, I
wasn't. By virtue of my country's alliance with a dictatorial regime,
my hands--a boy's hands--weren't clean--though they should have been;
as every child's hands should be.
Lord, guide us in these weighty matters. Give us courage, and help us
to make the most humane choices we can make. And, on this the 20th
anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from unjust imprisonment, may
you inspire each of us to be, in our own way, a little more like him.
Today I made my way over to a senate committee hearing room to
testify in support of a bill to close the "gun show loophole." If you
are not familiar with this issue, I urge you to educate yourself.
Following is the testimony I would have given had I been allowed to
testify. As it turns out, the bill didn't make it that far, but,
instead, was pulled for lack of support. The politics involved were,
in a word, disheartening. That being said, I believe in the cause as
much as ever; in fact, all the more so.
Please think and pray on this. It's the right thing to do. It's what, I have no doubt, Jesus would do.
Excerpt
My son recently joined me on his first hunt. There were three
generations of our family with us, hunting on land that my family has
owned and hunted since before this country was founded. My son is only
four years old. While, of course, it will still be a few years before
he actually discharges a firearm, my son, like his father, won't be
able to remember a time when guns were not a part of his life. And
there will be a day when I hand onto him the shotguns that my father
and grandfathers gave to me. In the meantime, I look forward to many
hunts together.
Now, all of that said, by the time I hand those guns onto my son,
there is no good reason why we, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, should
not have come round to a more sensible and responsible approach to
guns, and gun policy.
Click read more for the full remarks and more information about gun shows and illegal gun trafficking.
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ can't get Pat Robertson's "repugnant" assertion about Haiti entirely out of mind. He explains why Robertson's theology is no more sound than a snow theology that says God made it snow on Sundays to give Richmonders a chance to sleep in.
Why has God snowed out Sunday services (some of them, anyway) at churches around Richmond for three of the last ten Sundays? Is God giving us a few Sundays off? "Richmonders," saith the Lord, "you deserve a little extra sleep, a few slow Sunday mornings. Relax; don't worry about getting down on your knees. In fact, put your feet up. You're doing just fine."
No, of course not. And yet Pat Robertson's pronouncement, a few weeks ago, about Haiti--in effect that, with the earthquake, Haiti got what it had coming--is no more sophisticated or, for that matter, sound.
Robertson has said that kind
of thing before. On hearing something like that, a part of me
wants to just shake it off, give it little attention, and move on. Keep it positive! Right?!...
On the other hand, I haven't been able to put Robertson's statement
entirely out of my mind, and a part of me wonders whether it is one of those
moments to call a spade a spade, in the name of distinguishing between, again,
sound and unsound theology; that is, dare I say, Christian and un-Christian
theology.
Surely a part of proclaiming
the Gospel is, at times, saying what's not
Gospel.
As far as I am concerned, Garrison Keillor is one those voices out there, in the wild blue yonder, most worth listening to. I recommend, in particular, two recent podcasts of his "News from Lake Wobegone," namely the ones for 11/21/09 and 1/16/10.
Keillor is, if you don't already happen to know, a story teller par excellance. You'll find in these two pieces the wit he is known for, as well as a human depth and warmth; and a spirituality as rich and compelling as any sermon I have ever heard. The closing lines, in both instances, are worth memorizing and meditating upon.
May God bless Garrison Keillor, and may God bless you.
Special thanks to Liz Whitehurst for submitting this wonderful photo of Margaret Benson and her art work to the "Smoke and Scales" blog of the Maggie Walker Governor's School PTSA.
Margaret, a visual arts student at Maggie Walker, donated this
beautiful drawing to the Youth Center at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on
Sunday, January 10. Her work was inspired by the people and children of
Mwitikira, Tanzania, and symbolizes the $20,000 the St. Paul’s youth
group raised to feed children from that
village who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.
On Friday, the RTD published a heartwarming column by Bill Lohman about how our own Jane Baird (a member of St. Paul's Vestry) finally met the woman with whom she has corresponded for over six decades. Titled "Pen pals since 5, pair meet at last -- at 70," this story will put a smile on your face.
Pictured below, Jane shares a laugh with her long-time pen pal, Peggy Rasberry of Jackson, TN. Photo by Lindy Keast Rodman for the Times-Dispatch.
Due to the snowy weather, St. Paul's Episcopal Church will offer a single combined service at 11:15 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, February 7. All other activities are canceled.
As with last week, we encourage you to be cautious. We welcome all to worship with us, but we also want you to make wise decisions and play it safe. 511 Central VA, a service of the Virginia Department of Transportation, has information about road conditions, as well as alternative ways to travel without a car. Information is available through the 511VA.org Web site (best viewed in Internet Explorer) and a toll-free 511 phone service.
Send In Your Snow Photos!
Last week, you posted some great photos of the snow (and fun in the snow) to Facebook. Below are a couple of the uploads. Once again, we encourage you to share your images on the St. Paul's Facebook Page. Instructions are available here.
On
Sunday,
I preached about the hard question of "why?" that confronts us
whenever evil occurs; evil like the earthquake that ravaged Haiti and
has claimed over 200,000 lives to date. Why would an all-loving and
all-powerful God allow suffering? We
ask this question, though there really is no good explanation, not in
this life, anyway. It is, of course, the love -- the Christ manifested
in our response to the evil -- that
matters. While we should (and will) question, the questions must never
keep us from doing what love demands. (You can listen to the full sermon here.)
Your response to
our appeal for funds to support Episcopal Relief & Development's
work in Haiti was swift and generous. Now discussions are underway
about a service trip to Haiti. As we think of what love
demands, the question is not 'if' but 'when?' We are already seeking
counsel from those agencies on the ground about when Haiti will be
ready for the massive influx of unskilled volunteers that is to come. If you are
interested in participating in this mission, which we expect will take
place early next year, please speak with me or contact Bryan Appel at bappel@stpauls-episcopal.org.
As we
continue to follow developments in Haiti, may God help us to keep our attention
on the call to love, and may God guide us as we prepare the way for doing what
that love -- Christ's love -- demands.
