The Great Fifty Days of Easter

In the Episcopal tradition we celebrate Easter from early in the morning on Easter Day until the Day of Pentecost, which this year falls on May 31. This is the "Great Fifty Days of Easter" and is divided into two parts. The first forty days celebrate the time that Jesus was seen by his followers on earth until the day he ascended into heaven. Ascension Day this year falls on May 21. It is always a Thursday. I love to lead a worship service on that day because I can preach about how the disciples had to "hurry up and wait" for ten more days until the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This wonderful story is related by St. Luke in The Acts of the Apostles, chapters 1 and 2.

During this Great Fifty Days of Easter we get to sing hymns that contain a lot of "Alleluias." Each week we hear: Alleluia! Christ is risen! and the response: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Please come and worship the Risen Lord with us -- 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: taken at Zoo Montana
on Pentecost, 2008

A Letter from the Bishops

The Episcopal Bishop of Montana, the Right Reverend C. Franklin Brookhart (right in photo) recently attended the Spring Retreat of the House of Bishops for the Episcopal Church U.S.A. He asked that we share the following Pastoral Letter from the Bishops to the Churches.

A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of the Episcopal Church meeting in Hendersonville, North Carolina, March 13-18, 2009 to the Church and our partners in mission throughout the world.

I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:11b - 13

As the House of Bishops gather at the Kanuga Camp and Conference Center for our annual Spring Retreat, we are mindful of the worsening financial crisis around us. We recognize there are no easy solutions for the problems we now face. In the United States there is a 30% reduction of overall wealth, a 26% reduction in home values and a budget deficit of unprecedented proportions. Unemployment currently hovers at over 8% and is estimated to top 10% by the end of the year. There are over 8 million homes in America that are in foreclosure. Consumer confidence is at a 50 year low.

Unparalleled corporate greed and irresponsibility, predatory lending practices, and rampant consumerism have amplified domestic and global economic injustice. The global impact is difficult to calculate, except that the poor will become poorer and our commitment to continue our work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is at great risk. A specter of fear creeps not only across the United States, but also across the world, sometimes causing us as a people to ignore the Gospel imperative of self-sacrifice and generosity, as we scramble for self-preservation in a culture of scarcity.

The crisis is both economic and environmental. The drought that grips Texas, parts of the American South, California, Africa and Australia, the force of hurricanes that have wreaked so much havoc in the Caribbean, Central America and the Gulf Coast, the ice storm in Kentucky—these and other natural disasters related to climate change—result in massive joblessness, driving agricultural production costs up, and worsening global hunger. The wars nations wage over diminishing natural resources kill and debilitate not only those who fight in them, but also civilians, weakening families, and destroying the land. We as a people have failed to see this connection, compartmentalizing concerns so as to minimize them and continue to live without regard to the care of God’s creation and the stewardship of the earth’s resources that usher in a more just and peaceful world.

In this season of Lent, God calls us to repentance. We have too often been preoccupied as a Church with internal affairs and a narrow focus that has absorbed both our energy and interest and that of our Communion – to the exclusion of concern for the crisis of suffering both at home and abroad. We have often failed to speak a compelling word of commitment to economic justice. We have often failed to speak truth to power, to name the greed and consumerism that has pervaded our culture, and we have too often allowed the culture to define us instead of being formed by Gospel values.

While our commitment to the eradication of extreme poverty through the eight Millennium Development Goals moves us toward the standard of Christ’s teaching, we have nevertheless often fallen short of the transformation to which Christ calls us in our own lives in order to live more fully into the Gospel paradigm of God’s abundance for all.

Everyone is affected by the shrinking of the global economy. For some, this is a time of great loss—loss of employment, of homes, of a way of life. And for the most vulnerable, this “downturn” represents an emergency of catastrophic proportions. Like the Prodigal who comes to his senses and returns home, we as the people of God seek a new life. We recognize in this crisis an invitation into a deeper simplicity, a tightening of the belt, an expanded Lenten fast, and a broader generosity. God’s abundant mercy and forgiveness meet and embrace us, waiting to empower us through the Holy Spirit to face the coming days.

In a time of anxiety and fear the Holy Spirit invites us to hope. Anxiety, when voiced in community can be heard, blessed and transformed into energy and hope, but if ignored, swallowed or hidden, fear and anxiety can be corrosive and lead to despair. We Christians claim that joy and hope emerge for those who have the courage to endure suffering. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul goes so far as to boast of his suffering, because “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Our current crisis presents us with opportunities to learn from our brothers and sisters of faith in other parts of the world who have long been bearers of hope in the midst of even greater economic calamity.

We can also learn from our spiritual ancestors, who found themselves in an economic and existential crisis that endured for forty years – on their journey from Egypt to Israel. While they groaned in Egypt, they murmured at Sinai – at least at first. And then after their groaning, complaining and reverting to old comforts of idol worship, they were given Grace to learn and understand what the Lord wanted to teach them.

They learned that they needed the wilderness in order to recover their nerve and put their full trust in God--and to discover their God-given uniqueness, which had been rubbed away during their captivity in Egypt. They adopted some basic rules that enabled them to live in a community of free people rather than as captives or slaves – the God given Ten Commandments. And perhaps most importantly, our spiritual ancestors discovered that the wilderness is a unique place of God’s abundance and miracle, where water gushed out of a rock and manna appeared on the desert floor – food and drink miraculously provided by God.

As we go through our own wilderness, these spiritual ancestors also point the way to a deep and abiding hope. We can rediscover our uniqueness – which emerges from the conviction that our wealth is determined by what we give rather than what we own. We can re-discover manna – God’s extraordinary expression of abundance. Week by week – in congregations and communities around the world, our common manna is placed before us in the Eucharist. Ordinary gifts of bread and wine are placed on the altar, and become for us the Body and Blood of Christ, which, when we receive them, draw us ever more deeply into the Paschal mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection.

As our risen Lord broke through the isolation of the disciples huddled in fear for their lives following his suffering and death, so too are we, the Body of Christ called to break through the loneliness and anxiety of this time, drawing people from their fears and isolation into the comforting embrace of God’s gathered community of hope. As disciples of the risen Christ we are given gifts for showing forth God’s gracious generosity and for finding blessing and abundance in what is hard and difficult. In this time the Holy Spirit is moving among us, sharing with us the vision of what is real and valued in God’s world. In a time such as this, Christ draws us deeper into our faith revealing to us that generosity breaks through distrust, paralysis and misinformation. Like our risen Lord, we, as his disciples are called to listen to the world’s pain and offer comfort and peace.

As we continue our Lenten journey together we place our hearts in the power of the Trinity. The God who created us is creating still and will not abandon us. The Incarnate Word, our Savior Jesus Christ, who in suffering, dying and rising for our sake, stands in solidarity with us, has promised to be with us to the end of the age. God the Holy Spirit, the very breath of God for us and in us, is our comforter, companion, inspiration and guide. In this is our hope, our joy and our peace.



In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Sermon for February 22

“Yes, I know. Keep Silent.”

