Love One Another (Sermon) Hibbitts/Pearce Wedding

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Sermon – June 7, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY
Marriage of William Robert Hibbitts and Amber Hannah Pearce

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  John 15:9-12

Please be seated.

Well, here we are…a day we’ve been waiting for and planning for.  Nearly a year ago, when all of the details were still being worked out about my coming to Corbin, Billy and Amber participated in one of the most important events of my life.  They traveled to Washington, DC and attended my ordination to the priesthood.  They represented the community of St. John’s Episcopal Church.  Their being there meant so much to me and of course I made sure they sat with my greatest supporters at the luncheon afterwards!

Over the ensuing year, the plans for this wedding have emerged and all of us have watched as their lives have unfolded in new ways, culminating in this day where they stand before us and before God, making public proclamation of their love for each other and making a covenant with each other in marriage.

Since Billy and Amber asked me to do the homily for this day, I’ve been thinking and praying, asking God what needs to be heard today.  A couple of days ago, I was reminded of a book that sat by my mother’s bedside.  She had her book of Psalms, which provided great comfort to her.  And a little black book with a ribbon in it, called The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese Christian.

My mother said the writings in the book meant a lot to her.  Many times I picked up that book and tried to read it, but it made no sense to me, until I was close to graduating from high school.  Then I started to understand it.  Like my mother, many of its words have stayed with me and seem appropriate to this occasion.

First of all, Gregory and Yvonnia and Conley and Barbara Ann, you have given Billy and Amber their foundation.  You loved them, nurtured them, and guided them.  You were examples to them.  No, you weren’t perfect human beings . . . none of us are.  If you’re like me, as parents you know where you made some mistakes or wished you’d done something different.  Yet, you gave them the best of yourselves.

Hear what Gibran writes about children:

Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. 

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer, [God], sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as [God] loves the arrow that flies, so [God] loves also the bow that is stable. 

While your children have been adults for a number of years, today your children are launched into a new life, with your teachings as their foundation, yet building something new.

And Billy and Amber…you now bring this foundation of love from your families together into a new creation.  Love can be difficult…Gibran writes:

 When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you

And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

 For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”

 And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

 Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
…To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Billy and Amber, love has directed your course.  During your time together, each of you have made decisions based upon your love for each other and your desire to create a life together.  Some of these decisions were not easy.  You know how love has descended “to your roots” and shaken them “in their clinging to the earth.”  You know how love has crowned you with blessings beyond your wildest dreams and also pruned you, ground you and kneaded you.  All so you could become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

Loving someone is not always easy.  It changes you and sometimes you won’t welcome the changes.  I hope and pray that you can know the desires of love in your marriage:

That you wake most days “with a winged heart,” giving thanks for another day of loving.
That at noon, you meditate upon your love
That you return home in the evening, with gratitude to God for your love
That you sleep each night with a prayer for each other in your heart and a song of praise on your lips.

Because then, you can truly say, We are in the heart of God.

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Today! Billy and Amber get married

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Yes, there is a wedding in the park at 7pm this evening.  For the past few weeks, many members have been taking care of the grounds to welcome Billy and Amber’s family and friends.  Many thanks to Irene Isaacs, Anne Day Davis, Jeff Davis, Gay Nell Conley, Dura Anne, Sue Weedman, TJ Jackson, Jason Beams and Gary McGowan.  The Rev. John Burkhart has been maintaining the Columbarium and prayer garden area.  On Thursday, a group from Everlasting Arms spent hours mulching, mowing and weed-eating.

All of this work was done under the guidance of Junior Warden, Elmer Parlier!  Kudos!

Enjoy these photos….

prayer garden

Tiger Lillies in full bloom

Tiger Lillies in full bloom

Flower Garden and Amphitheater

Flower Garden and Amphitheater

Courtyard

Courtyard

 

This Sunday (June 8 – Pentecost) at St. John’s

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And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?  Acts 2:6-7

Do you know another language?  I have studied French in 5th Grade, German for 4 years in high school, Spanish various times throughout my life and have picked up a little Italian along the way.  In 2007, I traveled to Italy and France.  I was only going to be in France for a short time, but I wanted to be polite and study a few phrases that would be helpful in traveling.  I got a CD and listened intently, but the only phrase I could remember was “Where is the bank?”