File under "being awake!" St. Paul's is now a partner in the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (March 7 - 13, 2010). This nationwide movement is organized by "The Balm in Gilead,"
a faith-based organization focused on HIV/AIDS that is headquartered in Richmond. As part of our involvement, worship on Sunday, March 7 will focus on the healing of
AIDS. Last week, a
Web site about the week of prayer -- now in its 21st year --
launched. As a national interfaith leader, Wallace+ provided a statement urging even more faith communities to join.
Excerpt below, full statement after the jump.
"I encourage my brothers and sisters
in Richmond and beyond to also sign on for this year's week of prayer
if they haven't already. The deadly virus that causes HIV is color
blind. It doesn't care if we're in a so-called red state or blue state
or purple state. It doesn't worry if we've been kind and generous or
cruel and greedy. It knows no mercy. People of faith (and those who have not yet found faith) must
offer a united front against HIV/AIDS, help those living with it, and
together combat the systemic injustices that stand in the way of access
to preventative education and care."
Following is a prayer written by the Rev. Ted Ferris, who served as Rector of Trinity, Copley Square, in Boston, for 30 years. A friend and fellow priest shared it with me just today. A fitting prayer for us as individuals, and well as for us as the Diocese of Virginia, at the start of a new and promising chapter in our lives. Dear Lord, lead us on!..
"Lord, if it is you, ask me to come to you on the water." And Jesus said, "come."
O God, give us the will and the desire to launch out into deep waters, and to aim for goals that are high and difficult; make us responsive to great things when they call us; when our own powers are inadequate, show us where to turn for the help we need. These things we ask in trust and confidence in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
That's how I'd sum up my experience of Diocesan Council this weekend.
The service of investiture on Friday was simply magnificent.
Liturgies like that happen only once in a long while. The church was
suffused with light and brimming with people, over a thousand. The
music, led by Ellen Johnston, the Bishop's wife, was exquisite, as was the Presiding Bishop's sermon.
The PB was warm, accessible, disarming, and commanding, all at once,
preaching a compelling call to mission and to reliance upon the grace
of God. And Bishop Shannon was as gracious and as joyfully empassioned
as ever. His kind and welcoming words to and about his predecessor,
the Twelfth Bishop of Virginia, the Right Reverend Peter James Lee,
were particularly affecting. And then we adjourned to the parish house
for a celebratory feast. It was a great day for St. Paul's, for the
Diocese, for the Church at large, and for the world to whom the Church
ministers.
The Council, abbreviated due to the coming snow, was defined primarily by...
The latest issue of The Epistle, St. Paul's monthly newsletter, is
now available to read online. Hard copies are also available to pick up at
church in both the Narthex and Gathering Space.
Due to the snowy weather, St. Paul's Episcopal Church will offer a single combined service at 11:15 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, January 31.
We have CANCELED the following activities: Sabbath Retreat, Parish Breakfast, Adult Forum, Bible Study, Children's Church School, Parents' Book Group, and Children's Choir Rehearsal, as well as services at 7:45 and 9 am.
We welcome all to worship with us, but we also want you to make wise decisions and play it safe in light of the weather conditions. 511 Central VA, a service of the Virginia Department of Transportation, has information about road conditions, as well as alternative ways to travel without a car. Information is available through the 511VA.org Web site (best viewed in Internet Explorer) and a toll-free 511 phone service.
On Thursday, in response to "No Good Guys & Bad Guys," St. Paul's parishioner Gene Harris sent the following email that I'd like to share (with permission, of course):
Your description of the British soldier reminds me of something Lee Marvin once said when asked how he managed to play all those "bad guys" in the movies. He replied "Me? I don't play bad people. I play people struggling to get through their day, doing the best they can with what life's given them. Others may think they're bad, but no, I never play bad people." That's why he was so good at playing all those "bad guy" roles. He deeply understood his characters.
Just tryin' to get through the day...
Gene Harris
Gene added that the story about Marvin (pictured) is from a book about screenwriting called "Story" by Robert McKee.
Today, St. Paul's Episcopal Church hosted the Recognition and Investiture of The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston as the 13th Bishop of Virginia. Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, officiated the service and delivered a moving sermon.
She reminds us: "It's not worth buying the bread of anxiety when you can choose this bread for free."
February 24, March 3 & March 10
7:00 - 8:00 pm in the Norwood Room
Why does our church look the way it does? Why would St. Paul feel at home here? What role did the ancient poet Callimachus play in the appearance of our building? What does the Horologion of Andronicus have to do with us?
There are no good guys and bad
guys. There are only guys. That is, there are only human beings: Human beings with choices to make, choices which have
consequences, consequences with which we must reckon, one way or the other. Some of the choices we make are admirable,
some are abominable, and we are better for recognizing the character of those
choices for what they truly are. That
being said, God save us from cartoonish talk, and cartoonish ideas, about one
another, talk and ideas that do not account for the fullness of our humanity,
as imperfect as that humanity is.
We are all human beings.
We are all God's children. And
God would have us look on one another through his eyes; with, eyes wide open,
yes, as well as with kindness, with generosity, and with compassion. Only then can we be delivered from slavery,
from war, and from a host of other evils by which, otherwise, we dehumanize one
another and ourselves.
This is no more and no less true today than it ever
was. And anyway, as Faulkner said, "The
past is not dead. It's not even past."
I hope you've taken the time to read the lead article in Sunday's RTD,
by Michael Paul Williams and Karin Kapsidelis, the first in a series on
the coming 150th anniversay of the Civil War and the end of American
slavery. It is well worth a read, or reread.
May God guide us as we seek "to find truthful common ground in telling
the story of Richmond's complicated past." As Ben Campbell says, "The
question is not merely 'Do we want to uncover our history?,' but 'Do we
want to be a great city?'"
Excerpt:
In the years since the end of the Civil
War and emancipation, neither blacks nor whites were willing to talk
openly about what truly happened here. Richmond's story has been
treated as an embarrassing family secret, to be told in furtive
whispers or spun in exalted myths.
But Richmond shows signs of awakening from what University of
Richmond President Edward L. Ayers terms "America's amnesia" about its
slave-trading past.
And while this next chapter remains unwritten, some key leaders see
a story emerging that moves from denial toward truth and reconciliation.
Reminded me of my favorite Buechner quote..."All the dark there ever was set next to light would scarcely fill a cup." And in Godric Buechner changes it a bit..."All the dark there ever was set next to the light of Christ would scarcely fill a cup."
