How long have we been doing this?

The Holy Eucharist, or Communion, also called "The Great Thanksgiving" dates back to the night before Jesus was crucified. Jesus instituted it and Christians are very attached to it because it is the center of our life together.

Here is what one of my old textbooks says about it:

From the earliest times, the Eucharist has been a public and not a private affair, the assembly of the people of God and not the private devotion of a series of individuals. In the epistle to the Hebrews (10.25), Christians are warned not to 'forsake the assembling of (themselves) together'. The account of the Eucharist at Corinth (1 Cor. 11.17ff) clearly envisages a corporate act of the local church. . . .

The early church Fathers [the generation of leaders after the Apostles] encouraged Christians to assemble more frequently to 'give thanks.' . . . For many of the Fathers, the eucharistic assembly is thus an image of the Church, the people of God assembled with their Head [Jesus] both receiving and awaiting their final redemption. Hence it is but natural that disunity among Christians (the formation of parties or sects) should have as one of its first signs the establishment of a separate altar with a separate bishop and that the reunion of Christians after schism (or with due penance performed after lapsing) should be symbolized by the invitation to share in one another's Eucharist or, in the case of the penitents, to return to the sacraments.

The Study of Liturgy, page 246.

At the Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek, we will highly value our worship experience together. We will start with Wednesday night Eucharists (Communion) and continue the Wednesday night services when we begin Sunday services a few weeks hence.


In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

What are you reading this week?

This week I am still reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I started reading it last week but I am taking it rather slowly and in small doses. My plan is to go back and re-read it all at once.

Gilead can be rather slow going at first, just trying to get into the mindset of the author. It is written in poetic language and the author does not use nearly as many commas as I do, so I have to stop and think about what she said. She won a Pulitzer prize for this book and I can see why.

Here is an excerpt: That's the strangest thing about this life, about being in the ministry. People change the subject when they see you coming. And then sometimes those very same people come into your study and tell you the most remarkable things. There's a lot under the surface of life, everyone knows that. A lot of malice and dread and guilt, and so much loneliness, where you wouldn't really expect to find it, either. (p.6)

Have you read Gilead? I am thinking of starting a book readers' group at The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek. If you would like to be involved in that, here is how it would work: We'll start by reading Gilead, and we'll come together on a Tuesday night to discuss it for and hour or so. Then we will mutually decide on another book for the next time and take a month to read that book. Then we'll get together for an hour or so to discuss that book.

If you are interested in being involved in this group, please e-mail me at linda@oursaviorhoneycreek.org and let me know.


In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

The Earth is the Lord's

Sunset on the Cumberland Plateau

Sewanee, Tennessee, July 11, 2007

Our Psalm for today at Morning Prayer is Psalm 24:

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it,

the world and all who dwell therein.

For it is he who founded it upon the seas

and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.

"Who can ascend the hill of the Lord?
and who can stand in his holy place?"

"Those who have clean hands and a pure heart,
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
nor sworn by what is a fraud.

They shall receive a blessing from the Lord
and a just reward from the God of their salvation."

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors;
and the King of Glory shall come in.

"Who is this King of glory?"
"The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle."

Lift up your heads, O gates;
lif them high, O everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.

"Who is he, this King of glory?"
"The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of Glory."

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud

Founding Pastor

The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek

www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org

http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

What if your child asks for a fish?

In our Gospel reading for tomorrow we have these questions and a response from Jesus: "Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:11-13)

So Jesus says to us, "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10)

I think that the more we knock, ask, and search, the more we will find God. The more we find God, the more likely we are to keep knocking on God's door to spend blocks of time with God. God, who gives us each day our daily bread, is pleased to accommodate us.


