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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.
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.
Click here to CONTACT WALLACE!
Posted by Wallace+
I commend to you "And on the Sabbath The iPhones Shall Rest" in Thursday's NYT. If you read a blog, there's probably a fair chance that you also use a PDA, be it an iPhone or Blackberry, and there's probably, in addition, a fair chance that, like me, you could stand to give it a rest! And to give yourself a rest as well.
As the prayer says, "in returning and rest, we shall be saved." Indeed!
Posted by Kimberly Allen
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ quotes from "As Kingfishers Catch Fire" by Gerard Manley Hopkins:
For Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.
He then writes of last night's Vestry meeting, where he saw Christ in the 'features of faces':
It is at moments such as this that the true colors of a community show. And they shone beautifully last night, again, in the faces and in the voices of all gathered around the table. I give great thanks for the Christian community of disciples that is St. Paul's Church.
Click here to read the full letter.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
Indeed I could listen to him all day. I have heard him speak several times and, each time, I was humbled and inspired by his witness, by his life, and by his presence.
Once, while in seminary, I was hurrying up to the front door of my dorm and almost ran right into the Archbishop. It turned out he was staying in my dorm. He was dressed in his purple cassock. I certainly had the sense of being in the presence of a man of God. He could not have been kinder, or more human.
I commend to you the following recent NPR interview, a brief conversation with the Archbishop:
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
If you haven't read Sunday's editorial, I commend it to you. Well put.
And, by the way, it pleased me greatly that Beck's theology was a topic of discussion among our youth during Sunday school this week.
Good stuff!
Posted by Wallace+
To blog or not to blog, that is the question; or a question, anyway. But first, if you haven't read about Glenn Beck's recent advice to leave your church if there is any mention of "social justice" or "economic justice," I recommend reading Friday's NYT article, "Outraged by Glenn Beck's Salvo, Christians Fire Beck."
After reading the NYT piece, for some commentary please go to "Read More."
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
Wednesday evening the Governor announced his executive directive prohibiting descrimination in the Commonwealth based on sexual orientation. (Please read the RTD editorial from yesterday, "The Woodshed," if you haven't already.)
Then on Thursday an Imam offered an Islamic prayer in the House of Delegates, which I was fortunate enough to be present for, along with our guest preacher this week, the Reverend Dr. Jim Forbes.
A great 24 hours for symbolism. And I don't say that cynically. (I try never to say anything cynically, for that matter.)
Yes, there is still so much work to be done, in the name of inclusion, be it in regard to religious affiliation or sexual orientation; that said, moments such as these are of great importance, as they signal an emerging commitment to a fuller inclusion, yes, and indeed to justice. And, as such, they take us one more step away from dehumanizing "the other" in our midst, and, therefore, one more step away from bigoted violence, as we work for that just and compassionate community to which God calls us all.
Jesus is pleased, no doubt.
This morning, the Virginian Pilot newspaper featured an article about St. Paul's Episcopal Church and our facilities rentals to non-profit organizations during the General Assembly.
"This is not about income," [the Rev. Wallace] Adams-Riley said. "It's about our mission, our ministry, downtown."
St. Paul's stops leasing its parish hall on Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of its Lenten lunch speaking series, said Linda Pitts, church facilities manager.
"Once Lent begins, we're all about Lent," she said.
Click here to read the full article on the Pilot Web site.
Pictured: As part of the article, the Pilot photographed parishioner Katie Webb and her colleagues at the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association at work in the Children's Chapel, which they rent during the General Assembly.
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
In today's Word from Grace Street, sent early this morning, Wallace+ wrote about the beautiful in life:
"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.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
"Picking a fight" is how Barton Hinkle put it; but the RTD editorial put it even better, "a punch in the mouth." And, yes, "gratuitous" and "socially revolting."
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.
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
More Information
The Presiding Bishop's Complete Letter
St. Paul's Rector's Statement of Support
St. Paul's Support of the Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS
The National Episcopal AIDS Coalition
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
Photo by P J Sykes, VCU Commons, March 2, 2010
Click here to read the full Word from Grace Street.
Read More >
Cross-posted from "Talk With the Preacher" by The Rev. Amy Butler
So far, so good in Richmond.
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.
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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"!!
Thank you, St. Paul's.
Bonnie Anderson
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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)
Click on Read More for the complete update.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
A map of the Student Commons for those wondering where to go.
Read More >Posted by Kimbery Allen
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.
Intrigued? Click here to read the full article.
You can listen to her opening day of preaching below:
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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."
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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.
Kathleen Parker's column, "Who Will Stand Against Uganda's Brutal Anti-Gay Law?," is a must read.
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.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
"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.
Click read more for additional news in today's "Coming Up On Grace Street" e-message.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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...
Click on read more to continue reading.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
. . .
"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."
Click here to read the full article.
Today's remaining Ash Wednesday services with the imposition of Ashes take place at 11:30 am in the Church and 5:30 pm in the Chapel.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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.
Even a little more, Lord, even a little more.
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Posted by Anne Snyder
Posted by Kristi Mullins
Posted by Tom Smith
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Click here for an HTML version of the Friday e-message. (available online for three months)
Sometimes we must think deeply.
And sometimes we must just be.
Click here to read today's Word from Grace Street by Wallace+
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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."
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
Joy. Strength. Hope.
Eyes Wide Open. Prayers Uplifted.
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...
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
Click here to read highlights from the February 2010 Epistle newsletter online.
Click here to download and read a printable version of the February 2010 newsletter. (Adobe PDF version)
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.
We also invite you to share your pictures of the snow (and your snow angels!) on the St. Paul's Facebook page.