While Richmond and Port-au-Prince are a world apart from each other in
some respects (i.e., the particulars of our stories), among the lessons
we Virginians can take from Haiti is the following: our future is
contingent upon how honestly, and with what courage and integrity, we
reckon with our history. The sesquicentennial of the Civil War
is bearing down on us, of course, presenting us Richmonders with a rich
and new opportunity to reckon with our past in a fresh way, a way that
transcends the tired old polarities and opens up a renewed,
strengthened sense of common humanity and our shared community.
If we Christians are about anything, we are about reconciliation. And this is too big an opportunity for reconciliation for us to pass up.
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ reflects on a topic not typically seen referenced on this blog: hell. Indeed, the topic only recently came up in a post about giving Satan a holiday. So what prompted this turn of events? Wallace explains:
"And that 'peace' will take us straight to
hell." I hadn't planned
on saying it, but... regardless, it was now said...
And while I had a
moment, after the fact, of wondering if I had let my emotions throw me off
kilter (i.e., did I speak in a way that wasn't really a true reflection of what
I believe?), the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had in fact
spoken what I do indeed believe.
+
In the Episcopal
Church (as in "mainline churches" in general), we don't spend a lot of time
talking about hell. And that's probably, for the most part, a good thing.
However, I'm not sure it's entirely a good thing.
"Hey, Give Satan a Holiday," by Kathleen Parker is worth reading. She reflects on recent, post-earthquake comments by Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson. If Haiti won't bring clear-headedness, you have to wonder what will.
Excerpt:
"Surely, there should be the occasional time and place when
circumstances transcend the usual and free us from the race-baiting and
ignorance-pandering panhandling that characterizes so much of American
politics: When God and Satan are given a holiday from the news cycle.
When a president can be granted the pure motives of a good nation. When
science isn't an insult to the divine and no demon earns credit for
human misery. Haiti is one of those places. Now should be one of those times."
Today, St. Paul's hosted its 2nd
Annual Interfaith
Service of Prayer & Music. Organized in conjunction
with the Virginia Interfaith Center, this service was an open
invitation to residents of all political persuasions to come
together in prayer for our democracy and elected leaders. For those who
could not be with us, audio of the prayers is below for you to listen
to and offer in your own time. To help you follow along, click here to download the order of service bulletin.
AUDIO: Prayers for Our City, Commonwealth, Nation, and World
"Mrs. Gies was the last surviving member of Anne Frank's protectors. Their collective story is an enduring reminder that human beings always have a choice, even when millions were acceding to unspeakable evil."
Indeed, we always have choices. May God
guide us in the choices we make, day by day. May God give us courage.
In addition to offering prayers, this Sunday we will take up a special offering for the Haiti Relief Fund of Episcopal Relief and Development, the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. In the meantime, you can send checks directly to St. Paul's Episcopal Church (815 East Grace Street) with a note in the memo section that says "Haiti Relief Fund."
St. Paul's Episcopal Church has also established a disaster relief fund and from that fund we will match whatever offerings are made in response to this call, so that your $25 donation will equal $50.
As further plans develop, we will coordinate our efforts with the Diocese of Virginia and Episcopal Relief and Development.
As I trust you have heard by now, there were a series of devastating
earthquakes in Haiti yesterday. There are reports that the capital of
Port-au-Prince has been destroyed. Please join me in offering prayers
for the people of Haiti. Following is one prayer that you might offer,
adapted with permission from a prayer by the Rev. Chip Stokes of St.
Paul's Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, FL:
Holy God, source of life, lover of souls, out of the depths we call
to you; in the face of incomprehensible anguish and sorrow, we lift the
cries of our distress and implore you to show mercy upon those who are
suffering from the devastating earthquakes in Haiti. We pray for those
who have died and for their loved ones who grieve, asking you to hold
them in the arms of your love; we pray for those who have been injured
in body, mind, or spirit and ask you to heal them; we pray for those
who are homeless and wandering, for families torn asunder, and ask you
to shelter them. Strengthen the hands and hearts of those who assist in
relief efforts and grant us all firm resolve to stand with our
neighbors who are in need, to love them, and to offer our generous
support of them in this their time of trouble; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and
forever. Amen
Amen.
An injured man carries his deceased daughter after the earthquake.
Photo by Eduardo Munoz-REUTERS
Ted Olson, a self-described "politically active, lifelong republican,"
has a message for members of his party who oppose marriage equality for
same-sex couples. In an article titled "The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage," published in Newsweek over the weekend, Olson writes about why he joined forces with David Boies to invalidate California's Proposition-8 (the case began on Monday of this week).
Ted Olson: 'Why I Took This Case'
From Olson's Article
"We encourage couples to marry because the commitments they make to one
another provide benefits not only to themselves but also to their
families and communities. Marriage requires...
Excerpt:
"... when religious institutions exclude women from their hierarchies and
rituals, the inevitable implication is that females are inferior. The
Elders are right that religious groups should stand up for a simple
ethical principle: any person’s human rights should be sacred, and not
depend on something as earthly as their genitals."
Video:
Graça Machel: Traditional practices put women in positions of inferiority
"For too long, tradition and the distortion of religious values have
been used as an excuse to mistreat, and discriminate against, women and
girls across the world."
I hope you've seen our own Ken Seward's op-ed in yesterday's RTD. Blessings on him and on the students of The Steward School. I can only imagine that Dr. King would be pleased.
Last month, I was struck by two stories Jenny Bliley (St. Paul's Social Worker) shared during a Faith in Action board meeting. I asked if she could write them up for this blog. Below is what she wrote on December 14, just a few days before our Emmaus Walk-In Holiday meal.
"I wanted to give something back." A woman who I did not recognize
came up to me a couple of weeks ago during our Emmaus meal and said
that she had something for me. I said, "Great! What is it?" She said I
wanted to bring you these things because my son and I are doing well
now and I wanted to give something back. In her hands were three bags
of new gloves and hats that she wanted to be given out to the other
guests. I asked her if she had attended our lunch program before and
she said yes a couple of times. She did not come back the next week and
I did not get her name but she truly showed a great example of living
out your faith and giving back when you have received.
