1st Sunday after Christmas - The light and love has come

1 Christmas/Year C

12/29/2024

Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 147, Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7, John 1:1-18

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people...from John 1:1-18

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, You have shed upon us the new light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen (Church of Scotland)

Today’s gospel reading from John is both beautiful and mysterious, all at once. The first eighteen verses in this fourth gospel are often referred to as the prologue – an introduction and summary of sorts, of what the Gospel’s key lessons will be about or perhaps, I should say, “who” this will be about.

The passages from John we heard today…points us to the beginning…the beginning of life….new life that began when God poured upon us the new light of His Incarnate Word…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life,* and the life was the light of all people. John 1:1-4

This life who is the light of all people…is named Jesus. And we celebrate his birth – the birth of God’s new light, poured out upon us to bring life, eternal life, for all of God’s people.

John the Baptist came as a witness to testify to this light, so that all might believe through him that the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. John tried to tell others…that the savior of the world was coming, the true light was coming…but people weren’t quite sure what to make of him….

On Christmas Eve, we listened to the birth story of Jesus through the experiences of the angels, the shepherds, the journey to Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph….according to Luke…The stories and messages that were shared that night reflected outward signs and a few details of the Christmas story, and the birth of Jesus…what people were doing, where they were going, etc…

John’s gospel tells the “birth story” of Jesus, so unlike the other gospels. We don’t hear about Mary and Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem…we don’t hear the stories of the shepherds, or the angels….Instead of giving us a lot of details and imagery of the other gospels….this gospel reading from John, goes to the heart of where all the imagery was inspired….where all the details were just a seed….where all of life began…with the Word...the Word was with God, and the Word was God…all things came into being through Him…

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people...from John 1:1-18

As most of us know very well, there are beginnings and endings…there is life, and there is death…we know that from the very beginning of our lives…from the day we are born…

The challenge we face in our lives, is allowing the light and love that was born again in us, and for us, on Christmas Day, to remain with us, to guide our days and our daily walk, throughout our lifetime…and to remember, that even in death, we are alive in the Lord Jesus, when we have faith in Him.

We sometimes forget this light of Christ was born for us, to be a constant companion, even in the darkness...for the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it…

We say that life, the busyness of life, the trials and sufferings of this life, get in the way of our enjoyment of life, or any peace of mind, or truly receiving the blessings poured out upon us. The scriptures today tell us otherwise.

The true light, Jesus, is the one who gives us life. If we can re-direct our gaze and our thoughts once again, back to that beginning, we will have life, the life which is the light for all people…for all eternity…We will be reminded that life, abundant life, is realized in the gift given of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the giver of light and life, born to us, over 2000 years ago…

If we can clear the clutter, (of our eharts and minds), put aside the new clothes, put away the presents under our trees, pack away the items sitting pretty on our mantles, take away everything we define ourselves as, in the “doing of things”…we can move from depending on the things of our worldly life, that often weigh us down, to our acknowledgement, that the light, which truly gives us life, is within each one of us…waiting to be rekindled, eager to shine forth, to testify to others…that the light has come, and will come again….again and again… God is with us now… in all his glory…

For…The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace…

Christmas is the time to remember in whom, true life was born for us, and in us…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Jesus is that Word Eternal.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. Jesus is that Light eternal.

The Word became flesh and lived among us… Jesus is that Word incarnate.

Closing Prayer/Hymn: (WLP) 748 – From the dawning of creation

1 From the dawning of creation,

God was present in the Word.

And the Word was God eternal,

source of all that came to be.

Jesus is that Word eternal.

Jesus is the Word of life.

2 Light appeared in deepest darkness.

Night was ended, morning dawned.

And that light is ever burning,

brightness never overcome.

Jesus is that Light eternal.

Jesus is the Word of life.

3 Human eyes have seen God’s glory;

human hands have touched God’s own.

In our likeness here among us,

dwells the Word of God made flesh.

Jesus is that Word incarnate.

Jesus is the Word of life.

Rev Julie Platson, St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Christmas Eve Sermon - Dec 24 2024

Christmas Eve/Year C Sermon Reflection – Dec 24, 2024

Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20

Let us pray: Emmanuel, God-with-us, with eyes open, hearts softened, minds listening, and spirits full, we rejoice that you interrupt what we have in mind in order to bring into being something more than we dare imagine. May your light shine upon us, in us, and through us, as we gather here together, and as we leave this place tonight, eager to share this love and light with the world, that is born again in us, on this Christmas Eve. Amen. (Peter L. Haynes., adapted)

One of my (several) favorite things about gathering on Christmas Eve every year, is that we get to hear the scripture reading from Luke, that describes, just a little bit, about that first Christmas, about the birth of the long-awaited Savior, the Messiah, that the prophet Isaiah, and many other prophets and sages had foretold would come into our world, as a light and a love that would pierce the darkness of the world they were walking in, that would infuse the world with a light, love, hope, peace, and joy that would have the power to transform hearts, and lives, and communities, beyond anything we had yet to imagine.