In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

A Party at Mom's

Tomorrow at King of Peace Episcopal Church in Kingsland, there will be a "Children's Day" event from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Here is the announcement:

Children's Festival

Saturday, July 28th

10am - 2pm

King of Peace Episcopal Church
Featuring:-Trackless Train Rides

Bouncy Slide -Pony Rides -Carnival Games

-Refreshments -And much more!
Tickets only $0.50 each!
FREE Fire Dept. Smoke House;

Teach your children Fire Safety!

Kingsland Police presenting

bicycle, traffic, & internet safety information!

Donate a can of food to help

the less fortunate & receive 2 FREE Tickets!

(limit 1 can per child).
A COMMUNITY EVENT—

All Families Welcome!

King of Peace is located at 6230 Laurel Island Parkway, next door to Camden County High School, one mile east of I-95 at Exit 6. Their phone is 912-510-8958.

Please bring your children to this fun event just before they start back to school.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Journey to Wholeness Retreats

The Rev. Frank Logue and his wife Victoria are planning to lead a series of three retreats at Honey Creek Camp and Conference Center. Frank is Pastor of King of Peace Episcopal Church in Kingsland, Georgia, which is the "Mother Church" of The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek.

The first retreat, "Power for the Forgiving" is coming up August 24-25. To get in on that retreat you must reserve your spot by 5:00 p.m. on August 10. To register, please call the Conference Center at 912-265-9218. The cost of each retreat (which includes meals and conference materials) is $80 for a single room, $60 for a double, $45 for a dorm room, or $35 for commuters.

These weekend retreats are designed to begin with dinner at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and end with closing worship at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The sessions will be packed with practical, useful information that you can take away for further consideration. There will also be times during the retreats that you can meditate in a quiet atmosphere.

The second retreat, "Light from the Shadows" is planned for November 30-December 1, 2007, and registration closes on November 16.

The third retreat, "Water in the Desert" is planned for February 1-2, 2008. That registration closes on January 18. Please call the Conference Center at 912-265-9218 for further information.

Detailed directions to Honey Creek are available at www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org. My prayer is that many will attend as we begin our Journey to Wholeness in God's love.


In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

"We Are Able"

Saint James the Apostle

"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him [Jesus] with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, 'What do you want?' She said to him, 'Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.'

But Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?' They said to him,'We are able.' He said to them, 'You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.'" (John 20:20-23)

"About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword." (Acts 12:1-2)

Sometimes we don't know what we are asking, as the Mother of James and John did not seem to know. Sometimes we don't know what we are promising, as James and John did not seem to know. The brothers James and John are bookends among the Apostles. James was the first to die a martyr's death. John, we believe, was the last of the Apostles to die, and the only one to die a natural death.

Today is the Feast Day of Saint James the Apostle:

O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: Thomas a` Kempis

I love working my way day by day through the church calendar. In it I find some people who were just a little ahead of their time. Thomas a` Kempis, whose feast we celebrate today, was such a person.

Thomas was born Thomas Hammerken at Kempen in approximately 1380 and died on July 25, 1471. That means he lived to be ninety-one years of age. The monastery must have been very, very good to him. He became a monk of the Order of the Brethren of the Common Life in 1407 and was ordained priest in 1415.

We remember Thomas primarily for his book The Imitaton of Christ, which has been translated into almost as many languages as has the Holy Bible. This book and his life's work put him ahead of his time because he and the Brethren were seen as forerunners of the Protestant Reformation, even though he preferred to stay out of church politics. The time was right because his work has influenced Christians of all stripes for more than six hundred years.

Holy Father, you have nourished and strengthened your Church by the inspired writings of your servant Thomas a` Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what is necessary to be known, to love what is to be loved, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saint Mary Magdalene

Yesterday, July 22, was the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene. Since yesterday was Sunday, we did not mention her because every Sunday is a Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ and nothing trumps a Sunday in the church Calendar. But we can move her day to Monday for discussion and celebration.

Mary is an important figure in Church history because Mary stuck with Jesus not only through his crucifixion, but she also came to the tomb as soon as it was legal to do so. She was there on Easter Sunday, but the tomb was already empty. John's gospel tells us:

"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?'

