the epicenter

the god strategy...

2008-08-19T08:09:00.001-07:00

The God Strategy, by David Domke and Kevin Coe, is a recently published book that might be worth checking out for anyone interested in the current climate of religion and politics in the U.S. It was featured on Episcopal Life Online (aka ELO) a few months ago c and it caught my eye (ELO is a daily update of news, events, and resources published by our national Episcopal Church offices). Here is the review that appeared in ELO's email update:

"The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America" from Oxford University Press, by David Domke and Kevin Cole, 231 pages, hardcover, c. 2008, $30

[Oxford University Press] In The God Strategy, scholars David Domke and Kevin Coe offer a timely and dynamic study of the rise of religion in American politics, examining the public messages of political leaders over the past 75 years-from the 1932 election of Franklin Roosevelt to the early stages of the 2008 presidential race. They conclude that U.S. politics today is defined by a calculated, deliberate, and partisan use of faith that is unprecedented in modern politics.

Sectarian influences and expressions of faith have always been part of American politics, the authors observe, but a profound change occurred beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. What has developed since is a no-holds-barred religious politics that seeks to attract voters, identify and attack enemies, and solidify power. Domke and Coe identify a set of religious signals sent by both Republicans and Democrats in speeches, party platforms, proclamations, visits to audiences of faith, and even celebrations of Christmas. Sometimes these signals are intended for the eyes and ears of all Americans, and other times they are distinctly targeted to specific segments of the population. It's an approach that has been remarkably successful, utilized first and most extensively by the Republican Party to capture unprecedented power and then adopted by the Democratic Party, most notably by Bill Clinton in the 1990s and by a wide range of Democrats in the 2006 elections.

"For U.S. politicians today, having faith isn't enough; it must be displayed, carefully and publicly. This is a stark transformation in recent decades," write Domke and Coe. With innovative, accessible research and analytical verve, they document how this has occurred, who has done it and why, and what it means for the American experiment in democracy.

Just for fun...

2008-08-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

By the way, I did take a quick photo of the bumper sticker I mentioned in this Sunday's sermon. Enjoy!

Also, just a reminder that you are welcome to post comments. I would love to hear from you!

A real, live theologian

2008-08-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

Jürgen Moltmann is a German theologian whose book, Spirit of Life, I read several years ago making quite an impact on my understanding of the Holy Spirit. Moltmann has quite a story to tell that I promise will inspire! Click here for a video interview with Moltmann at the Episcopal Cafe website.

Leapin' Lizards!

2008-08-10T17:20:00.001-07:00

Well, actually, walking on water lizards. This photo, courtesy of Cynthia Gould, is of a Costa Rican Basilisk Lizard, aka, the Jesus Christ lizard. The lizard walks on water! Click here to see a great National Geographic video of the lizard in action.

Jesus walked on water in today's gospel lesson which sparked all kinds of conversation about how we understand and explore our Biblical tradition - what truth is, how we engage the Biblical text, and how we come to know more about ourselves as God's beloved people. Here is a wonderful story that encourages me, and I hope you too, to think beyond mere acceptance and move toward a deeper, more engaged and playful intersection with our sacred stories.

One day the German [writer Bichsel] asked a Balinese [Hindu] whether
he believed the history of Prince Rama - one of the holy books of the
Hindus - is true.
Without hesitation the Balinese answered 'Yes.'
'So you believe that the Prince Rama lived somewhere and somewhen?'
'I do not know if he lived,' he said.
'Then it is a story.'
'Yes, it is a story.'
'Then someone wrote this story - I mean: a human being wrote it?'
'Certainly some human being wrote it,' he said.
'Then some human being could also have invented it.' The German felt
that he had triumphed, and thought that he had convinced the
Indonesian.'
But the Balinese said: 'It is quite possible that somebody invented
this story. But true it is in any case.'
'Then it is the case that Prince Rama did not live on this earth.'
'What is it that you want to know?' the Balinese asked. 'Do you want
to know whether the story is true, or merely whether it
occurred?'
R.S. Sugirtharajah, Postcolonial Refigurations: An Alternative Way of Reading the Bible and Doing Theology (London: SCM Press, 2003), 90.