In this story we listen to each year from the gospel of Luke…we hear a few details, yes…the place, some of the people, the setting, the event, the birth of a child…

But there is so much more room to imagine and wonder about all the details that are not included in this story. As you’ve probably noticed, in St Peter’s nativity up front by the altar, we’ve done some holy imagining over the years…beyond what we hear in the gospel reading tonight…we’ve got some of the “traditional animals” usually associated with the Christmas Stories, such as deer and sheep and cows, we have just a handful of people, shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph…and the wise men will be added in a couple of weeks…but as you look closely, you will see some dinosaurs, sea creatures, monkeys, polar bears, dogs, cats, chickens to note just a few….It’s been a joyous way to bring this nativity to life in new ways…over 2000 years after the birth of Emmanuel…God with us…

Some may think it’s been a little silly to add all these different creatures to the nativity…but I ask the question – why? Why put God in a neat little box? Why limit God’s desire to reach all of creation, to include all people and creatures in this beloved love story? That’s precisely one of the reasons we celebrate the birth of God’s Son, God’s coming to live among us, for ALL of us, as a love and light that has been poured out for everyone….

As we gather tonight, and as we leave this place…I invite you to take some moments to wonder and ponder further…who were the others that you imagine were there at the time of the holy birth…what were they experiencing in all that was happening? Were they feeling joyous? Were they struggling to be joyful, if they were feeling anxious, or afraid, or just not knowing how to make sense of what was happening? Who are the other ones that we don’t see in this gospel story tonight? Can you think of those you think should be there? How might you become more mindful of those who are not usually included, those who live on the margins, those tucked away in hospitals, homeless shelters, prisons…

And other places and settings and systems that are meant to separate us from one another, instead of bringing us together, as one beloved family of God…

There’s another detail that you won’t find in tonight’s gospel reading about this child born for us…(although the angel Gabriel had already disclosed this detail to both Mary and Joseph previously)…and that is…the name of this holy child whom we come to believe and know as Jesus…the light of the world…

I am filled with gratitude to be able to share this Christmas Eve with all of you…knowing that some of us here tonight, may be feeling joyful, and some of us, may be feeling a bit sad, anxious, afraid…and if we’re all being truthful with ourselves…it’s a probably a mix of everything for most of us…and that’s the beauty of the Luke Gospel story tonight…it includes a little bit of everything…some glorious announcements by the angels, some fearful shepherds, who then go on to glorify and praise God telling others what they had seen and heard, and the quiet detail that tells us, “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”

The message proclaimed in the Luke story this evening is for all people, for all places, and for all times…May it be so…

(Rev Julie Platson)

Closing prayer/Hymn: (H) 109 – The First Nowell (vs 1,2,4)

1 The first Nowell the angel did say

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

in fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.

2 They looked up and saw a star

shining in the east beyond them far,

and to the earth it gave great light,

and so it continued both day and night

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.

4 This star drew nigh to the northwest,

o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,

and there it did both stop and stay

right over the place where Jesus lay.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.

4th Sunday of Advent - Are you ready for Christmas?

Dec 22, 2024

Today’s sermon is by Kit Allgood-Mellema

Dec 1 Sunday sermon: Waiting and watching for signs of HOPE

1 Advent/Year C

December 1, 2024

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Opening Prayer: (Christine Sine)

Lord Jesus Christ, we await your coming,

We wait filled with hope,

Knowing your light will shine in the darkness.

We wait anticipating your peace,

Believing that one day it will fill our world.

We wait with joy,

Bubbling us in expectation of your birth.

We wait embracing your love,

May we reach out to share it with our neighbours.

Lord we wait, Come soon and fill us with your life. Amen.

Lord, it seems as though we are always waiting for something, someone, some sign that all will be well in our personal lives, our community, our world.

Especially, now…when there seems to be so many stories filling our news feeds that speak of so much division, darkness, uncertainties, and worries about what our future days will look like…

Yet, it’s not only looking to our news feeds that causes us to worry endlessly about what the future will look like, but even as we look closely at our own personal lives, and in our churches and neighborhoods, that we, too have been impacted by so much loss, and rapid changes in our personal and communal lives over the past several years.

So, yes, Lord, it seems as though we are always waiting for something, someone, some sign that all will be well in our personal lives, our community, our world…some signs of light and hope…in the midst of these sometimes chaotic, troublesome, dark and weary days…

I wonder, if this new beginning of the church year, we might begin again with a fresh approach to how we might journey through this advent season…as we wait and watch, as we listen to the stories in the scriptures and in the songs of the season, as we slow down and pray, and as we look with awe and wonder at the world around us…with a child-like faith, with a renewed trust in the One who is compassionate and loving, good and gracious…the One who can lead us in truth, the One who can teach us and show us the path of hope, peace, joy and love that is before us, the One, whose path we can trust in, with a foundation built upon love and faithfulness…the One whose coming we await, once again, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I wonder if we can open up our eyes, ears, hearts and minds anew this advent season…with a renewed commitment and practice of meditating on the words that Jesus speaks to us in the gospel readings that can help us to be more aware and alert to the signs of light and hope all around us, even in the midst of all that is clamoring for our attention, and threatening to lead us down paths of despair…with no glimmers of hope for the future…

