It is that time of year, LENT, and the call to movement from within. The liturgical year puts a focus on the "Jesus journey" as one colored by suffering, passion, death. And yet we know that the end is new life.
A religious speaker once said that our lives can be seen as movement from:
Bondage
to
Liberation
to
Abundance
to
Complacency
to
Bondage
We see it in the life of Israel and the Hebrew nation throughout it's Old Testament journey. We can see it in our own lives: that new job that isn't "new" anymore; that relationship that has fallen into a routine complacency, etc.
To move between liberation and abundance and NOT slip back into bondage is the work of prayer and of community or church. To keep the spirit of liberation alive is to say YES to today, to take that risk of moving into the unknown and the uncomfortable. To journey through Lent in prayer, fasting, almsgiving is a walk in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazereth - with hope and a vision of new life. Why suffering and why death? Because there is no resurrection without it!
May this Lent be a time to break the bonds that hold us back from truly being free. May it be the time to renew an appreciation of the abundance we have rather than a focus on what we don't have. May it be a journey into a more complete expression of who we are as a divine creation.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Planned Giving
As the new year begins and the preparation for our tax filings also begin, our minds turn towards the reality of money in our personal lives.
We have seen more churches disappear from the spiritual map last year and we have cause to ask, "Will my church be next?" The answer depends on each individual congregation and each individual in that congregation. It has been said, "If you want to know where your priorities are, just review your checkbook!" How true it is. Do we spend more on cable TV and internet service than we do on our church? We will spend our money in areas that we decide are most important to us. It is the human thing to do.
In the present economy, our priorities become even more visible and we are cautious on where we choose to release our personal funds. PLANNED GIVING is an easy way to determine the value we place on the church we love. It is simple.....we review our income and determine an ANNUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT that we believe represents the place our church has in our lives. Then we divide that by 12 months and send that amount to our church on a regular basis. Some may attend church once a month, others every week. The annual or monthly donation remains the same. It is planned, consistent and regular, as any other important living or household expenditure.
If you believe in the ministries of Good Shepherd Church, if you are nourished by our liturgy, if you enjoy the preaching by our clergy, if you have connected on Facebook, please consider a PLAN to give so that the arms of the Good Shepherd can continue to "gather all safely home."
We have seen more churches disappear from the spiritual map last year and we have cause to ask, "Will my church be next?" The answer depends on each individual congregation and each individual in that congregation. It has been said, "If you want to know where your priorities are, just review your checkbook!" How true it is. Do we spend more on cable TV and internet service than we do on our church? We will spend our money in areas that we decide are most important to us. It is the human thing to do.
In the present economy, our priorities become even more visible and we are cautious on where we choose to release our personal funds. PLANNED GIVING is an easy way to determine the value we place on the church we love. It is simple.....we review our income and determine an ANNUAL DOLLAR AMOUNT that we believe represents the place our church has in our lives. Then we divide that by 12 months and send that amount to our church on a regular basis. Some may attend church once a month, others every week. The annual or monthly donation remains the same. It is planned, consistent and regular, as any other important living or household expenditure.
If you believe in the ministries of Good Shepherd Church, if you are nourished by our liturgy, if you enjoy the preaching by our clergy, if you have connected on Facebook, please consider a PLAN to give so that the arms of the Good Shepherd can continue to "gather all safely home."
Sunday, January 8, 2012
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
How many times have we heard, or even said, "I don't need to go to church; I can pray at home."
Of course you can. Prayer is prayer anywhere. What is the value of church then?
The Christmas season celebrates LIGHT in the experience of the Christ, the "light to the nations." As we begin the year 2012, many of us may feel "dark", burdened, overly challenged, in a rut, watching friends suffer physically, emotionally, financially. These are not easy times. So, where is the light??
As social beings we are interdependent upon each other to "lighten" and enlighten our life. To experience the light of hope, of strength to endure, of confidence to proceed, and the light that helps us SEE beyond the material and mundane to a reality of the sacred....this light comes to us from others! The group experience of prayer, the fellowship of acceptance and the community of faith that strengthens us is the gift of a prayerful church.
We have probably opened gifts this Christmas. And we are grateful for those who have thought of us and gifted us. The greatest gift of all is one that allows or calls us to be our best.
Church itself is a wonderful gift of the Spirit......but SOME ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED!