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbouni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her . . . 'go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord'; and she told them that he had said these things to her." (John 20:11-18)

Today we thank God for Mary Magdalene, who was the "apostle to the apostles."

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud

Founding Pastor

The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek

http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/

http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Holy Baptism

Today at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Woodbine, I baptized this beautiful seven-week-old boy. Maybe you can tell that everyone was happy about that. Little Collin did not have any say-so in the matter, but his parents and other adults present took some very serious vows.

On Collin's behalf and on behalf of themselves, they renounced Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God. They renounced the evil powers of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God. They renounced all sinful desires that draw us from the love of God. Then they turned to Jesus Christ and accepted him as their Savior, put their whole trust in his grace and love, and promised to follow and obey him as their Lord. Further, they promised to be responsible for seeing that Collin will be brought up in the Christian faith and life.

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. This is the most serious step in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is fully expected of Collin that at an appropriate time in the future, he will make a mature profession of faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to the responsibilities of his Baptism.

We all said to Collin, "We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood."

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek

www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org

http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Mary and Martha

In our Gospel lesson for tomorrow (Luke 10:38-42), we have the story of Jesus dropping by Martha's house. The text does not say that Martha was trying to prepare a meal for our Lord, but we assume that if she invited him in, she wanted to feed him. This would have been a good hostess thing do do.

But Martha's sister Mary had a different idea. Instead of feeding Jesus, Mary would let Jesus feed her. She would sit at his feet, listen and learn. Mary would simply be in the presence of Jesus.

Because Martha got upset with Mary for not helping her, we often use the story of Martha and Mary to show the difference between doing and being. It feels right to do things for God -- to help our neighbors, take flowers or chicken soup to someone who is sick, work on a Habitat house -- and that's a good thing. But sometimes it is good to be like Mary -- to sit in the presence of Jesus and bask in the glow of his love and grace. Sometimes it is a hard choice between doing and being, but Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part.


In peace,

The Rev. Linda McCloud

Founding Pastor

The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek

http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/

http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Coming Soon

After all these months of preparation and waiting, we will soon begin by having Wednesday services at The Episcopal Church of our Savior at Honey Creek.

These services will begin August 15 at 6:15 p.m., followed at 7:00 p.m. by a Bible study based on the Gospel according to Saint Mark. We want to start with Wednesday services and get to know each other. Over the course of several weeks we will work on gathering more and more people into our fellowship as we lead up to our first main Sunday service on November 4 at 10:00 a.m.

For driving directions and more information about this new church, please see our website at http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/ or call the church at 912-267-0333. My prayer and hope is that you will join us in this holy endeavor. I believe it will be an exciting adventure for us all. I am so excited about it that yesterday, I went around to all the signs and peeled off the "coming soon" layer to reveal the phone number to the world around us. "Soon" is here.


In peace

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: Macrina

Her years are 340-379 and early in life she established a monastery with the assistance of her mother Emmelia. She, like Mother Teresa after her, started a community that cared for the poor. She took in starving women, many of whom became nuns in her monastery.

Macrina started the tradition in her family. She was the younger sister of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa, both of whom became Bishops and defenders of the Faith . It is said that Macrina was an excellent theologian and teacher, and that her brothers ensured that her influence was carried on through their writings.

On this her feast day we give thanks for Macrina's steadfast Christian faith, her care for the poor, and her influence on Christianity.

Merciful God, you called your servant Macrina to reveal in her life and her teaching the riches of your grace and truth: May we, following her example, seek after your wisdom and live according to her way; through Jesus Christ our Svior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org

http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: Agnes

All Christians are connected to each other, and we are connected to Agnes. I bring her into this series on saints as the youngest. Agnes was only twelve years of age when she suffered death for her faith at Rome in approximately 304. Although we do not know the exact manner of her death, it is believed to have happened because she stood firm in her Christian convictions.

