The View from Bolton Street

Luke 9:1-5

9Then Jesus* called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ 

Many of you know that I spent quite a bit of time in and out of Afghanistan prior to my ordination. I served in a variety of capacities, but one constant through all of those different roles is the security profile I had to take.  Whenever we left the embassy we travelled in armored cars, with bulletproof vests and armed guards.  Not exactly 'take nothing for your journey', right? 

In contrast the Afghans who work with us, as interpreters or lawyers or advisors, showed up in taxis, with no body armor and often the only thing they had to protect their identity was a pair of sunglasses so that the Taliban couldn't identify them.  

And now we have left them largely behind, with no staffs, or bags, or extra tunics, to fend for themselves against a violent and unstable regime. They need our prayers, our support and our hospitality when and if they are able to make it to the United States. 

As they come to our towns, much like the disciples came, let us ensure that we don't turn our backs on  them, so that they wipe the dust from their feet when they leave.  These are indeed God's people, and it will be up to us decide whether we are God's people as well. 

Flowers and Candle Dedications

Every Sunday the talented members of the Flower Guild bring some of the beauty of Nature into the church to brighten up the space in front of the altar. You can dedicate the flowers, or the aumbry candle, to a loved one or for a special event, or just for no reason at all.

To dedicate the flowers, or candle, please click here . Below is a screen shot of the giving page for Memorial. You will need to select Flowers and Candles from the drop down menu on the right side (circled in red below) and if you would like to commemorate something or someone, with either the candle or the flowers please use the memo line (circled in purple).

Coffee Hour Sponsors

Remember loved ones! Celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or anything you would like!

As we begin to transition back to in-church services, we’re also transitioning back to in-person fellowship. For now Coffee Hour will remain outdoors, but if you have not been back recently, you may have missed our new collaboration with Ovenbird Bakery. Ovenbird is providing us with delicious baked goods every other week, but they are not free. Sponsorship of coffee hour is a great way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary or any event you would like to commemorate, while helping the church to offset the cost of refreshments.

Just click here and you can let us know what you are celebrating in the Memo section. On the right side of the page (where the red circle is) you can select Coffee Hour Donation. If you wish to dedicate the Coffee Hour to something or someone specific, please include it in the Memo (in the purple circle).

Monthly Prayer Service for Peace - Zoom 7:30 pm tonight, September 22, 2021

The Rev. Stewart Lucas and The Rev. Charlie Cloughen have been holding a monthly prayer service for peace on the 22nd of each month for some time now. In light of the recent events in Afghanistan, Grey+ will be sharing a meditation and leading a discussion after the service. If you would like to join the zoom link is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7062840024

For those who may not know, here is a bit of Father Grey’s bio:

Grey+ has also served parishes in Miami and Sterling, Virginia. Prior to entering seminary, Grey was a Presidential Management Fellow and Foreign Affairs Officer focused on justice reform efforts in Afghanistan. He oversaw anti-corruption and gender justice initiatives and maintains close relationships with Afghan and international organizations. He has also spent two years studying the intersection of faith between Islamic, Christian, and Jewish communities in Jerusalem.

The View from Bolton Street

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. 

James 3:8

If you ask me “what is the goal of the Christian life?” I would answer “to get closer to God.” Indeed if you just woke up every day and said “today I desire to get closer to God” and then tried to do that — you would most certainly be on good terms with the Lord on the day of judgement.   Resist Evil, Do Good, Seek Jesus. 

If we strip away all the other aspects of our faith, the hymns and services and sacraments and prayers and practices, that is what we are called to do.  So eloquently summarized by James. 

So, how are you doing?  Do you feel closer to God than you did a week ago? A year ago?  In the “Before Times” (pre COVID-19 pandemic?)   Maybe it is time to come home? 

I hope this week you will join us, in person or on zoom, for our Homecoming Service.  We will be welcoming a new organist (Hi Kenny!), a new Children’s and youth Minister (Hi Miles!), and ‘breaking ground’ on the Memorial Makes Room Renovation.  More importantly we will be gathering together to Submit to God, Resist evil, do good and seek Jesus. It is an opportunity for you to join (or re-join) with this community as it strives to get closer to God and to be an ever brighter beacon for Christ’s hope and glory here in Bolton Hill. 

Look forward to seeing you there!

Faith and the Environment - A GreenGrace Event

October 4, 2021 from 7-8 pm via Zoom

https://episcopalmaryland.org/event/faith-and-the-environment/

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Israel - April 2022

For more information, you can email Sally and Thomas Goss

The View from Bolton Street

Isaiah 50:4

The Lord God has given me

the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain

the weary with a word.

For the last week or so I have spent most of my evenings texting back and forth with old and new friends in Afghanistan, trying to keep their spirits up until they find a safe way out of the country.  I’m not alone in this, of course.  There are thousands of Americans and Afghans already in the U.S. and around the world doing the same thing. At first the messages were the same. “Where are you, are you safe, what do you need?” 

But we all quickly realized that on some level, those questions don’t matter. You can’t send money because the banks aren’t open, the borders are closed, and the airports are shut down.  Movement is risky because nobody quite knows what the Taliban is doing with respect to former Afghan Gov. employees, including the Taliban. The more we talked. The more weary we all got. 

So now we share stories. Photos. One friend sent me a photo of ice cream, I responded with some photos of our puppy.  We swapped sunset photos this morning from around the world, and shared memories of happier times in Afghanistan and our dreams for what the future will look like. We even share prayers across traditions and languages. Did it help? Did it make the Taliban disappear? Or open the borders? No, certainly not. 

