From the Rector
I was ordained in the third week of Advent in 1985, on a Thursday evening.
As is often the case looking back, years seem to have flown. At the same time, I know very deeply how transformative these years have been.
On one hand, life continues to be ordinary, human - with my chief distinctive identification being as one of the baptized - a sharer in Christ's priesthood with the whole body of the faithful. Especially as I understand the calling of the Church to be in the world, I do not hold myself aloof from everyday life and culture.
At the same time, I know that in all contexts, I am a priest - that I have a particular calling and reason for being. I don't have a sense of "owning" this form of ministry or in any sense mastering it. It has simply come to me as an expression of the community of faith, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and as a revelation of who I am - including the generations that have gone before me and my particular experiences.
I realized early on (by grace) that I needed to accept the priesthood that had come to me - to allow it life despite any reservations or insecurities (of which I could have many, though they would have only undermined others and me were I to have entertained them anything but fleetingly).
If it were not true, it would be a cliche to say that I am most at home presiding at the Eucharist, particularly leading the sacramental prayer of the community at the altar. It has been a profound gift to have been given this opportunity - a life-changing experience that has been both demanding and fulfilling at once.
My life has been turned more and more outward year by year.
There is a psychological inventory called the MBTI (Myer-Briggs Typology Indicator) that notes, among other things, one's level of introversion (tendency to draw energy from an inner world of thoughts, feelings, and reflections requiring substantial time alone) and one's level of extroversion (tendency to engage the things, people, places and activities going on in the outside world for one's life force, rarely feeling drained by interaction with the outside world and other people).
When I was in seminary more than 20 years ago I was in a balance between introversion and extroversion on the MBTI. Recently, I did the inventory again and am decidedly extoverted. In reflection, I feel I have been drawn into extoversion by the ministry of priesthood - identifying my work and life as being for others. My focus is necessarily beyond myself to what God is doing in the world and to what God desires for others in any given situation (mundane or substantial).
I realize that it is in living out a ministry of priesthood that God has continued to convert me in Christ. Conversion for all people is a life-long process of growing more and more into who Christ is and who Christ desires to be in the world.
At this 20-year mark, I am aware that this conversion is meant to continue in new ways . . . This is not a startling revelation, but I cannot be complacent or settled, a tendency that seems typical of the human condition. God is a constantly changing and renewing Being (Source of all that is) and calls us into this persistently active process of growth and movement. Much as any of us may wish, we simply do not "arrive" at a final point. In God's life, there is always more; the journey continues.
I am grateful for a very full and rich life. I am thankful that I can die tomorrow knowing how substantially I have been able to live, by God's grace.
My friend Nancy Cox says a priest should always be ready to preach, pray, and die. At this anniversary (and it has taken all this time), I think I am ready.
Thanks be to God.
Friday, December 16, 2005
An Advent Retreat
From the Rector
Sunday through Wednesday this week I participated in an Advent retreat at Washington National Cathedral. Called Christ-Dayspring of Wisdom, it was led by our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold, and two of the canons (assistant clergy) of the Cathedral.
The event allowed me to connect two significant strains of my 20 year journey of ordained life. I was ordained by Bishop Griswold in the Diocese of Chicago and initially served there. For nine years I was in Washington working for Canterbury Cathedral (in England) and serving at Washington National Cathedral. The retreat allowed me an opportunity to consolidate experiences and to reflect on where I am and, to a small extent, where I am going.
With the release of the Profile of the Diocese of Newark last Thursday, the retreat was exceptionally well-timed. I can't really claim superior planning as I had committed to the retreat long before I knew when the Profile would be completed. But that's God for you. I had a good and much-needed opportunity to slow my pace and refocus after a very demanding experience co-chairing the small committee writing that document.
I was grateful for being able to re-connect with a small circle of people who mean so much to me from my Washington days - people with whom my spirit strongly resonates. When I left Washington I really said "good-bye" in order to be fully in my new place - but I realize that at least a few relationships have persisted in being important and lively; I'm grateful for that awareness and the opportunity to re-establish conversation. Aren't the best relationships often the ones you can pick up where you left off - even after years?