Pictured below: Mobile Upload, photo of Richmond at 11AM, taken by William Bruce McConnel
Posted by Wallace+
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):
Gene added that the story about Marvin (pictured) is from a book about screenwriting called "Story" by Robert McKee.
Bless you, Gene. Much appreciated.
Read More >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."
Listen to the full sermon below:
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
Remember this cover story in Style Weekly about St. Paul's parishioner and expert architectural historian Calder Loth? Calder is the best and we're excited to announce a new three-lecture Wednesday evening class taught by Calder about the architecture of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
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?
Click on read more for additional details!
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ reflects on the notion of 'good guys' and 'bad guys':
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."
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Posted by Wallace+
In response to this week's "Word from Grace Street," a friend wrote the following. (I'm always happy to come across a new-to-me line or quotation from Buechner.):
Posted by Wallace+
I commend to you Mark Danner's column in today's NYT, "To Heal Haiti, Look to History, Not Nature."
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.
God's will be done.
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
"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:
May God open our minds, and our hearts.
Read More >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, click here to download the order of service bulletin.
AUDIO: Prayers for Our City, Commonwealth, Nation, and World
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
I commend to you the NYT editorial "appreciation" of Miep Gies.
Excerpt:
Indeed, we always have choices. May God guide us in the choices we make, day by day. May God give us courage.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Let us pray for relief and for hope.
Posted by Wallace+
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:
Amen.
An injured man carries his deceased daughter after the earthquake. Photo by Eduardo Munoz-REUTERS
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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...
Click on read more for the full post.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
I recommend Nicholas Kristof's Sunday NYT column, "Religion and Women."
Amen, amen.
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."
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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...
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
Click here to read the entire reflection.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
Or, as the New York Times put it yesterday, a "tectonic shift." I recommend reading "Shapers of Death Penalty Give Up on Their Work." Amen, amen.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.
Posted by Wallace+
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...
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
And God is watching.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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:
Whatever one may think of Allen's life... click read more for the full post.
Read More >Photo by Carl Benson (from Facebook)
Early Christmas Eve, taken in the St. Paul's Atrium. Thanks, Carl, for sharing!
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
I commed to you (once again!) a column by Verlyn Klinkenborg, "On the Ice."
Once you've read the piece, you can click "Read More" for a further word, written while I was in South Carolina last week.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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!
Click here to read the Web version of today's Coming Up On Grace Street e-message.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
In today's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ reflects on the multiple meanings of kairos:
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?
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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.
You can read more on the New York Times Web site.
Pictured: Cover of Danforth's book "Faith and Politics: How the 'Moral Values' Debate Divides America and How to Move Forward Together."
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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:
"Every single person has been created in the image of God. There is no such thing as a mere mortal." -Brother Curtis, in a recent sermon
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Posted by Wallace+
"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.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
Merry Christmas! Below is a link to the Web version of today's "Coming Up On Grace Street" e-message from Wallace+.
December 25: Coming Up on Grace Street (Web version)
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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."
http://www.saintgregorys.org/worship
Pictured: The Icon of Sojourner Truth by David Sanger. From "The Dancing Saints," art of St. Gregory's of Nyssa.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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":
Christmas also means family. Guy, himself a musician (he plays piano), recounts one of the most memorable evenings of his life:
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >
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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 Word from Grace Street today:
And so do you.
Which is why Gabriel was sent on his errand in the first place.
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
Christmas is on our minds, but so is war. And rightfully so.
While in seminary I came across the following short piece by Mark Twain, "The War Prayer."
All I can say is: Whoa.
Let us pray for Peace. It is, after all, the will of God.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
"Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. Advent is a winter training camp for those who desire peace."
So said Edward Hays.
Indeed, we desire peace.
Bring it on, God, bring it on. Train us up, train us up.
Read More >
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.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
Click here to read the entire message.
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.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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."
Text of President Obama's speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Thursday, December 10.
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
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.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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.
Lead on, Spirit, lead on...
Posted by Wallace+
"Something that won't let them down."
Check out "Person of the Week" from Friday's "ABC's World News," with Sting and photographer Bobby Sager.
Poignant, beautiful.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
Click here to read the full message.
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
November 27: Coming Up on Grace Street (Web version)
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
From the Book of Common Prayer, page 836:
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.
Posted by Kimberly Allen
"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.
And he does it all with grace. The article's author, Edwin Slipek Jr., explains:
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
When it comes to the "75 Things Every Richmonder Should Do," our St. Paul's family is all about #64.
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!
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
Click on "Read More" for the entire speech.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
"Changing Times?" was the name of an RTD editorial yesterday.
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).
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Another thought, to be read after the column:
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.
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
Kimberly came across the following piece: Are Churches Bait-and-Switching People?
Rich(!) food for thought. Please check it out. In a recent Epistle article, I was gently exploring this same tension.
Of course, there are no easy answers! Instead, day by day, we pray and live into the answer, by God's grace.
Lead your People on, dear God, lead on!
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
"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."
This afternoon's ceremony was organized by...
Read More >
Posted by Wallace+
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!
Posted by Wallace+
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.
Read More >
Posted by Kimberly Allen
In last week's Word from Grace Street, Wallace+ wrote about the execution of John Allen Muhammad and the question it raises for Christians:
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.
... Click on read more for lengthier excerpts.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
While preparing my sermon last week, I came across this verse from the Qur'an,
Amen.
Read More >Posted by Wallace+
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.
Posted by Kimberly Allen
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:
Including John Allen Muhammad's execution, as Virginians we have participated in...
Read More >Posted by Kimberly Allen
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.
AUDIO: Governor Holton's Remarks
Read More >
St Paul’s Episcopal Church
815 E. Grace Street
Richmond Virginia 23219
Phone: 804.643.3589
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