Can't get enough sermons?

2008-06-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Just in case you can't get enough Sunday sermons, allow me to introduce you to the fabulous Grace Cathedral (San Francisco) website. The site has lots to explore. Grace also records and posts all their Sunday morning sermons as well as their Sunday morning Forums which bring in some amazing people to speak. Sermons and Forums are available on their website (click here) but, even better, you can subscribe to one of several podcasts via iTunes. Just put "Grace Cathedral" in the search bar and you will see the different podcasts available for subscription. It's all free and it's all very good. Enjoy!

Wisps of glory...

2008-04-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

"Everybody born comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory..." says Maya Angelou in a great interview on NPR. Angelou is an extraordinary human being and an inspiration to many. Besides authoring I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou is also a poet, playwright, dancer, singer, and much more. At the end of the interview Angelou says about being Christian, "I am relieved to have a faith that there is no place where God is not." Well said! The interview is about 12 mintues long and well worth your time. Enjoy!

Happy Easter to you all! The photo on the right of a beautiful Calla Lily was taken by blog subscriber, "Minstral," in celebration of our Easter feast. Thank you, Minstral!

In other news...It has been about 6 weeks since we have had regular postings on the blog, however, I hope to post more regular now that we are well into the Easter season. Stay tuned! And feel free to comment on the blog or send me items you would like to see posted.

What is the greatest virtue?

2008-02-21T14:00:00.001-08:00

Dr. Jarvis Streeter gave another great lecture last night on Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. We read the whole book together, line by line, looking at Paul's theology and ethics as well as the primary themes in the letter. One thing that I found particularly noteworthy was Dr. Streeter's assertion that love is the primary Christian virtue. In 1st Thessalonians 1.3, Paul speaks of faith, hope, and love, but those of you who have been to a handful of weddings will probably also recall the following from Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13.13) Love as the primary Christian virtue certainly does have implications as to how we practice our faith and who we are in the world. It brings up many questions for me. What does it mean to practice love? How do we bring the gift of God's love to the world?

Homework for this week is to read 2 Thessalonians and Galatians. As was the case last week, Dr. Streeter would like us to pay attention to the theology and ethics of the letter. What is Paul telling the church to think (theology)? What kind of behavior is Paul encouraging (ethics)?

And, finally, just for review, Paul's letters all have a particular structure common to the genre of letter writing in the 1st century. Below is a basic outline of the structure of Paul's letters. Hopefully it will be a useful guide to you as you read and try to understand what Paul has to say about our faith.

Basic Structure of a Pauline Letter
1. Greeting (usually brief. A sentence or two though sometimes the sentences are quite long!)
2. Thanksgiving (about a paragraph or so in length. It varies from letter to letter and 1 Thessalonians has a very long Thanksgiving!)
3. Body of the Letter
a. Theology - what they should think
b. Ethics - how they should behave.
4. Conclusion (often including housekeeping matters, hellos to individuals, and sometimes a reiteration of the main themes of the letter)

Do your homework!

2008-02-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

Homework, you say? Do I hear a groan? A gasp? Yes, we have some homework to do.

This past Wednesday, Dr. Jarvis Streeter, Professor of Religion at Cal Lutheran, began his Lenten lecture series at Epiphany on St. Paul (St. Paul is the author of much of our New Testament Letters that we hear every Sunday in the second reading right after the Psalm). Dr. Streeter is a great teacher! He is fun to listen to, relaxed, and has a way of presenting information that is engaging and interesting. On Wednesday, he gave us a lot of background information about Paul such as where he lived, where he traveled, the dates of his travels, and a bit about his writing. And, to get us ready for next week's lecture, Dr. Streeter asked us to read 1st Thessalonians, 2nd Thessalonians and Galatians. As we read, we should pay attention to tone, content, and style, as well as paying attention to differences between the letters. We can find clues in the text pointing to the likelihood that Paul is not the author of 2nd Thessalonians even though it is attributed to him!