We live in a really noisy world. It seems that everyone is competing for our attention. Everyone from television news personalities to radio talk show hosts to pop musicians – they all want us to listen to them and to be influenced by what they have to say. Even billboards shout at us – “Hey, look at me. I want to sell you the latest item on the market. You didn’t even know you needed it until you saw this ad.”

God also wants our attention, but often God gets our attention with a “still small voice.” To hear that voice, we need to find times to keep silent. I remember once reporting to my Bishop that I was going on retreat, and that I was taking such and such books with me. He wrote back to me and said something like, “Linda, when you are on retreat, books are noise.” Like Elisha in our Old Testament lesson [2 Kings 2:1-12], he could have said, “Yes, I know. Keep silent.”

Today is the last Sunday after the Epiphany, which was celebrated on January 6th as the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. During this Season of Epiphany, our scriptures have focused on God’s love being spread abroad to the nations – his salvation spreading to the ends of the earth.

On this last Sunday of the Epiphany, what it is that our scriptures are all about? I think they are all about our ultimate epiphany. They are about our ultimate “aha” moment. The ultimate light that can go on over our heads is to realize that we, too, are the beloved. When Jesus was on the mountaintop meeting with Moses and Elijah [Mark 9:2-9
], God broke through the cloud cover and declared that Jesus was/is God’s beloved Son. This was the second time God had said this out loud so that all could hear. The first time was at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. We who are baptized into Christ share in his divine life. We too share in the beloved-ness of Jesus Christ. God loves us unconditionally.

God’s unconditional love for us does not mean that God approves of all our actions. On the contrary, God’s love calls us to repentance and a better way of life. The upcoming Season of Lent gives us a chance to be intentional about that. This better way of life would include opening ourselves up to God’s love in such a way that we know and accept ourselves. In this way we will be more apt to love and accept others. We can pass that beloved-ness on to others and try to bring out the best in them. It only takes a minute to lift someone’s spirits to the skies. On the other hand, if we say harsh words to others, it might take a lifetime to erase the hurt. Knowing that we are beloved of God and that others are beloved of God is a good place to start.

Mark’s Gospel doesn’t say what Jesus, Moses and Elijah were talking about, but Luke’s account of this story says that they were speaking of Jesus’ exodus from this world – his departure – his death. And God broke onto the scene and called Jesus his Beloved. On the mountain, Peter, James and John saw Jesus for who he really is. When Jesus was “transfigured” his true identity became transparent. They caught a quick glimpse of the glorified Jesus – maybe what he would look like after his resurrection. The disciples, especially Peter, never got over this. Although Jesus was the only one who was transfigured, the disciples were forever changed.

On this mountain (was it Mount Tabor; Mount Hermon?), when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, Jesus’ inner circle of disciples -- Peter, James, and John -- also had another epiphany. They realized that the law and the prophets had been pointing to Jesus all along. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises all throughout their scriptures.

How do we reach the conclusion that we, too, are beloved of God? If we make prayer a habit of the heart, chances are it will occur to us that we are beloved. This can be hard for some people to accept. Self-esteem issues can cloud our vision of who we are before God. Some people think they have to get good enough on their own for God to love them, when in truth, God holds us all as his dearly beloved. Here is a prayer we might want to learn by heart:

“O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray you, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 832)

Henri Nouwen, the late priest, writer, and spiritual director, said that knowing who we are – knowing that we are the beloved, keeps us out of all kinds of trouble in this world. It protects us from getting too puffed up if people speak well of us. Knowing that we are the beloved protects us from getting down in the mouth if other people speak ill of us. So, even though the world around us is shouting at us, we can have peace and quiet in the deepest part of our hearts. Nouwen says that out of this storehouse of grace and love, we can affirm God’s presence in others.

As we enter into Lent, maybe we can carve out some time to keep silent. We can listen for the Voice of God and know within ourselves that we, too, are the beloved. As we claim and grow into our beloved-ness, we are claiming for ourselves the truth that Jesus preached. That’s because our relation to Jesus is our ultimate Epiphany. Jesus is the Morning Star that rises in our hearts.

“Beloved of God” is who you really are. Don’t let anything or anyone cloud your vision of that. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Getting ready for Lent

Here is the "Faith & Values" article I wrote for the Billings Gazette. It was published today.


It has been called “the new reality.” The seismic shift in our economy has affected all of us and has brought us to this watershed time. Was greed a factor? It’s part of the human condition.

We now find ourselves retooling, retraining, and repositioning for survival and success. Long-standing practices of consumerism have shifted. We are learning to live leaner and greener.

Meanwhile in the world of sports, star players have behaved in a manner unbecoming of their status. Michael Phelps has ‘fessed up. And (say it isn’t so!) Alex Rodriguez has admitted that he “did take a banned substance” because he wanted to be one of the best all-time players. Apparently both are truly sorry and humbly repent.

Coming clean is healthful as it allows the fresh breezes of forgiveness to blow through our lives. Such confession need not be a once-in-a-lifetime event. In the Christian tradition, Lent is that perfect time when God offers us space for such reflection. It’s coming up soon.

Next Wednesday, February 25, is Ash Wednesday in the Church calendar. Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten Season, followed by Holy Week and Easter, which falls this year on April 12. This is the time to be intentional about cleaning out the cluttered places of our lives. Lent is the time to consider our own mortality. In particular we think about sin, forgiveness, and ongoing repentance, both individually and corporately. The forty days of Lent allow us to form new habits of the heart for which we might not otherwise make time.

From historical documents we know that Lent was not always forty days. In the earliest times of Christianity, Lent was apparently much shorter. Somewhere in the Seventh Century – in the Dark Ages -- Lent took on its present form. The Church loved this form so much that it became permanent. Forty days matches Jesus’ time in the wilderness after his baptism in the Jordan River. Matthew’s Gospel says that Jesus fasted during that time.

If we are taking on a Lenten discipline – if we are fasting in any way, we should ask ourselves what we would have to change to make more room for God in our lives. Will giving up chocolate do that for us?

The Church corporately has its own ways of fasting. In the Episcopal tradition, the Church does not provide wedding ceremonies during Lent except in extreme circumstances. We refrain from such festivities. We don’t even get to say “Hallelujah.” This in itself is a fast.

The new reality turns out to be the old reality revisited. It is the human struggle with greed and its results. It affects us all. Lent is a good time to tackle this struggle head on. We can do it, with God’s help. Let’s go.

I wish you peace and a holy Lent.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Sermon for Sunday, February 15

What Pushes Your Buttons?

In Jesus’ day there were strict laws governing lepers. If they got well, they had to go and show themselves to the priests in Jerusalem and offer certain sacrifices. In the meantime, they could not live in their communities. They had to stay at a distance from polite society and yell “unclean” when anyone else got too near. Consider the Leper in our Gospel reading for today (Mark 1:40-45). He broke all the rules. He broke through his fear, walked right up to Jesus and spoke with him. This was an emotional moment for Jesus. He was moved with pity. Jesus broke the rules, too, by reaching out and touching a Leper. Once again Jesus identifies with the outcasts of society.

