After Sue and I had returned from our summer vacation some years ago, a young boy in my Confirmation class asked whether I went to church while on vacation. I'm not sure what the look on my face was like: bemused, perhaps puzzled, maybe offended. Yet the answer was easy—of course I went to church. Certainly the temptation to sleep in presented itself, but, for me, if I had succumbed to the lure, the rest of my day would have been shallow and empty. Read the Sunday paper on line, enjoy the serenity of the lake, have a hearty and leisurely breakfast—I would have been nourished in a variety of ways (intellectual, contemplative, physical), but I would have been left bereft of the one thing that gives eternal sustenance. Not only did I go to church, but I also maintained a daily discipline of prayer and scripture reading while, impossible as it may seem to some, enjoying a relaxing four weeks with family, friends, and books, and more books.

Now such practices don't make me any holier than anyone else; rather, they illustrate an always growing realization that I am part of an unfolding drama, that I have a part to play in that story as it discloses itself, that I have an obligation to play that part as best I can. As many have taught me and as I have tried to pass on to others, to go to church while on vacation, to partake in the Eucharist, is a reminder that each Sunday the entire drama is re-enacted up until the present moment and offers me sustenance for a heart and a life that are hungry for nourishment.

As my hunger and thirst have been satisfied, as I have sat on the porch and drunk in the delights of a tranquil and beautiful Lake Champlain, as I have immersed myself in family and friends, in food and drink, in books and Wimbledon and the Yankees and more books, I offer you for reflection the following tidbits that have provoked daily thought and prayer this past month. Make of them what you will, but keep in mind the wisdom of Saint Paul in his letter to the young church in Rome: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

“I am glad that my son was here, but I want him to know that there is more to life than winning trophies”—Novak Djokovic in an interview after winning Wimbledon

“In a way it is even humiliating to watch coal miners working. It raises in you a momentary doubt about your own status as an intellectual and a superior person generally. For it is brought home to you, at least while you are watching, that it is only because miners sweat their guts out that superior persons can remain superior...all of us really owe the comparative decency of our lives to poor drudges underground, blackened to the eyes with their throats full of coal dust, driving their shovels forward with arms and belly muscles of steel”—George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier

“I'm a Roman Catholic, albeit a bad one. I believe in God and the whole business, but I love women best, music and science next, whiskey next, God fourth, and my fellowman hardly at all”—Walker Percy, Love in the Ruins

“We need to recognize that [the practices of the mall] are not neutral or benign, but rather intentionally loaded to form us into certain kinds of people—to unwittingly make us disciples of rival kings and patriotic citizens of rival kingdoms”—James K. A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation

“Did Werner really think that Stalin's promises would be delivered and his stories were true because he had won the war?....Joseph had seen enough to know that really it hadn't had much to do with the stories that either Hitler or Stalin told to keep people obedient. Both of them shot people to keep other people obedient. And the war wasn't about history and grand ideas; it was about how many soldiers and how many tanks and bombs and trains and guns and aeroplanes—” —Lucy Beckett, The Leaves are Falling

With all blessings, Fr. John+

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom God has sent.” (John 6:27-29)

I have no doubt why churches that promote the prosperity gospel are usually full. Wouldn’t it be nice if God came to humanity so that we could have lots of $ bread $. The people in this week’s Gospel from John witness the feeding of five thousand, the healing of the sick, and some even get to see Jesus walking on water. The people want to know what they must do to perform the works of God. Jesus says that we must believe in him. It is hard for some to understand that Jesus does not give away $ bread $ or (rye) bread, but that he is the bread of life. Jesus is the water that quenches our thirst. Jesus is the path that brings us to the full stature of God. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Our reaction to Jesus’ words should be to make Jesus the focal point of our lives. Most of us want to have meaning and purpose in our lives, but do we realize that all we have to do is love God and love our neighbor. When the people in the Gospel ask for this bread, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

In Christ’s love,

Rev. Duncan Burns

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Last Sunday, Deacon Anthony preached about the love that Jesus has for all of us. We all sang the children’s song, “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.” It was wonderful that when Deacon Anthony entered the parish hall after the service, he received a warm ovation. After church Deacon Anthony joined me for a Christening party at Dawn and Jennifer’s house for Harry. Everyone at the reception had wonderful things to say about our Sunday Baptismal service and the hospitality they felt. When we realize that we are loved deeply by God, we are able to love one another deeply. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

In today’s reading from Ephesians, Paul prays to the good people of Ephesus that their inner being will be strengthened by the love of God in Jesus Christ. We can all pray for the good folks at St. John’s that we will comprehend this love, that Christ will dwell in our hearts, and that we may reflect that love to all the people we meet in our lives.