Click here for some basic facts on St. Paul if you missed last Wednesday's lecture (or even if you didn't). Also, this website will keep you busy with its many links to all kinds of information and articles on St. Paul and his writings. My personal favorite is this website with maps of Paul's journeys and photos of the cities where he worked. Hope to see you all this coming Wednesday!

It's a dirty job...

2008-02-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

...but someone's gotta do it!

Each year on the last Sunday of the Epiphany season, we sing as many Alleluias as we can possibly stand. Once Ash Wednesday comes around, the Alleluias are buried until Easter, right there, in that little hole in the ground that our Vicar, Hank Mitchel, has just dug and is pointing to. Well done, Hank!

Ok, really, when I say buried, I mean that only metaphorically. Hank didn't really bury the Alleluia but we do retire the Alleluia in word and song in favor of a more austere and self-reflective worship experience during the season of Lent.

However, there are some churches who really do bury the Alleluia. Inscribing the word Alleluia on to paper or some other natural material, the Alleluia is placed in a box and buried in the ground to signify the beginning of the penitential season of Lent. Some churches even dig up the Alleluia as part of the Easter celebration. Click here to read more on this and various different burial practices for the Alleluias we sing. And, for more information about Lent in click here.

Another important tradition for the Lenten season is taking on a new spiritual practice. I have included in various postings different websites for prayer and study and it is my hope that you might find one of these websites helpful for your daily practice of prayer. Below is a list of some of them for your convenience.

EPPN's Lenten series, For the Beauty of the Earth
I believe you can subscribe to this series and receive reflections, information and prayers during the Lenten season. I just signed up so we will see what happens.

Pray as you go
This is a great website for people on the go, and for stationary people too!

Sacred Space
This website has daily prayers year round AND special prayers for the Lenten season.

Episcopal Life Online
Several resources from the national church. You can browse here to your heart's content.

Forward Day by Day
These are meditations based on the Daily Office readings.

Oremus
Last but not least, Oremus is a wonderful resource for prayer year round! And, like many of the sites above, you can subscribe and have the daily prayer sent to you each and every day.

Just in time for Super Tuesday...

2008-02-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

A different side of faith and politics! This time it's a profile of the democratic candidates in Super Tuesday's election. Click here to go to NPR's piece on Obama and Clinton in the Land of Lincoln. A fascinating article with plenty of links to click and explore! And, even though the Episcopal Church won't tell you who to vote for, we do encourage you to pray for the election, for the voters, and for the candidates. Below is a prayer for an election from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). You may also click here to see all the prayers for national life in the BCP.

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The end of the rainbow...

2008-01-30T12:20:00.001-08:00

I will spare you all the cheesy references to pots 'o gold and leprechauns, but I can't resist connecting our legends about the ends of rainbows with where this rainbow ends. Our church, represented by the building, is a great symbol of what we value in our lives. The Bible refers many times to God's law and God's wisdom as more valuable than gold, like in this passage from Job, "It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls." The church, the body of Christ is who we are, and we come together as a community of faith not to seek material wealth or gain, but to inherit the wealth of a life lived seeking after God's wisdom. This is where life is found, at the end of the rainbow.

I can see clearly now...

2008-01-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

After a good rain, blue skies, white clouds and the possibility of a rainbow makes me feel hopeful. Something new is on the wind. I took this picture yesterday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. What a beautiful sky after so many days of darkness, clouds and rain.

We are in an election year this year. It is on everyone's minds, of course. Something new is on the wind. One of Epiphany's newer members asked if the Episcopal Church sponsors or supports one particular candidate OR if there is a candidate that particularly embodies the values of the Episcopal Church. Two great questions! The answer to both questions is NO. The Episcopal Church does not endorse a candidate nor is there a candidate that embodies the values of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church thrives on its diversity which includes political diversity as well.

However, that being said, there is plenty of religious rhetoric being tossed around in this election year and, in the interest of us all seeing clearly as Super Tuesday approaches, I thought I would send you to a couple of websites that address this issue of religion, politics, and the election. The first is The Revealer: A Daily Review of Religion and the Press. There is a great article called Holy Iowa that I referenced in a sermon not too long ago. This website is new to me but it seems worth exploring.

