Remember When!?!

St. Mary's Confirmation Class 2003; pictured here (left to right) Lindsay, Daniel, Jesse (I think that is your nose, Jesse), me, Lindsey (note the different spelling from Lindsay #1), Allie, and Lia.

Wow! This picture brings back memories! I was just surfing the website of the parish I was at during seminary (St. Mary of the Incarnation, Metchosin, BC) and found this in with their parish pics!

This was the winter/spring of 2003, and we were covering some part of the Nicene Creed. I miss those days...really! Any of you youth checking this post, drop me a line!

Ministry "Outside of the Box"

I just got home from my monthly prayer service at Waukehegan Manor (our local "Assisted Living Centre") and I am surprisingly energized. Why it is "surprising" is that it is Sunday afternoon, I have already lead and preached at a morning service, have just returned from a Manor service, and will be off to the start of a new "Video Series" in a few hours from now. This is not a relaxing day -- it is a draining one -- and YET I feel energized after the Manor service.

Why?

Because this kind of "outside the box" ministry is awesome and needed and transformative. This is not to say that "standardized, churchy" ministries are not these as well, but FOR ME outside of the box ministry is where we need to be headed. And don't get me wrong, a Sunday prayer service at an "old folks home" is not that radical. And yet, it is public. AND THIS IS THE KEY. When we (Christians) have the opportunity to witness to Jesus by praying with, caring for, and simply being with the public as recognizable disciples of Jesus Christ, satan freaks out! We are treading on what is traditionally considered as "his" territory.

As I prayed, sang hymns, and preached (a SHORT homily) to and with these folks today, orderlies were cleaning up the residents, nurses were doing their work, family members were coming and going...all while a priest was ministering in the open, front entrance of the Manor. Do you see what I am getting at...this is where the Church needs to be (also in the church buildings too, I suppose) more than ever (?).

Lord, empower us to minister outside the box! To your glory and honour and praise!

Amen.

From Today's Morning Prayer Service

This service is offered in memory of:
Sgt. Donald Lucas, 31, of Burton, NB (2RCR, Gagetown)
Master Cpl. Allan Stewart, 30, of Newcastle, NB (RCD, Petawawa)
Cpl. Christopher Stannix, 24, of Dartmouth, NS (PLF, Halifax)
Cpl. Aaron E. Williams, 23, of Lincoln, NB (2RCR, Gagetown)
Cpl. Brent Poland, 37, of Sarnia, ON (2RCR, Gagetown)
Pte. Kevin Kennedy, 20, of St. Lawrence, Nfld (2RCR, Gagetown)
Pte. David R. Greenslade, 20, of Saint John, NB (2RCR, Gagetown)
Trooper Patrick James Pentland, 23, of Geary, NB (RCD, Petawawa)

A Time of Reflection & Prayers For the Departed:
For Peace in the World (Book of Common Prayer page 51)
Almighty God and merciful Father, who wouldest have the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of thy Son Jesus Christ: Bestow thy blessing, we beseech thee, upon all who labour for peace and righteousness among the peoples, especially in Afghanistan; that the day may be hastened when war shall be no more, and thy will only shall govern the nations upon earth; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For those who serve in the Queen’s Forces (Book of Common Prayer page 51)
LORD of hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the Queen’s forces in every peril of sea, and land, and air; shelter them in the day of battle, and ever keep them safe from all evil; endue them with loyalty and courage; and grant that in all things they may serve as seeing thee who art invisible; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany for the Departed (From the Book of Alternative Services)
Priest: Almighty God, you have knit your chosen people together in one communion, in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Give to your whole Church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace.
People: Hear us, Lord.
Priest: May all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection die to sin and rise to newness of life, and may we with him pass through the grave and gate of death to our joyful resurrection.
People: Hear us, Lord.
Priest: Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that your Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.
People: Hear us, Lord.
Priest: Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your loving care that casting all their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love.
People: Hear us, Lord.
Priest: Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a holy and certain hope, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.
People: Hear us, Lord.
Priest: Grant us grace to entrust Donald Lucas, Allan Stewart, Christopher Stannix, Aaron E. Williams, Brent Poland, Kevin Kennedy, David R. Greenslade, and Patrick James Pentland to your never–failing love which sustained them in this life. Receive them into the arms of your mercy, and remember them according to the favour you bear for your people.

People: Hear us, Lord.

What is "Holy" Work?

Col 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

“Holy” is not a type of work (as if some types of work are holy and others are not holy). Any kind of legitimate work (by “legitimate” I mean work that is not of a criminal or evil nature) can be holy if it is done in the name of the Lord Jesus. I know that this sounds simple as I write it, but much of our world still hasn’t grasped this fundamental Biblical truth. As Paul says a couple verses later (in reference to slaves) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Col 3:23).

It is easy for me to convince myself that I am doing “holy” work, since I am a “man of the cloth.” And yet, my priestly work is only holy if it is done in the name (and for) the Lord Jesus. When my work is done without thought to Jesus and his work in the world (yes, priests can easily forget Christ even when doing seemingly “Christ-centred” work) I am doing “unholy” work.

On the other hand, it is easy for many people to think that their 9-5 work in the (so-called) secular workforce is something other than holy. This applies to people’s work as spouses, or parents, or grand-parents, or children (yes, children do work – I’m not talking about the horrors of “sweat-shops”, but their good work of play, and chatter, and learning). Many Christians see their Sunday morning attendance (or lack thereof) as the only “holy” work they do in the week. But, this is so contrary to the Biblical worldview. God has created each of us with unique abilities and passions and experiences that can (and should be) part of our “holy” work in the world. Parenting a stubborn child, drawing someone’s blood for a lab test, fixing a dripping faucet, or writing a policy brief, (and so on) are works as holy as consecrating bread and wine or baptizing a new believer if they are done in the name of (and for) the Lord Jesus. So, the question is not finding a holy profession or trade, but bringing holiness (ie. the act of working for, and in the name of, Jesus) to whatever trade we find ourselves in (or drawn to).

Two verses jumped out at me today in my morning devotions:
Matt 3:8 & 10 (in reference to the Pharisees & Sadducees) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Col 2:23 Such regulations (vv20-22) indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

John the Baptizer and Paul are saying essentially the same thing here. Our religosity (heritage, traditions, community status) is totally useless in our pursuit of righteous living. Living righteously (which is best descibed as "us being in right-relationship to God") is manifested in a life of fruit-bearing. A fruit tree that produces rotten fruit (or no fruit at all) is failing at its created purpose regardless of how much the orchard-owner hails it as the best fruit-tree around. The proof is in the pudding. Taste and see! The righteousness is visible. (Now, this needs to be balanced however by texts calling for a secret righteousness like Matt 6:2-4 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.") Bear fruit! And as Paul puts it excellently, this fruit-bearing is a life of restraint from sensual indulgence. I need to evaluate my "religious acts" against these texts. Are my rituals and rules and titles causing me to bear fruit or to wither? As an Anglican I need to hear this particularly. I need to honestly ask if such-and-such bears fruit, or if it is just an exercise in going through the motions. Bear fruit!