"Wise beyond his years." Another
example of giving has been a young boy named Mike who is 13 and his
desire to volunteer for Emmaus and work with the homeless. He has
muscular dystrophy and he uses a wheelchair to get around. He had been
talking to his mother about his desire to help the homeless. His mother
found out about our program on the internet and called me. They have
been...
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Brit Hume criticized golfer Tiger Woods' Buddhist faith and opined that Woods should become a Christian if he wants redemption. In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ reflects on Hume's judgment, writing:
Who are we to say how God can operate? Who are we to say how forgiveness and redemption might be known?
I am a Christian, and I know (to a certain extent, anyway) how God operates in my life. And I am happy to share my faith with anyone; and I believe that I am called to do so. However, as a wise friend and fellow priest once said to me, "We're in sales, not management."
Two posts I wrote yesterday presented an interesting juxtapositon, the more I thought about it: on the one hand I was celebrating inner-directedness, the importance of listening to the voice within, if you will; and then, on the other hand, I called for voices to be raised
in opposition to the brutal, anti-gay legislation that is being
considered in Uganda. So which is it? If we are to listen to the
voice within (conscience, wisdom, the Holy Spirit, whatever we might be
inclined to call it), then what role do the voices without (on the
outside) have to play?
In a word, our hope is that the voices without (outside) will help us
hear the voice within. This is the role of the witness, the one who
witnesses to the truth. And, particularly, this is the role of the
prophet, of the wise man, of the wise woman. Of course the question is
which voices are trustworthy? That is, which voices are in harmony
with the Voice within, the Voice that speaks Truth in the hearts of all
God's children?
There is no simple answer, of course. There is no quick fix, as much as we desire it. That said, I do believe that...
A few days ago, as it happens, I wrote a post entitled
"Compassion Begets Compassion." Well, sadly, the dark opposite is
equally true, as real life tells us; if we're paying any attention. In
today's NYT, there is an editorial on legislation now being considered in Uganda, law that would impose the death penalty for homosexual behavior. As the editorial says, this truly is barbaric. Barbaric.
Our
government, and every government, and the UN, and faith communities
around the globe, should join in condemning the legislation. And there
should be consequences for the Ugandan government if they pass the law
(e.g., loss of foreign aid).
And, as for those three Americans
(see editorial), I would suggest that they go back to Uganda to deliver
in person their own condemnation of the legislation. Their innocent
pleas, otherwise, cannot be taken seriously. Their hands are not clean,
and they will not be made clean so easily.
Yes, hate begets hate,
just as compassion begets compassion, just as moral cowardice begets
moral cowardice, and just as moral courage begets moral courage.
Three months (or so) ago, I wrote, in "A Word from Grace Street," about
inner-directedness. Yesterday I listened to a podcast of the 12-29-09 broadcast of NPR's "Fresh Air"
and was rather surprised to hear Woodly Allen on inner-directedness. It
was an interesting interview in general, but what I found most
compelling was his answer to Terry Gross' question, whether he cared
what people thought about his personal life. His answer was excellent:
"If I say I don't
care, it sounds so cold and callous, but, let me put it this way: How
could you go through life taking direction from the outside world? I
mean, what kind of life would you have if you made your decissions
based on the outside world and not what your inner dictates told you?
You would have a very inauthentic life."
Whatever one may think of Allen's life... click read more for the full post.
If you didn't see it (or even if you did), I recommend to you Ben Campbell's op-ed from Christmas Eve. It's worth reading (or rereading) any day of the year.
"Christmas is a festival that
celebrates God's love for every human being. There are no distinctions
here of race or class, religion or gender. There is no status here.
This is a humble beginning." -- The Rev. Ben Campbell
Well, it's a new day and a new year! In this month's Epistle newsletter (available online),
I write about the importance of three sentences: 'Thank you,' 'I'm
sorry,' and 'I love you.' In this New Year, as we consider how this
year might be different from the last, are there times and places and
relationships where we might make more use of those words? We need to
nurture our relationships with others, within our parish community, and
with God. We need to take care of ourselves, physically and
emotionally. And, we need to take better care of our planet, this
creation God has given us.
There are some compelling articles in this month's newsletter that touch on these themes. I commend to you the Rev. Kate Jenkins' article about God's peace and good will coming to life in us; Susan Brooks' reflection about her experience at Project Homeless Connect; Karyn Horne's insight into the satisfaction of serving on the Altar Guild; and Scott Sirles' column about God's presence in his vocation. I hope you enjoy these articles as much as I did!
The biblical scholar (and the priest) will tell us that kairos is the Greek (and the theological term) for "God's time," as opposed to chronos, clock time. As I found out recently... the rhetoritician will tell us that, in the discipline of rhetoric, kairos means "opportune moment," as in "that window of opening where a rhetor can move whoever is listening/reading."
I love it.
Of course, kairos is both "God's time" and "an opportune moment."
Later in the message, Wallace+ quotes from the poem "A Measuring Worm" by Richard Wilbur, which focuses on a "yellow striped green/Caterpillar, climbing up/The steep window screen."
Although he doesn't know it,
He will soon have wings,
And I, too, don't know
Toward what undreamt condition
Inch by inch I go.
What's the connection between kairos and the caterpillar?
John C. Danforth was called "Saint Jack" while serving in the United States Senate. You may remember him from President Reagan's funeral service at the National Cathedral. Danforth is, as you may know, an Episcopal priest.
Next month, the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, at Washington University in St. Louis, is opening. Plans for the center sound very promising. The spirit and substance of what Danforth describes is in harmony with what comes to mind for me when I think of St. Paul's exploration of "Shaping Public Discourse." Maybe we can have Danforth for a visit sometime. We'll certainly have to stay tuned.
Just the other day I made reservations for my ninth annual retreat at the Monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At some point, God willing, I plan to bring a brother or two down to St. Paul's to lead a retreat (and I have talked with them about this); and, at some other point, I would like to lead a group of our folks up to the monastery for a retreat.