In the gospels, Jesus lays out the whole scenario…the signs of destruction, darkness, the fear of all those things that will threaten to destabilize the earth we tread upon… But, he tells us, not to lower our heads and our gaze in despair, but to stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."  Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Jesus’ words are worth meditating on, holding onto. For these are the promises, these are the words of hope, that help us to envision a hope that we can hold fast to in those long stretches of time, when it seems as though we are always waiting for something, someone, some sign that all will be well in our personal lives, our community, our world…some signs of light and hope…in the midst of these sometimes chaotic, troublesome, dark and weary days…

Yes, meditating and praying on these scriptures…is a good practice for us to engage in regularly, assuring us that we have these words and a vision of hope to hold onto, and to allow for these words to be grafted in our hearts…

But the other practice that can help us come to a deeper understanding of all that the scriptures can teach us and how they can transform us and our worldview, is to engage in conversations with others about them through group discussions, book studies, etc…or just by sitting down with someone else for a 1:1 conversation…so that you can share stories with one another of those times you experienced seeing signs of hope when in the midst of some long stretches of dark times; And, sometimes, in one of those conversations, you might be the one at that moment in time, who can help someone else see that there are signs of light and hope around them that are worth holding onto…

Our sequence hymn today…and the instrumental/different musical setting I will play again in just a moment…gives us a simple template of how a conversation might flow between two such persons…One who is asking the question, who is waiting for something, someone, some sign that all will be well in their personal lives, community, or world…and the one who is offering the words that will help the other hold fast to the vision of Hope, that we await for in the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer/Hymn: (H) 640 - Watchman, tell us of the night

1        Watchman, tell us of the night, what its signs of promise are.

          Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height, see that glory-beaming star.

          Watchman, does its beauteous ray aught of joy or hope foretell?

          Traveler, yes; it brings the day, promised day of Israel.

2        Watchman, tell us of the night; higher yet that star ascends.

          Traveler, blessedness and light, peace and truth its course portends.

          Watchman, will its beams alone gild the spot that gave them birth?

          Traveler, ages are its own; see, it bursts o’er all the earth.

3        Watchman, tell us of the night, for the morning seems to dawn.

          Traveler, darkness takes its flight, doubt and terror are withdrawn.

          Watchman, let thy wanderings cease; hie thee to thy quiet home.

          Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace, lo! the Son of God is come!

Rev Julie Platson, St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Nov 24 - Today's Sunday Sermon by Chip

Nov 24, 2024

Today’s sermon is by Chip Camden…

The Last Sunday after Pentecost/Christ the King Sunday

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37

Today is the final Sunday in the church year, commonly called Christ the King -- although as our Bishop recently told us, Christ the King is not one of the feast days mentioned in the Book of Common Prayer.  Nevertheless, our readings for this Sunday reflect the regal character of God in Christ that is associated with this observance.  What does it mean to say that Christ is King?

When Pilate interrogates Jesus in our gospel lesson, he gets right to the point:  "Are you the King of the Jews?"  He hoped to make quick work of this case.  If Jesus admitted to the charge, then he could be executed as a rebel against Rome. Case closed.  But Jesus doesn't make it easy for Pilate.  In the same way that God likes to shatter our easy categories, Jesus plays with the meaning of "king" and "kingdom."  His kingship is not like earthly rulers who have armies to back them up when fighting against rival kingdoms -- it is not of this world.  Pilate grasps at Jesus' use of the word "kingdom" to try to bring the question back to the dualism he prefers: "are you a king then?"  Jesus expands on his redefinition: he has come into the world to testify to the truth.  "Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."  Thus, Jesus' "kingdom" is made up of truth followers, not soldiers or unwilling subjects.  For Pilate, this constitutes a "no" to his original question, so he attempts, unsuccessfully, to release Jesus.  But first, Pilate can't resist throwing out a (perhaps snarky) philosophical question: "What is truth?"

We continue to ask Pilate's question 2000 years later.  The gospel writer records no response from Jesus.  Did he perceive that Pilate wasn't seeking an answer, or that he could not receive one?  Or was Jesus' silence more profound: mere words cannot answer that question.

Clearly, when we apply the term "king" to God or to Christ, we cannot mean the same thing as we do when we apply it to humans.  It is a metaphor, by which we ascribe certain qualities of kingship but not others, and even those we intend do not correspond exactly.  The same is true of every term we use to describe the divine.  Take our Psalm for example -- does God really wear clothes?  Or our reading from Daniel -- are there chairs in heaven?  What does it mean when we say that Christ is seated at the right hand of God - does God even have a right side?  No, all of these metaphors intend to express majesty, in the parlance that was familiar to the authors.  So it is also with kingship.

A king is powerful, and God is infinitely powerful.  But a king often exerts power in order to maintain the authority of the throne and the king’s own possession of it.  God has no need to fear any usurper or enemy, so the expression of God’s power is very different from that of a king.  A king must dominate – but God’s power is love.

A king rules over many people, and God is over everything.  But kings, being human, have less time for each individual the more of them they rule.  Not so with God, whose attention is unlimited.  Kings create distance between themselves and their subjects, but God embraces the least of us.

We the well-informed liberal minds of the twenty-first century may wish to discard Biblical metaphors like kingship as too dated, patriarchal or ridiculous, but we should remember that there are no words to adequately express the divine.  I suspect that, if faith is still found in this world in another two thousand years, they will look back on today's improved terminology and think, "how quaint and unenlightened."  Nevertheless, we have little choice.  Only by direct encounter can we know God -- and even then we immediately slather it with our explanations.  We have to use metaphors, or not speak at all.