Consider also Naaman, the Leper in our Old Testament reading (2 Kings 5:1-14). He was not an outcast from society – at least not yet. He was probably in the first stages of the disease when he received the healing he needed.

Naaman was an army commander in Aram, which is modern-day Syria. Our scripture passage illustrates that worship of the True and Living God was making inroads into other cultures.

In those days, one way that cultures crossed paths was by making war on each other. Some things never change. The stronger nations would test the resistance of weaker nations by conducting short raids. They would go into another country at harvest time and steal the harvest, or burn it. There was probably a lot of prior harassment before there was all-out war. On one of these raids, a young girl had been taken captive. She served as a slave of Naaman’s wife. There could not have been any bigger contrast in the power of these two individuals – a slave girl and an army commander. But, like our Lord Jesus, the young girl had compassion on the Leper. She was moved with pity.

For a moment, put yourself in her place. If you had been taken as a slave, what would be your reaction? Would you have been fearful? Would you have been angry? She could have withheld the information about the Prophet in her country. But this would have been vengeance. It would not have been compassion. So, she took a chance on recommending that Naaman go back into the country he had been raiding. She told him to go back into enemy territory! Although he would be going there in peace, he was taking a chance on his life.

We are not sure what the protocol was in those days, but apparently kings talked to kings and the information trickled down from there. When Naaman went back to Israel, emotions erupted in every direction. First, he took a letter from his king to the king of Israel, asking him to heal Naaman. This made the king of Israel very angry. Why was he so angry? Was it because he was afraid? I think the king was really afraid of Naaman, who was known as a warrior. It was natural for the king to become angry because Naaman was a perceived threat. It must have been terrifying for the king of Israel to have Naaman walk in and demand healing. Little did he know that God was about to do something amazing. But at first, Naaman really pushed his buttons.

Do you know what pushes your buttons? What is it that you feel so strongly about, that if it was threatened you would be angry? Knowing who we are and what upsets us contributes greatly to the way we handle our anger. When I first began thinking about becoming a priest, I was told that the discernment process was not for the faint of heart. Though this process, I would “learn what pushes my buttons.” In other words, I would know myself so well that I would know what would make me angry. I would know my sources of anger and perhaps become able to develop constructive responses to them – or at least uses for them.

So I check in with myself every now and then and ask, “What pushes my buttons?” Are the issues the same as they were five years ago, or have I mellowed out, so to speak. We can decide what is worth getting angry about. We can decide which “ditch to die in.”

We ask ourselves as Christians how we can get by with any anger, since it is considered one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Anger ranks right up there with pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony and sloth. And yet, as we read scripture, we hear plenty about the Wrath of God. How can we reconcile the two? How can God have the emotion of anger? Maybe it’s because God loves us so much, and we humans have done things to threaten God’s love.

I want to suggest that anger itself is natural to us, who are created in the image of God. However, we are responsible for the use of our anger. We are not to let anger control us. St. Paul advises us to be angry, but not to sin – and not to let the sun go down on our wrath. Don’t stew.

Anger is a part of our physiology. It’s a part of our normal, God-given self-defense mechanism, which, combined with fear, might save our lives. These emotions let us know when it’s time to make a run for it. I suggest that anger in itself is not a sin. Our misdirecting and mishandling our anger can lead to sin. We are responsible for our behaviors as a result of our anger. Maybe anger can even be a step along the way to full understanding of our life situations. I am very fond of C. S. Lewis’ definition of anger: “Anger is the fluid that love bleeds when you cut it.”

There is a lot of anger in our world right now – anger gone haywire. We do what we can to control it with the use of language. We try to be politically correct so as not to offend.

But I digress. Let’s go back to our story of the King, the Prophet, and Naaman. The king was afraid, so he became angry. When Naaman thought he had been snubbed by Elisha, he became angry and almost missed the point of the whole trip. He was pouting to the point of rage. He had a desire to control, and when he could not do that, his anger exploded. Naaman was probably already angry when he arrived on the scene because he was threatened. His physical survival was threatened. He was humiliated. His identity and place in society were threatened. His emotional response to his fear was anger. When he finally listened to reason, he agreed to go dip in the Jordan River seven times. The results of his obedience were miraculous.

Anger can control us or we can control it. Anger doesn’t have to become the leprosy in our lives. It doesn’t have to eat us up. We can learn to channel it into constructive behaviors that exhibit the love of God. The Good News is that we can choose to control what pushes our buttons. In this way, we will not be so vulnerable to events that cause us to react improperly.

Be assured that our Lord Jesus is moved with pity for us as human beings. When we come to this altar, we can be like the Leper who came to Jesus – breaking through whatever would hold us back. We can stretch out our hands to God and receive his mysterious love. All this Love comes from the One who chooses to make us clean and able to stand before him. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Happy Valentine's Day

How does true love behave?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(excerpted from 1 Corinthians, chapter 13)



In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: bleeding hearts in a garden
Wrangell, Alaska, June 2008

Happy Birthday, Abe

There is a wonderful story - possibly apocryphal - about Hodgenville, Kentucky, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln:

It was a fine spring day in Hodgenville, and two farmers were at the general store catching up on the winter's news. One said, "Back in February Tom Lincoln's wife Nancy gave birth to a baby boy. Named him Abe. Nothing much ever happens in Hodgenville."



In peace,
Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

Sermon for February 8

Mark 1:29-39

All in a Day’s Work

Did you ever have one of those long days, when everyone is looking for you, and you just need some peace and quiet? How did you handle that? Jesus seemed to have those days frequently.

Today I want to focus on our Gospel lesson. It’s a continuation of the readings for the last two weeks in the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel. This is a very important chapter, because it introduces us to several of the main characters who will populate the other fifteen chapters. Two weeks ago we met Jesus’ first four disciples – Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John. They were all fishermen from the town of Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee.

Capernaum became important in the life of Jesus. I have visited the excavations there, and as I have mentioned before, Jesus had excellent taste in real estate. Matthew’s Gospel (4:13) tells us that as an adult, Jesus also lived in Capernaum. This was a good choice because it was a thriving community located at an economic crossroads. It was here that Jesus successfully recruited Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 9:1, 9). Five out of twelve Apostles is a pretty good record for any town.

Also in Capernaum, a Roman Centurion had built for the Jewish people a synagogue. Jesus probably went often to this synagogue, and as a visiting rabbi, he was allowed to speak. There were many synagogues, or local places for worship, around the country, but there was only one Temple, which was in Jerusalem. The word “synagogue” means “assembly together.”

Jesus’ presence there was strong. Not only did he teach, but Jesus spoke on behalf of God. Jesus differed from the scribes in that Jesus did not have to quote another teacher. He was the master teacher. His authority was clear. When Jesus cast out a demon there to the astonishment of the onlookers, Jesus was just getting started. They had not seen anything yet. Before the day was over, Jesus would heal every sick person in town and cast out more demons.

