Heading Home

Before I left for General Convention two weeks ago I had the pleasure of con-celebrating a home Eucharist with the Rev. Sue Scott. That was not the plan.

It was one of the most grace-filled moments of my ministry (my whole ministry). I always found Sue to be a delightful person, a caring person, a creative person and my experience that day was no different.

The plan had been to take her communion. Ann and I arrived at Sue and Ron's lovely home to find Sue sitting up and visiting with Martha. We joined the conversation, Ron the consummate host offering tea and water on the 106 degree day.

During the conversation we talked about how wonderful the people of Trinity and Good Shepherd had been both in their visits and attentiveness to bring her communion regularly. I thanked them both for allowing me to come and visit. It was in this moment that Ron and I giggled about how communed Sue was, and he offered that it would be wonderful for Sue to celebrate one more time for a host of friends and family.

You know me, I just blurted out, not thinking really of the profound meaning or moment to come, saying that maybe Sue could con-celebrate with me. What an honor that would be!

Sue is known for her profound gifts of love given freely and shared with everyone she ministered to. So, it seemed like a real gift for me.

However, it was in that moment of celebration, of the words of institution, memorial acclamation, and eppiclesis that I was moved at the deepest level. Realizing my presence in that moment as icon of the church I was touched in my soul by the participation of the whole church and its presence in that room with Sue as she continued the service by giving me communion first. All her family and friends were present in that moment, as a friend used to say: all the saints of God where in that home filling the house wall-to-wall.

I have reflected on this moment repeatedly over the last two weeks. Each time, even now in writing this, I am tearful. What a holy moment that was...and in that moment...the recognition of God's love for each of us profoundly and freely given in his son Jesus Christ and in the action of breaking the bread.

I am heading home, writing this in the airport. It was a good thing to be welcomed into the home by Sue and Ron. Sue is home now. It is good to go home to that place where nothing separates us from the love of God. I am grateful, as priest, bishop, as a Christian for Sue's witness of Jesus' love for us. I am heading home. We are all heading home. Blessed is the journey home, and grateful are we for the saints along the way.

Press, Protesters, and People of God

Yesterday, July 8, USA Today (delivered to our rooms) announced "Tense Times for Episcopals."

Attendees had to walk through a line of protesters to get into the convention center.

However, my experience of the day was one of people in real conversations, speaking and listeninng to one another.

It was interesting to hear how a priest and deputy walked up to the protesters and engaged in a civil conversation. She invited one of them to sit for a while, have coffee, and visit. They did, perhaps not changing one another's mind but engaging in being the community of the church.

I experienced a house of bishops in an honest, open, and deliberate conversation. Respecting one another's views but thinking deeply about matters before us. While this occured during a time when visitors were not allowed into the House, I can say that I was keenly aware of a House not divided but living into the Body of Christ we are called to reflect and be.

I can bear witness to the global church that is gathered as a host of bishops from around the communion were introduced to us and the Archbishop led us in a meditation on our mission of stewardship and will lead us this morning in a bible study. These are reminders we are not a church alone in the US but a global communion.

In the exhibition hall, a market of ideas were being shared in many conversaitons as I spent time between meetings.

I visited with young Texans excited about seeing and experiencing the breadth of their church and feeling not only invited to be a part but truly feeling a part of a greater body. Others (James D. and Kevin S. who have been invited to lead the worship at the Young Adult gathering) ready to share the gifts and leadership of the Diocese of Texas with a wider church.

Our deputies have been meeting together and are a diverse group. They reflect us well. They also reflect well the best of the Diocese of Texas as I witness their work of deep listening to one another and attempts to understand their discerning role as our elected leaders.

Our Bishops, Dena and Rayford, are representing us well in their leadership on committees. I am thankful for their partnership and thier work with me and our deputation.

In these few days it has already been a time of renewed friendships from around the church, seeing friends from other ministries and times, it is like a family reunion in that sense of things.

This event as a whole is also an icon of who we are and has the potential for moments of clarity where we can witness the kingdom of God if our eyes can look beyond the headlines, harsh reactions, and into the eyes of our fellow Christians speaking our story and bearing witness to the a living Christ who died that we might truly glorify God in our mission and ministry.