We can use our words to point others towards the destination of divine encounter, but we have to be careful not to limit God to our metaphors.  God is greater than anything we attempt to describe.  There is much more that cannot even be addressed.

Here's a secret: the same is true for you and me.  Who you are is far deeper than any words that can be said about you.  We often think of our identity in terms of our career, interests and relationships.  But all of those things are only emanations (or distractions) from our true identity, which is "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).  Meister Eckhart says about that innermost identity: "Here God's ground is my ground, and my ground is God's ground" (Sermon 5b).  Because we are united to God, we are also ineffably deep.

Rather than focusing on our surface features such as political party, career, wealth, education, ethnicity, gender and sexuality -- what if we could see the very depth of God in each other?  What if we could see each person we meet as Christ?  How would we treat them differently?  

How can we learn to see that identity in ourselves?  Most if not all of us feverishly fashion our surface identities, engineering what we think people will think of us (hint: social media isn’t helping).  Often we begin to embrace our own story to the point where we lose our ability to see ourselves as we are.  We often fear to look that deeply within, because we are ashamed or afraid of what we think we might find.  We fear even more to show that to others.  The Imposter Syndrome is the recognition that what we appear to be might not correspond with who we really are -- and that we prefer the fiction to the reality.  But we need not be afraid of ourselves.  The deeper you go, the more divine you are.  Your true identity is unspeakably beautiful.  

We may not ever be able in this life to completely avoid projecting false images of ourselves, but the more we learn to refrain from it the more authentic we will be.  Authenticity frees us from fear, so that we can genuinely love each other and ourselves.  God help us to do so.

What gives you hope? Nov 17 sermon reflection

26 Pentecost/Year B – Nov 17, 2024

Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Mark 13:1-8

Opening Prayer: (written by Michael Perry, adapted Psalm 16)

O God of compassion and generosity, you are our refuge, the One in whom we trust for all our needs; our Hope can be found in you. Guide us by day and teach us by night, be near us so that nothing can shake us, make us always aware of your presence, show us the path that leads to life, let your Spirit fill us with joy and HOPE, and let your service be our delight for ever. Amen.

If someone stopped you on the street today, and asked you…what gives you hope? What would you say?

How would you answer that? Do you think it’s a question that you could answer with one simple sentence? Do you think you would need some more time to think on it… Would you need more time to sit down with someone to talk more about this question, and process through your thoughts on hope together? Maybe you never to stop and think about it too much…It can be a word that we use frequently, yet not always thinking about its’ relevance and impact on our day to day lives…

Perhaps, you or someone you know is really struggling with this question about hope…in light of and in the darkness of personal grief and struggles…or as one considers the seemingly never-ending news cycles reporting disasters, and divisions, and violence happening all around us…where is the hope in all of this?

It’s an important question for all of us to consider: When you wake up in the morning, and when you lay your head down to rest at the end of the day - what gives you hope? Take a moment now to ponder that…

The scriptures are full of examples that teach us about hope…In the stories, we have heard from the bible throughout the years, there are people who have endured loss after loss, heart-break after heart-break, starvation, illness, disease, violence, persecution, and oppression that never seems to end…

We as the listeners, have probably struggled often, with trying to make sense of a lot of the stories we listen to and read in the scriptures…and shake our heads and wonder…where’s the good news in this story? Where is the hope in all of this…

Yet, right in the midst of all of these troubling and uncertain stories, we have seen signs of hope, where God walks with us, and when God has acted, time and time again, to instill hope in the hearts, and reignite the hopes in the hearts and minds of the people...

We have seen where the love of God has been poured out upon those who have cried out for mercy and grace….

We have seen how those, like the psalmist today, who have looked to God for their protection and refuge, have affirmed that it is God who upholds their lot, and allows their bodies to “rest in hope”, it is God who will indeed show them the path of life when they see no way before them, and it is God whose presence among them, in those moments of doubt, that they can hold on with unwavering hope in God’s promise of the fullness of joy, in Him. 

We have seen how the love of God, in our own lives, has empowered us…to bring healing and hope for ourselves, and to those among us…YES…we can embrace and ever hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life …for God has shown us, in so many ways, throughout our lives…that she is faithful…they are trustworthy…God is with us, always….in all of our endings…and in all of our beginnings…

Yet, there are many among us today…who have not heard these hopeful stories nor have experienced these same types of hope-affirming experiences in their own lives, and whose lives could be transformed in the hearing and sharing of these good news stories about holding fast to this Hope…or perhaps they just need some reminders, as we do at times, that this HOPE is for them too…

One tenet of hope that stands out for me, in the scriptures…and in my own life experiences….is that hope is not an instant thing which is a one-time experience that sends us on our way, with a clear vision of what’s to come….never having to worry about anything, in future days…never having to hope for anything again, it doesn’t just happen because we say we hope for something….it doesn’t just encourage us to hope, all on its own….just by thinking about it…

Sure, one act of love and kindness can give a person hope, and restore hope in one’s life, once again… it can be a life-changing, transformative moment, when one life touches another….but it takes more than one time with the scriptures, it takes more than one time, to sit down with one another to affirm our hopes, and to keep the hope alive in our hearts and in our lives…