Bishop Griswold's retreat addresses were rich and powerful. He constantly urges listeners to embrace God's authentic presence in the world unveiled - and points to relationship with God in times of both joy and stuggle (consolation and desolation are the "technical" terms). Who can know where God will lead? We can discover the path only in giving ourselves to God wholly - and then actively engaging the journey in faith, by God's surprising grace.
Soon I was back at St. Mark's sprinkling ice-melt on the sidewalks for our Thursday evening meetings as the sleet and freezing rain began. The mundane never waits - but is never the whole story.
Sunday through Wednesday this week I participated in an Advent retreat at Washington National Cathedral. Called Christ-Dayspring of Wisdom, it was led by our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold, and two of the canons (assistant clergy) of the Cathedral.
The event allowed me to connect two significant strains of my 20 year journey of ordained life. I was ordained by Bishop Griswold in the Diocese of Chicago and initially served there. For nine years I was in Washington working for Canterbury Cathedral (in England) and serving at Washington National Cathedral. The retreat allowed me an opportunity to consolidate experiences and to reflect on where I am and, to a small extent, where I am going.
With the release of the Profile of the Diocese of Newark last Thursday, the retreat was exceptionally well-timed. I can't really claim superior planning as I had committed to the retreat long before I knew when the Profile would be completed. But that's God for you. I had a good and much-needed opportunity to slow my pace and refocus after a very demanding experience co-chairing the small committee writing that document.
I was grateful for being able to re-connect with a small circle of people who mean so much to me from my Washington days - people with whom my spirit strongly resonates. When I left Washington I really said "good-bye" in order to be fully in my new place - but I realize that at least a few relationships have persisted in being important and lively; I'm grateful for that awareness and the opportunity to re-establish conversation. Aren't the best relationships often the ones you can pick up where you left off - even after years?
Bishop Griswold's retreat addresses were rich and powerful. He constantly urges listeners to embrace God's authentic presence in the world unveiled - and points to relationship with God in times of both joy and stuggle (consolation and desolation are the "technical" terms). Who can know where God will lead? We can discover the path only in giving ourselves to God wholly - and then actively engaging the journey in faith, by God's surprising grace.
Soon I was back at St. Mark's sprinkling ice-melt on the sidewalks for our Thursday evening meetings as the sleet and freezing rain began. The mundane never waits - but is never the whole story.
Brokeback Mountain and the Church
From the Rector
I just finished reading the short story Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx, first published in the New Yorker. The story has been made into a recently-released film.
The story is beautifully written and masterfully presents the tensions between male affection and dominant culture. It is a story experienced by many in our world and the Church.
Our Christian and spiritual lives need to make sense in connection to real world experiences - the stuff of the best stories we tell. Real human lives are the focus of God's love in Christ and our faith needs not (dares not) shy away.
I just finished reading the short story Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx, first published in the New Yorker. The story has been made into a recently-released film.
The story is beautifully written and masterfully presents the tensions between male affection and dominant culture. It is a story experienced by many in our world and the Church.
Our Christian and spiritual lives need to make sense in connection to real world experiences - the stuff of the best stories we tell. Real human lives are the focus of God's love in Christ and our faith needs not (dares not) shy away.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Two St. Mark's Advent Poems
St. Mark's is blessed by God with poets - people who can see and express reality and truth in a language that transcends the literal. (The literal is rarely true.) Soon there will be an 80th anniversary collection of poetry by St. Markers - celebration of God's Word spoken in our individual lives and in the life of this faith community. For now, a foretaste of that banquet: two Advent poems.
