Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 (full size gallery)
This is one Sunday with events happening that could not have seen ahead of time and they were all good.
1. Two former priests appeared- John Wall (2005-2009) and Macon Walton (1958-60). Macon came after coffee hour and so few saw him but he enjoyed our priest pictures in the parish house. John lives in both Fredericksburg and Florida. They had a good time seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
2. Shelagh Casey Brown from Virginia Seminary. OK, we knew she was coming to present Catherine with a certificate for winning the John Hines award in 2013 but she had difficulty finding the church and we wondered if she would make it.
3. Marian’s relatives – daughter and two grandsons came.
4. "John" one of Karen Woodruff’s friends (1994-2003) was here. That’s the third priest.
We had 40 in the service despite several families at the beach. We celebrated 50 years of marriage for Dave and Dutchy and 56 years for Fred and Crystal. 106 years between them!
The hot weather over the last week subsided with a front which brought a mixture of clouds and son. The turning of leaves was observed in fields around the church and the sycamores around the Parish House.
Catherine read two letters and share another in the bulletin. Susan Onderdonk was appreciative of flowers provided one Sunday as she continues to recover. Catherine’s sister wrote in appreciation of Roger and Eunice’s work at the clothing distribution on Staten Island where they served 1,100. Roger was the "door man" and "bouncer" and Eunice organized the kitchen and feeding. Roger has now served 3 times there – twice for this event and once in the recover for Hurricane Sandy. The bulletin letter was a thank you from Jackie Collins a winner of the Laura Hayes Memorial Scholarship. She used the funds to buy books for this semester and will probably do the same next semester
The lectionary concentrated on reconciliation though with close ties to forgiveness which Catherine explored this week and will next week.
The sermon and lectionary specificially dealt with the issue of conflict in the church community. "So how do we do we hold one another accountable for the good of one another & the community?"
"That’s why Jesus says simply to go to the other person who has sinned against you when the two of you are alone and to talk it over.
"Unfortunately, not all conversations of this sort bring reconciliation, and so Jesus goes on to say that then it’s time to call in reinforcements—not to banish the sinner, but to offer yet another opportunity for reconciliation to occur.
The example of reconciliation can be seen in Desmond Tutu’s new book "Book of Forgiving" describing the work of the Truth and Reonciliation Committee which allowed victim and transgressor to meet together working toward reconciliation, though without requiring remorse.
Sometimes reconcilation doesn’t work. The Ezekiel reading goes through this possibility.
"Sometimes, though, reconciliation just isn’t possible, as today’s passage from Ezekiel reminds us. It’s up to us to remember that God is in the midst of us, not to take us out, but to help us find the way to eternal life, starting right now. This is God’s work. Let go and let God."
Coffee hour was sponsored by Andrea and Cookie and provided welcome nourishment- barbecue, beans, fruit and assorted desserts.
Canon Lance Ousley from the Diocese of Olympia interprets the scriptures this week:
"There is a difference between a task and ministry. A task is about checking an action off a to-do list and ministry is about developing the relationship within the action. Our readings this week emphasize the stewardship of relationships that honor God and God’s relationship with all people.
"The reading from Ezekiel places strong accountability on those who are called to be God’s messengers of living in right relationship with the world. Not only is there a message to the messenger but the word is clear that God will not stand for evil to be perpetrated on people and creation. And as Christians we are called to proclaim God’s gospel message in both word and deed stewarding right relationships in the world.
"Here in chapter 13 of his letter to the Romans, Paul describes what it looks like to steward our relationships with one another and with God. He references the Ten Commandments and that they are summed up in the living in relationship with your neighbor in love as we love ourself. Selfless love is the fulfillment of the law. And it is stewardship of our relationships in response to God’s love for us and all people.
"In our gospel reading this week Jesus addresses how we steward our relationships in the midst of conflict. Jesus instructs us to reconciliation in a process that honors each party and is rooted in mutual respect. This is the way of the Church, how we steward our relationships. And even when a conflict is unresolved due to one objecting to the communal perspective, that one still is to be treated with love and respect due all people. Remember Jesus frequently ate with tax collectors and healed Gentiles in need. Jesus does not say that holdout is to be an anathema. Aher in community that he is there with them. Jesus’ word here about binding and loosing on earth exemplifies how the Church’s actions are to be reflective of the heavenly love that flows from God. And further, Jesus reminds his followers that when they gather in community that he is there with them. Therefore, the Church is to represent Christ in relation to the world, stewarding God’s love with all people and creation."