The View from Bolton Street
E-Church 10:30am, 11/1
To join us, all you need to do is click on the link below. We will have the order of service up on the screen to follow along. We recognize that all of us have different levels of comfort with technology - we will do our best to help everyone do what they need to feel comfortable and participate!
Two tips for Zoom worship:
1) Let us see your face! If at all possible, please start a video feed so we can see each other face to face, even across distance.
2) Please mute yourself unless you have a speaking role in the service. And if you find you are muted, please don’t unmute yourself unless asked. However - even when you are muted, please do respond to the prayers and readings, as we are all worshipping together.
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 849 9200 1341
Password: 563025
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E-Faith@8, 11/1
The Faith@8 group is continuing to meet during this time of social distancing. Join us for an informal, community led service with more questions than answers and an open spot for whoever appears. Just follow the Zoom link below!
Memorial Faith@8
Time: Sundays at 8:00AM Eastern
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83309554789?pwd=czZUbWt6Yk1WVmgvNlAwNExQUWc5QT09
Meeting ID: 833 0955 4789
Passcode: 214106
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Passcode: 214106
The View from Robert Street
The Feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude
October 28th, 2020
“Simon and Jude traveled together to teach others about Jesus.”
This brief description of the ministry of these two saints appeared in one of the summaries I found of their ministry, but it is also as succinct a summary of the Christian way of life as any I have seen.
We go together.
To be with others.
To share with them the life of Jesus.
And to cause trouble. Because after all that’s what Good saints do. Make some Holy Trouble.
That’s it! That’s what we do!
You might do this as a teacher, as a public servant, as a nurse or a doctor.
You might do this as an advocate, an acolyte, an architect or an Astronomer.
You might do this as a lawyer, a businessman, a missionary or a preacher.
You might do it as a laborer, a clerk,
You might do this as a mother, father, sibling or friend.
But the work is always the same. You do it with someone else. You go minister to others. You share the Jesus story. And make trouble for the Devil.
And everytime we share that story we become a part of that story and invite others into that story.
Just as Simon and Jude did in the first century, and as so many saints have done in the generations before us.
On this All Saints Day we won’t be worshipping together in the same way, or remembering in the same way, or sharing in the same way -- but we will still be doing the same work. So this week find someone to join with, and invite Jesus along to some ‘Holy Trouble.’
A Note to Self
Time has been a bizarre phenomenon in the time of COVID-19. Two weeks ago, I received an envelope addressed to me in my handwriting, and I couldn’t imagine what it could be. I opened the envelope and realized it was a note I had written as a closing exercise at the Beloved Community Workshop that I attended earlier in the year as a part of my Exploring Baptismal Ministry experience. I opened the note, and it stated a lofty goal that I would work accomplish during the six months post the workshop. My goal read “to work in a ministry addressing institutional racism.” Little did I know that I would be at Memorial or that I would be fortunate enough to be working with Dr. Carol Scott and Ms. Shannon McCullough on KindredCoaches.
KindredCoaches is the result of an activist’s heart and her sense of spiritual responsibility to address injustice where ever she sees it. Dr. Scott’s recognition that communities of color experience healthcare injustices at an alarming rate, is not news to her. She has been addressing issues of healthcare disparities for years and became a Wellcoach to enhance her skills in working with patients. She is an advocate for others and a warrior in this fight to bring health equity to communities of color. The evidence of her latest advocacy work is the development and launching of KindredCoaches.
Kindred Coaches will encourage Courageous Conversations on an individual level and in group activities. The goals of this ministry are to address health inequities and healthcare disparities within communities of color within the Diocese of Maryland, primarily in Baltimore and surrounding areas. KindredCoaches is a partnership between Dr. Scott, the Diocese of Maryland’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, and Memorial Episcopal Church. This program was launched on Sunday, October 18, and currently, there are 38 registered participants in the six-week training sessions.
This ministry received a small grant from the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, NY. This grant will allow the ministry to begin the hard work of fighting against healthcare inequities in communities of color. The program continues to accept registration for our next training after the beginning of the year and will continue to seek additional funds to continue its mission.
When I wrote that note to myself over six months ago, I had no idea that I would be blessed to work with such a worthy mission. But I know that God knew. Thanks be to God.
For more information on KindredCoaches visit the website at www.kindredcoaches.com.
E-Faith@8, 10/25
The Faith@8 group is continuing to meet during this time of social distancing. Join us for an informal, community led service with more questions than answers and an open spot for whoever appears. Just follow the Zoom link below!
Memorial Faith@8
Time: Sundays at 8:00AM Eastern
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83309554789?pwd=czZUbWt6Yk1WVmgvNlAwNExQUWc5QT09
Meeting ID: 833 0955 4789
Passcode: 214106
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 833 0955 4789
Passcode: 214106
E-Church 10:30am, 10/25
To join us, all you need to do is click on the link below. We will have the order of service up on the screen to follow along. We recognize that all of us have different levels of comfort with technology - we will do our best to help everyone do what they need to feel comfortable and participate!
Two tips for Zoom worship:
1) Let us see your face! If at all possible, please start a video feed so we can see each other face to face, even across distance.