After two weeks in Italy, I finally came to Paris and all I could think to speak were simple Italian phrases.  I’d go to a restaurant and when I was ready for the check, I’d look in my travel phrase book for the right words in French, practice them a little for when the waiter came over and promptly forget them!  I was hopeless.

What a sight that must of been on the day of Pentecost and how wonderful to be able to understand the message…to hear the words spoken in your own language.

We learn in verse 41 that about 3,000 persons were baptized that day after witnessing this event and hearing Peter preach!  It must have been a powerful, powerful day when the Holy Spirit descended and the language of salvation was spoken and heard.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 06-08-2014

Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, Rebecca will be vacation. For pastoral emergencies, please contact the Rev. Peter Helman at 940-735-1235.

Adult Forum: This Sunday we complete the Resurrection Living series.  Beginning June 15, through early fall, we will discussing a portion of the Gospel of Matthew.   We will follow our Gospel lectionary, discussing the following week’s Gospel – Matthew 28:16-20

Wednesdays in the Park:  Join us each Wednesday through June 25 for hot dogs and fun.  This Wednesday, June 11, Doug Thelen will set up an obstacle course for children ages 8 and under.

United Thank Offering (UTO): is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Our ingathering of your UTO offerings will be today.  The UTO Boxes will be gathered and brought forward with the offering.

Grow Appalachia:  The Vestry voted to move ahead with this project.  As we continue to work on this project, let the members of Vestry know your questions.  Their website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/

Would you like to write Prayers of the People?  If you are interested in writing these prayers (there are resources that can help with this task), please let Rebecca know by phone or email priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Are you interested in assisting with the Sunday service?  Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Altar Guild Members and choir members are all important for each Sunday service.  If you’re interested in serving, please let Rebecca know by phone 859-429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

 Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.

  • Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless, is in need of men’s and women’s razors, gloves, deodorant and socks.
  • The Food Pantry at Corbin Presbyterian Church is always in need of nonperishable food items.  Vegetables are especially appreciated.
  • KCEOC’s Women’s Emergency Shelter is in need of donated baby items, including baby clothing (sizes 6/9 months), diapers, wipes, bottles, etc.  Donations can be dropped off at KCEOC Community Action Partnership main office at Gray, KY.

Relieving Suffering (Sermon) June 1, 2014, St. Philip’s, Harrodsburg

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Sermon – June 1, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Harrodsburg
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings…. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Please be seated.

At the beginning of the year, finding a room at St. Agnes’ House was difficult.  You see, Ronald McDonald House had closed for a major renovation.  Many people who would otherwise have stayed there, were coming to St. Agnes’ House, especially couples with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU.  Many times, these couples needed to stay 2-3 months, so the now-typical St. Agnes’ House lodger – coming for surgery and staying a few days to a week – had a hard time finding a place to stay.

We had a waiting list and when rooms opened up, we’d begin calling people on the list.  Believe me, it was so hard to know people were sleeping in their cars and in the waiting rooms of hospitals.

One of our lodgers, I’ll call her Mary, was staying at St. Agnes’ House because her brother was in the ICU, with a number of health issues.  Mary was a tall woman, in her 50’s with long, long deep black hair with some gray streaks.  Mary’s brother’s prognosis was not very good.  Mary so appreciated St. Agnes’ House.  She had her own room where she could get a good night’s sleep.  She didn’t have to sleep in the waiting room.  She could get away from the ICU hospital section for a break – some coffee and tea and Starbucks cakes donations.  She could speak to others if she wanted.  She knew we were praying for her brother and for the family during this time.  The shuttle from UK came to pick her up and take her back and forth from St. Agnes’ House to the hospital.

Mary was so grateful, that she’d take St. Agnes’ House brochures to the ICU waiting room and when she saw people who looked tired… people who were there day after day after day, just like her, she’d talk to them and tell them to call St. Agnes’ House and see if they could find lodging.