Life is hard…there will be hard days, there will be days when endings and death and loss make it so difficult and seemingly impossible to reconcile with what we hope, “hope” means…

It takes a lifetime, a way of life ...throughout all the seasons of our lives, to practice this kind of hope that is rooted in the love of God, revealed to us, in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ…

It takes a way of life, throughout all the seasons of our lives, to practice this kind of hope, committed to spending time with the scriptures, becoming familiar with the stories of God’s love for his people…and the promise of hope fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ…who lived among us, to show us the way of living in hope…and to give thanks, too, for those people in our lifetimes…who have reminded us so vividly what it can look like to embrace and hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life…

It takes a way of life, throughout all the seasons of our lives, to practice this kind of hope, committed to and rooted in relationship and community building that encourages one another to seek and strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation

IN our opening collect today, we prayed:

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ….

These scriptures, are the living Word of God…and by the gift and inspiration of the Holy Spirit given to us, they have the power to comfort us, sustain us, inspire hope in us, and equip us for the often difficult times we will endure throughout our lifetimes…and they can help us as we navigate the many mysteries, and the many unanswered questions, that rest heavily on our hearts…and to help us turn again and again to the God, who walks with us always…and to hold fast to that Hope…the hope that endures forever…when the rest of our world seems to tumbling down all around us…

The scriptures are meant to inspire and inform our lives, guiding us and leading us in ways to provoke one another to love and good deeds…They are meant to remind us of the importance of meeting together regularly…to worship with one another, pray with one another, encourage one another, create a community, rooted in compassion and hope, for one another, not only with our lips, but in our lives….

There are no shortcuts to hope…it really does matter…that we gather together, with one another…to provoke one another to love and care for one another...it really does matter, that we make time to meet together, to encourage one another, support one another, and help one another to hold fast to hope, without wavering…

Hope is built in community, where the love of Christ unites us…Hope grows and thrives where compassion and forgiveness, kindness and generosity unite us to one another.

And in this community, we learn what it means to continue to hope, even when we hear of wars and rumors of wars, even when we hear of destruction, division, turmoil, violence, disasters…even when all the signs of endings are all around us…even when all the signs would lead us to give up hope…in the goodness of God, and in the people around us, who disappoint us, betray us, and cause us to question whether there are any compassionate and generous people around us anymore…

Vestry member Lisa Moore shared an experience she and some of her fellow travelers had recently with having their favorite items stolen, and how it angered her to think that this person or persons had no compassion at all. She could have given into the despair of this experience, this disregard for their personal belongings,  but instead, she was able to think about those who helped her in the aftermath of discovering their belongings had been stolen, and with the wise words of the 15 year-old who was with her, who reminded her to focus on the fact that most people are compassionate and kind…she was able to re-direct her focus on a compassionate response by praying forgiveness for this person…And looking back at the whole story, the whole experience…she wrote:  “This experience will certainly strengthen my resolve to show compassion and generosity to others who have unexpected, difficult situations.”

An experience like this could easily have led someone astray, from wanting to respond with any compassion or kindness…it could have easily led someone to give up in despair…

Jesus warns the disciples and us in today’s gospel reading of how easily this could happen…

Jesus said to Peter, James, John and Andrew in our gospel reading today:

“beware, that no one leads you astray.”

There will be many people who will try to steer you away from hope…they will convince you that these wars, this violence, these disasters…are all signs that the end is near…they will instill fear and distrust and despair in your hearts…

But, Jesus goes on to re-orient us to the HOPE that endures… even when “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; even when there will be earthquakes in various places and famines.

This, he says, is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

This is but the beginning of a new life to come…a new hope…a new understanding of what it means to embrace and hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life, which has been given to us, in our Savior Jesus Christ

When we seek and strive to walk in love with God and one another, and all of creation…Hope…holding fast to this hope that endures forever will transform us and our communities to be a place where HOPE is always being renewed, where HOPE, compassion, forgiveness, generosity and kindness is the dominant story of our lives together, where HOPE grows and thrives, for the well-being of all, so that one day we will join our voices together in a spirit-filled song of HOPE as the psalmist proclaims today: My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also shall rest in hope.

In closing from a short hymn of praise:

Sing and rejoice. Sing and rejoice.

Let all things living now sing and rejoice.

*Closing Prayer/Hymn:  Hymn of Praise: Sing and rejoice - Enriching Our Music, #103

Rev Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Nov 10 - To seek and strive to walk the way of love...

25 Pentecost/Year B – Nov 10, 2024

1 Kings 17:8-16; Psalm 146; Mark 12:38-44

Opening Prayer:

Holy and gracious God, we give you thanks for gathering us together this morning. I pray that, in the hearing of today’s scriptures as your people gather in community with one another, that you would once again, open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to hear what the spirit is saying to us, and then send us out into our communities, to do the holy work of walking in love with You, and one another. This we pray, in the name of the One, who is always with us, who loves us, who sees us, and watches over us for all the days of our lives. Amen.