This may be a hard time. However, we should also be proud of our church and the incredible work we do and witness we bear to the world of Jesus Christ's love for God's people.

Archbishop Rowan Williams at General Convention

Archbishop Rowan Williams has joined us at General Convention.

He will be meeting with a diverse group of representatives from across the Episcopal Church.

Evidently his meeting this evening is an open meeting. Tonight (7.08.09) Archbishop Williams will participate ina presentation and panel discussion hosted by both Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori and President Bonnie Anderson. We will gather at the Hilton Anaheim from 6:15-7:30 p.m. (PDT) under the theme "Christian Faithfulness in the Global Economic Crisis."

He will also lead a Bible study during the Thursday Daily Eucharist.

The Archbishop's website is: www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

I am looking forward to our time tonight and believe that we will probably hear the continuing theme of mission priorities.

July 7, 2008, First Day of General Convention

We began and ended the day with Committee Meetings. Tuesday morning the process of legislation lurched forward as the different committees began to channel work into the different houses.

Our deputies are all here and accounted for. We enjoyed a nice gathering last night in our room. If you are here in Anaheim from the Diocese of Texas please join us at 6 in the Oasis Tower of the Marriot, room 1748.

There was good discussion last night and people shared their different experiences in committees.

We are joined in Anaheim by ECW and Daughters of the King representatives, youth and young adult representatives. I am so very proud of our representation here!

The newcomers to convention have eyes wide open and are taking it all in...

Today we begin with a brief legislative session, followed by an opening Eucharist. JoAnne and the girls will join me for worship.

I understand that we will end the day with the Archbishop of Canterbury visiting with the House of Bishops, then JoAnne and I and the kids will join our class of bishops for dinner.

Keep us in your prayers as we begin our work today.

Blessings,
Andy

Baccalaureate: Episcopal High School

The new priest was in the habit of attending daily mass with his rector. Normally one or the other would give the faithful eight a brief reflection on the lessons appointed for the day.

On this particular morning, 7:30 a.m. to be exact, the rector had invited a friend, professor and priest to give a brief homily.

The professor was 10 minutes into the homily on his second point of five delineating the nature of the Godhead when the priest sitting next to the rector first heard the voice of God.

It was deep and mumbling…what was it saying? Where was the voice coming from? He looked out into the cavernous church and over the top of the eight faithful listeners…what was that noise? It suddenly dawned on him it was snoring. Someone was snoring. And, as the professor rounded point three the snoring got louder. But where was it coming from? None of the attendees were asleep. Bored, yes. Asleep, no.

Then he realized the snoring was coming from the sound system.

He slowly turned to his right where his rector was sitting, sound asleep, snoring into his lapel mic.

Somewhere between points three and four the snoring turned into snorting…and now the rector was leaning on him with his head nodding back and forth.

The priest tried to wake him up. He called his name. He tapped his shoulder. Nothing would wake the man.

Finally, well into point four and bravely and loudly competing with the snoring/snorting, the eight faithful giggling, our hero decides to give the priest the strongest, right, jab to the gut he can.

He takes a deep breath. Hauls back and hits him square in the rib cage.

At which upon such a spiritual awakening the rector stands up in the middle of point five and says loudly:

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth…(The Rev. Canon Chuck Robertson’s story)


After four years of Episcopal Chapel services, you have arrived. We are here in your last chapel service before you become alums of Episcopal High School. And, I assure you I do not have a five point sermon.

At the inaugural session of the Continental Congress – with the weight of war and the hope of freedom on their minds, on Wednesday, September 7, 1774, Mr. Duché an Episcopal Clergyman was invited to read prayers to the Congress. As it happened the 35th psalm was appointed for Episcopalians as a part of Morning Prayer. So Mr. Duché began, “Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.” (American Gospel, Jon Meacham, p.65)

June 28, 1836, it was an Episcopal service that accompanied James Madison, our 4th president and founding father, to his grave. (p.230) And, it was Episcopal prayers that accompanied the mourners in their grief.