LET US PREPARE
Snow is expected
the birds know
there they go
off to the left
in formation
dip low
bank right
circle
separate
re-group
soar
Advent approaches
we must prepare
where are the candles
the wreath, the crib
what are the prayers
the hymns, the hopes
who will take the babe to his bed
why must we wait
to walk in the light
Advent approaches
let us prepare
– Jeanette Adams
November 29, 2002
Snow is expected
the birds know
there they go
off to the left
in formation
dip low
bank right
circle
separate
re-group
soar
Advent approaches
we must prepare
where are the candles
the wreath, the crib
what are the prayers
the hymns, the hopes
who will take the babe to his bed
why must we wait
to walk in the light
Advent approaches
let us prepare
– Jeanette Adams
November 29, 2002
ADVENT 2000
The sky was a blackboard
nothing written there for me
It was cold and dark
when the demons struck
a clanking noise from the belly of my car
I should have been scared
would have been too
but I looked at the sky, and saw
a sudden spillage of stars
Then a man/angel
stopped to help me
Jesus was in his eyes
The leaves were glistening
and I knew
the Birth of the Christ Child
was near
– Pamela Malone
The sky was a blackboard
nothing written there for me
It was cold and dark
when the demons struck
a clanking noise from the belly of my car
I should have been scared
would have been too
but I looked at the sky, and saw
a sudden spillage of stars
Then a man/angel
stopped to help me
Jesus was in his eyes
The leaves were glistening
and I knew
the Birth of the Christ Child
was near
– Pamela Malone
Sunday, December 04, 2005
This New Website
The newly-redesigned St. Mark's website is an amazing gift for our faith community and for people seeking information about St. Mark's, perhaps seeking a spiritual home.
St. Mark's thrives on the gifts of all who share their skills, interests, and passions. This website was the dream of Laura Buma and Rich Kearney. St. Mark's is a place to dream - and to let dreams become realities.
I suppose there are parishes that could have afforded to go out and "buy" a website like ours - with this blog, an active calendar, lots of information. But how much more lively it is to have the gifts and skills and commitment of our members creating the realities of our shared life.
Because we are so very grateful we could easily say "thank you" to Laura and to Rich and to all who have cared enough for this website to be in service - but we can, more accurately, say: "thanks be to God." God is generous with each of us and all of us together. Our website is evidence of this astounding generosity. May others use it to come into contact with the abundance of God at St. Mark's.
St. Mark's thrives on the gifts of all who share their skills, interests, and passions. This website was the dream of Laura Buma and Rich Kearney. St. Mark's is a place to dream - and to let dreams become realities.
I suppose there are parishes that could have afforded to go out and "buy" a website like ours - with this blog, an active calendar, lots of information. But how much more lively it is to have the gifts and skills and commitment of our members creating the realities of our shared life.
Because we are so very grateful we could easily say "thank you" to Laura and to Rich and to all who have cared enough for this website to be in service - but we can, more accurately, say: "thanks be to God." God is generous with each of us and all of us together. Our website is evidence of this astounding generosity. May others use it to come into contact with the abundance of God at St. Mark's.
Bishop's Visit
The Right Rev. John Palmer Croneberger, our Bishop, visited St. Mark's on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 4. The visit coincided with the first snowfall of the season - so the day was even more special.
By 7:45 Julian Vicente of Cutting Edge Landscaping had done our snow removal. Julian is solid gold and serves St. Mark's well.
The 8 am service was the quiet morning opportunity for comtemplation and rich silence it always is - time to gather our prayers for the busier part of the morning.
By 8:45 the Bishop arrived.
Two years ago, The Rev. Dennie Bennett, our Associate Rector, was ordained on St. Nicholas Day (December 6). There was a huge blizzard. I joked with the Bishop about an equation I was observing: Bishop+Dennie=Snow.
Our magnificent St. Mark's Choristers (new children's choir) were singing at the 9 am service so the morning was soon attended by fluttering of bolts of red and white cloth in the vestments of these young ministers of music.
Ministry Intern Alexei Khamin made it through the snowy roads from Parsippany by 8:55, ready to serve as the Bishop's Chaplain through the morning.