SSJE is an order of Episcopal monks founded in Oxford England in 1866. Soon after their founding, they came to this country. They have become a profound source of life-giving encouragement and spiritual nourishment to me. Recently I was pleased to realize that their sermons are available online. I commend them to you whole-heartedly:
This time of year, children are on our minds, naturally. A New York Times article, relating to children, is both sobering and hopeful, that is, it tells the story of "The Child Who Put a Face on Abuse," the story of Mary Ellen McCormack. It is hopeful in the sense that it tells the story of an awakening of compassion and the resultant national movement to protect children. One fascinating element of the story is that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) played a critical role. It brings to mind something that Thomas Aquinas said, that one sure measure of the morality of a society is how that culture treats animals. That the work of the SPCA would help lead to the establishment of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the first American organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, simply makes sense, as surprising as it might be. Morality is of a piece, compassion is of a piece. And compassion begets compassion.
"Peace on earth and good will toward men." And women, of course.
So ends the song of the angels when they sing by night to the shepherds in the field with their flocks.
There's some part of us that would like to keep Christmas warm and soft and innocent, like a babe in a manger. However the man whom that baby becomes won't settle for sentimentality. The true Christmas message demands that we take the angels' song seriously, and likewise mother Mary's song as well, the Magnificat. The God whom we know in Christ wants peace on earth and good will among all God's children and he empowers to help make it so. Therefore, in truth, it is at Christmas, as much as any time, that we would rightly be mindful of such things as gun violence and prisoner rights. In Monday's NYT, there are two editorials that I commend to you, "Combating Prisoner Abuse" and "Gun Owners, Unfiltered."
In the true spirit of Christmas, let us celebrate and support our Mayor, as he shows leadership through Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and let's celebrate and support Richmond Congressman Bobby Scott, as he shows leadership through his bill, the Prison Abuse Remedies Act. These efforts are just the sort of gifts that the Holy Family would receive with joy.
I have long heard about St. Gregory of Nyssa, an Episcopal church in San Francisco. They are celebrated for their exuberant, fresh, and creative liturgy. Recently I began listening to their sermons. I encourage you to do the same. While there you might also watch some of their videos.
A taste of what you will find:
"Jesus, the only cure for my relationship to time. The perpetual present tense, created by Jesus' birth, and death, and Resurrection, his self-giving love. Time in the sense that time is measured by death is over. It is a new year and the Kingdom of God is here."
Parishioner Guy Chance is always proud of his grandson, Nicholas Chance Bairatchnyi. But last week, he had an especially good reason to boast. Nick, a 12-year-old member of the boys choir at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., was interviewed on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" by NPR anchor Barbara Bradley Haggerty. The piece, titled "Christmas Means Music for Boys Choir," includes extensive comments by Nick, as well as audio clips of his solo.
During the interview, Nick explains how "music has transformed his view of Christmas":
"When you're little, you always think Christmas is about presents. But then as you grow up, you really figure out what it means to celebrate Christmas - especially when you're singing in the choir," he says. "It's really about ... I don't want to say 'giving,' because that will sound really corny. But I mean, it is about giving and about being thankful for what you have, and pretty much thanking God for saving humanity." -- 12-year-old Nick Bairatchnyi
Christmas also means family. Guy, himself a musician (he plays piano), recounts one of the most memorable evenings of his life:
If you haven't seen the latest issue of Fifty Plus (a publication with which I was not previously familiar), the cover article is a must read: our man Ben Campbell and the ministry of Richmond Hill. If you're reading this, you likely know Ben Campbell. The thing is, no article can do Ben justice. That said, it is an excellent article about a true servant of God. Ben does indeed walk the talk. Just to speak for myself, he makes me want to be a better priest and a better man.
Our celebration of the birth of Christ is days away. And Mary, the Theotokos (God Bearer)is the focus Wallace's Word from Grace Street today:
Mary, the Theotokos, as the Orthodox call her. The God Bearer. She carries inside her the Word through whom all things were made. The Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Eternity iself. The One in whom the hopes and the fears of all the years meet. Love Incarnate. Hope Incarnate. Joy Incarnate.
And so do you.
Which is why Gabriel was sent on his errand in the first place.
Please note that St. Paul's Episcopal Church will open
tomorrow with a regular service schedule: 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m. & 11:15
a.m. Sunday School is canceled, but there will be activities for
children.
We welcome all to worship with us, but we also want you to make wise decisions and play it safe in light of the snowy weather.
511 Central VA, a service of the Virginia Department of Transportation, has information about road conditions, as well as alternative ways to travel without a
car. Information is available through the 511VA.org Web site (best viewed in Internet Explorer) and a toll-free 511 phone service.
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ tells the story of a road in Vermont that is the site of numerous accidents each year. And he notes:
"As we go barreling toward Christmas, we might ask ourselves about the roads we travel. What roads need straightening? There are places and times that blankets are in order. And then there are places and times when the road needs to be straightened, when pathways need to be made straight. As the wild-eyed prophet in the wilderness once said."
Speaking of Christmas on the horizon, please share our Christmas welcome video with your friends and co-workers as we invite all to celebrate the miracles of Christmas, downtown on Grace Street.
David Brooks' "Obama's Christian Realism" is a must read. If I started quoting from it, I'm afraid I would virtually reproduce the entire column. Christian realists. Yes, surely that is what we all strive to be. God help us. And, yes, God save us from anything that we would dare allow to pass for "an excuse for [either] cynicism [or] inaction."
Court End Christmas yesterday was a success, thanks to the dozens upon dozens of parishioners involved. Despite the chilly weather, the people of St. Paul's provided warmth and joy throughout the day. In this morning's Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jeremy Slayton captures the spirit of the day:
Hot chocolate and apple cider warmed the
insides while children occupied themselves with crafts at St. Paul's
Episcopal Church, which was participating in the event for the first
time.
"We welcome anyone and everyone to experience urban church life,"
parishioner Cindy Wofford said. Around her, children made Christmas
cards, and baskets of essential items were assembled for ElderFriends.
Thanks to Mary Hunter Ayer for spearheading this event; to the Children's Choir, the Deviators, and Roger Comley's tuba quartet for music; to the tour guides; to the greeters; to the Ribbons Row vendors; to the youth and adult decorators; to the activity leaders; and so many more!
Also, a special acknowledgement to St. Paul's newcomers who participated, including: Nancy O'Donnell (our greeters leader), Patricia Miller, Jean Bacon, Trudy Russell, and Anne Snyder.