Have you ever been sick with a fever? I mean – so sick you thought you were just going to die? I had this experience some years ago. It all started with a tickle in my throat, and next thing I knew I had a full-blown bronchial infection. I thought I had to keep working because my group at the law firm was preparing for a trial. When the first round of antibiotics failed and I lost my voice, I gave up and stayed home. The doctor threatened to put me in the hospital if I didn’t stay home. I had a fever.

In about a week, after a bigger round of antibiotics and several quarts of chicken soup, my fever finally broke. I sweated profusely and was exhausted by it. The doctor told me not to leave the house for at least three days after the fever broke. I couldn’t have gone out anyway – I was limp as a wet rag. So I wised up and rested a few more days before going back to work. And guess what – the place had not fallen apart without me.

Here is what is so amazing to me about our Gospel reading for today. After a tough morning of casting out demons at the synagogue, Jesus and his four new recruits went to the home of Peter and Andrew. It was probably time for lunch. When they got there, the matriarch of the house – Peter’s mother-in-law -- was sick in bed with a fever. She must have been very ill to have been in bed. In those days, people died of illnesses that are not life-threatening to us. If she were alive in this century, she would probably get a good dose of antibiotics and some chicken soup, just as I did. Antibiotics were not available to her, but Jesus was.

When Jesus touched her, the fever left her. And here is the miracle to which I can personally relate – she got up and served them -- presumably a meal. She had the strength and energy to resume her normal activities. I think about my own struggle every time I read this passage. What an incredible miracle. She was able to do immediately what it took me several days to do. And I had the benefits of “modern medicine.”

It is no wonder, then, that Jesus’ fame began to spread throughout all the region of Galilee. That day was the Sabbath, so no big activity could take place until after sundown. But when the sun had set, our Gospel passage says that “the whole city was gathered around the door.” A lot of needy people got their needs met. Jesus healed the sick, and did some more spiritual warfare. Jesus had come to make people whole in body, mind and spirit. At the beginning of his ministry, there seemed to be no lack of opportunity for Jesus to heal in this way. I believe this took a lot of spiritual, physical, and emotional energy for Jesus to keep up such a pace.

Here is where I want to remind us that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. As the divine Son of God, Jesus had the power and authority to heal the sick. As a human being, Jesus accepted the limits of humanity, such as a need to eat, sleep and rest. But there was another aspect of Jesus’ personhood that needed to be fed. Jesus needed time to pray and gain perspective. Jesus did not neglect this part of himself. This taught his disciples a lesson: If they were looking for Jesus, they could probably find him somewhere praying. Jesus set the example for us in his daily life.

Our text says that Jesus got up very early in the morning – before first light. He went out to a place where he could be all alone, and he prayed. Jesus took time to replenish his spiritual side. How often do we do that on a daily basis? How often do we take time just to get alone and pray? Do we ever shut off the media around us – radio, TV, newspapers – and just get alone and pray? If we do this, it might amaze us how much we can gain perspective on a problem. Or maybe our day will just be more peaceful than it otherwise might have been.

When his disciples found Jesus they wanted to set his agenda. But he had been praying and he set his own agenda. He did not meet their expectations. They were all looking for him, but he would not let them put him in a box and control him for their own purposes. He would not stay in that one place. Jesus kept moving so that his ministry would not get petrified. He was available to reach more people that way. Also, it’s harder to hit a moving target. Jesus was already making some enemies. He wanted some time to teach his disciples, so he was not going to allow himself to be apprehended by the authorities so soon as to cut short his time on earth.

I urge you in this busy world to take time to stop and pray. Take time to get away somewhere -- just you and God. The earth will continue to spin on its axis. It will keep on twirling in its orbit. If you take a few days of rest and respite, the work at your place of business will go on. Or even if it is waiting for you when you get back, you will be more apt to clearly set your priorities. We are all subject to having long, exhausting days. The antidote to that is prayer.

Take a cue from Jesus and get alone with God. Imitate Jesus’ prayer life and worship habits. Come for communion on a regular basis. It will energize you for the tasks that you face. It will set your dial back to zero and give you a fresh start for the week. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Groundhog Day

So . . . today is "groundhog day" because Punxsutawny Phil gets to predict the coming of Spring. I was thinking: how about if other animals got to predict Spring? How would Siberian Husky dogs go about doing that? Maybe these two rescued Huskies could tell us, or maybe they are simply praising God for letting them be rescued.

Maybe some are more ready for Spring than others. I think especially of our dear sisters and brothers in Kentucky, who would most certainly appreciate our prayers. This will probably be one winter they will always remember, though they might prefer to forget their suffering from the effects of the ice storm. Many of those people need to be rescued, too.

The people in Kentucky and environs might not have even noticed the groundhog's shadow. I think that works like this anyway: If he sees his shadow we have six more week of winter; and if he does not see his shadow we have another month and a half.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: Ivan and Cinnamon howl
for happiness at some snow in the South

Bishop's visit at Holy Cross

Today at Holy Cross we welcomed our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart, the Ninth Bishop of Montana. Our Bishop travels constantly and hopes to get to visit each church in a year's time, so this was a very special occasion for us.

Until his next visit with us, we lift this prayer in his behalf:

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom comes every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of your grace; and, that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. [The Book of Common Prayer, 817]


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: Bishop Brookhart and Linda McCloud
February 1, 2009

Bishop's Visit tomorrow

Tomorrow, February 1, Holy Cross Church Episcopal will welcome our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart. His presence among us signifies the unity of the Church, but for Holy Cross his presence is even more special than that.

Bishop Brookhart is the Pastor of Holy Cross, and I am his Vicar. That is, since the Bishop cannot be present at every worship service, he selects a priest to stand in for him vicariously. That would be me.

Tomorrow Bishop Brookhart will confirm a previously-baptized person and also receive another person into the Episcopal Church from the Roman Catholic tradition. Only a Bishop is authorized to do these two things. If there were a baptismal candidate, the Bishop would baptize that person, although I am authorized to do so in the Bishop's absence.

If you have never attended an Episcopal worship service presided over by a Bishop, you are in for a treat. Please come and join us for joyful worship.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

Stopping to pray

Today I suggest a couple of prayers for your consideration and meditation:

For Cities

Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


For Towns and Rural areas

Lord Christ, when you came among us, you proclaimed the kingdom of God in villages, towns, and lonely places; Grant that your presence and power may be known throughout this land. Have mercy upon all who live and work in rural areas; and grant that all the people of our nation may give thanks to you for food and drink and all other bodily necessities of life, respect those who labor to produce them, and honor the land and the water from which these good things come. All this we ask in your holy Name. Amen.

From The Book of Common Prayer, page 825.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: stop sign in Billings

Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle

Today we celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle. Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was a self-appointed enemy of Christians soon after the death and resurrection of Jesus. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul was present at and consenting to the execution of Stephen, the Christian martyr. Paul was guarding the coats of those who were stoning Stephen to death.

The Ninth chapter of Acts goes on with this story:

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synaogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

You probably know how this part of the story goes: At about mid-day Jesus appeared to Paul in a flash of light and Paul fell off his horse right there on the Damascus Road. Paul had the original "Damascus Road experience." That was the beginning of a new life for Paul as he became a Christian on the spot. He was baptized in Damascus and then, before becoming a missionary, Paul went off on a lengthy retreat to listen for the voice of God.