In Christ’s love,

Rev. Duncan Burns

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Perhaps you will recognize these words as the refrain of the song "Jesus Loves Me."  These simple words and simple tune are often taught to children.  It is easy to learn and easy to teach.  But, these few simple words say so much about Jesus.  When did you last stop and think, yes, Jesus loves me?  It is easy to get caught up in all that is going on in day-to-day living and not stop to remember that Jesus loves each one of us.

We hear in the reading this week from the Gospel according to Mark that, when the apostles gathered around Jesus to tell him all they had been doing, he suggested they go to a deserted place and rest a while.  It must have been a busy place because it says that many were coming and going and didn't even have time to eat.  Have you ever had one of those days or even a season where you were so busy that you didn't even have time to stop and eat?  I suspect we can all relate!

They got in a boat to go to the place to rest.  However, when they moored the boat and got out, they found that a crowd had gathered because the people recognized that it was Jesus and the apostles.  It says that as Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd and he had compassion for them. 

Compassion.  I keep coming back to this word as I read and re-read this Gospel.  Jesus had compassion.  He had compassion on them and he has compassion on us today.  His compassion was evidenced in the paragraphs that follow in Mark.  Jesus was moved to feed and heal those who came to him.  That was compassion in action.  You see, compassion is more than just feeling sympathy.  Compassion involves allowing ourselves to see distress and to be moved to action to alleviate it.  It was in the midst of crowds, it was in the midst of the coming and going, it was in a place where the people didn't even have time to eat that Jesus showed compassion.  Jesus showed love.  Through compassion and love, lives and circumstances were changed.

It is in and through Christ-like compassion that we at St. John's are seeking to change the world - Compassion lived out in feeding the hungry, helping immigrants and refugees, being intentional about racial reconciliation and formation, loving those around us, being serious about discipleship.  Yes, Jesus loves each one of us and with that love we love others.  With his compassion we share compassion.  In Jesus, the world can be transformed.  The Bible tells me so. 

Blessings,

Deacon Anthony

“It was in the conversation with Nicodemus that Nicodemus said, “You know Lord, I want to know more about your teaching.” And Jesus said to him, “Nicodemus don’t give me that jive.  We’re not on Oprah Winfrey.” He said Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” In the Greek it can be translated, born again, born anew, or born from above. And the point, I think, the only reason to be born is so that you can live! God wants you to live! God wants us to have life, and God wants all of his children to have life! I could go on but I won’t. It goes on in John’s gospel, he says, “I am resurrection and I am life”. He says in the fourteenth chapter, “I am the way, and the truth and the life”. In the tenth chapter, “I have come that you might have life.” And then at the end of the gospel, I’ve written all these things so that you might believe and have life! The whole point is life! Life abundant meant for each. Life for rich folk and life for poor folk. Life for Democrats and life for Republicans. Life for Independents! Life for Deputies! Life for Bishops! Life for everybody! Life! Life! Life! Life. Life. And the truth is it’s so easy to be deceived about what makes for real life. My brothers, my sisters, my siblings, we have work to do… To stand for Christianity, a way of being Christian that looks like Jesus of Nazareth.  A way of being Christian that is grounded and based on love. A way of being Christian that is not ashamed to be called people of love. So go from this place and be people of the way. Go from this place as people of Jesus. Go from this place as people of love! Go from this place and heal our lands! Go from this place and heal our world! Go from this place until justice rolls down! Go from this place until the nightmare is over! Go from this place until God’s dream is realized! Go from this place and help us live! God love ya! God bless ya!”  (Presiding Bishop Curry)

Please go from St. John’s in abundant life. As you enjoy some rest, relaxation, and vacation this summer, please be part of the Jesus Movement by loving one another. Bring life to the poor, oppressed, and sight to the blind through the ministries of St. John’s.