I wondered if anyone would come to church, or if all the preparations would be for a very select few. While attendance was a little lighter than we might have hoped, the snow didn't deter most people. The coat racks were filled to overflowing.
Cleve chose two sets of hymns for 9 am and 11 am - so the Bishop had a full array of Advent Hymns through the morning - from "People Look East" to "What is the crying at Jordan?" to "Comfort, comfort ye my people."
Pam Malone is a riveting storyteller and was engrossing in relating the story of Zechariah, the Angel Gabriel and the Visitation - Elizabeth and Mary meet and John the Baptist and Jesus leap in expectant wombs. We have a children's story every Sunday at the 9 am service.
The Bishop led the 10 am Adult forum - focusing the conversation on St. Mark's vitality and what underlies the strength we experience. As he sought to hear reasons for our health and vibrance, people ventured: openness to change, our leadership, our small groups, our heritage of active involvement, and our openness and inclusion (especially racial diversity). It was a lively conversation and the bishop told some stories from his travels around the Diocese. He mentioned one congregation in the Diocese that has an Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of nine.
The Bishop preached a moving and reflective sermon on Advent words - and called us to move more deeply into this time of waiting and expectation. At the 11 am service he completed his sermon with a surprise for the Rector: an examination and recommitment to ordination vows on the occasion of Randall's 20th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. So the Bishop's visit allowed a powerful moment of looking afresh 0n the work of priestly ministry in the faith community and in the world.
Cleve and the Choir outdid themselves - 17 singers and an excellent array of music from chant to folk song.
The Bishop's presence knits us together with over a hundred other local expressions of the work of the Episcopal Church in northern New Jersey. In his visit today we have been encouraged to move ever more boldly into the life-changing mission of being Christ's presence for others - especially those in great need.
Today's visit from our Bishop has strengthened us in the time of Advent expectation to watch for Christ in all people, all places, and in ourselves as Christ's living Body active in the world.
By 7:45 Julian Vicente of Cutting Edge Landscaping had done our snow removal. Julian is solid gold and serves St. Mark's well.
The 8 am service was the quiet morning opportunity for comtemplation and rich silence it always is - time to gather our prayers for the busier part of the morning.
By 8:45 the Bishop arrived.
Two years ago, The Rev. Dennie Bennett, our Associate Rector, was ordained on St. Nicholas Day (December 6). There was a huge blizzard. I joked with the Bishop about an equation I was observing: Bishop+Dennie=Snow.
Our magnificent St. Mark's Choristers (new children's choir) were singing at the 9 am service so the morning was soon attended by fluttering of bolts of red and white cloth in the vestments of these young ministers of music.
Ministry Intern Alexei Khamin made it through the snowy roads from Parsippany by 8:55, ready to serve as the Bishop's Chaplain through the morning.
I wondered if anyone would come to church, or if all the preparations would be for a very select few. While attendance was a little lighter than we might have hoped, the snow didn't deter most people. The coat racks were filled to overflowing.
Cleve chose two sets of hymns for 9 am and 11 am - so the Bishop had a full array of Advent Hymns through the morning - from "People Look East" to "What is the crying at Jordan?" to "Comfort, comfort ye my people."
Pam Malone is a riveting storyteller and was engrossing in relating the story of Zechariah, the Angel Gabriel and the Visitation - Elizabeth and Mary meet and John the Baptist and Jesus leap in expectant wombs. We have a children's story every Sunday at the 9 am service.
The Bishop led the 10 am Adult forum - focusing the conversation on St. Mark's vitality and what underlies the strength we experience. As he sought to hear reasons for our health and vibrance, people ventured: openness to change, our leadership, our small groups, our heritage of active involvement, and our openness and inclusion (especially racial diversity). It was a lively conversation and the bishop told some stories from his travels around the Diocese. He mentioned one congregation in the Diocese that has an Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of nine.