And, hot off the presses of Religion and Ethics Weekly is this article/video on Religion and the Presidential Primaries. If you go to the home page of Religion and Ethics Weekly there are other resources there as well.

What in the world....

2008-01-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

...is the Episcopal Church doing about the climate crisis, asked one of Epiphany's newer members. Participants in The Way of Jesus, a class for those newest to the church as well as those interested jumpstarting their faith, were asked to write down the questions they had about Epiphany, about the Episcopal Church, about religion in general, and about anything in the world that was on their mind! Over the next week or so, we will post responses to those questions, beginning with the question of what the Episcopal Church is doing about climate change.

Where to begin with the question of climate change? The Episcopal Church is responding in numerous ways to the climate crisis on local, diocesan, national and international levels. There is so much out there on the World Wide Web that shows what we are doing to make a difference, and yet there is still so much more we can still do! Below are a series of links for your exploration of the Episcopal Church's response. These are only a few. I encourage you to explore and let me know if you find anything that we should publish on the Epicenter and spread the word about. And now, on with the show...

Click here for information on what the Anglican Communion is doing in terms of environmental ministry and mission.

The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los Angeles have both chosen the U.N. Millennium Development Goals as a focus for mission, including the goal of environmental sustainability.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN)
This group is not limited only to environmental advocacy but spans the breadth and depth of issues we face.

EPPN's Lenten series, For the Beauty of the Earth
I believe you can subscribe to this series and receive reflections, information and prayers during the Lenten season. I just signed up so we will see what happens.

Environmental Stewardship
Also on the national level, this is a focus area of the Peace and Justice Ministries office. This site has numerous articles and resources. Lots to browse here!

Our diocese, The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, has a Minister for the Environment who wrote this article on the spiritual implications of global warming.

The LA diocese also sponsors Camp Stevens, an Episcopal Church camp that operates year round teaching children and adults about the importance of continuing to work toward environmental sustainability as an important part of the practice of our faith.

Arise! Shine!

2008-01-21T16:54:00.001-08:00

For your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60.1
Here we are in the season of Epiphany and the Epicenter is back online. After a bit of a winter break, new posts are on the way! As promised in December, I want to follow up on our last class with Dr. George and give you his recommended reading list for further study and reflections. But first let me direct your attention to Dr. George's blog. The blog links to a great essay written by Dr. George on dreams. Once you are at the blog, look on the right side of your screen under "Categories" and then click on "Dream Interpretation." Enjoy!

And now for Dr. George's recommended reading...
On Dreams
Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep by William C. Dement
This text covers the laboratory research on sleep and dreams in a most readable way.
The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud
The classic on dreams. Dreams are in italics throughout the book and the fascinating psychoanalytic interpretations follow.

Inner Work by Robert A. Johnson
Half of this book is about interpreting your own dreams.

Memories, Dreams and Reflections by C.G. Jung
Dreams: A Way to Listen to God by Morton T. Kelsey
Kelsey shows that dreams are an integral part of the spiritual life. His book also contains many practical tips for working with one's own dreams.

Dreams and Healing by John A. Sanford
Using case studies this book shows how to arrive at a concise statement of a dream's message, and contains an excellent section on working with one's own dreams.

For couples

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work : A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver

The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships by John M. Gottman

Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: and How You Can Make Yours Last by John M. Gottman
Three of Gottman’s popularly-written descriptions of his research on couples in which couples were video-taped from 9am to 9pm on weekends. The results enabled Gottman to predict which couples will probably divorce based on their interaction patterns. Shows how marriages fail and what can help them succeed. Any of his books is good.

How Can I Get Through to You: Reconnecting Men and Women by Terrence Real
Filled with actual case studies from his couples counseling. (Real is also the author of I Don't Want to Talk About It, on men’s depression). He says because of men’s socialization not to deal with feelings, women hold the key to helping men open up, change and get what they need from their relationship and their life. Respects both male and female viewpoints.