Paul's life was never the same, once he heard Jesus call his name.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
406-208-7314

sermon for January 25, 2009

Mark 1:14-20

Jesus goes fishing

Our Gospel lesson is the wonderful passage about Jesus calling four disciples. Jesus’ call to them would change their lives forever. I just have to quote the first verse of Hymn No. 661, and then we can move on from here:

They cast their nets in Galilee
just off the hills of brown;
such happy, simple fisher-folk,
before the Lord came down.

I want to point out a few things about these people whom Jesus called. First of all, they were neighbors in the Galilee. Maybe they had been competitors or even partners in the fishing business. But it’s a pretty sure thing that they knew each other. Fisher people know other fisher people. I cannot think of any one of us who lives in a vacuum. We all have neighbors, friends, or relatives. We all know someone who would benefit from seeking God, or a deeper knowledge of God.

Secondly, these people might have seen Jesus before. But maybe they had not seen him up close. Maybe they had not heard Jesus call their name. Maybe they had not been invited to follow him. Jesus gives them (and us) a personal invitation. Perhaps someone you know is waiting for a personal invitation to come and worship with us at Holy Cross. Please invite them. This will improve your people-fishing skills.

Thirdly, these invitations to follow Jesus happened in the course of daily living. The scripture text makes it sound casual, as though Jesus was simply going for a walk along the shore of the lake. Later, he would walk on the lake itself and his disciples would believe in him more than ever. As we go about our daily business, let’s think in terms of inviting others to join us in joyful worship on Sunday mornings, or for those lively discussions on Thursday evenings. We don’t have to walk on water to do that.

At first glance we might think that Jesus looks all alone out there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Actually, Jesus had gone fishing without a boat or a net. He was fishing for followers.

Jesus had picked Galilee very carefully. He did not begin his ministry in Jerusalem, which was the hub and center of religious activity in his day. He would later spend more time in Jerusalem, but the beginning of his ministry was out in the countryside. He would work his way back to Jerusalem and be killed there by the authorities. He would be buried there and rise again. But after his resurrection, Jesus would return to the Galilee. He loved that place.

Jesus went out to the countryside where the air is clear and preached a simple but profound message. He told his hearers that it was time to break out of their mold and live the dynamic life of the Kingdom of God. They could break free and believe that God was present with them. They were to repent – turn completely around – and follow Jesus. He would teach them how to live this new life. He would give to them unforgettable stories and parables about how to love God and love their neighbors. He would teach them how to fish for people.

Jesus was not alone for very long. He began by calling two sets of brothers. Jesus knew that he could not do all the people-fishing by himself. From a practical standpoint, Jesus had to have help. Jesus needed other hands to work with him and other feet to walk with him.

Jesus’ call to Simon and Andrew was simple: literally, “Come after me and I will make you to become fishers of people.” This was a permanent, ongoing invitation. If they followed Jesus, they had to decide whether they would allow Jesus to make them to become something they had not been before. This was risky business. Would they become Jesus’ disciples and learn his ways? Would they follow Jesus’ teachings? But beyond that, would they pass Jesus’ teachings along to others? Would their enthusiasm for the love of Jesus be contagious? What would happen if they allowed Jesus to make them to become fishers of people?

James and John were the two other brothers who answered readily the call of Jesus. Jesus also trained them to be and make disciples. Jesus would invest about three years in these first, carefully chosen people who would turn their world upside down.

I’ve been fishing only a few times, and I think fishing is not as easy as it appears to be. Serious fishing takes a lot of patience and ingenuity. It also takes being in the right place at the right time. It takes the right bait. The people I know who like to fish seem to have fishing in their blood. Some of them have bumper stickers that say, “I’d rather be fishing.” I suspect that fishing can be habit-forming. Once you catch a fish, you would want to catch more. At least, that seemed to be Jesus’ attitude toward fishing.

I think that God still fishes for people. I believe God uses many lures and baits to do that. I think that one of the things God uses is beautiful, well-kept churches, Christian art and music. I like to think our web site is helpful, because people can check us out online. They can read sermons, newsletters, and vital information about us and our connections to other like churches. And we have a big sign at our future location.

As your priest, I’m continuously fishing for people. I try to be very visible. My purpose for doing that is to meet people who want to seek God or a deeper knowledge of God. I believe they can explore their faith and seek God here at Holy Cross. But like our Lord Jesus, I cannot do it alone.

Jesus did not start a secret society. Jesus started a church which he loves and for which he gave himself over to suffering and death. I believe the major reason why people come back to church again and again is that somehow they sense the mystery and the presence of God. This fills an empty place – that “God-shaped vacuum” in our hearts. Once we have experienced that, we’re hooked. And once we are hooked on Jesus, our lives are forever changed. The Holy Spirit of God reels us in.

Yes, our Lord Jesus is still fishing for disciples. I hope we can all join him in this exciting adventure. Amen.



In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: pier at Wrangell, Alaska
June 2008

O little town of Bethlehem

When I think about Bethlehem, Israel, several images come to mind. One is the stable where Jesus was born, which has long since been claimed by the Church of the Nativity. Another image is the thirty-foot wall that separates the West Bank of Palestinian territory from the rest of Jerusalem. I think of the checkpoint staffed with Israeli soldiers, the refugee camp started by the United Nations in 1949, and the isolation that the residents feel.

But also when I think of Bethlehem, I think of Phillips Brooks, an Episcopal priest, who was known as the "greatest preacher of the Nineteenth Century." His friends called him "a leader of youth, with a spirit of adventure, in thought, life and faith." This reputation followed him throughout life, as in 1891 he was elected Bishop of Massachusetts.

Why do I think of Phillips Brooks in connection with Bethlehem? Check it out. He penned these words:

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him,
still the dear Christ enters in.


Here's another quote from Phillips Brooks: "Whatever happens, always remember the mysterious richness of human nature and the nearness of God to each one of us."

There's more, but that's enough for today.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
artwork: statue of Phillips Brooks and Jesus
http://www.dailyencouragement.net/images/people/phillips_brooks_statue.jpg

Thursdays at 6:30

On Thursday evenings at 6:30, Holy Cross Church Episcopal and friends gather for a time of fellowship and learning. We invite all who would like to participate. So far, we have learned to pray Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer using The Book of Common Prayer as a guide.

This evening we will compare the Prayer Book and matching Hymnal 1982 and answer such questions as: "Why do Episcopalians always sing hymns no one knows?" We will conclude by praying Compline (night prayers) after about an hour's discussion.

So, please get directions to the church on our website www.holycrosschurchbillings.org and come over to join us for lively conversation and singing. It's good for your heart.

In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
artwork: http://i39.piczo.com/view/1/5/q/p/s/d/x/c/m/h/t/5/img/i112037322_10191.jpg?redirsrc=img

Child saints

In addition to Mary the mother of Jesus, who was probably a young teenager when she said "Yes" to God and gave birth to the Savior of the world, there are other young saints to be remembered.