One of the people Mary saw day after day was Laura.  Laura is a short, thin woman in her late 50s.  She has short, brown hair.  Whenever you see Laura, you see the determination on her face and in the way she carries herself.  Laura’s daughter was in the ICU.  The daughter, in her late 30s, had gotten swine flu, which attacked and destroyed the daughter’s lungs.   The hope was that the daughter’s lungs would eventually heal, but the outcome was not known.  Laura had been at the hospital with her daughter since January.  It was almost March when we were able to offer Laura a place to stay at St. Agnes’ House.

Laura is still at St. Agnes’ House today!  Recently it appeared that one of her daughter’s lungs was recovering slightly, but only slightly, and the other lung is completely destroyed.  Her daughter is anxious and depressed.  She’s frightened to move sometimes, because breathing is so difficult.  Day after day, Laura is with her daughter.  Sometimes she stays at night and I’ll see her coming back to the house in the morning to get a few hours of sleep and a shower and a break.  Sometimes she goes during the day.  She’s rarely been back to her home.  Sometimes I see her doing her laundry in our laundry room available to the guests.

Sometimes there is time to talk…to ask about how her daughter is doing…to ask about her family.  Because of course, there are the family dynamics that accompany a difficult time like this.  I always marvel at how Laura is there day after day for so many days with no end in sight and when I mention it to her, she says she couldn’t be anywhere else.

That’s what we hear all of the time at St. Agnes’ House.  No matter the obstacles, people want and need to be with their families.  There are cars in the parking lots of St. Agnes’ House that you cannot believe are on the road.  Some have no cars.  Parking in the garage every day becomes expensive, so our parking lot and the willingness of UK shuttle service to come to the house is a blessing.  Being able to stay, means not driving back and forth from home each day.  It means not having to find the money for even the most modest hotel stay.  Being able to stay means having a break from the reality of the hospital…it means finding a place that is a home away from home.

Mary’s brother eventually died, but Mary was there every day with him, providing the comfort of a loving big sister.  At her brother’s funeral, Mary talked about St. Agnes’ House and how important it was.  Soon after the funeral, Mary sent a donation to the ministry.  Laura is still at the house…still going to the hospital day after day, being there for her daughter.  Holding out the hope for healing that her daughter needs.

In this passage from 1 Peter today, we hear about suffering.  Now the early Christians were facing the suffering of persecution for their beliefs, which many of us in this place do not know.  Yet, listen to what the writer of I Peter says, “you are sharing Christ’s suffering.”  Christ suffered.  God came down from heaven to live and breathe and suffer as we do.  God knows.  Christ knows.

The other thing this letter tells us and reminds us of…is that Christ did not suffer alone.  Yes, many of the disciples and followers went into hiding when the trial and persecution of Christ was occurring, yet some stood at the foot of the cross, watching, witnessing, being there.  Others came for Jesus’ body and lovingly cared for it.  And the community of followers were together with each other, providing comfort and solace.  Even this letter lets us know of the community of Christ that was providing support during this time of trial.  Christ did not suffer alone.  The community of the followers of Christ did not suffer alone.

Forty years ago, some visionary Episcopalians in the Diocese of Lexington, saw the suffering of people who needed to come to Lexington for necessary and life-saving medical care.  Somehow they raised the money to fix up, add on, and build a place to relieve that suffering.  And for those 40 years, through many changes in healthcare, many changes in the church, you, the people of the Diocese of Lexington, have given generously and consistently with your dollars, your time, your donations of sheets and towels, toilet paper and paper towels and prayers to relieve that suffering.  In doing so, you have been Christ to the world.

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week (June 1) at St. John’s

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You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
you refreshed the land when it was weary. Psalm 68:9

This Seventh Sunday after Easter, we mark the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.  Ascension Day is Thursday, May 29.  Monday through Wednesday of this week were rogation days — times of fasting and prayer for protection.  Rogation days are times when farmers ask for blessings on their crops.  They were times when parishes “beat the bounds” or walked the boundary of their parish or their property, asking God for protection.