In approximately 350 A.D. a basilica was built over the place where Agnes was buried. In the early seventh century another shrine was built to preserve her name. Because Agnes is closely associated with the Greek word hagneia for chastity and moral purity, and the Latin Agnus for lamb, Agnes is often depicted with a lamb in Christian art. On her feast day, January 21, two lambs are blessed. They are then shorn and the wool is woven into a scarf called the pallium, which the Pope gives to archbishops.

Here is our Anglican connection: In the year 601 Pope Gregory the Great sent the pallium to Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Almighty and everlasting God, you choose those whom the world deems powerless to put the powerful to shame: Grant us so to cherish the memory of your youthful martyr Agnes, that we may share her pure and steadfast faith in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: Timothy and Titus

Saint Paul could not get all the work done by himself. He had to rely on Bishops whom he had appointed on his missionary journeys around the Roman Empire. We know from scripture that Timothy and Titus were Paul's trusted companions. There are letters in the New Testament addressed to both of them, although Timothy gets two letters.

From Paul's letters to Timothy we get the description of requirements for ordination and other instructions for keeping order in a church. Timothy was obviously young at the time, because Paul tells him to "let no one despise your youth."

According to Paul's letter to Titus, Paul had left him in Crete as the Bishop because Titus 1:5 says that Paul left Titus behind in Crete to put things in order and to "appoint elders in every town." Paul also calls Titus his "loyal child in the faith we share."

So we learn from Timothy and Titus that even at a tender age, some people are to be entrusted with great responsibilities of work in the Kingdom of God.

Almighty God, you called Timothy and Titus to be evangelists and teachers, and made them strong to endure hardship: Strengthen us to stand fast in adversity, and to live godly and righteous lives in this present time, that with sure confidence we may look for our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: Mother Teresa

Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu of Albanian parents in 1910. She joined the Sisters of Loretto in Ireand in 1928 and in 1929 she was sent to Calcutta to teach in a school whose students were born to wealth.

Teresa was attracted to the very poor, and twenty years after arriving in Calcutta she was given permission to leave her Order. Her own Order, the Missionaries of Charity (sisters) received approval in 1950. In 1963 the Missionary Brothers of Charity was founded as an order, and in 1969 the International Co-Workers of Mother Teresa was founded. Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work among the poorest of the poor, the victims of hate, the deprived, the diseased and dying.

Here is a prayer that every Missionary of Charity says in the mornings before beginning the work day:

Dear Lord, the Great Healer, I kneel before You,
Since every perfect gift must come from you.
I pray, give skill to my hands, clear vision to my mind,
kindness and meekness to my heart.

Give me singleness of purpose,
strength to lift up a part of the burden
of my suffering fellow men,
and a true realization of the privilege that is mine.

Take from my heart all guile and worldliness,
That with the simple faith of a child, I may rely on you. Amen.

When Teresa died in 1997 news of her death was overshadowed by news of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. I like to think that Teresa enjoyed slipping out of this world in relative obscurity.


In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Jesus is the Good Samaritan

Our Gospel reading for today (Luke 10:25-37) tells the story of the Good Samaritan. In answering the question, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus tells us how we can be a neighbor. Jesus' teaching gives more of a picture of who we can be rather than what we can do.

This familiar story tells us of the man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was mugged, robbed and left half dead on the side of the road. Various religious authorities kept their distance on the other side of the road, but the Samaritan "came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity." So the Samaritan whom Jesus calls good put the wounded man on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.

When the Samaritan left the next morning he gave the innkeeper some money and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend." I like to think that as a church we are rather like the innkeeper. Jesus finds wounded people and brings them to us. He says to us, "Take care of them; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend."

Jesus is the Good Samaritan. Jesus has shown mercy. Have we gone and done likewise?