Today is the feast day of Agnes of Rome, martyr A.D. 304. Here is a blip of history about her, gleaned from Lesser Feasts and Fasts, pages 134-135:

Agnes was twelve years old when she suffered death for her faith, in Rome, during the persecution brought on by the Emperor Diocletian. After withstanding threats and tortures by her executioner, Agnes remained firm in refusal to offer worship to the heathen gods, and was burned at the stake, or, according to another early tradition, was beheaded with the sword. The early Fathers of the Church praised her courage and chastity, and remarked upon her name, which means "pure" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin.

Pilgrims still visit Agnes' tomb and the catacomb surrounding it, beneath the basilica of her name on the Via Nomentana in Rome that Pope Honorius the First (625-638) built in her honor to replace an older shrine erected by the Emperor Constantine.

On her feast day at the basilica, two lambs are blessed, whose wool is woven into a scarf called the pallium, with which the Pope invests archbishops. Pope Gregory the Great sent such a pallium in 601 to Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury. A representation of the pall appears on the coat of arms of Archbishops of Canterbury to this day.

I have heard that the finished pallium is laid on the tomb of St. Peter overnight before being sent on to its destination.

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
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
artwork: http://members.chello.nl/~l.de.bondt/AgnesofRome.jpg

Let justice roll down like waters

"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream." Amos 5:24

This was a favorite quote of Martin Luther King, Jr., as he took Christian ethics to the streets. It landed him in jail and finally sent him to his eternal rest. His presence caused a lot of tension among those who were perpetrating the injustices. On this day of remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr., I offer a quote from his famous "Letter from the Birmingham jail."

You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ingored.

My citing the creation of tension as a part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.

Food for thought at this historic time in America.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: a rushing stream in Yellowstone
taken Memorial Day 2008

Sermon for January 18, 2009

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening
1 Samuel 3:1-10

Has God spoken to you lately? Come on, you can tell me. When people say that God has spoken to them, we tend to look at them sideways, or otherwise hesitate to have a discussion with them about such things. It's a very private matter.

God does speak to humans. Or at least he used to, right? Right. And our Old Testament lesson for today gives us a prime example. This lesson is a slice of the life of Samuel, the last judge and first great prophet in ancient Israel. Samuel was a small child when God first spoke to him, and yet he had the wisdom to check in with Eli, the older, wiser, servant of the Lord. Eli had the wisdom to know that Samuel was hearing the voice of God.

Upon first reading this text, we might wonder why a small boy was an understudy to a Jewish priest. Here is a thumbnail sketch of the story. Samuel’s mother Hannah had no children for the longest time. But she faithfully made the annual pilgrimage with her husband to sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh. Once during this event she could stand her sorrow no longer. She wept and prayed right in front of Eli the priest, who thought she was drunk and told her to go away. She insisted that she was sober and told him she was just praying. Eli prayed that God would grant her request. Actually, Hannah had made a vow to God that if God would give her a son, she would dedicate him to God for life.

Well, He did and she did. When the child Samuel was old enough to toddle around, Hannah brought him to Eli. If you want to know where Mary the Mother of Jesus got her song that we call the Magnificat, turn to 1 Samuel chapter 2 and read Hannah’s prayer. It will look more than vaguely familiar to you.

As Samuel was growing up in Shiloh, Hannah and her husband Elkanah had other children. She still visited Shiloh once a year and brought Samuel a little coat. So, the only life the boy Samuel really knew and remembered was life in the presence of God in Shiloh. Samuel would learn through this experience to know when God was speaking to him. Samuel would learn to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Samuel would also learn that God would reveal to him things that he would be afraid to pass along. In the present story, Samuel had bad news for Eli and his sons, and he was scared to tell it.

This started Samuel off on a life journey of speaking for God as God’s prophet. We’ll meet Samuel again in other scripture readings, but today I would like to hold up his example of checking out the source of the Voice he was hearing.

Some time ago, when I told my priest that I wanted to explore becoming a priest, he told me two things. First, he said, “Don’t get ordained unless you can’t stand NOT to.” Second, he said they would send me out for psychiatric evaluation. This, he explained, was because when someone said God was calling them to be a priest, they had to be sure it was really God calling. It was routine procedure. Further confirmation of my calling would have to come from committees, Commissions on Ministry, and the Bishop. The church carefully, prayerfully decided whether God was calling or whether I was calling myself. This is what happens in our Church when individuals say they hear the voice of God.

Quite another thing happens on Sundays and other days of worship in Churches around the world. We all, collectively, hear the voice of God through the reading of Holy Scripture. In his wonderful book, And God Spoke, Christopher Bryan says this: “What then if God has chosen to address us through the Bible? . . . . We are saying that through scripture God invites us into God’s heart.” The church has long believed that through scriptures, God reveals Jesus Christ to us.

The Book of Hebrews tells us that long ago God spoke to us through prophets, but now God speaks to us through Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Living Word, had followers who had the good wisdom to write down his sayings. They wrote down his story. As we read scriptures we begin to identify with the characters in scripture. We begin to weave our own story into the collective story of all believers for all time. One day we might identify with Thomas the doubter or Judas the betrayer of Jesus, or Peter, who denied Jesus three times. Another day we might identify with Mary of Bethany, sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning to be a disciple.

We begin to weave our own story into the story of Jesus. We find ourselves walking in the way of the cross because deep down we have identified with Jesus as revealed in scripture. We have heard God’s voice somehow through those readings. The church reads the scriptures privately and publicly so that they become part of the fabric of our lives. We are marinated in Scripture.

As with most other important topics, we have a prayer about this:

“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”

God also speaks to us through the holy sacraments. In these holy mysteries, God proclaims God’s love for us and commands us to love ourselves and others.

If you think God is speaking to you, check it out with scripture. Does what you are hearing and thinking comport with the Gospels? Does it cause you to love your neighbor as yourself? Does it cause you to abide by your baptismal vows, respecting the dignity of every human being? If we think God is speaking to us, it becomes important for us to read the Gospels and meditate on them. We also need to remember that no scripture is of private interpretation. The church is corporate. We are all a part of the Body of Christ and we are all in this together. We read scripture and preach in community.

For your private devotional time, I commend to you daily Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer . Christians around the world are reading these same scriptures. You will not be alone in your reading and praying. If we follow the prescribed scriptures we will read parts of the Bible we might not have chosen. It amazes me how often the scriptures appointed for a particular day speak to the events and problems of that day. It amazes me that I can read a passage I thought I knew and find something I had never seen before. The scriptures really can come alive for us. As we read them and hear them read, I hope we will practice saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Amen.


Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

Come and see, go and tell

Our Gospel reading for tomorrow is John 1:43-51, which begins:

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

When Jesus began to preach the Kingdom of God, it was important that he deliver the message himself. The first people Jesus called to follow him thought it was such a good idea that they hastened to tell others. Andrew told his brother Peter, and Philip told his friend Nathanael.