So, we hear Psalm 68 and this portion, which reminds us of our northern hemisphere growing season.  We need rain.  Gracious rain sounds like rain that will be good for the land.  A drenching rain can wash away the good growing soil or run off too quickly.  A gracious rain sounds like the steady soaking rain that replenishes the water supply and allows the earth to drink it in at just the right pace.   The gracious rain is refreshing.  It is not destructive.

During these days, think about the land and the earth.  Think about how it provides so much of what we need to have a good life.  Give thanks for its gifts and examine your part in being a good steward for the earth.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

News & Notes

Bulletin 06-01-2014 Instructed Eucharist

Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, Rebecca will be in Corbin on Friday, June 6 and her Sabbath day will be Thursday, June 5th You can get a message to Rebecca by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

This Sunday we welcome The Rev. Peter Doddema from St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Harrodsburg. He will lead us in an Instructed Eucharist. Notice your bulletin provides additional information about the various parts of our service. Rebecca is at St. Philip’s this morning.

Our series on Resurrection Living continues this week. 

Godly Play: Next week (June 8) Godly Play classes will conclude for the summer with a celebration of Pentecost. Classes will resume in the fall.

Wednesdays in the Park: Join us each Wednesday through June 25 for hot dogs and fun. This Wednesday, June 4, Ken and Shelia Phillips will bring the Kentucky Native American Heritage Museum to the park.

I publish the Banns of Marriage between William Robert Hibbitts of London, KY and Amber Hannah Pearce of Lexington, KY. If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony on June 7, you are bidden to declare it. This is the third time of asking.

United Thank Offering (UTO): is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Our ingathering of your UTO offerings will be today. The UTO Boxes will be gathered and brought forward with the offering.

Grow Appalachia: The Vestry voted to move ahead with this project. As we continue to work on this project, let the members of Vestry know your questions. Their website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/

Give Me Jesus (Sermon) May 25, 2014

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Sermon – May 25, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. I Peter 3:15-16

Please be seated.

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus

I was reminded of this Spiritual, found in LEVAS II, hymn 91 in the past couple of weeks,  No one’s sure who wrote it or when, but it came from the tragedy and toil of people who were brutalized by being enslaved.  They found hope, despite this brutality, in Jesus.

I have been around people in tough circumstances and heard them cling to Jesus.  Just over two weeks ago, I was at the University of Kentucky with Ann and Travis.  They were anxiously awaiting the birth of Bella.  They had to go all the way to Lexington, because doctors had seen something that led them to believe Bella might need some surgery on her head soon after her birth.  I was there when doctors came in to talk to Ann and Travis.  The doctors couldn’t say how serious the problem was.  I heard the doctor say there was a chance little Bella would not live.

Yet Ann and Travis were realistic and positive.  I’m sure they were a little nervous, but they had discussed things.  They had made plans.  They had prayed and they knew a whole community was praying for them and for Bella.

And there was such joy in the room, too, because just the night before, Travis had been baptized.  He was so happy!  Travis truly embodied what we heard in I Peter, chapter 3, verses 21 and 22 this morning:

And baptism…now saves you– not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Travis’ baptism was an accounting for the hope that was in him.

On Wednesday, I went to the viewing for Dalton Christopher Brewer, also known as Buddy.  His death at the age of 31 was so tragic for his family.  The past seven years had been difficult for Buddy, after his beating and subsequent traumatic brain injury.  Family and friends were devastated to learn of his death.  At the viewing, I heard time and time again from family member after family member, through tears and cries of woe, “I don’t know how I’ll make it.  The only way is that we have Jesus.”  Someone said, “I don’t know how people make it through something like this without Jesus.”  In the midst of terrific grief, there was hope of making it through.

We are Jesus people.  We are people of hope.  And we must always be ready to give an accounting of this hope.  The hope shines through.

I met a mother earlier this week, whose 27-year-old daughter has a rare disease that only about 150 people have.  This young woman has been in and out of the hospital since she was two years old.  Yet, she has graduated from college.  She got married.  People say she is always smiling and how can she be so happy, given what she deals with physically every day.  She says, “I have faith. That’s what gets me through.”