The Bishop preached a moving and reflective sermon on Advent words - and called us to move more deeply into this time of waiting and expectation. At the 11 am service he completed his sermon with a surprise for the Rector: an examination and recommitment to ordination vows on the occasion of Randall's 20th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. So the Bishop's visit allowed a powerful moment of looking afresh 0n the work of priestly ministry in the faith community and in the world.
Cleve and the Choir outdid themselves - 17 singers and an excellent array of music from chant to folk song.
The Bishop's presence knits us together with over a hundred other local expressions of the work of the Episcopal Church in northern New Jersey. In his visit today we have been encouraged to move ever more boldly into the life-changing mission of being Christ's presence for others - especially those in great need.
Today's visit from our Bishop has strengthened us in the time of Advent expectation to watch for Christ in all people, all places, and in ourselves as Christ's living Body active in the world.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Men's Breakfast Group
This morning (Nov. 26) was Men's Breakfast Group. We gather twice a month and have a "big" breakfast (oatmeal, sausage, bagels, muffins, coffee, and cider this morning).
We talk about the world and life in general while we're gathering and eating. It's good to have a bunch of guys to "catch up" on - hear what's happening in their lives.
This fall we have been watching the Via Media program sessions on DVD (20 minutes or so) and having conversation about these basic issues in Christianity. Today the program was on sin - called a "Roadblock to Abundant Life."
We heard and discussed the way the Episcopal Church is non-judgmental and gets accused of being "soft on sin." But then we looked at how the Episcopal Church cares a lot and talks a lot about justice - larger issues of societal evil, and how we're not soft on justice.
Sin is no easy topic - but the conversation was one that left us all thinking (and perhaps praying) about what is truly important and what is most valuable to us and to others.
In December Men's Breakfast Group meets only once: December 10 - then January 14 and 28.
We talk about the world and life in general while we're gathering and eating. It's good to have a bunch of guys to "catch up" on - hear what's happening in their lives.
This fall we have been watching the Via Media program sessions on DVD (20 minutes or so) and having conversation about these basic issues in Christianity. Today the program was on sin - called a "Roadblock to Abundant Life."
We heard and discussed the way the Episcopal Church is non-judgmental and gets accused of being "soft on sin." But then we looked at how the Episcopal Church cares a lot and talks a lot about justice - larger issues of societal evil, and how we're not soft on justice.
Sin is no easy topic - but the conversation was one that left us all thinking (and perhaps praying) about what is truly important and what is most valuable to us and to others.
In December Men's Breakfast Group meets only once: December 10 - then January 14 and 28.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Advent at St. Mark's
Advent is a real season and it has real gifts for all who embrace it.
This is not an "all or nothing" matter. "Embracing" Advent may mean simply allowing some brief quiet times into an otherwise hectic life and schedule. It certainly is not a demand for perfectionism.
St. Mark's offers a range of resources for Advent. There are print resources for planning, devotion, and encouragement. There are worship resources: Sunday worship, candlelight Labyrinth walks, and Service of Light prayer times on Wednesdays. We have an Advent small group: "Ears to Hear," on Monday evenings at 7:30. See "calendar" for details.
We do not have to march along through this season to the beat of the retailers or old expectations. Let some new possibility dawn in your life this Advent.
This is not an "all or nothing" matter. "Embracing" Advent may mean simply allowing some brief quiet times into an otherwise hectic life and schedule. It certainly is not a demand for perfectionism.
St. Mark's offers a range of resources for Advent. There are print resources for planning, devotion, and encouragement. There are worship resources: Sunday worship, candlelight Labyrinth walks, and Service of Light prayer times on Wednesdays. We have an Advent small group: "Ears to Hear," on Monday evenings at 7:30. See "calendar" for details.
We do not have to march along through this season to the beat of the retailers or old expectations. Let some new possibility dawn in your life this Advent.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Welcome!
Welcome as St. Mark's explores a new avenue of communication.
Check back as St. Mark's clergy and other leaders recount observations, experiences and insights of our communal life.
Check back as St. Mark's clergy and other leaders recount observations, experiences and insights of our communal life.
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