February 2025
Crisis or Opportunity?
Feb. 26, 2025 15:33 Filed in: Commentaries
Readers Respond to Last Week's Question: Crisis or Opportunity?
I've heard from many of you in response to my post last week, and I have shared some of those responses (with permission) with the parish through our weekly email.
What did we discover?
We are not a politically uniform congregation. While some of us are deeply distressed by the moves of the current administration, others see necessary reforms. The Episcopal Church holds dear the notion that we don't all have to agree with each other on politics nor on the finer points of theology. The Episcopal Church also holds dear the notion that religion is political; our faith should impact the way we speak, live, and act in the world. So we don't all have to agree; in a deeply divided nation, seeing and hearing each other's hopes and fears is itself an act of faith in the God whose dream of Beloved Community continues to inspire us.
My pastoral goals in sharing these writings are:
To help us see ourselves: How are people feeling and responding to political circumstances? Know each other is part of the work of Christian community; it's essential to compassion and care and accompanying each other as we practice the way of Jesus.
To raise each other's voices as pastoral care for each other. There will likely be something below that resonates with you. In the midst of change, connection is one way to break isolation and build our faith and courage.
To build our capacity for curiosity when we disagree. Perhaps there was something I reported in my email that doesn't resonate with you. How might you honor the dignity of every human being by bringing curiosity to viewpoints you disagree with?
I've heard from many of you in response to my post last week, and I have shared some of those responses (with permission) with the parish through our weekly email.
What did we discover?
We are not a politically uniform congregation. While some of us are deeply distressed by the moves of the current administration, others see necessary reforms. The Episcopal Church holds dear the notion that we don't all have to agree with each other on politics nor on the finer points of theology. The Episcopal Church also holds dear the notion that religion is political; our faith should impact the way we speak, live, and act in the world. So we don't all have to agree; in a deeply divided nation, seeing and hearing each other's hopes and fears is itself an act of faith in the God whose dream of Beloved Community continues to inspire us.
My pastoral goals in sharing these writings are:
To help us see ourselves: How are people feeling and responding to political circumstances? Know each other is part of the work of Christian community; it's essential to compassion and care and accompanying each other as we practice the way of Jesus.
To raise each other's voices as pastoral care for each other. There will likely be something below that resonates with you. In the midst of change, connection is one way to break isolation and build our faith and courage.
To build our capacity for curiosity when we disagree. Perhaps there was something I reported in my email that doesn't resonate with you. How might you honor the dignity of every human being by bringing curiosity to viewpoints you disagree with?
Spiritual Crisis?
Feb. 20, 2025 13:43 Filed in: Commentaries
Friends,
Last weekend, the Rev. Larry Bussey preached for us. “When our love and our trust get pointed in the wrong direction, we pay a price.” Larry invited us to hear the blessings and the woes we read from the Gospel of Luke as if Jesus were speaking directly to us, and to claim “the triumph of love in the face of the lust for power and control.” You can watch the sermon here. Larry's sermon laid out the bewilderment many of us are feeling in these days.
Our Pastoral Care team discussed it this morning—it feels like a mass spiritual crisis for many of us.
My hunch—grasping in the dark here—is that many folks, especially white moderates and progressives, are feeling disoriented by the seeming loss of something we've taken for granted: stable, multicultural democracy. Those of us who feel like the kingdom of God aligns best with the Democratic Party platform are stuck: how do we live faithfully now? We feel responsible to do something. But there's too much to do, too many fronts to act on, and we aren't sure how to determine what our 'lane' is. Powerlessness and despair can ensue. That's my hunch.
Does that 'spiritual crisis' language resonate with you?
I'd love to hear from you about it. Email me: Does this moment in our homes, cities, workplaces and country feel like a spiritual crisis? How so? Is there spiritual opportunity here? What might the Holy Spirit be up to in the midst of all this? What happens when you pray about it? What kind of prayer practices are helping you see your way (or God's way?) through?
As you ponder these questions: Remember that you are deeply, unendingly loved by the God who triumphs over evil, death, and despair.
In the name of Jesus,
Susan+
Last weekend, the Rev. Larry Bussey preached for us. “When our love and our trust get pointed in the wrong direction, we pay a price.” Larry invited us to hear the blessings and the woes we read from the Gospel of Luke as if Jesus were speaking directly to us, and to claim “the triumph of love in the face of the lust for power and control.” You can watch the sermon here. Larry's sermon laid out the bewilderment many of us are feeling in these days.
Our Pastoral Care team discussed it this morning—it feels like a mass spiritual crisis for many of us.
My hunch—grasping in the dark here—is that many folks, especially white moderates and progressives, are feeling disoriented by the seeming loss of something we've taken for granted: stable, multicultural democracy. Those of us who feel like the kingdom of God aligns best with the Democratic Party platform are stuck: how do we live faithfully now? We feel responsible to do something. But there's too much to do, too many fronts to act on, and we aren't sure how to determine what our 'lane' is. Powerlessness and despair can ensue. That's my hunch.
Does that 'spiritual crisis' language resonate with you?
I'd love to hear from you about it. Email me: Does this moment in our homes, cities, workplaces and country feel like a spiritual crisis? How so? Is there spiritual opportunity here? What might the Holy Spirit be up to in the midst of all this? What happens when you pray about it? What kind of prayer practices are helping you see your way (or God's way?) through?
As you ponder these questions: Remember that you are deeply, unendingly loved by the God who triumphs over evil, death, and despair.
In the name of Jesus,
Susan+
Just Dance
Feb. 12, 2025 12:20 Filed in: Commentaries
Friends,
Yesterday, some of the youngest members of Grace Episcopal Church preached the Gospel for us. You can watch the video here. I'm grateful for the leadership of our young people who offered their voices and interpretations and movement to preach the Good News today, and to the adults who supported them in the process!
In the midst of the onslaught of executive orders, in the midst of Project 2025 playing out before our eyes, in the midst of climate catastrophe and all our civic and personal fears and disasters, we got to see yesterday morning a small group of faithful people interpret the Gospel and invite us into the dance. We talk here often about resilient, defiant, embodied, joyful love. Dance is just about as perfect a practice of that kind of love as we could come up with: Showing up in our bodies, with defiant joy, resiliently committing to trust in God and to share love despite the fear and despair that we might feel. Keep on dancing with the Holy Spirit these days, friends.
Peace, Susan+
By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Yesterday, some of the youngest members of Grace Episcopal Church preached the Gospel for us. You can watch the video here. I'm grateful for the leadership of our young people who offered their voices and interpretations and movement to preach the Good News today, and to the adults who supported them in the process!
In the midst of the onslaught of executive orders, in the midst of Project 2025 playing out before our eyes, in the midst of climate catastrophe and all our civic and personal fears and disasters, we got to see yesterday morning a small group of faithful people interpret the Gospel and invite us into the dance. We talk here often about resilient, defiant, embodied, joyful love. Dance is just about as perfect a practice of that kind of love as we could come up with: Showing up in our bodies, with defiant joy, resiliently committing to trust in God and to share love despite the fear and despair that we might feel. Keep on dancing with the Holy Spirit these days, friends.
Peace, Susan+
By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Ecclesiastes 4:12