Of course you can. Prayer is prayer anywhere. What is the value of church then?
The Christmas season celebrates LIGHT in the experience of the Christ, the "light to the nations." As we begin the year 2012, many of us may feel "dark", burdened, overly challenged, in a rut, watching friends suffer physically, emotionally, financially. These are not easy times. So, where is the light??
As social beings we are interdependent upon each other to "lighten" and enlighten our life. To experience the light of hope, of strength to endure, of confidence to proceed, and the light that helps us SEE beyond the material and mundane to a reality of the sacred....this light comes to us from others! The group experience of prayer, the fellowship of acceptance and the community of faith that strengthens us is the gift of a prayerful church.
We have probably opened gifts this Christmas. And we are grateful for those who have thought of us and gifted us. The greatest gift of all is one that allows or calls us to be our best.
Church itself is a wonderful gift of the Spirit......but SOME ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED!
Friday, December 23, 2011
A GOD-MAN IS BORN
Christmas is time for simple recognitions: family, friends, giving and receiving cards, meals, renewing friendships and enjoying chidren enjoying themselves. Amidst the simple experiences is a deeper and sacred reality: Humanity and Divinity are joined and we can never be the same again!
I think that if pushed, most Christians would ultimately say that Jesus was really more God than man. However, the person of Jesus is truly as much man as he is God and vice versa. This co-equality leads us to a place of mystery and reverance for our own nature and the nature of all humankind around us.
Let us not hesitate to rejoice, accept and celebrate the sacred humanity and the secular divinity that we are. We touch the divine through the human and become more human through the celebration of the divine. This is the ultimate Christmas gift.....and as we open this gift in our own space and time may we become more and more aware of who we truly are, today and through the New Year.
I think that if pushed, most Christians would ultimately say that Jesus was really more God than man. However, the person of Jesus is truly as much man as he is God and vice versa. This co-equality leads us to a place of mystery and reverance for our own nature and the nature of all humankind around us.
Let us not hesitate to rejoice, accept and celebrate the sacred humanity and the secular divinity that we are. We touch the divine through the human and become more human through the celebration of the divine. This is the ultimate Christmas gift.....and as we open this gift in our own space and time may we become more and more aware of who we truly are, today and through the New Year.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Dare to hope!!
Hope can be a misunderstood virtue. A common understanding of "hope" is a wish for future resolution or a positive conclusion. We 'hope' to win the lottery, to pass a test, to be employed, to meet the right person, to have a long and satisfying relationship. So many hopes and expectations are part of our lives each day. All of these look to a future conclusion or resolution.
SPIRITUAL HOPE is a grace, a gift, that calls us to inner peace WITHOUT the desired resolution. While we feel the hunger for resolution and experience the resulting emotional discomfort, we are able to live peacefully in the present and look to the future with confidence. This hope is not a gamble, crossing our fingers and "hoping" for the best outcome. Rather it is the willingness to rejoice and be glad (Isaiah and Paul) in spite of current disappointments and frustrations.
Tension within our families and our relationships, disappointment with the economy both nationally and personally, children and grandchildren facing physical and emotional challenges, present us with two options: bemoan the circumstance and sink into despair OR accept the unresolved present for what it is and continue our journey in true HOPE, accepting the deep inner peace promised to us through Christ Jesus.
SPIRITUAL HOPE is a grace, a gift, that calls us to inner peace WITHOUT the desired resolution. While we feel the hunger for resolution and experience the resulting emotional discomfort, we are able to live peacefully in the present and look to the future with confidence. This hope is not a gamble, crossing our fingers and "hoping" for the best outcome. Rather it is the willingness to rejoice and be glad (Isaiah and Paul) in spite of current disappointments and frustrations.
Tension within our families and our relationships, disappointment with the economy both nationally and personally, children and grandchildren facing physical and emotional challenges, present us with two options: bemoan the circumstance and sink into despair OR accept the unresolved present for what it is and continue our journey in true HOPE, accepting the deep inner peace promised to us through Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
A Priest and a Rabbi walk into a ......................................
Wedding venue. Yes, a priest and a rabbi walk into a wedding venue.....not to compete, nor to compare, but to celebrate the love and unity of a bride and groom.