Click on Read More below to see photos of the parish setting up for Court End Christmas.
In a brief AP story from yesterday's NYT, you can read about the election, over the weekend, of an openly gay woman as an assistant bishop in Los Angeles. If the election is confirmed by a majority of dioceses in the Episcopal Church (ECUSA), she will become the second openly gay bishop consecrated in the ECUSA, and the first since ECUSA lifted a self-imposed moratorium.
She should be confirmed and consecrated, and she will.
I commend to you "The Other Education," a column by David Brooks, in last Friday's NYT. It is Brooks at his best, so very insightful on the human condition.
Like many of you, I went to elementary school, high school and college.
I took such and such classes, earned such and such grades, and amassed
such and such degrees.
But on the night of Feb. 2, 1975, I turned on WMMR in Philadelphia and
became mesmerized by a concert the radio station was broadcasting. The
concert was by a group I’d never heard of — Bruce Springsteen and the E
Street Band. Thus began a part of my second education.
See under "Read More" for a comment once you've read the column.
In this week's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ shares his son Nelson's recent quest for a mystery. A search that ultimately led them to music by the Salvation Army Band. At the end of the story, he reflects:
"In truth, every day is a mystery. Every moment, a mystery. Waiting to be explored... Life awaits us there. God awaits us there. And our true selves await us there. In the mystery."
It has come to our attention that those with a Comcast email account may experience delays in receiving St. Paul's messages. Constant Contact is working with Comcast to resolve the situation. In the meantime, we will post a link to the Friday "Coming Up On Grace Street" messages here on the Rector's blog. This link will work for up to three months.
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
"To Preserve and Protect," the cover story of the current issue of Style Weekly, features none other than Calder Loth, St. Paul's parishioner and devoted member of the Property Committee. This expansive article chronicles Calder's decades of work to preserve and protect the architectural richness of our city and state.
Here at St. Paul's, we glimpse his devotion to the cause through his caring service on the Property Committee. Calder has been involved in almost every aspect of preservation projects in the church. He also delights in educating any and all who will listen. Ever wondered about the stories behind the memorial windows of St. Paul's? Calder wrote the book. Want to know more about the Greek Revival architecture? Calder will explain. Amazingly, he has touched hundreds of places in this way.
“It’s impossible to think of preservation without Calder — he’s been
the mainstay for the complete 40-year span of the state’s historic
preservation program,” says Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, director and state
historic preservation officer of the historic resources department.
“His connoisseurship is unsurpassed, and combined with his depth of
knowledge, good humor and cheerfulness he has given people a sense of
what’s important.”
And he does it all with grace. The article's author, Edwin Slipek Jr., explains:
According to the friendly folks at Richmond Magazine, Prayer Yoga on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in our Chapel makes the list (sandwiched between "Visit the Virginia Capitol" and "Henry 'Harry' Heth's Gold Pocket Watch").
#64, Go to worship, with a twist. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, like a lot of churches, hosts midweek activities -- including Prayer Yoga at 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Leader Suzanne McWilliams offers prayers while participants at all levels take up gentle positions (think lotus); church member Lewis Holley says the relaxed atmosphere helps him enter a state of contemplative prayer. Bring a mat and wear yoga clothes.
Alas, as the day before Thanksgiving, our Wednesday Night programming is on a hiatus tonight. But, Prayer Yoga returns next Wednesday, Dec. 2nd, and we hope to see you there!
As described in a post earlier this week, St. Paul's parishioner Buford Scott was honored with a Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy award on Wednesday. Buford's remarks about generosity touched many of you who were present. Buford began:
When I pray at night, I ask that I may find some way to go out of my
way, each day, to bring some happiness to the lives of others.
The key phrase is: "go out of my way".
Those opportunities may not come every day, but when they do, I try to seize them.
We suspect that, with considerable nuance,
the citizenry is turning away from capital punishment. Although polls
suggest majorities continue to support the death penalty in theory,
individuals may be growing reluctant to impose it in practice.
Changing Times? I hope so, I pray so. And it's not merely a matter of barbarism versus civilization. It is about, I believe, humanity and inhumanity. And it is about, I do believe, the will of God. The will of God being manifested in the shared life of his children, a life meant to be characterized by mercy and justice, peace and compassion, restraint and generosity.
(Blog Editor's Note: Click on read more for links to other posts on this topic, including a round-up of your thoughtful comments).
Yesterday, an army of nearly 800 volunteers from the Richmond area helped serve over 740 clients at Homeward's third annual Project Homeless Connect at the Richmond Convention Center. Generosity and kindness of spirit were truly on display yesterday, as
all those present got to know each other through one-on-one
partnerships. As one reporter wrote, the 'many friendly faces' were 'a welcome sight.'
Special thanks to those from the St. Paul's community who were among the volunteers: Lauryn Boyd (Emmaus volunteer), Lynn Evans, Molly Fretwell, Gail James, Mary Fran Lowe, and Andy Nea (let me know if I've missed someone!). In addition, our Social Worker Jenny Bliley coordinated the ever-popular hair cuts area and yours truly helped as needed with media.
With more volunteers, Homeward was able to help all those who attended the service fair, even as participation increased by over 160 individuals since last year (575 served in 2008).
Click on read more for links to news coverage giving a more in-depth look at Project Homeless Connect.
Perhaps you saw the column in the RTD, "Why Not Bring Back Public Executions?" by an English professor in Texas, John M. Crisp. When I first saw the header, my immediate response was, "Because we're not barbarians." Having gotten past that initial (emotional) response I went on to read the piece. I'd recommend it to you.
My initial response is precisely his point, of course. Capital punishment is barbaric, and no less so because we keep the cameras out of the room. Indeed, possibly more so because we keep the cameras out of the room.
And, in case there's any question; that is, in case anyone missed the irony: no, I don't think there should be public executions; nor do I think Mr. Crisp believes that either. It's not that we should start public executions; it's that we should stop all executions.