Nathanael was skeptical, which is actually healthy to a point. Read the remainder of this passage to see that Nathanael's meeting with Jesus sealed the deal. He became a follower on the spot. It seems that once people meet Jesus, they are never the same after that. I can imagine that Nathanael went to his friends and also said, "Come and see."

You are invited to the worship service of Holy Cross Church - Episcopal each Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. You might be unfamiliar with Episcopal services. They don't make very good television because of all the participation by the worshippers. So if you have the least bit of interest or curiosity, please "Come and see."


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photos: tourist boat on the Sea of Galilee;
Gate of Capernaum (Capharnaum) in the Galilee
August 2004

Little slices of Episcopal history

If you have met me more than once, you know of my love for history. You also know that I am especially interested in Church history and biographies. For example, did you know that Jesus was a good cook and once prepared a breakfast of bread and fish for some of his disciples? (John's Gospel, chapter 21).

Our country and our world are in a unique period of history. We can know instantly what's going on almost everywhere. With that much information coming at us, we probably overlook some very good biographical stories. Just for the record, I want to mention a few people who have helped shape history to bring us to our present place. Because of our baptismal vows in the Episcopal Church, I think it is not a coincidence that these people were Episcopalians.

Harriet Beecher Stowe
When Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe, he said, "So, you're the little woman who started this great war!" Lincoln was referring to Stowe's authorship of Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) which peeled back the curtain and gave the world a look at slavery in America. Stowe attended Episcopal services in Florida in the 1870's-1880's. Her husband started a Bible study that was the foundation of the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Mandarin, Florida.

Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, Eleanor was a cradle Episcopalian. I am acquainted with a grandson of the priest who provided the wedding ceremony for Eleanor and Franklin. Among her other contributions, Eleanor was a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, where she "played a key role in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948." *

Thurgood Marshall
The first African-American to serve on the United States Supreme Court, Marshall worshiped at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. A community center there bears his name. Before he came to Washington, Marshall made his mark by winning the 1954 landmark case of Brown vs. Board of Education, which declared school segregation unconstitutional.

John Steinbeck
Have you read East of Eden? It is obvious that Steinbeck got his inspiration for that novel from the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. Here's a tidbit about Steinbeck's younger days: "He served as an acolyte and choir member at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salinas, California, where, it is said, he dropped a cross onto a visiting bishop's head and thus lost his head acolyte privileges."*

That's all for now. More historical tidbits later. *Quotes and other information taken from The Episcopal Handbook, published by Morehouse Publishing.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: plaque at Christ Episcopal Church
Cody, Wyoming -- "The Poker Church"

Sermon for January 11, 2009

The First Sunday After the Epiphany:

The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ

Thoroughly Baptized

When we baptize in the Episcopal Church, we do a thorough job. That’s because we want the baptized to identify with Jesus at his baptism. At his baptism Jesus knew that he was God’s beloved. At his baptism the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and he was never the same after that. At his baptism Jesus began to live into his public ministry and to discover the reasons why he is who he is. Jesus was baptized publicly, and we baptize everyone publicly, at a service such as this one here today. If the Bishop were present, I would step aside and he would administer the baptism because baptism is such a big deal that the chief pastor of the diocese presides at the ceremony if possible.

So, when we baptize, we want the baptismal candidate to know that he or she is God’s beloved. We pray fervently that God will fill them with his holy and life-giving Spirit and God does not disappoint. Holy Baptism in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is Christian initiation. It is “full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.” Holy Baptism gives us privileges with God, because at baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked at Christ’s own forever.

When anyone is baptized, we require that they be sponsored by one or more baptized persons. We want them to know from the get-go that they are not alone – that they are supported by a community of faith. In fact, after we pour water over their heads three times. We “welcome the newly baptized” with these words: “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.”

When a person is baptized, there is great rejoicing in the presence of the holy angels of God. That’s because God is happy and I believe, even excited about our baptism, and God never gets over it. “The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.” Therefore, if you have ever been baptized in any Christian denomination in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Episcopal Church will not baptize you again. We would consider your baptism fully valid and as such you are welcome to participate in Holy Eucharist by receiving the bread and the wine – the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Once we have been baptized, we never quite get “dried off.” Baptism has a residual effect, and in the Episcopal Church, we make sure that it does. Every time someone else gets baptized, all God’s children say “amen” and renew once again their own baptismal vows. This is one of my favorite things to do as a Christian. I find that it strengthens my own faith and resolve, and brings a sense of refreshment to my soul.

By now maybe you may be wondering, “If this is such a big-deal event, what do you do to prepare for it?” So glad you asked. There is a preparation time, but in our fast-paced world we have shortened that time compared to the olden days. In the olden days, meaning first-second century AD, the Church required a preparation time of one to two years. If you wanted to get baptized, the church would take you under its wing and allow you to attend the worship services. However, you could never even witness a consecration of the bread and the wine until you were baptized – no, when it came time for that part of the service you would have been whisked away for classes on what was to be expected of you as a baptized person. They would have said that you were a “catechumen” – an adult preparing for baptism. We still say that although the preparation time is weeks rather than years.

We no longer bar catechumens from observing Holy Eucharist, but some of the traditions of the early days have been preserved. Repentance is one of them. Repentance was a very precise term to the leaders of the early church. It meant making a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn from present life to the new life. I’ve mentioned this before: that those about to be baptized would face west and renounce the devil, then physically turn a one-eighty and face east to publicly accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. As I have pointed out in other sermons, in calling Jesus “Lord” the early Christians risked their lives, because they could no longer burn that yearly pinch of incense to Caesar and get their certificate that said they called him “Lord.”

So, here is how the Episcopal Church has preserved that part of the ceremony. We ask the candidate these six questions (BCP 302-303). After the three renouncements, please notice the word “turn” in the fourth question:

Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
I renounce them.

Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
I renounce them.

Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
I renounce them.

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?
I do.

Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
I do.

Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
I do.


Then we get to take our own vows as witnesses to this ceremony:

Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
We will.

Then we all affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed, and enter into a covenant with these vows:

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good news of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.

After that, we pray prayers for the candidates and for each other, and then, finally, we pour fresh water into the baptismal font, bless the water, and baptize the candidates. After that we have communion. It’s a beautiful thing, and I can’t wait for our first baptisms in this church. And now a word from our sponsor: the Bishop will be here on Sunday, February 1. If you or someone you know is interested in baptism on that date, I would love to talk with you about it.

Oh, yes, what about infant baptism? When an infant is presented for baptism, the adult sponsors take these same vows and enter into this covenant on behalf of the infant. They also take vows to be responsible for seeing that the child they present is brought up in the Christian faith and life, and that they will by their prayers and witness help that child to grow into the full stature of Christ. In other words, they will take the child to church and eventually that child is expected to make a full, public confession of faith as an adult. That ceremony is called “confirmation” and only the bishop can confirm anyone. But that’s another sermon.