I had the honor of celebrating the marriage of an interfaith couple. The bride was Jewish and the groom was Catholic. The setting was at the St. Regis in Dana Point overlooking a beautiful golf course and the Pacific Ocean.
As a priest with Good Shepherd Church, we are allowed by our Bishop to celebrate a wedding ceremony not only at the venue of the couple's choosing, but we can also co-officiate with clergy of other denominations.
This unique celebration places the focus on the commonality between Judaism and Catholocism; and the various symbolic rituals of each faith add a wonderful richness to the experience of everyone present. Symbols of fire (Unity Candle), wine sharing, and even the Benediction all have elements found in both religious expressions.
Many people are unaware of the common elements of these two faiths. As Catholics, we KNOW that our roots are founded in Judaism, as Jesus was a Jew desiring reform in order to focus on love over the law. While we know this and accept it, many times we do not have the opportunity to EXPERIENCE it.
As a priest, I was able to have that experience myself and watch not only the bride and groom find unity in their love and faith expression, but also to sense their wedding guests find a common ground of love brought to them by a very special couple. The witness or sign of marital love can truly unite two people, two families and beyond that unite a group of over one hundred guests.
If this can happen in Dana Point, California, it can happen world wide. Religion was never meant to disconnect and discriminate but we have seen wars fought throughout the centuries fueled by relgious differences. All present at this wedding celebration were fueled by the love present.....and we left that experience connected and called to reach out to our brothers and sisters of all walks of life, and of all expressions of faith.
Thank you ,Tom and Lauren, for your loving example and for sharing your day with Rabbi Stan and myself.
I had the honor of celebrating the marriage of an interfaith couple. The bride was Jewish and the groom was Catholic. The setting was at the St. Regis in Dana Point overlooking a beautiful golf course and the Pacific Ocean.
As a priest with Good Shepherd Church, we are allowed by our Bishop to celebrate a wedding ceremony not only at the venue of the couple's choosing, but we can also co-officiate with clergy of other denominations.
This unique celebration places the focus on the commonality between Judaism and Catholocism; and the various symbolic rituals of each faith add a wonderful richness to the experience of everyone present. Symbols of fire (Unity Candle), wine sharing, and even the Benediction all have elements found in both religious expressions.
Many people are unaware of the common elements of these two faiths. As Catholics, we KNOW that our roots are founded in Judaism, as Jesus was a Jew desiring reform in order to focus on love over the law. While we know this and accept it, many times we do not have the opportunity to EXPERIENCE it.
As a priest, I was able to have that experience myself and watch not only the bride and groom find unity in their love and faith expression, but also to sense their wedding guests find a common ground of love brought to them by a very special couple. The witness or sign of marital love can truly unite two people, two families and beyond that unite a group of over one hundred guests.
If this can happen in Dana Point, California, it can happen world wide. Religion was never meant to disconnect and discriminate but we have seen wars fought throughout the centuries fueled by relgious differences. All present at this wedding celebration were fueled by the love present.....and we left that experience connected and called to reach out to our brothers and sisters of all walks of life, and of all expressions of faith.
Thank you ,Tom and Lauren, for your loving example and for sharing your day with Rabbi Stan and myself.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
It's not WHAT but HOW......
Fr. Jack preached a very involving and challenging homily this morning. The scriptural message encourages us to CONFRONT those who do wrong. How many times have we been approached by a friend, a spouse, a coworker and felt devalued because of the tone or the way a criticism was given to us?
To follow the challenge of today's message is to dig deep into our soul for the courage to speak out, confront and challenge people and situations that are in contradiction to the ethic and belief of Christianity. And, to dig even deeper into our souls to find the way to say it so that we can act from love.
We know WHAT to say because we know right from wrong. Discerning HOW to say it takes a truly selfless and loving stance.
I recommend that you move onto our Facebook site and hear Fr Jack "up close and personal" with this message.
Have a wonderful Labor Day!
To follow the challenge of today's message is to dig deep into our soul for the courage to speak out, confront and challenge people and situations that are in contradiction to the ethic and belief of Christianity. And, to dig even deeper into our souls to find the way to say it so that we can act from love.
We know WHAT to say because we know right from wrong. Discerning HOW to say it takes a truly selfless and loving stance.
I recommend that you move onto our Facebook site and hear Fr Jack "up close and personal" with this message.
Have a wonderful Labor Day!
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