Today is National Philanthropy Day and Richmond celebrated by honoring and thanking seven Richmonders who are changing the world with giving hearts. Among them was St. Paul's own Buford Scott, who received the Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award. During the invocation, which our Rector delivered, Wallace+ prayed for the generous spirit present inside all of us:
"Dear God, the One from whom all blessings flow: You made us in your image, to be givers, as you are a giver. And we thank you, Lord, for the generosity we celebrate here this day, in the example of our honorees. We pray that this gathering be a time where each of us, in our own ways, would be inspired to think afresh and behave anew in the tranformational power of giving, of generosity, in our own lives, and in this world of yours.
"May you bless our time together, may you bless this food to our nourishment, and may you bless us to your service, that we may become yet more fully, yet more truly, the givers you made us to be. In the name of God, we pray."
If you didn't see "Locked Out" on Monday night, on WCVE or WHTJ, I urge you to see it when it reairs this week. The University of Virginia's Center for Politics and WCVE partnered to produce this superb documentary on the collapse of "Massive Resistance" 50 years ago.
We celebrate what happened 50 years ago.
And, in the name of justice, in the name of respecting the dignity of every human being, let us press on!
Save the Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010
St. Paul's will host a FREE screening of "Locked Out," followed by a discussion. Pizza will be provided. More details to come!
Pat Robertson has said many outrageous things over the years. The latest was last week, that Islam is "not a religion" but a "violent political system."
My goodness, what can you say?
Fundamentalism is a cancer not unique to Islam. Wherever that cancer manifests, it sickens the souls of men and women.
May God deliver us.
And may God change the heart of Pat Robertson, for his sake, above all, and for the sake of all God's children, here in the Commonwealth and beyond.
In last week's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ wrote about the
execution of John Allen Muhammad and the question it raises for
Christians:
"But what about the Christ in John Allen Muhammad? What happened to that Christ last night?"
This question stirred many of you to reply. For some, the answer
seems clear; for others, not so clear. Below is a sampling of the many
responses received (published with permission):
• The theology of Love is stressful at the very least, but that is no reason to fail to accept it!
• What about the Christ in him? I am glad you ask the question because it helps me to think about it and allow my heart the opportunity at least to be softened in my thinking about that man.
• I am not 100% sure how I feel about capital punishment; I think I'm opposed, for the reasons you cite, among others. But guys like Muhammad (and Gacy, and Bundy) make me doubt my doubts.
• You ask where was Christ in Muhammad and Hasan? It sure doesn't seem he was anywhere near them. We might also ask where was Christ for those who were murdered? Indeed, what meaning does Christ have in such situations?
• That is a powerful question. And I shiver to think that somehow I have participated in creating an environment that allows the Christ in him to be executed.
Tomorrow I'll share with you some excerpts from some of the many responses I got to last week's WFGS (once I get permission from folks). In the meantime, I recommend "Life's Gray Areas," by Leonard Pitts. Pitts does it again. Powerful. Check it out.
EXCERPT:
... none of us is consistent on these issues of life and death, all of us
ignoring truths that indict our deep convictions, striking bargains
with conscience in the name of a good night’s sleep.
Into that irresolution falls the execution of John Allen Muhammad.
And what am I to say? I hate the death penalty, but this guy’s rampage
touched my life, frightened my children, so I’m OK with it? What kind
of sense does that make?
None, of course. It is, if anything, just proof of my humanity — and
all the contradictions attendant thereto. It is our nature to seek
certitude and resolution, but life is messy and untidy, doesn’t always
fit neatly into the boxes we build for it.
In last week's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ wrote about the execution of John Allen Muhammad, who was put to death on Tuesday, November 10. Wallace+ reminded us that on that night, "by virtue of our being Americans and Virginians... we participated in putting a man to death." He went on to challenge us to consider the meaning of that fact:
In
our Baptismal Covenant, we promise, with God's help, to seek and serve Christ in
all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. To seek and serve Christ in all persons. All persons.
That we would seek and
serve Christ in those who were victimized between October 2 and October 22, 2002,
by Malvo and Muhammad, that is a given. But what about the Christ in John Allen Muhammad?
What happened to that Christ last night?
Including John Allen Muhammad's execution, as Virginians we have participated in...
Today's Eyes on Richmond forum with past Governor Linwood Holton was a hoot! Listen to
the introductory remarks by Buford Scott and the complete remarks of Governor Holton below.
Special thanks to TJ's at the Hotel Jefferson for catering today's lunch and to Community Idea Stations, our Eyes on Richmond Media Sponsor. Also, we are extremely grateful to all of the volunteers who made our 2009 season a success! Until next year...
AUDIO: Introduction
Buford Scott introduces Governor Holton. Nobody does an introduction like Buford. He almost always tells us something we don't know and the introductions are typically both informative and entertaining all at once.
If we Christians are about anything, we are about love, love in
action. Or, to put it another way, if we Christians are about anything,
we are about reconciliation. Our prayer book defines the mission of the
Church as follows, "to restore all people to unity with God and each
other in Christ" (The Book of Common Prayer, 855). Three news items in
the last couple of days are especially worth reflecting on in this
light.
On Wednesday, the German chancellor and the French president together laid a wreath at the Arc de Triomphe,
at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. President Sarkozy spoke of
"consolidate[ing] the present and prepar[ing] for the future." And
Chancellor Merkel said, "There is a power, a power which helps us and
which can help us bear what has passed: reconciliation." Amen.
In a column yesterday,
Michael Paul Williams writes about the upcoming sesquicentennial of the
Civil War and the opportunity it presents for healing and
reconciliation in the Commonwealth, "This 150th anniversary is among
the most important tasks Richmond will undertake-not just because it
has the potential to alter the way the world sees us but because it
will change the way we see ourselves." Amen.
And, finally, as encouraging as both the French-German story and the MPW column are, a story out of Rhode Island
is equally disappointing: Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Roman
Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin are at odds over whether the health
care bill before Congress should restrict abortion coverage. Fair
enough. Faithful Christians in good conscience disagree on this very
important matter. However...
Countless Muslims do indeed stand for America, and some die for America; just as Christains do. Imad Damaj, of the Virginia Muslim Coalition, is a Muslim who stands for America, and for Richmond.
A moving service in celebration of the life of John "Johnny" Steven Stelbasky took place at St. Paul's on November 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. After the dismissal, all those present processed to the Memorial Garden, where Johnny's ashes were committed.