2) Please mute yourself unless you have a speaking role in the service. And if you find you are muted, please don’t unmute yourself unless asked. However - even when you are muted, please do respond to the prayers and readings, as we are all worshipping together.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84992001341?pwd=QUMvMFYzZU9HQkRLVmxISkVPRGlIQT09
Meeting ID: 849 9200 1341
Password: 563025
One tap mobile
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+19292056099,,84992001341#,,,,0#,,563025# US (New York)
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Dial by your location
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+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
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+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 876 9436 6639
Password: 729226
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdoU8Ii34Q
Grace and Peace
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
Grace and Peace.
Every letter that Paul writes starts out this way. Whether he is on good terms or bad terms. Whether he has met them before or not. Whether he is going to say nice things or mean things. Always the same.
Grace and Peace.
Grace and Peace are in short supply these days, at least in my life. Perhaps in yours too. So let me say to the Church of Memorial in Baltimore, Grace. And Peace.
The Grace of Love: to know that you are loved by the eternal all-knowing and everliving God, and by his Son Jesus.
The Grace of Forgiveness: that you are forgiven for the hurts, pain, worry, concern and fear you have caused yourself and others this week.
The Grace of Humility: to remember no one else is 100% either; we all are hurting right now, and we all need love.
The Grace of Patience: that this election will be over soon. This quarantine will be over soon. This moment will be over soon.
And Peace.
The Peace of Time: to stop, take a breath, breathe and smile.
The Peace of Soul: Which we are all longing for and very few of us have achieved.
The Peace of Mind: to make good responsible choices in our lives, our communities, and at the ballot box.
The Peace of Heart: that we share with those in need, be it physically, mentally, or spiritually.
And of course, The Peace of Christ - which passes all understanding and keeps your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God.
Today. Tomorrow. Forever.
E-Faith@8, 10/18
The Faith@8 group is continuing to meet during this time of social distancing. Join us for an informal, community led service with more questions than answers and an open spot for whoever appears. Just follow the Zoom link below!
Memorial Faith@8
Time: Sundays at 8:00AM Eastern
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83309554789?pwd=czZUbWt6Yk1WVmgvNlAwNExQUWc5QT09
Meeting ID: 833 0955 4789
Passcode: 214106
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 833 0955 4789
Passcode: 214106
E-Church 10:30am, 10/18
To join us, all you need to do is click on the link below. We will have the order of service up on the screen to follow along. We recognize that all of us have different levels of comfort with technology - we will do our best to help everyone do what they need to feel comfortable and participate!
Two tips for Zoom worship:
1) Let us see your face! If at all possible, please start a video feed so we can see each other face to face, even across distance.
2) Please mute yourself unless you have a speaking role in the service. And if you find you are muted, please don’t unmute yourself unless asked. However - even when you are muted, please do respond to the prayers and readings, as we are all worshipping together.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84992001341?pwd=QUMvMFYzZU9HQkRLVmxISkVPRGlIQT09
Meeting ID: 849 9200 1341
Password: 563025
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,84992001341#,,,,0#,,563025# US (Germantown)
+19292056099,,84992001341#,,,,0#,,563025# US (New York)
One tap mobile
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+13126266799,,85296035556#,,1#,141735# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 876 9436 6639
Password: 729226
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdoU8Ii34Q
On Handmaidens and The Blessed Virgin Mary
The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul doth magnify the Lord, *
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded *
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth *
all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him *
throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; *
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *
as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed for ever.
There has been a lot of public discussion around Handmaidens recently - which I am sure delights the Blessed Virgin Mary - but leaves many of the rest of us confused. For the last four years the rise in popularity of “A Handmaid’s Tale” has left many of us with a rather perjorative definition and the current debate around the honorable Amy Coney Barrett’s membership in something called “The People of Praise” has only heightened that. The public square is rapidly defining ‘handmaiden’ as a woman who is docile, subservient, weak, dependent on her male counterpart for support, sustenance and direction.
But when Mary replied to the Angel Gabriel “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be with me according to Thy word” that was NOT what she intended.
Now let me be clear that this is not directed at Judge Barrett or the People of Praise. I do not know what their thinking was or is around the term, and that is not the point of this brief reflection.
Whatever the popular discourse is around handmaidens real and fictional, as Christians we should not let that discourse change how we understand the Holy Mother of God, Mary herself. To be the Handmaid of the Lord is not only a high honor - but is work that requires strength, courage, independence, patience, compassion and faith that God is walking with you when others in your life are walking the other way.
But don’t take my word for it! Listen to Mary herself - Her Magnificat serves as a perpetual reminder of what it means to be a handmaiden of the Lord.
For behold from henceforth *
all generations shall call me blessed.
He hath showed strength with his arm; *
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
This is the work that God is doing through Mary, that God is doing through all of God’s handmaidens. If there is such a thing as ‘women’s work’ in the Church this is it: to lead, to offer a prophetic voice, to show up when others are afraid, and to bring the living God into the world - over and over again. Monica and I are unabashedly raising our daughter to be someone who works directly with Jesus to right wrongs, to lift up the lowly, to feed the hungry and to cast out the rich and powerful.
That is what a handmaiden of the Lord is called to.
No matter what anyone else says.