Seventh Sunday after Pentecost – Year B (RCL) Proper 11, 2009
Jeremiah 23: 1 – 6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2: 11 – 22; Mark 6: 30 – 34, 53 – 56
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Parish, Portland, OR
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Jeremiah 23: 1 – 6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2: 11 – 22; Mark 6: 30 – 34, 53 – 56
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Parish, Portland, OR
Sunday, July 19, 2009
VACATION IN GENNESARET
Let us pray: Restful God, in Jesus you called the disciples away from their busy labors in order to rest with you in the wilderness. You pulled your followers out of the tug and pull of the demands of ministry and led them into a remote place where they might find rest and restoration. Help us to realize that we do not run the world, that it is not within our power to make history turn out right, or to fix all that is wrong with ourselves and others. Help us, God, to remember that you are God and we are not. Give us the grace to enjoy your promised rest, this day and always. Amen.
(SUNG) COME FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
Here’s the first piece of Good News, or Gospel this morning. General Convention has concluded and the sky has not fallen, nor have the consituent members of the Anglican Communion risen up and marched off with the Archbishop of Canterbury to declare the American Church expelled. The secular and sensationalist press may want to entice readers and listeners by reducing detailed and carefully crafted legislation down to catchy headlines and sintilating sound bytes. I, however, want to read the two General Convention Resolutions that have been attracting all of the attention exactly as they were amended and approved by overwhelming majorities in both of the Houses of our bi-cameral system of governing that met in Anaheim, CA for the past two weeks. I believe that it is essential to our community to hear exactly what was discussed, prayed over, debated, prayed over, resolved, prayed over and approved by the House of Bishops by 70% majority vote and the House of Deputies by 72% during the meeting of the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church: First is Resolution D-205 dealing with the qualifications required for candidates to be considered for ordination in our Church – that Resolution reads as follows:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of "listening to the experience of homosexual persons," as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church,; and that God's call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.
Resolution C056 that deals with the participation of all of the baptized in all of the sacraments; carried by a 2/3 majority in both orders of the House of Deptuies and by the same majority in the House of Bishops. It reads as follows:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, collect and develop theological resources and liturgies of blessing for same-gender holy unions, to be presented to the 77th General Convention for formal consideration, and be it further
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, collect and develop theological resources and liturgies of blessing for same-gender holy unions, to be presented to the 77th General Convention for formal consideration, and be it further
Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, devise an open process for the conduct of its work in this matter, inviting participation from dioceses, congregations, and individuals who are or have already engaged in the study or design of such rites throughout the Anglican Communion, and be it further
Resolved, that all bishops, noting particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further
Resolved, that honoring the theological diversity of this Church, no bishop or other member of the clergy shall be compelled to authorize or officiate at such liturgies, and be it further
Resolved, that the Anglican Consultative Council be invited to conversation regarding this resolution and the work that proceeds from it, together with other churches in the Anglican Communion engaged in similar processes.
I am personally struck this morning by a creeping sense of delight and anticipation of my upcoming journey to Colorado and time to be spent with my birth family in “reunion”. Next Sunday the sermon will be delivered by our hard-working and dedicated Deacon. The following Sunday and the Sunday after that will be covered by Supply clergy as I spend my time and energy navigating the challenges and blessings of 8 of my siblings; their spouses, children and grandchildren in the beauty of the Rocky mountains and against the background of the Garden of the Gods. I think it wonderful then, that today’s Gospel text refers to Jesus and the disciples work in and around Galilee; and the practical matter of vacation.
We find ourselves this morning in the beauty and warmth of God’s creation surrounded by the sunlight and warm breezes of the Pacific Northwest summer. As we gather in that relaxed atmosphere of our church family during that time of year – I’m struck by the appropriateness of our pericope taken from the author of Mark’s telling of the Good News of God in Christ. In this story, which is the third in a row taken from that author’s sixth chapter; Jesus welcomes the twelve back from their missions of ministry and invites them into vacation time. That is not exactly the term which the author uses – and the intention is exactly the same. Jesus, we are told, hears the stories of the follower’s adventures in ministry – and then invites them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” We are told that many were coming and going about them and they had no leisure even to eat.
How well we know that busyness and activity in our lives. Our work is so pressing that we stay at our desks and gulp down a sandwhich, if we’re lucky, and continue on with the important tasks that we must accomplish from our “to do” lists. It is our human nature to measure our importance by our degree of “busyness”. I’d be glad to find sometime to talk with you – let me check my calendar. The reality of our lives is that our time beomes “filled up” with what we have to acomplish; with “things” which we believe will have great impact on our success or lack thereof in our careers or our social lives. Jesus knows all of this – our tendencies to busy ourselves and so loose focus on who is in charge, after all; to forget that the earth will continue to revolve in the solar system, not because of what we do which allows it too – rather because of what God allows to continue in spite of our fumbling attempts to control all which comes under our pervue.