The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller
Explains the devastating results of narcissistic parenting: selfish parents create selfish children. But selfishness may come out in caretaking of others with expectations that they will then take care of you. Lots of good examples and case studies by this psychoanalyst. Shows how important it is for each member of the couple to understand their own wounding childhood experiences and how these play into their relationship.

Between People by John A. Sanford
A concisely written little book on couples’ communication using Jungian ideas and vivid examples from Sanford’s counseling of couples and individuals.

Please Understand Me by David Kiersey
Gain self-understanding and acceptance of your mate’s differences from you through Jung’s psychological typology. The typology test is included in the book, or you can take it free at www.humanmetrics.com.

Gifts Differing by Isabel Briggs-Meyers
Title taken from St. Paul (Romans 12:6). The classic and readable book on Jung’s theory of psychological type by the originator of a Jungian typology test, the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator. Gives you a basic understanding of the system of categorizing people’s personality preferences (thinking-feeling, sensing-intuition), plus applications to relationships, work life, etc.

You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen
Analyzes men’s and women’s diverse conversational styles to understand the why they disagree so much in daily life. (Probably a precursor to John Gray’s Mars and Venus.)

Adult Attachment by Judith A. Feeney and Patricia Noller

Marriage: Dead or Alive by Adolf Guggenbuhl-Craig

Fair Fighting website
Because we all need help fighting fairly!

Incarnational blessings! (or Merry Christmas!)

2007-12-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of god.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

John 1.1-14

Annunciation

2007-12-21T23:47:00.001-08:00

This Advent reflection is offered by Hank.
The eighth lesson from our Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols comes from the gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26-35, 38) in which the Angel of the Lord appears to Mary to announce that she is pregnant with a child who she will name Jesus. This baby will be called Son of the Most High and will inherit the throne of his ancestor David. It is one of the most beautiful passages in all the Bible and also one of the most curious. In Matthew's gospel, the angel appears not to Mary, but to Joseph, assuring him that even though his wife-to-be, Mary, is already with child he is not to divorce her. Again, isn't it fun to recognize how different Biblical writers describe essentially the same event in such different ways? The beautiful thing about Luke's story is in Mary's response. She doesn't question or second guess the Lord (as Joseph does in Matthew). Rather, she simply responds, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your world." O that we could all be so faithful in our own response to God.
(stained glass from Chartres Cathedral in France and painting, The Annunciation, by Fra Angelico)

Tasty morsels

2007-12-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

Every day, when I take my dog for a walk, I carry a stick and I keep watch for coyotes and other critters that might find my dog a tasty meal on a hungry, cold evening. We have had several encounters with coyotes and, in my neighborhood, a handful of pets have been lost to the coyotes who roam our arroyo looking for something to fill their empty bellies. No coyote has ever really threatened us, but I am still cautious.

In the seventh lesson from our Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols, taken from Isaiah 65.17-25, we hear of a new heaven and new earth where all of creation lives peaceably, including polar bears and huskies in the photo to the right, as well as coyotes and domestic pets in the hills of Oak Park. In this new creation, there will be no more crying or suffering, people will live long lives and will find fulfillment and joy in their work. Wolves, lambs and lions will eat together (vegetarian, of course) and the serpent, symbolic of our sin in this case, will no longer have power. This peaceable kingdom, the new heaven and new earth Isaiah proclaims, is symbolic for the peace in our hearts when we know and experience Emmanuel, the God who is with us.

On Micah

2007-12-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

This reflection is offered by Hank
The sixth lesson we shared at our Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols came from the writings of prophet Micah (Micah 5:2-4) promising that the Lord of Israel and of Peace shall be born, like the great King David, in the town of Bethlehem of Judea. It is in fulfillment of this important prophecy that in both Matthew's and Luke's gospel accounts, Jesus is born in Bethlehem. It is interesting to note that there are many differences between Luke and Matthew, however. For instance, in Matthew, Jesus' family already lives in Bethlehem and is forced to leave after Jesus is born, fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod's wrath. In Luke, however, the family lives in Nazareth of Galilee. They travel to Bethlehem in order to comply with the requirements of a government census. After Jesus is born, the family travels to Jerusalem. (click here for a great map of ancient Israel!) Isn't it fun to notice how different Biblical writers describe the same events in such different ways?

promises, promises...