We continue this week, with our Walk in Love stewardship season series. This week’s reflection on Receiving Love, is a wonderful follow up to last week’s celebration of All Saints Day…A day set aside to remember the community of saints that we are baptized into. A day set aside to recall the famous saints from long ago, the ones with a special day on the church calendar…A day set aside to recall the saints who were movers and shakers in their day, making an impact in their communities, but don’t have a designated day on our church liturgical calendars…and most importantly, we also set aside time throughout our All Saints weekend celebrations, to remember and give thanks for those saints in our lives—family members, mentors and friends—who are gifts of God to us, but no longer walk among us in this earthly life. Yet through the love of God revealed to us in Jesus, and by their examples of living a life in love and service to the people around them, we are reminded that we are united to one another in life and in death, by this love that binds us together, heart to heart, spirit to spirit, for always.

The reminder of being part of a community of saints helped me ponder more this week on the importance of what it means to be on the receiving end of love, and how it can transform us, and inspire us, to go out and do the same for others.

I think about this week’s reflection on receiving love, and the stories the writer shared with examples of how impactful it was for him to be on the receiving end of love, and prayers, and support, in those times of his life that were so troubling and worrisome. I think about how assuring it must have been for him, to just know that others noticed him, saw his need, and then worked together to move beyond just seeing him, by putting their love into action in big and small tangible ways that that helped him to recover and heal. By being the recipient of such abundant love and hospitality, he was inspired to be mindful of the needs of others around him, and to help others, as he had been so abundantly blessed.

I thought about vestry member Sara Bergendahl’s answer to this week’s reflection question: How has your walk in love been changed by the love you've been shown?

She wrote:

“My spouse and I have had nothing shy of ‘life support’ in the prayers and outreach we have felt in the last year.  We have witnessed the support of those praying for us in the form of improved health and the Holy Spirit making inroads in our lives and the lives of our children.  This outpouring of love has moved me to pray for others' wellbeing.”

I think most of us sitting here in these pews this morning, can add our own similar stories of being on the receiving end of being loved and supported and sustained by the prayers and kindnesses of others. And I can look out at all of you sitting here today and remembering those who have joined the saints in heaven…who have been inspired to do the same for others throughout the years…here at St Peter’s and in the wider community.

This is the core mission of the church, why we exist, why we gather, why we pray together and for one another, why we praise God together with our words and in our songs…why we gather together, at times throughout the service, to be still and know that our hope is grounded in the love of God who is present with us always, who sees us, who loves us, who watches over us…and this truth has been made known to us, in the life and teachings, in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and by the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us that inspires us and has the power to transform us now to go out into our communities to do the holy work of Seeking and Striving to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…

Why?

Why Seek and Strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…

·        Because seeking and striving to love one another can lift others up, when they are feeling down, which would be all of us, at times throughout our lives… and because, as we are reminded in our baptismal promises, we affirm that we will proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

Why Seek and Strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…

·        Because seeking and striving to love one another reminds us that we will be faced with temptations and forces that threaten to divide us throughout our lives; and in this election season, we have seen the ways in which this has impacted all of us, yet with God’s help, according to one of our baptismal promises, we are called to persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever (we) fall into sin, to repent and return to the Lord.

Why Seek and Strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…

·        Because seeking and striving to love one another can bring about healing in body, mind, and spirit - our own and those whose lives we encounter along the way. With God’s help, as we are reminded in one of our baptismal promises, we are called to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving (our) neighbor as (ourselves).

Why Seek and Strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…

·        Because seeking and striving to love one another reminds those who have been systematically excluded and oppressed, such as the widow in today’s gospel reading, that they are loved and valued and respected…and reminds us of our baptismal promise to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.

Why Seek and Strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…

·        Because seeking and striving to love one another welcomes and values the gifts of all God’s people, especially the seemingly small gifts that reveal the abundance of one’s love and intentions of the heart, of one who has come to trust and believe that, even in times of uncertainty, our hope is grounded in the love of God who is present with us always, who sees us, who loves us, who watches over us.

Jesus reminds us of that in the gospel reading today. As he sat back and watched the people putting money in the treasury that day, the rich people were putting in large sums of money out of their “abundance”, yet a poor widow that Jesus notices and pays attention to, puts in two small copper coins and he says to his disciples,  “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

I wonder what the impact of this teaching and encounter with Jesus on this day had on the disciples, the others there that day, and most especially upon the woman, who was seen and noticed, perhaps for the first time…

So, once again….I pose the question: Why Seek and Strive to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation? – as revealed to us in the stories and scriptures that Jesus brings to life for us each week…

Because this is the core mission of the church. To be a force of love in the world that transforms our lives, the lives of our neighbors, and the communities in which we live and work and worship together. A force of love and generosity of giving, in the varieties of ways that each one of us can contribute, for the healing and health and well-being of all God’s people in our communities.

Yes, this is the time of year, that we ask for your financial pledges for the coming year to help support the operating budget of the church, providing a salary and health insurance for your Rector, and all the expenses that come with the responsibility of owning properties, keeping the lights and the heat on, keeping them maintained and safe for use, not only for church services and programs, but as a gathering place for the many neighbors and small groups doing wonderful outreach and programs in our community.