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: The Venerable Bede

Bede's tomb in Durham Cathedral, England

Talk about staying put! Bede really knew how to do that. At age seven Bede's parents put him in a monastery at Jarrow in northeastern England. This was supposed to be temporary for his education, but Bede wound up staying there until his death in 735 A.D. This was obviously the life for him, and it gave him great joy to study, teach, write and sing.

Bede was ordained priest at the age of thirty and died doing what loved most - writing. His book The Ecclesiastical History of England, is still on the market and I recommend it highly. In it we have stories of lives of the saints and a primary source for history in England from the year 597 to 731 A.D.

Heavenly Father, you called your servant Bede, while still a child, to devote his life to your service in the disciplines of religion and scholarship: Grant that as he labored in the Spirit to bring the riches of your truth to his generation, so we, in our various vocations, may strive to make you known in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: Constance, Nun, and her Companions

Today I want to bring to our attention Constance, Nun, and her Companions, (“The Martyrs of Memphis”) whose feast day is September 9. These six individuals are remembered for their work in the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1878 in Memphis, Tennessee. Constance was a Superior of the Sisters of St. Mary, an Episcopal Order of Nuns. She and six other nuns had lately come to Memphis to establish a girl’s school in connection with the Cathedral of St. Mary.

When the Yellow Fever epidemic broke out, they found that the Cathedral was in the heart of a highly infected section of Memphis. They could have left town just as 30,000 other people did, but instead they chose to stay and minister to the sick and dying. They also found homes for orphaned children. Approximately five thousand people died in the epidemic. Constance and three of her nuns died of the disease, as did two Episcopal Priests who were also physicians.

There are still nuns in Tennessee who are of the Order of Sisters of St. Mary. They reside in a convent in Sewanee on the Cumberland Plateau. They went there to establish a school and to help their neighbors. Our Bishop’s wife, Jan Louttit, attended St. Mary’s School at Sewanee, which has since been turned into a retreat center.

Although their numbers have dwindled over the years, the Sisters of St. Mary still have Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist six days a week in their chapel. Occasionally I go there to visit and I am always warmly welcomed at the service and at breakfast afterwards. Go and sit with them sometime, and gain a refreshing perspective on life.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: Thomas Bray

Thomas Bray was an Anglican priest from England who, having been given oversight of the colony of Maryland by the Bishop of London, visited Maryland in 1699 for about two and a half months. He saw that our churches were in dire need of educated clergy, Bibles and Prayer Books. He went back to England and founded the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ("SPCK") and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (“SPG”).

Bray had a special place in his heart for the education of children and for the integrity of clergy. He insisted that clergy "constantly read prayers twice a day and catechize and preach on Sundays."

I mention him because his ideas helped influence James Oglethorpe to start the colony of Georgia. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel provided priests for Christ Church, Savannah and St. Paul’s, Augusta. I was once in St. Paul’s, Augusta for an ordination, and they still have a baptismal font given by the SPG. It’s in a display case, of course.

Here in part is what their website (spckusa.org) has to say:

Since 1698, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has distributed over 30 million books and provided the means for translating the Book of Common Prayer into more than 200 languages. SPCK sent the first printing presses to India, opened the first British schools for poor children, gave equal education to girls, sent the first printed books to Australia, established libraries for clergy and missionaries in many countries, and published the first Braille books. SPCK is the oldest Anglican missionary society in existence.

Although SPCK has changed with the times, its fundamental mission remains the same: to sound the Gospel to all peoples in all nations by providing them ways to produce, publish, and distribute Christian knowledge in print and other media. Today the worldwide network of SPCK consists of chapters in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United States.

Today we give thanks for The Rev. Thomas Bray, through whose farsightness the SPCK still provides books to seminarians around the world.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: Clarence Jordan

Clarence Jordan (pronounced "Jer-den") had a unique ministry that keeps on giving to communities around the world. Jordan was born in 1912 in rural Georgia. He received a degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia, then earned his Master of Divinity degree and PhD in New Testament studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Jordan combined his education in a truly useful way.