Johnny was a beloved member of our St. Paul's family and will be sorely missed. During the eulogy, the Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley remembered Johnny's tender heart:
In one of
our hymns this morning, we sing, "And all ye men of tender heart..."
Johnny was
a man of tender heart. And it was a
blessing to us to know him. And to love
him, and to be loved by him. To work
alongside him. In the years, the days,
the hours, the moments, that he was with us.
In the hallway. In the parish
hall. In the hospital room. A wave, a smile. A good day's work.....
As Linda
said, he's in a better place now, Johnny is.
And, as Jesus said, we need not let our hearts be troubled. Johnny has gone on ahead of us, to the place
prepared for him; a place prepared with just the kind of care that he took in
caring for this place... and in caring for us.....
And we will
see him again...
Click below to read the Eulogy for Johnny Stelbasky and the obituary that was published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Sunday, November 8.
As you can hear from the audio posted earlier, last week's Eyes on Richmond forum with Jeff Schapiro was great fun. Of course, a sound file can't recreate the much talked about lunch that Positive Vibe Café prepared. For that reason, the St. Paul's family encourages you to head to Positive Vibe Café and taste what you missed!
For those who are new to the city and may not know about Positive Vibe Café, you should. It's a great way to enjoy a healthy, tasty meal and support a good cause all in one sitting. "Great Food - Good Karma" is the tag you'll often see used. The organization's Web site explains:
The team members
at Positive Vibe Café are positive-minded and dedicated to providing
quality food and service. Positive Vibe Café, in return, is dedicated
to its team members. The Café is an active employer of physically and
cognitively disabled persons, and operates solely on the dedication of
positive-minded folks who see the bright future in a business that
assists disabled persons...
Eyes on Richmond with Jeff Schapiro last Friday was a hit! Listen to the introductory remarks and the complete remarks of Jeff Schapiro below. Special thanks to Community Idea Stations, our Eyes on Richmond Media Sponsor.
AUDIO: Introduction
Philip Brooks introduces Jeff Schapiro and Garth Larson, director of Positive Vibe Café, which catered lunch for this forum, says a few words about Positive Vibe's mission.
By now I imagine we all know about yesterday's incident at Fort Hood, Texas. Let us pray for healing and for peace.
Following are two prayers from our Book of Common Prayer (p. 815), the first "A Prayer for the Human Family," the second "A Prayer for Peace."
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
We turn to God as the Source, as the One from whom all blessings flow; the One who will give us all that we need to live and, indeed, to flourish. We recognize God, we know God, as the Source of everything we need. That is, until we don’t; that is, until fear, or hatred, or pride, or grief, wedges its way in, and we fall back upon ourselves, and our own instincts.
This Lent, a prayer of ours might be that God would deliver us from the illusion of perfection—or perfectibility—that God would help us know afresh the joy of being wrong so that God might show us a still better way—his way; so that, in the words of St. Paul, his strength might be perfected in our weakness.
Jesus has told us where we will see his face. We will see him shining in the faces of those whom he loved; and the great thing about looking into the face of those whom Jesus loved is our own faces begin to change…
A few years ago, a study was done that examined a ten-year period in which unchurched persons became active in a congregation and lapsed members ‘came back’ to church. The study showed that fully nine out of every ten people came to church simply because someone they knew or had some association with asked them.
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In
October 2008, the Vestry announced that The Rev. D.Wallace Adams-Riley
would become the 15th Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown
Richmond. Wallace, age 38, comes to us from St. John’s Cathedral in
Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as Canon. He began his ordained ministry at Christ
Church in Alexandria. Wallace grew up in Columbia S.C., as one of four
boys. He is married to The Rev. Canon Gena Adams-Riley with whom he has
a four-year-old son named Nelson and newborn son named Fin M'Coul.
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Cross-posted from 
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Posted by Wallace+
If you didn't see it, or even if you did, I recommend Sunday's 
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Following is a prayer written by the Rev. Ted Ferris, who served as Rector of 
Posted by Wallace+
On Thursday, in response to 
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Today, St. Paul's hosted its 2nd
Annual Interfaith
Service of Prayer & Music. Organized in conjunction
with the Virginia Interfaith Center, this service was an open
invitation to residents of all political persuasions to come
together in prayer for our democracy and elected leaders. For those who
could not be with us, audio of the prayers is below for you to listen
to and offer in your own time. To help you follow along, 
Posted by Wallace+
"I wanted to give something back." A woman who I did not recognize
came up to me a couple of weeks ago during our Emmaus meal and said
that she had something for me. I said, "Great! What is it?" She said I
wanted to bring you these things because my son and I are doing well
now and I wanted to give something back. In her hands were three bags
of new gloves and hats that she wanted to be given out to the other
guests. I asked her if she had attended our lunch program before and
she said yes a couple of times. She did not come back the next week and
I did not get her name but she truly showed a great example of living
out your faith and giving back when you have received.
Posted by Kimberly Allen
A few days ago, as it happens, I wrote a post entitled
Posted by Wallace+
Well, it's a new day and a new year! In this month's Epistle newsletter (
Parishioner Guy Chance is always proud of his grandson, Nicholas Chance Bairatchnyi. But last week, he had an especially good reason to boast. Nick, a 12-year-old member of the boys choir at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., was interviewed on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" by NPR anchor Barbara Bradley Haggerty. The piece, titled 
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Our celebration of the birth of Christ is days away. And Mary, the Theotokos (God Bearer) is the focus Wallace's 
Posted by Wallace+
Posted by Kimberly Allen
In a brief 
Posted by Wallace+
As described in 
Posted by Wallace+
Yesterday, an army of nearly 800 volunteers from the Richmond area helped serve over 740 clients at Homeward's third annual Project Homeless Connect at the Richmond Convention Center. Generosity and kindness of spirit were truly on display yesterday, as
all those present got to know each other through one-on-one
partnerships. As one reporter wrote, the 'many friendly faces' were 'a welcome sight.'
Kimberly came across the following piece: 
Posted by Kimberly Allen
If you didn't see 
On Wednesday, the German chancellor and the French president 
Leonard Pitts does it again, 
A moving service in celebration of the life of John "Johnny" Steven Stelbasky took place at St. Paul's on November 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. After the dismissal, all those present processed to the Memorial Garden, where Johnny's ashes were committed.