The hope shines through and when people ask her for an accounting, she is ready and able to tell them about the hope within her.

Now Episcopalians are not known for our public evangelism.  We tend to be quiet about our faith and our religious beliefs.  In fact, many people are quiet about their faith.  Religious beliefs are considered private, individual choices by many.  Yet as a friend once said, if your faith has given you hope…has given you life, why wouldn’t you share that with someone?  If your faith and this community of St. John’s have given you hope…have provided a way of life for you, find a way to share that with others.  Find a way to give an accounting that is gentle and reverent.

You see, when we are baptized, we are saved.  When we are baptized, we are called to do God’s work.  A friend posted this anonymous quote on Facebook earlier this week:   Carry the water of your baptism with you through the vast desert of this world and dispense it liberally to every traveler you meet. 

We have this gift of Jesus.  We have this gift of love.  We have this gift of hope.  It begins with our baptism…with God claiming us for God’s own.  We water the world.  We water souls.  We do this as individuals and as the community of St. John’s.

St. Teresa of Avila, who lived in the 16th century, wrote this prayer:

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

We are called to be Christ’s body to the world.  In doing so…in clinging to Jesus, we are joyful in the midst of hard times.  We can get through our rough times.  We bring joy and abundant life to the world.

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you and until the day you die, know the gift of Jesus.

Amen

 

 

This Sunday (May 25) at St. John’s

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I will enter your house with burnt-offerings
and will pay you my vows, *
which I promised with my lips
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble. Psalm 66:12

How often do we use God as our personal “911” call?  We call upon God when we’re in trouble.  We bargain with God, as if that were possible.  “God, give me this and I’ll promise to do that.”  Well, we’re in good company.  We as humans have been behaving like this for thousands of years.

The best part is that God forgives us.  God accepts us and whatever we’ve vowed.  The challenge is to build our relationship regardless of what is going on with us.  To build our relationship with God when times are good and when times are challenging.

One way is to consistently be part of the community of St. John’s with regular gathering on Sundays, Wednesday evenings and various activities.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 05-25-2014

Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, I will be in Corbin on Thursday, May 29th and my Sabbath day will be Friday, May 30th.  You can get a message to me by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Adult Forum: Our series on Resurrection Living continues this week.

Cookout Lunch Sunday: Stay after church for a picnic lunch of hot dogs, chips, and coleslaw and fellowship..

Wednesdays in the Park:  Join us each Wednesday through June 25 for hot dogs and fun.  This Wednesday, May 28, Renata Farmer will come from Agricultural Extension to do a “4-H Day of Play” for youth.  She will be here from 4:30-6pm.

Pulpit Exchange June 1:  On Sunday, June 1, The Rev. Peter Doddema, of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Harrodsburg, will be the celebrant at our service.  He will offer an instructed Eucharist.  I will be at his church that morning.

We’re buying goats:  The Lazarus at the Gates Adult Forum study has prompted us to purchase goats through Episcopal Relief and Development for families in the Philippines.  Goats provide milk, cheese, and manure for farming.  Donations towards the $80 purchase of each goat can be made through the goat bank in the parish hall or in the offering plate clearly marked ERD goat project.

United Thank Offering (UTO): is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Our ingathering of your UTO offerings will be today.  The UTO Boxes will be gathered and brought forward with the offering.

Grow Appalachia:  The Vestry voted to move ahead with this project.  As we continue to work on this project, let the members of Vestry know your questions.  Their website ishttp://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/

 Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.

  • Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless, is in need of men’s and women’s razors, gloves, deodorant and socks.
  • The Food Pantry at Corbin Presbyterian Church is always in need of nonperishable food items.  Vegetables are especially appreciated.
  • KCEOC’s Women’s Emergency Shelter is in need of donated baby items, including baby clothing (sizes 6/9 months), diapers, wipes, bottles, etc.  Donations can be dropped off at KCEOC Community Action Partnership main office at Gray, KY.

