stbarts10606

Thanksgiving.

Oh, the proportions of it all, in this country anyway. In my own mind a secular holiday even more extravagant than christmas with a little c.

That having been said, what a radical notion it is - particularly in these later days. "Thank you" is not a phrase that is currently being utilized with wild abandon. Even when someone sneezes and one of us 'old timers' says "God bless you", it isn't unusual for that statement to be followed by silence (or, of course, another sneeze).

Common courtesy is not so common and expressing gratitude is unusual in the generalized population (am I a New Yorker, or what?).

Yet--- regardless of our upbringing, our age, race, marital status, sexual orientation, income bracket, class or general abilities, we can - one way or another - say thank you. Gratitude is one of those habits which, when cultivated, can become second nature, can improve our facial expression, outlook on life, appreciation for the ordinary as well as the extraordinary, and advance our spiritual maturity.

As an interested observer of liturgical matters, I can't tell you how often in church after church, Sunday after Sunday, I note that our wish list for our world, our leaders, our families and friends - good grief, even our enemies- gets longer and longer, yet when we hit that space for thanksgivings it is a brief list, if a list exists at all. Sadly, the gimmie-ness of our society can seep through even this division between church and state.

This Thursday I will include the Litany of Thanksgiving, on p.837 in the Book of Common Prayer in my devotions and encourage you to do so as well. It's a good start to a good habit. Happy Thankful Thanksgiving! Rev.Dcn. Joanna Depue
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"We Christians know that the victory has already been won. It is not that fear is necessarily without foundation. It is not that fear shouldnt be taken seriously and its causes addressed with conviction. It is simply that fear no longer has the power to paralyze or overwhelm us.

These two closely related factors, the rise of religious bigotry and the pervasiveness of fear, provide the context in which we are called to carry out our mission and ministry in and to the world."

Read it all.
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In the dark recesses of my imagination, these particular words eminate from the lips of an unctious, shifty-eyed, much-too-slick used car salesman. Trust me on this, honey... would I steer you wrong? And in my mind (where all this is taking place, anyway) I can reply in shrill tones which would put 'Judge Judy' in her place, "What... do I LOOK like I'd be stupid enough to trust you???"

Most of us have that one thing which will trigger an all too predictable (and occasionally overpowering) reaction. Whether it's a discussion of weight or time or money. Or something as basic as trust. It's difficult to trust someone completely... with our finances or our confidences or our reputation; it's difficult to let go of our goods or our misgivings or our power/control. It's difficult to believe an opponent of our political persuasion when he asks for our trust.

And too when God asks for our trust. Trust me. It's hard to 'let go and let God'.... which, I suppose, is why this is NOT the first step in any 12-step program. Trust me, or the one I delegate, in this situation. It is difficult beyond words AND as essential in order to grow ourselves and foster growth in others. A solitary Christian is a contradiction in terms.. so we must find a way to trust each other- and build up the body of Christ in the process. A hint of humility may even creep into my consciousness when I am in a position to ask someone else to trust me.... make me worthy of that trust!

In the process, it may be time to give my imaginary salesman a complete makeover... next time, with some work, he just might look like Jesus.
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A parishioner asked me a bit about Satan in an email. She has been alternately amused and concerned about my views about Satan, hell and exorcism. I had mentioned a class on exorcism, and we mentioned Satan in a recent baptism.

I do believe in radical evil, although I am skeptical that such evil carries a consistent, embodied, unitive form. Insofar as our mind requires opposites and dualism, if there is a God, it seems logical that there is something that is anti-God. If something is unitive, there is probably something that is divisive.

I don't think that a good God sends people to a final eternal torment. Even if we were to have that world view, there is always an opportunity to repent, even after death.

As far as Satan goes, I think that would be a cat I once knew. I perfer the old testament characteristic of Satan being the person who tests people's faith.

And I find that Arendt's description of Eichmann to be a wonderful description of how evil works concretely - it renders people unempathetic, tuned only to themselves rather than to the world. And institutions do this wonderfully, which is why we sometimes speak of "institutional evil."
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Been working on a document to hand out to the convention re the credit union. Also started the Advent Newsletter. The most important report, however, is our assessment, since we're trying to get $66,000 in forgiveness for 2001 and 2002, when we paid a substantial severance package and were still dealing, shell shocked, with the stock market crash.

We've also been doing some intense work with the audit. Joe, who I know from my previous post, has been here at the office three times. He's kind of like a financial archeologist.

A parishioner recently asked me if she could start a single's group. "You know, like go to the movies!" The parish is changing when people decide to begin their own ministries. We talked a bit about grand plans - having it every month, for example, but then I suggested working to make sure we got a critical number [say, six people], the first time, who would then decide, together, when to gather next.

Today, also, for lunch a meeting with other clergy in Bronxville. Our hang out time, where we get to gossip, complain and encourage.
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I am just old enough - and not from a terribly populated town - to have remembered when some "special" religious observance had more consequences than where you could or could not park your car without a ticket. Holy days of "obligation". In fact, in the rubrics in the front of the current prayerbook, it is listed as a "Principal Feast" in the same class as Easter and Christmas..... but keep in mind, Ascension and the Epiphany are also listed as Principal Feasts with modest fanfare.

Something happened... maybe just in the small corner of the world where we operate - USA, New York, Westchester, White Plains - where feasting and celebrations are launched on something other than All Saints. Well, since just about everyone in sight does a commercialized version of the All Hallows Eve observance, I guess All Saints has inched back.

At St. Bart's, we will celebrate All Saints this Sunday.... and I hope it WILL be a celebration...

To be part of the Saints... All Saints... some have gone on and some are here and some have yet to make an appearance on this plane of life.... we're all in it. Any what a company it is!!

So, in one way or another I'll find a way to thank God for all the Saints I've had the pleasure to know - from afar and from a-close. St. Uncle Warren the mailman and Saint Mr. Burrows, the livery driver and St. Michael Stricciola, the upstairs neighbor in my youth; current parishoners and their predecessors before them, named on plaques and furnishings; those from my parishes before this. And teachers and spiritual advisors and electricians and loving mothers. We all have saints to say thanks for. Let's celebrate by mentioning those saints nearest and dearest to each of us..... give thanks for their witness.... and to say 'see ya soon!', whenever our personal soon may come.

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Today is the day - I'm so glad it's here after all the speeches and all the "spin".... my level head was about to twist off! I went to the polls this morning in Rockland County and there was a line. The first time in my voting history, at 8:58 am there was a line. And I was undeniably proud.... that folks were living into their civic responsibility ... with care.... this vote was very intentional, not an accident.

I am very aware of all the emotions that rise up in issues of church and state.

I am also very proud that - this time around, at least - people were being faithful about voting. "God bless us [without prejudice to candidate or party or issue], every one!"

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