Please join us next Sunday July 22nd for Baptism and a special sermon from Deacon Anthony Jones.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Jesus sends the disciples out into the world this week to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ministry does not have to be complicated. We are called to be followers of the Jesus Movement.  “Jesus ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:8-9)

There are just a few basic expectations that God has for us. In a world where many seem to be looking out for themselves, God asks us to look out for the weak and the powerless. In a world where people are being mean to one another, God asks us to love our neighbor. In a world where people are very self-centered, God asks us to be self-giving. The prophet Micah tells us all we need to know about what God wants from us.

In our humility, we worry that we are not good enough to represent God. But Paul tells us that God’s grace is sufficient, for power is made perfect in weakness. This means that God made you just as you are and loves you. I mentioned last week what St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.  Therefore, there is no one on this planet that God loves more than you and no one that he loves less.” I love this way of looking at the world? If we can love “the least of these” as we love ourselves, we will do amazing ministry. Please discern where you are called to do ministry at St. John’s. Perhaps it is to help out in our thriving Thrift Shop, to pitch in once in a while with our breakfast group, or to join Hilda’s Group on Tuesday afternoon. Can we open our hearts to do justice, love kindness, and humbly walk with our God?

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

The news this week has been very difficult for most of us. There was a young African American boy on Long Island that was bullied online. They sent him images of the KKK and super-imposed his image on a gorilla and other disturbing photographs. There was a news story that a Trump supporter was not being served because he was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. A judge ruled that it is legal to deny Trump supporters service at a business. I heard many people on the internet who have increased their mental temperament from anger to rage over the immigration issue. What are we to do?

My first reaction is to be upset at all the news that is coming out this week. My defense mechanism is to avoid all forms of media and not encourage those who are sharing their political anger on Facebook. My next instinct is to pray about all the tension in America and try to bring people together through the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. In our Baptismal Covenant last Sunday, we all promised to proclaim by WORD AND EXAMPLE the Good News of God in Christ, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and strive for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Racism is completely unacceptable. Children are our treasure and should not be separated from their parents.  Hatred toward the other political party is not Christian behavior. If we want to change America for the better, we need to have compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Please vote your conscience and get your people into office, but please treat your neighbors (and especially fellow St. John’s parishioners) with dignity and respect regardless of their political views.  We are a divided nation that is starting to have a mob mentality. Make a difference by standing up against injustice, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. Use your energy to do good and to make a difference.

In Christ's love, 

Fr. Duncan

Christ sleeps in the deepest selves of all of us, and whatever we do in whatever time we have left, wherever we go, may we in whatever way we can call on him as the fishermen did in their boat to come awake within us and to give us courage, to give us hope, to show us, each one, our way. May he be with us especially when the winds go mad and the waves run wild, as they will for all of us before we're done, so that even in their midst we may find peace...we may find Christ (Frederick Buechner).

This morning we will sing the Naval Hymn. The song reminds me that there are people in harm’s way defending my freedom. I pray for their families that worry about them and I pray every day that they will safely return home to their loved ones as soon as possible. Most of us have never been on the front line like our military, our police, our rescue workers, and our firemen, but almost all of us have felt the deep fear when we have been in danger. Maybe it was a serious illness, an auto accident, turbulence on a plane, or a storm when we were on a boat, but most of us have felt that sick feeling in our belly.

Some of the disciples were experienced fishermen, so we know that the danger was real when the boat began to fill with water as they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. One of the disciples woke Jesus up and asked him if he cared if they were perishing. Jesus said, “Peace. Be still.” 

The world is a scary place. Just read the newspaper or watch the news and you might be fearful. Our culture and politics in particular use fear to drive your emotions. This week, a large group of people from Huntington protested the separation of immigrant families. Did you know that “Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2013 carried out more than 72,000 deportations of parents who said they had U.S.-born children, according to reports to Congress?” The fact is that all of us could be more compassionate to immigrants in this country. Take Action! Write Congress to stop family separation and defend access to asylum! If you’ve already reached out, get in touch with 5 friends now and encourage them to speak out too. Be an Informed Advocate. Learn more about immigration issues through these educational resources from the Office of Government Relations:

WATCH: “Understanding Our Immigration System" or 

“Loving Your Neighbor: Faithful Action on Immigration” webinar

Additional Resources: 

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Joint Statement on Family Separation at our Borders 6/7/2018

