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

Instructed Eucharist

At our 10:00 a.m. worship service tomorrow, January 4, we will offer an "Instructed Eucharist." That is, as the service progresses, I will stop and make comments or offer explanations as to "why the Episkopals do that." I will also answer questions that are specific to the worship service. The form of the service will be essentially the same, except that we will not sing all verses of all hymns, and my sermon will be offered in print and on this blog.

Following the service, we will take a short break and reconvene for a 30-minute history of the beginnings of the Anglican Church. This is a prelude to our "Episcopal 101" classes which will be offered on Thursdays throughout January -- January 8, 15, 22, and 29.

Please plan to attend and learn more about the Episcopal Church USA, or just take a refresher course.


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

photo: inside Kathy Lillis Chapel

before the worship service

Doubt

It is a rare occasion when I recommend a movie, but here I break from tradition: If you have not seen Doubt starring Meryl Streep, run, do not walk, to a theatre near you and take it in.

A word of caution: Doubt will make you think, and you must pay close attention to the dialogue to catch the nuances of the story line. That's all I can say about it for now. I would not want to spoil the ending for you.


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

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone! As we have now crossed the divide from 2008 to 2009, I wish peace and prosperity to all -- here and around the world.

As we begin our first full year of services at Holy Cross Church, I invite you to come and worship with us. The mission of the Episcopal Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. Come with us and experience the beauty of the liturgy as we seek God, and a deeper knowledge of God.


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