Merry Christmas!

My home computer is still in the shop, but will wish you a Merry Christmas from work! Thanks to Google for the lovely image of Notre Dame.

Explanation

I'm having home computer problems and will post again when I get the darn thing fixed!

Meeting God

I frequently connect to a website called ExploreFaith.org. One of its recent essays challenged readers to think about in what circumstances they would like to meet God. As I meditated on this question...

"I found myself in the high mountains sitting on a big rock by a dancing stream, its waters icy cold from fresh snowmelt. As it skips over rocks spraying me with sparkling droplets, I am washed clean.Wrapped in warm, comfortable clothes, my feet are bare. There is nothing to distract me from God's awesome presence. He approaches me, a Source of sublime energy, loving kindness and peace. His presence makes holy the sacred ground on which we both stand, and I feel this holy energy enter my body through my feet. It seeps into every cell of my being. He puts His arm around my shoulder; we walk through a high alpine meadow carpeted with sweet-smelling purple lupine. Gently leading me up a small rise, we stand at last overlooking the river delta below. Arm still around my shoulder, God raises His other arm and points...Evelyn, there is the path I want you to follow. See it there? Go forth in love and live my will for your life. Then...He is gone."

I do as He instructs.

A New Church continued....

The Next Time

and the next….
each visit is easier.
I learn where to hang my coat,
I find the bathrooms.
The gospel side feels right.
I remember how good it feels
to kneel in prayer
after Communion.
I know when to pull the kneeler down.
Thank God…
it’s ‘trepass’ and ‘trepasses’
not ‘debts’ and ‘debtors.’
I still don’t know how to bow or
when to make the Sign of the Cross,
or even if I should.
But I have my offering ready;
I don’t have to fumble.

These people of God
wander the whole church
Passing the Peace.
I venture a row or two only.
I still lose my place in the liturgy
if I don’t focus.
But the Peace of Christ lingers
longer and longer
each time.
I look forward to each next time.
Now when Mary or Elizabeth send us forth
to do God’s work in the world,
I feel ready.

Late summer 2008

A New Church

A New Church

I drive into the parking lot
the first car there.
I hate being late
especially to a new place.
Gradually the faithful filter in
I follow them in the back door,
up the stairs, along the hall
to the sanctuary.
I pick up the readings,
the bulletin.
I scan the room.
“I’ll walk up the side aisle,
the gospel side.
Don’t sit in someone’s special pew.”
A slight bow
I see others doing it.
I sit.

Should I pull out the kneeler?
Should I pray?
Should I cross myself?
No-
mark the hymns
open the Book of Common Prayer..
No—
that’s the hymnal or something else—
here it is—
mark the liturgy
read the announcements
I watch others arrive from the
corner of my eye.

I look around the sanctuary
there are two walls of windows
little stained glass crosses
march across each one.
The brick wall behind the altar
holds a tall, slender wooden cross.
Candles are lit.
The priest arrives.
All stand.
Readings, prayers, hymns,
kneeling, crossing.
Finally the message.
Ah!
relax, listen, feel the
peace of Christ enter.
It floods my heart.
I soften.

All too soon we
pass the plate
pass the Peace
pass the Body and Blood of Christ.
A blessing
a prayer to send the flock forth.
Shake hands.
I find my way out,
wander down the hall
descend the stairs,
shuffle across the icy parking lot.

An hour of anxiety in
a new church;
ten minutes of God’s
Peace and Presence.

Written late winter 2008

Confirmation

Today I was received by Confirmation into the Episcopal Church as a member of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. The Right Reverend Alan Scarfe presided over the service, assisted by Rev. Mary and Rev. Elizabeth. Bev was my sponsor; she and Dottie stood with me as the Bishop laid hands on my head and confirmed me. My heart is overflowing with the love and welcome that this church has bestowed on me. I am truly blessed to have been directed to St. Tim's. This is what the pewter plaque says:

"Confirmed in Christ

Strengthen me, O Lord

with your Holy Spirit.

Empower me for your service

And sustain me all the days of my life.

Amen"

Benediction

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face to shine

upon you, and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up his countenance

upon you, and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

This was in my last envelope from Bev. I love this benediction; I always feel so blessed by it. Who knew it was from Numbers? I looked it up, and it's something God told Moses to say to Aaron and his sons. Known as the Aaronic Blessing, it reassured the people of Israel that God was with them. The people would know that because the Lord God 'made His face to shine upon' them that they had found favor with Him. When God turned His face away from them, they knew they were in trouble, that He was no longer protecting them.

Those were the days, huh? God spoke directly to folks then, making his guidance and thoughts very, very clear. I wish sometimes He would speak this clearly to me!

Angels

Do you believe in angels? I do. I believe that sometimes angels come to me in the people I meet. Sometimes angels are present during experiences that I have. Often angels whisper God's words in my ear. There are times that I write something poignant or put together an elegant poem; when I go back to read it later, I'm amazed. Surely, it wasn't me who wrote that...it was God's angels who spoke those lovely words to me. Occasionally, an angel gives me a nudge in God's direction. There are times when that nudge is more like a kick in the backside. "Oh yeah...now I get it!" I'm sure the angels whom God sends into my life get a bit frustrated with me and my utter lack of understanding! Do they, like Clarence in "It's a Wonderful Life," plead to be taken off my case? Do they rejoice when I, like Jimmy Stewart who finally understands and shouts with joy over Zuzu's petals, finally get it? Hopefully, they get a 'job well done' from my Creator when that happens....they work awfully hard. Bells should be ringing all over God's Heaven!

My verse from my prayer partner today is from Joshua 1:9. "Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

What Bev adds is: "We move from state to state, from job to job, and church to church and God is always there. He guides and guards and brings us peace.' I believe He uses angels to help Him do that.

The lovely porcelain holy water font is from a collection that graces the living room wall of La Treille, the B & B in Goult where I stay. I'll share more of them another time.