But does it sustain the weary? That is my hope and prayer. It certainly sustains those of us on this side of the border. I hope it does for those on the other side as well. 

This past Monday was Labor Day.  As we all took a collective day off,  it was not lost on me that there are thousands and  thousands of Afghans who risked their lives for us, with no  days off, trying desperately to get to safety.  They continue to labor, alone and in silence.  A more cynical person than myself would suggest that the U.S. Government and the Taliban are hoping that the rest of us will just forget.  We will get weary of hearing about the plight of poor people speaking a language we don’t understand in a land we cannot find on a map.  Our weariness is their strength. 

I don’t presume to say what gifts God has given to whom, but we all have the ability to sustain the weary with a word. By sharing some joy, offering a comforting ear, something to laugh about, even sharing pictures of home.  

You may have some people in your own life who are weary.  What can you share with them to lighten their load?  Photos? Silly stories? Hopes? Dreams?

Now Hiring! - Kindred Coaches Interim Project Manager

Seeking A Kindred Coaches Interim Project Manager 

The Project Manager is charged with helping to take an all-volunteer organization to the next level. The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing programs and contributing to the strategic plan of the Kindred Coaches organization. Other key duties include marketing, community outreach, fundraising, client and coach recruitment and matching. The position reports directly to a Board of Directors and the Rector of Memorial Episcopal Church. This is a 6 month consultancy with the possibility of future full-time employment. 

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

1) Works with Board, Rector, and Program Directors to fulfill the organization mission. 

● Responsible for leading Kindred Coaches programs and volunteers in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission and vision. 

● Responsible for communicating effectively with the Board and Rector providing, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board and Rector to function properly and to make informed decisions. 

● Responsible for Kindred Coaches training program in partnership with the Program Directors. 2) Supports the financial health of the organization. 

● Responsible for fundraising, grant writing, and developing other revenues necessary to support the organization's mission. 

● Responsible for the fiscal integrity of Kindred Coaches, to include creating of a proposed annual budget and tracking the program's finances, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization. 

● Responsible for fiscal management that generally anticipates operating within the approved budget. 

3) Works with the Board to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning, and community outreach. 

● Responsible for developing a roadmap for working with the community to identify needs which the Kindred Coaches can meet.

● Responsible for the enhancement of Kindred Coaches’ image by being active and visible in the community and by working closely with other professional, civic and private organizations and partners. 

Job Responsibilities 

1. Organize and implement Kindred Coach training in partnership with Wellcoaches faculty and other expert resources. 

2. Match trained Kindred Coaches with community members and/or community organizations. 

3. Oversee evaluation of training and coaching relationships. 

4. Report to and work closely with the Board of Directors and Rector regarding policy decisions, fundraising, grant writing and to increase the overall visibility of the organization. 

5. Collaborate with the Board of Directors and Rector for strategic planning and implementation. 

6. Manage within the annual budget. 

7. Establish and maintain relationships with various organizations and utilize those relationships to strategically enhance Kindred Coaches’ Mission. 

8. Oversee marketing and other communications efforts.

Kindred Coaches Mission Statement 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____ 

Kindred Coaches is a diverse and inclusive volunteer community of translators, justice warriors, guides, and guardian angels. Kindred Coaches are trained peer coaches who engage the Baltimore and surrounding area communities in ‘courageous conversations’ to uncover YOUR personal potential. You CAN outperform your personal health history and family’s health legacy. This means less depression, less stress, better and sustained control of blood pressure and diabetes. It means better overall wellness, more emotional and spiritual self-care. 

The work of Kindred Coaches is designed to achieve health equity and reduce health care disparities. 

Kindred Coaches support the development of mindsets and tools which inspire, enable, and entitle individuals to expand their thinking and skills to have a more active role in overall well-being. The goal is to discover and live your best life through managing personal mental and physical health and the health of your family through self-reflection and hard/courageous conversations with yourself, your family/community, and your health care provider.

The View from Bolton Street

Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Mark 7:24

For much of this week I and many others have been watching in horror as the Taliban has taken back full control of Afghanistan. We hear reports of them going door to door looking for collaborators, we hear stories from people we know, trust, and love, who are running and hiding.

It certainly brings a different feeling to Mark's statement about Jesus "and he did not want anyone to know he was there."

There are few things more intimidating than entering a strange home in a strange land, particularly one where you are a minority, and a persecuted minority at that. That was Jesus' situation as he enters the home of this woman in Tyre, and it is the situation that many, many Afghans find themselves in today - either seeking shelter in strangers' homes in Afghanistan, in an airplane hangar in Qatar or Dubai, or on a U.S. Military base somewhere in Europe.

However Jesus, like any of us, could not hide in a stranger's home for long. Often we think about Jesus' rude reaction to the request of the Syrophoenician woman, but rarely do we talk about the hospitality she shows. She invites Jesus to share his best. She does not coddle him, or talk down to him, or hide him in a corner, but invited him to share his gifts with the room. "Heal my daughter."

For once it is Jesus' who is caught off guard! "uh, I'm not supposed to do that." But the woman remains gracious, reminds him of his power and his call, and the daughter is healed.

It is quite likely that shortly, either at Memorial or elsewhere in the Diocese, we will welcome into our midst refugees from Afghanistan. They may want to melt into the wall, and we may feel uncomfortable, confused, even scared.

Let us remember instead to celebrate the arrival of new voices into our midst, with new gifts and new challenges. To acknowledge our differences but to remember that what unites us is much bigger and is an opportunity for healing - not just for us but for the whole world.