Clarence Jordan and his wife Florence founded Koinonia Farm near Americus, Georgia in 1942. This was an experiment in communal Christian living, and as such all sorts and conditions of people were welcome. This included all races as well. There were no social or racial barriers on this farm, and it was attacked on a regular basis. Jordan and his family were expelled from their local Baptist church, and then there were the shootings, bombings and crosses burned on their yards. The community formed an economic boycott but Koinonia held on by starting a mail-order business for their pecans.

But it was out of this milieu that Habitat for Humanity was formed. If you have not volunteered your time and labor on a Habitat for Humanity house, you have missed the blessing of truly sharing with your community.

Before he died in 1969 at the age of fifty-seven, Clarence Jordan had employed his skills as a translator of the Greek New Testament. He gave the world the "Cotton Patch Gospels" which see Jesus' humanity from the perspective of a south Georgia native.

Clarence was also known for his humor. Once when he was being given a tour of a new church building, the pastor pointed to the cross on the steeple. The pastor said something like, "That cross alone cost $10,000." Clarence said, "You got cheated. Times were when Christians could get them for free."

So today we remember Clarence Jordan, who lived out radical, life-changing Christianity and turned his world around for the better.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org

http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: John Vianney

From his earliest life John Vianney wanted only to be a priest. Circumstances were really against him, though. He was born in 1786 to a peasant family who lived in a village near Lyons, France. He was given little education as a young man, but finally received enough tutoring to get a seat in a seminary.

While in seminary John was drafted to serve in the army. He deserted and hid out. Somehow I can picture him with a daisy sticking out of the barrel of his gun. In 1810 the French government declared an amnesty for deserters and he resumed his seminary studies. John was such a poor student that he came very close to not being recommended for ordination. However, he was so pious that his superiors decided to ordain him anyway. By this time John was 29 years old.

After a brief stint at his home parish, John was sent to the small village of Ars-en-Dombes, population 250. John took seriously his responsibility for the souls of his village people. He opened the confessional and pretty soon a stream of penitents came from miles around. It is said that he would sit in the confessional up to eighteen hours a day, helping people break down the barriers that kept them from knowing and loving God.

Eventually the railroad provided special trains to take pilgrims to Ars to make their confession. Strangely, Napoleon III sent John the medal of the Legion of Honor. Having been a deserter from the army, John would not even take the medal out of the box. John only wanted to be a priest, and he did it so well that at his death in 1859 he was known throughout France for his faithfulness to his calling.

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: Monnica

Do you ever get introduced as "so and so's" wife, husband, daughter, son, or even neighbor? Once I was keeping someone's cat and had to take it to the vet while they were away. When I went to get it, I walked into a veterinarian's office and introduced myself as the cat's foster mother! A little embarrassed, I explained to the receptionist that I really do have a name.

We often think of Monnica as "the mother of St. Augustine" because she was. But Monnica was a saint in her own right for many reasons, not the least of which was that she influenced her son Augustine to turn first from his pagan, then from his heretical ways to true faith in Jesus Christ. In his most popular book Confessions, Augustine says of his mother: "In the flesh she brought me to birth in this world: in her heart she brought me to birth in your eternal life."

Monnica was born in Tagaste, Africa near Carthage in 323 A.D. Her parents were Christians but they arranged for Monnica to marry a non-Christian, Patricius. Monnica spent her life praying for the conversion of her husband and son, and fortunately lived to see both before she died in 387. Monnica gave the world a great gift, and today I hold up to us her perseverance in prayer.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Lambs in the Midst of Wolves

Today's Gospel lesson (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20) says in part, "The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves....but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'"

This was the first time our Lord had appointed so many missionaries at one time, and from the text it appears that he would like to have appointed more. There is always room for people to populate the Kingdom of God, and there is always room for people to help to perpetuate the Kingdom of God.

Careful what you pray, however. If you pray that God will send out laborers into the harvest, you might also have to pray "Here am I. Send me."