(SUNG) COME FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
I find it quite telling that the first thing which Jesus has the disciples do after their first successful “job” which has been assigned – is to take a break, to intentionally withdraw from the busyness of the crowds and the activity of their surroundings and “rest a while.” It is a model which Jesus has given to them previously – by withdrawing to pray; and which will be given to them again when withdrawl is sought to prepare for crucifixion, death and resurrection. Always, it seems, Jesus commands us to take time away from everything and “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” That is a part of what we do, every Sunday when we gather in Jesus’ name to retreat from the busyness of our week and receive nurishment and sustenance to go out and continue the work which we are given to do.
So, if someone asks you what the sermon was about at Church this week, tell them it was about hearing the exact wording of the controversial resolutions out of our General Convention and also about the divine command to take a vacation. If you haven’t taken your vacation yet this summer, I wish you refreshment, renewal and rest. If you have taken your week or two – remember that in most places in this world the average vacation is six weeks in length – so perhaps it is time to think about what the next “deserted place” where you can rest and renew will be. When the good old Protestant work ethic which tugs at your psyche and says “the only way that this is going to get done correctly is if you do it – and do it now” – remember that God is in charge and that it is not our responsibility keep the earth rotating on its axis; or in the words of a prayer in the New Zealand prayerbook “What has been done, has been done. What has not been done, has not been done. Let it be.” Sabbath time is sacred time – God has declared that to be true. In the first story of our realtionship with God we are told that God – yes, even God took time away to rest. Jesus invites us into vacation time today – enjoy your time away in a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.
(SUNG) COME FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
Amen.
I am personally struck this morning by a creeping sense of delight and anticipation of my upcoming journey to Colorado and time to be spent with my birth family in “reunion”. Next Sunday the sermon will be delivered by our hard-working and dedicated Deacon. The following Sunday and the Sunday after that will be covered by Supply clergy as I spend my time and energy navigating the challenges and blessings of 8 of my siblings; their spouses, children and grandchildren in the beauty of the Rocky mountains and against the background of the Garden of the Gods. I think it wonderful then, that today’s Gospel text refers to Jesus and the disciples work in and around Galilee; and the practical matter of vacation.
We find ourselves this morning in the beauty and warmth of God’s creation surrounded by the sunlight and warm breezes of the Pacific Northwest summer. As we gather in that relaxed atmosphere of our church family during that time of year – I’m struck by the appropriateness of our pericope taken from the author of Mark’s telling of the Good News of God in Christ. In this story, which is the third in a row taken from that author’s sixth chapter; Jesus welcomes the twelve back from their missions of ministry and invites them into vacation time. That is not exactly the term which the author uses – and the intention is exactly the same. Jesus, we are told, hears the stories of the follower’s adventures in ministry – and then invites them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” We are told that many were coming and going about them and they had no leisure even to eat.
How well we know that busyness and activity in our lives. Our work is so pressing that we stay at our desks and gulp down a sandwhich, if we’re lucky, and continue on with the important tasks that we must accomplish from our “to do” lists. It is our human nature to measure our importance by our degree of “busyness”. I’d be glad to find sometime to talk with you – let me check my calendar. The reality of our lives is that our time beomes “filled up” with what we have to acomplish; with “things” which we believe will have great impact on our success or lack thereof in our careers or our social lives. Jesus knows all of this – our tendencies to busy ourselves and so loose focus on who is in charge, after all; to forget that the earth will continue to revolve in the solar system, not because of what we do which allows it too – rather because of what God allows to continue in spite of our fumbling attempts to control all which comes under our pervue.
(SUNG) COME FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
I find it quite telling that the first thing which Jesus has the disciples do after their first successful “job” which has been assigned – is to take a break, to intentionally withdraw from the busyness of the crowds and the activity of their surroundings and “rest a while.” It is a model which Jesus has given to them previously – by withdrawing to pray; and which will be given to them again when withdrawl is sought to prepare for crucifixion, death and resurrection. Always, it seems, Jesus commands us to take time away from everything and “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” That is a part of what we do, every Sunday when we gather in Jesus’ name to retreat from the busyness of our week and receive nurishment and sustenance to go out and continue the work which we are given to do.
So, if someone asks you what the sermon was about at Church this week, tell them it was about hearing the exact wording of the controversial resolutions out of our General Convention and also about the divine command to take a vacation. If you haven’t taken your vacation yet this summer, I wish you refreshment, renewal and rest. If you have taken your week or two – remember that in most places in this world the average vacation is six weeks in length – so perhaps it is time to think about what the next “deserted place” where you can rest and renew will be. When the good old Protestant work ethic which tugs at your psyche and says “the only way that this is going to get done correctly is if you do it – and do it now” – remember that God is in charge and that it is not our responsibility keep the earth rotating on its axis; or in the words of a prayer in the New Zealand prayerbook “What has been done, has been done. What has not been done, has not been done. Let it be.” Sabbath time is sacred time – God has declared that to be true. In the first story of our realtionship with God we are told that God – yes, even God took time away to rest. Jesus invites us into vacation time today – enjoy your time away in a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.
(SUNG) COME FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
Amen.
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