2007-12-19T13:37:00.001-08:00

This reflection is offered by Hank
Our fifth lesson in Advent Lessons and Carols was taken from the Apocryphal Book of Baruch (Baruch 4:36-5:9). The Apocrypha refers to those books of our Old Testament canon which are included in the most ancient Greek Bible (the Septuagint was used by, among others, St. Paul) but which the Hebrew canon of Holy Scripture does not include. The books of the Apocrypha are included in some Bibles today, and not in others. In Roman Catholic Bibles, the books are interspersed throughout the Old Testament. In the Bible we use in the Episcopal Church, they are included in a special section between the Old and New Testament, while in many Protestant Bibles, the books of the Apocrypha do not appear at all.

The writings of Baruch come from about 100 years before Jesus' birth, but are set and describe the time during the Hebrew people's Babylonian Exile six centuries earlier. In the passage we read for Lessons and Carols, the people are seen rejoicing as they return in glory to their Promised Land. An unfulfilled prophecy, to be sure, but when taken metaphorically and not literally, the prophecy offers much today as we too prepare for the time when God's promise of fulfillment will be made real through the ministry we all share in the risen Christ. In Baruch, we are assured of God's everlasting care for us and all God's people.

Landscapes

2007-12-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

I remember a very rainy, So Cal winter a few years back. There was enough rain, in fact, for the desert to bloom. A desert that blooms was a new concept to me and so I drove out to Joshua Tree in the high desert and Anza Borrego further south and saw with my very own eyes how stunning the desert it is when it flowers. The landscape I had once experienced as barren and dry was bursting with life!

In So Cal, we know what it is like to experience drought, heat, and fires. Likewise, we know how life-giving a good rain is in our desert landscape. In the fourth lesson from Advent Lessons and Carols, the prophet Isaiah uses images of the desert in bloom and streams flowing through the parched desert lands as metaphors for God's salvation. Through Isaiah's proclamation, God promises that our hearts will be refreshed and life brought to the thirsty landscapes of our souls.

An apple a day...

2007-12-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

In the third lesson from Lessons and Carols, the prophet Jeremiah proclaims God's message of forgiveness for Israel and Judah through the new covenant established between God and God's people. God will write the law upon our hearts so that our very being will becoming the embodiment of God's promise!

The concept of a covenant between God and God's people is central in the Hebrew Bible as well as the Christian scriptures. Covenant necessarily implies a relationship between God and humanity. It is the promise of God to love and care for us and the promise of humanity to love and obey God. The God who covenants with us is not a God that is unaffected by our suffering but rather it is a God that is in intimate relationship with all of humankind.

In Lessons and Carols, each lesson is accompanied by a musical reflection. Epiphany Schola, offered Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, a poem set to music as the reflection on Jeremiah's proclamation. In this poem, the mystical apple tree became another image for the covenant of God with God's people. The apple has quite a symbolic history in the Christian tradition, most notably as the forbidden fruit in the garden that caused our fall. Yet, in the same garden is also the tree of life. Christ as our apple tree, our tree of life, is the other option for us in the ancient and ancestral garden symbolizing the new covenant of Jeremiah's proclamation - a promise of transformation from sin and suffering into wholeness for all of God's people and all of creation.

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
the trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

quotables

2007-12-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

In the past week or so, I have had three quotes come across my desk which I share with you below. For me, these quotes have been a source of comfort as well as thought provoking. I hope they will be the same for you!

Bidden or unbidden, God is present.
Carl Jung from Desiderius Erasmus

When there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening; no doubt, no awakening.
Zen saying

Every human thought, and every human action, is based in either love or fear. There is no other human motivation.
from Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch

Little League dilemmas

2007-12-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

You are the manager of a Little League team that has been selected to go to the Little League World Series. There are 25 players on your team, but only 15 are allowed to go the World Series according to Little League rules. What criteria do you use to determine which 10 players won't go with their teammates to play in the World Series?