So, there you have it. Baptism leaves an indelible mark on your soul because it permanently identifies you with Jesus Christ and his body, the church, for which he died and rose again. Who could ever get over that? Amen.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud

Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal

Billings, Montana

406-208-7314

www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

A wind from God

At every Sunday worship service we read four scriptures: An Old Testament Lesson, a Psalm in response to that lesson, a portion of an Epistle (such as Paul's letter to the Ephesians, etc.) and finally, a reading from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

Sometimes our scriptures for the day contain an obvious thread that connects them, and sometimes we have to dig deeper to find it. Tomorrow's scriptures have an obvious connection even at first glance. In case you want to read ahead, they are: Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; and Mark 1:4-11.

These scriptures are about the power of God and about new beginnings. We start with Genesis 1:1-5 which begins the creation story:

". . . the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light"; and there was light.' And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness."

Here's a sermon I'll preach sometime: Only God can separate light from darkness and name them as such.

The responsive Psalm celebrates God's awesome power and our privilege of praising God who is all-powerful. The Epistle is about baptism and confirmation in the Early Church. St. Paul baptized some believers and laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Our Gospel celebrates the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact the name of the day tomorrow is properly called: The First Sunday After the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you might guess, my sermon for tomorrow is about Christian Baptism. Please come and allow a wind from God to sweep over you.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: wind art - a gift from friends

God and critters

Here in Billings, people make generous donations to the Food Bank and other charities, and also contribute to the welfare of those two hundred dogs seized and rescued from a puppy farm in Ballantine. Some friends of mine from an animal shelter once reminded me that if humans are hungry, their pets are also hungry, so if you are going to buy food for a family, it's good to check to see if they have a critter.

Lately I have been reading about the greater number of pet horses that are being turned loose to fend for themselves in the wild. If we cannot rescue them, we can pray this portion of Psalm 104 (verses 25-32) on their behalf:

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number,
creatures both small and great.

There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan,
which you have made for the sport of it.

All of them look to you
to give them their food in due season.

You give it to them; they gather it;
you open you hand, and they are filled with good things.

You hide your face, and thy are terrified;
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to the dust.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are creatd;
and so you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: well-cared-for horses on a farm
on the West End of Billings
May 2008

Epiphany and the flight into Egypt

After the wise men came to visit Jesus and offered him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the Gospel according to Matthew tells us this:

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2:12)

As the wise men are exiting stage east, Mary, Joseph and Jesus are exiting stage south:

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." (Matthew 2:13-15)

I highly recommend a book by Anne Rice: Christ the Lord out of Egypt. It held my rapt attention about three years ago.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: The Flight Into Egypt
carving on a fallen live oak
Mepkin Abbey
Monck's Corner, South Carolina
January 2008

The last day of Christmas

It's time to take down those wreaths from our doors, put away the ornaments, and recycle the Christmas trees. Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas. I hope yours was glorious and I hope that you had time to enjoy each day as it came along.

Every year I hear people saying that they wish Christmas could last longer. If we think of Christmas as the incarnation of Jesus Christ, we can always keep Christmas in our hearts even as we move on through the other seasons of the church year.

Tomorrow we enter Epiphany Season, which this year lasts for seven Sundays. I mentioned that in yesterday's sermon (posted on this blog) and will say more about that as time goes on.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: doors of the church of
Mepkin Abbey
Monck's Corner, South Carolina
January 2008

They offered him gifts

They Offered Him Gifts

Welcome to the New Year. I pray that in it you will be healthy, wealthy and wise. I pray that this year will be filled with new opportunities – with growth for our church. I mean growth not only in attendance and membership, but also growth in a deeper understanding of God’s grace and love for us. I pray that God will set our hearts on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit. Watch out!

We are still in the Christmas Season until next Tuesday, which is The Feast of the Epiphany. Each year Epiphany falls on January 6th – twelve days after Christmas – and is not a moveable feast. We simply celebrate Epiphany when it comes. Epiphany was originally celebrated by the church in connection with the baptism of Jesus. Later it became more popular as a celebration of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

At the Feast of the Epiphany we hear scriptures about the time that the wise men from the East saw the spectacular star at its rising and followed it all the way to Bethlehem. The church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany because Jesus fulfilled God’s covenant with his people to give them as a light to the nations. Jesus was born not just for his own kith and kin among the Jewish people. Jesus was born to be the savior of the whole world. The nations.

The wise men who sought out the infant Jesus had an Epiphany. That is, a light went on over their heads and they had a sudden or maybe a gradual understanding that they needed to seek the One to whom the star was guiding them. I think they knew that Jesus’ birth was a birth of cosmic proportions. Otherwise, they in their far-off land would not have seen and followed his star. What would it take to get such people to embark upon such a long and hazardous journey? They were obviously wealthy and were probably a target for robbers. It is a miracle that they arrived in the holy land.

It probably took the wise men about two years to get to Jerusalem for their meeting with King Herod. We calculate this time because the Gospels give us important pieces of information. Luke tells us that Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room for his family in the inn. Matthew’s Gospel says that the wise men visited Jesus and his mother in a house.

The text says that upon entering the house they “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” They offered these gifts. They did not presume to think that the gifts would be accepted. But think for a moment of the contrast when east met west – when rich met poor. These wise men – Magi – from the east – these are the people we call the “Three Kings.” They probably did not mix and mingle with the poor people in their own kingdoms, but here, in Bethlehem, they joyfully paid homage to Jesus. To me that meant that they probably got down on their knees to him. In that shining moment in human history the Kingdom of God had truly come on earth. The peace on earth and goodwill to all that the Angels had proclaimed was present in that scene of kings bowing to a baby whose parents were so poor that they had to offer two pigeons at the temple when they named him.

Why do we call the Magi wise men? Maybe it’s because they knew they were bowing to a king – the King of kings, in fact. They had acted on their epiphany. They operated in all the light they had at the moment. They followed the right star. They knew the truth when they saw it. They found Jesus and worshipped him.

The wise men also had the good wisdom not to rat out Jesus’ location and tell King Herod where to find him. They went home by another way. This resulted in Herod ordering the murder of every child in and around Bethlehem who was two years old or younger. He was specific in his order about their age. Our Lord Jesus escaped the fate of the other children because the Holy Family fled south. As the wise men had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, Joseph also had been warned in a dream by an Angel of the Lord to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt. They would be safer there. They had the gold, frankincense and myrrh given to Jesus by the Wise Men. They might have lived in Egypt relatively unnoticed. The Holy Family was safe in Egypt and did not return to Israel until after Herod’s death.

How can we be like those wise men? What would be so joyful for us that we would be driven to seek it regardless of the difficulty? For Saint Paul, one of the wisest writers of the New Testament, it was the church. We now live in the light of the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ so that Saint Paul could say in our Ephesians reading today that he prayed for Christians that God may give us a “spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him . . .” so that we may know the hope to which we have been called, and what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints . . .”. That’s because the church welcomes all manner and conditions of people to worship God together. We all stand on level ground before God. We all receive the same bread and wine of communion. Only the wisdom of God could make that happen. Only God can make us wise so that like the Magi, we, too, will seek Jesus and live in all the light we have. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

photo: the three wise men

carvings by monks at

Mepkin Abbey

Monck's Corner, South Carolina

January 2008