It is always good to be forewarned about those wolves, and it is also good to rejoice that our names are written in heaven.

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: Ephraem the Syrian

Now here is a theologian with an original way of doing things. Known as Ephraem the Syrian, or Ephrem of Edessa, this early church theologian wrote most of his theology in verse. Although he died in 373 A.D., it is thought that Ephrem's writings about death and the Last Judgment inspired the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) to write the Divina Commedia.

Ephrem was born in what is now modern-day Turkey in approximately 306. When his city of Nisibis was conquered by the Persians in 363, Ephrem fled to a remote cave in Edessa (modern-day Iraq). He spent the remainder of his life in seclusion as a monk, but he put his seclusion to good use. He became known as the "Lyre of the Holy Ghost" and the "Prophet of the Syrians" because he demonstrated that poetry and hymns could be used as a means to deliver theology to the world.

The following hymn by Ephrem of Edessa is Hymn No. 443 in The Hymnal 1982. It was translated from Greek to English by J. Howard Rhys (b. 1917) who formerly taught Greek and New Testament at The University of the South School of Theology.

From God Christ's deity came forth,
his manhood from humanity;
his priesthood from Melchizedek,
his royalty from David's tree:
praised be his One-ness.

He joined with guests at wedding feast,
yet in the wilderness did fast;
he taught within the temple's gates;
his people saw him die at last:
praised be his teaching.

The dissolute he did not scorn,
nor turn from those who were in sin;
he for the righteous did rejoice
but bade the fallen to come in:
praised be his mercy.

He did not disregard the sick;
to simple ones his word was given;
and he descended to the earth
and his work done, went up to heaven:
praised be his coming.

Who then, my Lord, compares to you?
The Watcher slept, the Great was small,
the Pure baptized, the Life who died,
the King abased to honor all:
praised be your glory.

So, do you love Ephrem now? He's a man after my own heart.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: The Martyrs of New Guinea

The term Martyr comes from the Greek word marturion meaning "witness" and eventually came to mean those who died for their faith because this is what happened to so many early Christian witnesses.

The Martyrs of New Guinea were eight Christian missionaries of European origin and two native Papuans. When World War II came to the shores of New Guinea, their lives were in danger. The missionaries had the option to leave and save their lives, but they received a letter from their Bishop, Philip Strong, which said in part:

“We must endeavor to carry on our work. God expects this of us. The church at home which sent us out will surely expect it of us . . . the people whom we serve expect it of us. We could never hold up our faces again if, for our own safety, we all forsook Him and fled, when the shadows of the Passion began to gather around Him in His spiritual and mystical body, the church in Papua.”

At the behest of their bishop they stayed. On September 2, 1942, the eight priests and two laymen who had been betrayed into the hands of the invaders were executed “as an example.” Their feast day also commemorates the courage and faith of Papuan Christians who tended to the wounded and saved many lives during this horrific time. Through their example we learn what it means to stay put and be witnesses in the face of danger.


In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com

Saints: Florence Li Tim-Oi

She lived to the age of 85 as a pioneer. Florence Li Tim-Oi was the first woman to be ordained priest in the Anglican Communion. Want to guess the year? Was it 1975? 1977? No. Her ordination came long before the modern era of women's ordination. The year was 1944, January 25 to be exact, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Florence was born in Hong Kong in 1907, and at her baptism she took the name of "Florence" to honor Florence Nightingale. After World War II was over, Florence's ordination caused quite a stir. She took it upon herself not to serve as a priest until the wider Anglican Communion could agree on her ordination.

Florence studied theology in China and taught classes at the Cathedral in Guangzhou. When the Cultural Revolution caused the Chinese churches to be closed, Florence was accused of being a counter-revolutionary. She was sentenced to work on a farm and in a factory until 1974, while undergoing "political re-education."