In his second lecture, Dr. George gave us this problem work out in groups based on our personality type. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (see post "Dr. George" from December 10), Dr. George divided us into two groups: Thinking (T) and Feeling (F). He explained that the T and the F are the parts of our personality we use to make decisions. The answers each group came up with were exactly what Dr. George predicted. The T's made their decision based on logic, and the F's made their decision based on care for the feelings of each player. Fascinating!

Carl Jung's theory of personality, which is what this group exercise was designed to teach us a little bit about, is actually quite complex. Dr. George spoke of Jung's close relationship with Freud, the end of their relationship, and Jung's departure from Freud's theories and the development of his own theories, namely, what Jung calls the Collective Unconscious. The Collective Unconscious is itself quite complex. Dr. George described it as the thing that connects us to all other people across time and space. Sounds to me a bit like what we call "the communion of saints." (click here to learn more about Jung's theories)

Regarding how God fits into all of this, Dr. George taught us about Jung's theory of the Self: the truest, most centered place in our personality, free of defense mechanisms, persona (the part of ourselves we allow the world to see), the ego, etc. He said the Self is what lives on eternally. It is the part of us that is not constructed or mutable but rather the part of us that is the Imago Dei, the image of God.

I am reminded of the Gospel lesson from this past Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent. We read Matthew 3.1-12, but particularly verse 12 where John the Baptist is quoted as saying, "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." The chaff is an important part of the wheat. As the wheat grows and ripens the chaff protects it, but there comes a time when the wheat matures and no longer needs the protection the chaff can offer. I think of the chaff as the parts of our personality that are constructed, mutable, and help us get along in the world. But this isn't our true self, our Imago Dei. The wheat as the Imago Dei, the Self. It is the part of us that is fruitful and maturing. It is what God has created and called good in each of us and it is the part of us that endures!

COMING SOON: Dr. George's suggested reading list for further study. Stay tuned!

Be prepared...

2007-12-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

This reflection, by our Vicar Hank Mitchel, is the second installment in our series of Advent reflections based on the readings from Lessons and Carols.

The second lesson in our Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols came from Isaiah 40:1-11 where the prophet cries, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God." The passage includes the words, "A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'" During the season of Advent, the church always reads of John the Baptist, the one who called all who would listen to prepare for the coming of God. In Matthew's Gospel, John is identified as the one about whom Isaiah spoke, quoting the words exactly, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." It is difficult to miss Advent's greatest theme: Prepare for the coming of God!

Icon of John the Baptist from www.coptic.net

Origins

2007-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

This year at Epiphany, the season of Advent and the new church year began with the traditional service of Lessons and Carols at 5 p.m. on December 2. We heard 9 lessons of our salvation history from the fall of humankind, the promise of a savior, and the birth of Christ. Offered as reflections upon the lessons, Epiphany's Parish, Chorister, and Schola choirs sang anthems and hymns as well as leading the congregational caroling.

The first lesson, Genesis 3.1-15, tells the story of Adam and Eve, and the fall of humankind. Traditionally, this story from Genesis has been interpreted as the origin of original sin, a doctrine of the church that teaches the sinfulness of all people from birth and our need of redemption(see also Psalm 51.5). However, this interpretation of Genesis is unique to Christians among the three Abrahamic faiths that also include this story in their holy scriptures. The doctrine was first conceived by St. Augustine and his belief that unbaptized infants who die are hellbound, because, for Augustine, humanity without God's grace has no other option than sin.

As with any doctrine of the church, original sin has many problems. It has helped me to remember the passage from Genesis, upon which the doctrine of original sin is based, is a creation myth and not a blow by blow account of what the first man and woman were up to. A myth is not a terrible thing. Myths illustrate much deeper truths than a simple news story on Eve's disobedience ever could. This myth tells us about desire, innocence, knowledge, temptation, love, pain, and despair and the place of God in all of those very human experiences. The richness of its multiple layers of meaning may be explored with our God-given imaginations preventing the limitation of its interpretation only to the story of our original sin. This limitation, in fact, would seem a sin itself.