It was an Episcopal Service of Morning Prayer with hymns that inaugurated the Atlantic Charter between Churchill and Roosevelt on the deck of the HMS Prince Charles on the eve of World War II. (p.160)

April 13, 1943, the Episcopal Presiding Bishop Henry St. George Tucker joined the president and five thousand people to dedicate the Jefferson Memorial with an Episcopal Prayer thanking God for raising leaders up among us. (p.248)

March 4, 1944, it was an Episcopal prayer that was read for our enemies at Roosevelt’s service commemorating his first inauguration in the midst of a nation at war. (p.167)

On August 20, 1965, Jonathan M. Daniels, an Episcopal seminarian, gave his life after following the call of Martin Luther King, Jr. to come to Selma, Alabama. It was there that Daniels lived with an African American family, and helped integrate the local Episcopal church. He found his strength in the vision of God preached in the Episcopal Church and through our prayers.

Three years later in the heart of the Country, Washington D.C., and in the heart of the Jonathan Daniels’ Episcopal Church, the National Cathedral, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. climbed the thirteen steps into the pulpit during an Episcopal service and said, “We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured.” (p203)

On January 14, 2009, then president elect, Barack Obama attended an Episcopal prayer service at St. Johns Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, prior to being sworn in as our 44th president of the United States.

From this nation’s very inception, our leaders have from time to time called upon the wisdom found within our Episcopal heritage of prayers and scripture.

In times of great discernment…In times of celebration…In times of peace…In times of justice…In times of war…and, in times of civil struggle…our leaders, those whose names we know and those whose names we do not know have called upon the strength of daily prayers found in our Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.

Through regular chapel, and Episcopal Prayer, we have hoped to provide you, the graduating class of 2009, with a solid foundation of wisdom, a solid foundation of prayer, a solid foundation upon which you may build a good and virtuous citizenship.

While we have hoped that those of you who are Episcopalians will have found strength and familiarity upon which to continue to build your religious life, we have also hoped that those of you without a church home will have found here your spiritual home. Perhaps you will have found here a place upon which to grow a healthy relationship with God. And we have hoped that those of you of every other denomination, creed, or faith background will have found a faithful and partnering denomination in the Episcopal Church, and a sure and certain knowledge of our friendship with all believers.

We have given this Episcopal heritage to you in order that together we might improve the lives of our neighbors.

President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The real field of rivalry among and between the creeds comes in the rivalry of the endeavor to see which can render best service to mankind.”

Our goals have been through the Academic Pillar, The Art Pillar, the Athletic Pillar and most of all the Religion Pillar that you a diverse student body will reach independently your maximum potential here and in the years to come.

We have given to you the foundations upon which to become honest, moral, and upright members of our society.

That we may outdo one another in kindness and in compassion to our fellow human beings.

Our work has been to provide for you an Episcopal Foundation of Faith.

A foundation that can be drawn upon at times of discernment and when you are unsure of a course of action.

A foundation that can be drawn upon for your celebratory events as in marriages and baptisms, many of which will be done here in this very chapel.

A foundation that you can draw upon when you are in trouble, fearful, or in pain.

A foundation upon which you may find resources for the daily living of life.

A foundation upon which you may with others reshape and make the world a better place tomorrow than it is today.

Each one of you will be a leader, in your home and within your family, you will be leaders in academia, sports, and in the arts, you will be leaders in the marketplace and within our governments.

There will come a time for each one of you when every word will matter, every prayer spoken or silently prayed will count, every thought a necessary component of what comes next, every action an opportunity for change. Into these moments let the wisdom of our worship and prayer and scripture be present for you, uphold you, and sustain you.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “I never told my religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert nor wish to change another’s creed. I have ever judged the religion of others by their lives. For it is in our lives and not from our words, that our religion must be read.” (p. 34)

May each of you take these next steps into your lives knowing you are well prepared by your faculty, well rounded by each of the pillars, and well grounded in a faith tradition that our country depends upon.

Take these steps into tomorrow, and so act in each of them that the world is changed and made a place where liberty and religion prosper, a place where freedom and goodness and faith are intertwined, a place were hope reigns.

Act so others may see in you what we have seen in you – a great and noble future. Act so that others may see in you the best parts of our faith imparted and the blessings of your formation lived out.

This is how people will know your true religion, your true faith. This is how they will know you are graduates of Episcopal High School.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.