In 1981 she moved to Canada and was allowed to serve as a priest in Montreal and Toronto and environs. She died there in 1992. Florence Li Tim-Oi is an example of humble service and perseverence in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.



In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: William White

Although his official feast day is July 17, on this Fourth of July I want to commemorate William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania, as our saint of the day. Bishop White was born in Philadelphia in 1747 and died there in 1836. His home in Philadelphia has been preserved and is overseen by the National Park Service. If you visit his home, you must obtain tickets early in the day, because they limit the visitors to about eight at a time.

In April of 1772, Bishop White was ordained priest in England. Upon his return to America he served churches in Philadelphia, and also served as chaplain of the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1789. He was consecrated bishop in England in 1787. Until 1800 he served as chaplain of the United States Senate. He was also the first Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in America.

Among his students were those who would become bishops, church planters, and founders of hospitals and seminaries. For example, Augustus Muhlenberg, one of Bishop White's students, founded St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, which opened in 1858.

Bishop White's influence spread widely because he taught theology generously and was generally regarded as a prince of a fellow. Bishop White was known for his wisdom, patience, and diplomacy in the chaotic period following the American Revolution. We look to him as an example of Christ's stability and peace in a frenetic world.



In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Saints: Cornelius the Centurion

"I truly understand that God shows no partiality."
-- St. Peter (Acts 10:34)

Cornelius the Roman Centurion was an object lesson in God's love for the Apostle Peter. Peter was sent to preach the Gospel to this person who was clearly outside of Peter's comfort zone. Cornelius had a hundred Roman soldiers at his command. Roman Soldiers occupied Palestine at that time and they were the ones who had carried out the crucifixion of Jesus. It is no wonder that Peter had to be convinced by God in order to go preach to Cornelius and his household.

When Peter arrived on the scene, he conceded that God does not show partiality, but offers the love of Jesus to everyone. Then Peter proceeded to preach the Good News to Cornelius about Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Cornelius and his household became Christians on the spot and were baptized.

Tradition holds that Cornelius took his place in the councils of the Church and served as Bishop in his home city of Caesarea.

In peace,

Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

The Value of Discipleship

All of us have probably wondered from time to time what the first disciples of Jesus looked like. Artists have had a field day with this for about two thousand years. If we want to know what present-day disciples of Jesus look like, we have only to look in the mirror.

As we prepare in a few weeks to begin services at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek, I remind us that putting our faith into action and letting it permeate everything we do is a tried and true way of following Jesus Christ as his disciples. Discipleship means making a conscious effort to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through regular attendance at worship, through prayer, and through our relationships with others.

Over the next several weekdays, this blog will hold up to us the lives of Christians whose names will be familiar, and some whom we might not easily recognize. We could call it "Three Weeks With the Saints" in which we will explore the dimensions of their relationship with our Lord Jesus. I hope this exploration will give us inspiration as we prepare to gather as a church. On Sundays this blog will still offer thoughts on the Gospel reading for that day.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/

Fit for the Kingdom of God

Our Gospel passage for today (Luke 9:51-62) tells of Jesus headed for Jerusalem for the last time before his death on the Cross. Jesus encounters various persons who might be interested in following him. He says to one, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for he kingdom of God."

As he went along toward Jerusalem, Jesus also encountered people whom he called to be with him and to follow him. This is the way in which Jesus had called the first disciples. James and John, the sons of Zebebee, the “sons of Thunder” who wanted to call down fire on the Samaritan village, had been called in this way.

Jesus had walked along by the Sea of Galilee and simply said to them, “Follow me” and they left their father in the boat with the hired hands and followed Jesus. They made no excuses as this other person had done. They did not say, “Sure, Jesus – we’ll be right there – just as soon as our dad dies and we set the estate in order.” No – they followed without delay. Most people whom Jesus called were soon looking at him walking away if they did not get up and follow him.

If we would walk with Jesus, we would get in shape and be fit for the Kingdom of God. It's a daily thing.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/