Statement from Rebecca Blachly, Director, Office of Government Relations                       

Immigration and Refugee Policies of The Episcopal Church                                         

UNHCR urges family unity at southern US border                                                   

Actions from the Women’s Refugee Commission                                             

Frederick Buechner believes that Jesus Christ is asleep in each of us. When the Gospel stirs our hearts, we can practice the loving-kindness that our Lord shows to us. We can begin to work together for justice with compassion in our hearts. You can lead the way by waking Jesus in our hearts and loving one another as God loves us. Be an Informed Advocate and take collective action.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan  

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Proper 6 Year B)

On most days of my job, I come into contact with a person that is having a difficult time in their life. It might be a homeless person, a recovering addict, a person that just lost their job, a recently divorced person, someone who has received a dire medical diagnosis, a person suffering from depression, or someone who has lost a dear friend or family member. I sometimes wonder how God can allow all the suffering in the world. My best understanding is that God doesn’t cause pain, but gives us strength to endure it.

The deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have shown a spotlight this week on the pain that many people are feeling. I had quite a bit of time to think about how disconnected our culture has become from the wellspring of life that is a source of joy and contentment. For me, hiking in Norway connected me to God and creation. Going to church and praying every day, keeps me in relationship with Jesus Christ. Church is more important than ever, because each of us needs to be connected to God and one another.

In today’s lessons, we are asked to “walk by faith, not by sight.” Faith for me is my connection to the Creator and all creation. I believe with all my heart that God loves every person that comes to me for help and that God can give anyone the strength to get through those difficult times that we all face in our lives. It is important in our busy lives to stay grounded in God throughout our lives. It is important to look after one another.

My prayer for everyone that is reading this chalice is that you will draw closer to the one who gave his life for you that you might have abundant life in him. We are part of the Jesus Movement in the Episcopal Church because, we believe that Christ came to show us the way, the truth and the life. We need God and one another to stay healthy and to have strength to face those difficult times that will undoubtedly come to each one of us.

Please enjoy your vacations this summer and remember to pray and give thanks in our good times and in our bad times. Proclaim the Gospel boldly by word and deed and do justice with compassion. God loves you dearly and we are blessed to have such a wonderful community at St. John’s. I also ask you to keep Deacon Anthony in your prayers while he is away at seminary this week.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan  

You might not have noticed, so ingrained am I with him, but I haven't called attention to “he who must not be named” in any of my homilies since I returned to Saint John's in January. However, in this edition of “The Chalice,” I want to begin with some remarks made to me by Fr. Walter Hooper, C. S. Lewis's personal secretary toward the end of Lewis's life. These remarks may be found in the Introduction to “The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses,” a collection of essays and sermons by Lewis: “The Weight of Glory” is so magnificent that I dare to consider it worthy of a place with some of the Church Fathers. It was preached at the invitation of Canon T. R. Milford at Solemn Evensong in the twelfth-century Oxford University Church of St. Mary the Virgin on 8 June 1941 to one of the largest congregations ever assembled there in modern times.”

I have heard this sermon preached at St. Mary the Virgin on three occasions, twice by Joss Ackland, the British actor who played Lewis in the acclaimed production of Shadowlands, and once by David Suchet, best know for his role as Hercule Poirot, the detective created by Agatha Christie. The sermon lasted precisely forty-seven and one-half minutes, both when Lewis preached it originally and when Ackland and Suchet revived it. A virtual NO NO by today's standards, but no one left in 1941 and neither did anyone when I heard it—and it was the third time through for me (not to mention the many times I have read, hi-lighted, and commented on it in my copy of the sermon). I mention this because the sermon unwraps many of the mysteries in the elusive phrase “the weight of glory” in this morning's reading from 2 Corinthians. As an aside, the passage is one of the New Testament suggestions in The Book of Common Prayer for use at a funeral; it is one I have selected for my funeral.

The following short passages are all from Lewis's sermon. They are offered for your contemplation and prayer; they are a sneaky way of enticing you (hopefully) to read the entire piece.

1. “We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meany by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
2. “To please God...to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness...to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.”
3. “At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendors we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.”
4. “The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy.”

In some way, each of us is meant to reflect a different facet of God's glory, to be like diamonds held up to the light, radiant to behold. As one scholar phrased it, the renewed human race is “meant to be the mirror in which the rest of creation can see who its creator really is, and can worship and serve him truly.” As an old hymn puts it, let each of us so shine with the love of Jesus that we “fill this land with the Father's glory.”

Under the Mercy,
Fr. John+