 

Precious Stones: Rejected, Chosen, and Precious (Sermon)

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Sermon – May 18, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY
Fifth Sunday of Easter

Observance of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

 Today we observe Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.  A number of recent events have reminded me of how the Episcopal Church reflects the Kingdom of God, which Jesus tells us today has many, many rooms.  This week, my Facebook feed was filled with photos of seminary graduation, including the graduation of Jae Chung.  Jae was one year behind me in seminary and arrived at General with his wife and children.  They had immigrated to the United States from Korea.  Jae is already ordained as a transitional Deacon.

And Saturday was the consecration of Allen Shin as Suffragen Bishop of the Diocese of New York.  He was born in South Korea and grew up in Washington DC.  He had served some Korean Episcopalian churches, as well as headed the Asian-American ministry for The Episcopal Church.

In preparing this sermon, I found a number of Korean Episcopal churches in the United States.  Yes, we truly can see a glimpse of the Kingdom of God and the joy and delight of the diversity of the human race, just like the joy and delight of a beautiful garden.

Today I’d like to talk to you about a special Anglican, Florence Li Tim-Oi, who was Chinese.  She was the first woman ordained in the Anglican Communion in 1944!  Yes, 1944.  Florence was born in Hong Kong in 1907.   Her name, Florence, was taken when as a student she was baptized.  She chose it after Florence Nightingale.  Li Tim-Oi means beloved daughter.  Florence studied at theological College in Canton.  She served as a lay person on the islands of Kowloon and Macao.  In 1941, she was ordained a deaconess.

Soon after her ordination, Japan occupied Hong Kong and priests could not travel to the nearby island of Macao to celebrate the Eucharist.  She came to the attention of the Bishop of Hong Kong, who decided “God’s work would reap better results if she had the proper title” of priest.

On January 25, 1944, the Feast of the conversion of St. Paul, Florence was ordained a priest.  As World War II ended, her ordination created great controversy in the Anglican Communion.  She personally decided not to exercise her priesthood until it could be acknowledged by the wider Anglican Communion.  She continued to work and was even a Rector of a parish and the Bishop ordered that she still be called a priest.

In 1949, as the Communists came to power in China, Florence studied to learn more about the various cultural changes happening in China.  She worked at the Cathedral in Beijing.  However, from 1958 until 1974, all of the churches were closed.  During this time known as the Cultural Revolution, Florence was suspect and faced great difficulty.  She was forced to work on a farm and in a factory at very difficult labor.  She was accused of counter-revolutionary activity and underwent political re-education.  She was allowed to retire from the factory in 1974, at the age of 67 and two years later, the churches were reopened and she was able to continue her public ministry.  In 1981, she visited family in Canada.  Finally she was able to be licensed as a priest, first in the Diocese of Montreal and eventually in Toronto.  She settled in Toronto for the remainder of her life, dying in 1992.  Her feast day is January 24, each year, the eve of her ordination.

In I Peter read today, we hear:

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

The life of Florence Li Tim-Oi certainly embodies these verses.  She came to Christ, a living stone.  She was rejected by mortals, not only because of her gender, but also because she was a Christian during a time when Christianity was not allowed in China.  Yet, she continued in her faith.  She was not deterred from her work or from God’s calling.  She let herself be built into a spiritual house…into a holy priesthood

And so are we called as St. John’s Church in Corbin, KY.  We are called to be the living stones for God’s work here.  Yes, we may be rejected by others.  Maybe being a liturgical church isn’t popular in this place.

Our understanding of the scriptures isn’t popular.  According to our Catechism found on page 853 in the Book of Common Prayer, We understand the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God, because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible.  We understand the meaning of the Bible by the “help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.”  We have consecrated a number of openly gay and lesbian priests to be Bishops.  We have consecrated a woman to be our Presiding Bishop.  We have a liturgy for the blessing of same gender relationships.

Yet, despite the rejection we face, we, the parish of St. John’s Episcopal Church, are chosen and truly precious in God’s sight.  God is building us…building St. John’s into a spiritual house.  We are being molded by God into a Holy Priesthood.

May we, like Florence Li Tim-Oi, remain steadfast, even in the face of rejection, so that the Will of God may be done… right here and right now.

Amen