Yet, the core mission of the church encompasses so much more than the buildings only…

We gather in our church every week to pray together and for one another, we gather to praise God together with our words and in our songs, we gather together to be still and know that our hope is grounded in the love of God who is present with us always, who sees us, who loves us, who watches over us…and this truth is made known to us, in the life and teachings, in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and by the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us that inspires us and has the power to transform us even now….Then…we are sent out from this time of gathering here in this church … to be the church, the body of Christ, as we go out into our communities to do the holy work of Seeking and Striving to walk the way of love with God, one another, and all of creation…so that God’s will may be done…here on earth as in heaven…

Closing Prayer/Hymn: #705 As those of old their first fruits brought

2        A world in need now summons us to labor, love, and give;

          to make our life an offering to God that all may live;

          the Church of Christ is calling us to make the dream come true:

          a world redeemed by Christ-like love; all life in Christ made new.

3        With gratitude and humble trust we bring our best to thee

          to serve thy cause and share thy love with all humanity.

          O thou who gavest us thyself in Jesus Christ thy Son,

          help us to give ourselves each day until life's work is done.

Rev Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

All Saints Sunday - a love that binds us together, heart to heart, spirit to spirit, for always…

ALL Saints Sunday – Nov 3, 2024

Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation to John 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44

Opening Prayer: (liturgylink.net)

Eternal God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, we praise you for the saints of all times and places who have walked the road of faith before us and beside us. We praise you for all your servants who have witnessed to your truth, who have shown us your love, who have inspired us to have hope. By their example of faith, hope, and love, remind us of your calling to join in making your new creation real in this world and the next. And as we walk this pilgrim way, make our faith firm, our hope clear, and our love pure, that we might join the saints of all the ages in praise eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today, we celebrate All Saints Day… A day set aside to recall all the famous Saints who walked this earth in many years past, but still remind us today of what it means to walk in love with God and one another as Jesus has taught us and shown us…and as Br Curtis Almquist reminds us on this occasion of remembering the famous saints, that we are not called to replicate their life and ministry. Rather, it is for us to draw inspiration from their lives to encourage us in our own life and ministry.

If you ever have the opportunity to join in on the yearly Lent Madness offering, it’s a great and light-hearted way to learn all about the famous saints…and be inspired by them…

We give thanks, too, as we pause during this weekend celebration, to remember some of the modern day saints, who may not be listed on the official famous saints calendars, yet in our lifetimes, and ancestor’s lifetimes have inspired us to look to their examples of how they lived out their lives, with God’s help, seeking and serving Christ in all persons, and learning to love their neighbors as they have been so loved…and  how their labors of love, striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being…transformed the people and the communities in which they lived.

We also set aside some time this weekend, to remember and give thanks for those saints in our lives—family members, mentors and friends—who are gifts of God to us, but no longer walk among us in this earthly life. Yet we are reminded on this occasion, that we are part of the communion of saints, united to one another in life and in death, through the love of God revealed to us in Jesus, a love that binds us together, heart to heart, spirit to spirit, for always.

As we remember our loved ones gone on before us – It is no surprise to any of us, that we find ourselves shedding some tears today: tears of deep sadness, shock, anger, but perhaps some tears of joy and gratitude mixed in as we recall some of the joyful and grateful experiences, we were blessed to share with those we love, throughout our lifetimes.

In today’s readings – we get a sense of all of this…

Mary, the sister of Lazurus is weeping, the people with her are weeping, we sense their deep sadness; Jesus senses their profound sadness; he weeps himself…. not just for them, but for his good friend, Lazurus, he weeps and cries out to his Father in Heaven – giving thanks for knowing his prayers are always heard, he cries out in a compassionate plea for those who are suffering among him…he wants them to know, like he knows that God listens to their cries and hears them, and to trust that Jesus has been sent to help them see and believe that for themselves too….In the midst of all that is so difficult to comprehend, he wants them to understand, that death is not the end of our stories…and will not have the last word…

And even though, they and all of us, cry tears of sadness in this moment, many moments throughout our lives, there will be a time, when those tears will be of joy and healing and new life….He wants them and us to trust in these promises, and hold on to that hope and vision of healing to come, as it is written in the Revelation to John, And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who is seated on the throne said, “See I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:3-5a)

The first things (the tears, the pain, the suffering)… will pass away … there is still healing and new life on the horizon after death and difficult changes and endings….there is still hope for the joy to come…even in the midst of not understanding any of this or struggling to make sense of anything in our present moment of sorrow and pain…

Yet, we are not expected to hold onto this vision and hope alone. Nor were we created to live like that, all alone. Jesus reminds us that God is present now and will be always. And Jesus reminds us that the world will know this, when we set out to walk in community with one another, to love one another, and care for one another.

This is true for one another here in our church family, and it is true for the family of God, in our neighborhoods and beyond.

We are in the midst of our fall pledge campaign season…and every week, a different vestry member has been invited to share a little bit in response to the weekly Walk in love reflection that is emailed out on Wednesdays, and is included in our Friday email and in our bulletin today.

This week’s theme, entitled Village, reminds us, that our mission and purpose as the body of Christ, the church, is now and ever will be…to go about this healing work, welcoming one another, joining together with one another, sharing our gifts and talents with one another; to be instruments of God’s love, God’s peace, God’s grace, God’s healing presence, and a beacon of Christ’s light for those who are in need of being set free from oppression, from hunger, from addictions, from sorrows that see no way forward, from fears and uncertainties about all of the changes, abrupt and gradual ones, that affect our personal lives, our faith communities, and the neighborhoods we live in.

I’d like to invite Chip to share his reflection with us again this morning, calling our attention to Walking In Love with one another, as Christ has loved us…through the lens of what it takes to create this beloved community…that is…it takes love, and every one of us…

Walk in Love Reflection, by vestry member, Chip Camdem
When I moved to Alaska, I thought I would live a solitary life.  Then one day shortly after arriving, I was walking by Crescent Harbor when two children from St. Peter's rolled by on their bikes, waved at me, and said "Hi, Chip!"  Suddenly I knew that I belonged to a community.  It turns out that "No man (sic) is an island" is never more true than when you live on one.  Sitka is a tightly knit community, and St. Peter's is one of the ties that binds us together.
I see collaboration that produces community in the efforts of St. Peter's clergy, vestry. and laity to not only keep the doors of the church open, but to continue to make it a vibrant place of transformation, growth, and outreach.  In cooperation with other local churches, we bring food to the hungry on Sunday afternoon Manna Meals. 

We support the Sitka Homeless Coalition's meals program and the Salvation Army's food pantry.  We open the See House for many community activities and programs.  Our licensed lay worship leaders and other volunteers in the church take part of the load off the clergy and the budget.  And we all gather together to remind ourselves that we are one body.
Working together cooperatively requires the humility and love to which Christ calls us.  We must be aware of our individual limitations so that we don't try to play the hero and get burned out.  We must look for opportunities to use our individual talents, not to impress, but to serve each other in love.  It all comes back to love.  Love binds us together in community.

This love that binds us together in community, transcends all times and all places, in this life together here on earth, and for ever with the saints in heaven…

On this All Saints weekend, we are reminded once again, that we are part of the communion of saints, united to one another in life and in death, through the love of God revealed to us in Jesus, a love that binds us together, heart to heart, spirit to spirit, for always…May it be so…

Closing Prayer/Hymn: Community (Dave Brown)

Part of a family, interconnected, this is community.

Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbors, this gives us dignity.

Care for the earth and the sea, we need to keep them free

So we care for the earth and sea

Care for the ones we meet, love is the face we see

When we care for the ones we meet.

Part of a family, interconnected, this is community.

Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbors, this gives us dignity.

Sharing our joy and our pain, praying and keeping the faith

By sharing our joy and our pain

Singing a song of rights, imaging God in life, by singing a song of rights.

Part of a family, interconnected, this is community.

Welcoming strangers, visiting neighbors, this gives us dignity.

Talk to the lonely, bind up the broken, this makes community

A glass of water shared with the thirsty, this makes for dignity

This makes for dignity

This is community.

Rev Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Accompaniment - Today's sermon - Oct 27

23 Pentecost/Year B – Oct 27, 2024

Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Mark 46-52

“Accompaniment”

Opening Prayer:  Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I love the opening sentences from our collect today: Almighty and Everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity…I think it would be safe to assume, that most of us sitting here, at one time or another, throughout our lives, have prayed for at least one of these gifts, if not all of them….

The Gift of Faith: are there any among us, who have cried out to God, either silently or aloud…asking God to give us more faith? There has probably been more than one occasion when perhaps our faith seemed almost non-existent…or perhaps we were encouraged by another “to keep the faith”….whatever that is supposed to mean, in the face of loss after loss after loss…or perhaps there have been other moments that that we’ve told ourselves... “if only I had more faith, none of this would be happening”...

The Gift of Hope: Are there any among us, who have cried out to God, either silently or aloud…asking God to give us more hope? Perhaps we’ve been in need of “more hope” when a loved one was struggling with health issues? Perhaps we have cried out in desperation and in need of “more hope” when painful circumstances don’t seem to let up? Perhaps we cried out, with a deep sigh…asking for more hope…to believe that “all will be well”…

The Gift of Charity: Are there any among us, who have cried out to God, either silently or aloud…asking God to give us more charity? We probably didn’t use the word “charity”…but perhaps some of the other more relatable words for charity such as compassion, kindness, gentleness, mercifulness, goodness, empathy, sympathy, love, and generosity…..Have you ever cried out to ask God to help you have more compassion and understanding of the family member or neighbor who tests your patience? Or perhaps you have asked God to be more empathetic to your hurt and pain? Or perhaps you have asked God to reveal to you how to love your neighbor, especially the one you disagree with?

In our gospel reading today, we are given an example of someone, named Bartimaeus, who cries out to the Holy One, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” not only once…but a second time…believing with all of his being, that Jesus would hear his prayer plea to be seen and heard and be made well again. And, as we heard in the reading…Jesus did see him and hear him, and asked him what he wanted him to do for him.

The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

This was a big deal. Jesus acknowledged him when no one else would. The disciples were trying to silence the blind beggar, the outcast, the one on the margins. But Jesus chooses to respond to him, to listen to him, to strive to understand his needs, to acknowledge him and to help him see his belovedness in himself, too.  Bartimaeus, renewed in his faith and well-being, then chooses to follow Jesus on the way…excited to join Jesus in a new way of traveling and exploring the new landscape of living that Jesus was surely about to show him…a way of travel that embodies Jesus’ invitation to all of us, to walk in love with one another, as Jesus has taught us and shown us…

What about us today…

Will we cry out to Jesus, as Bartimaeus did, with a sense of urgency to Jesus…to open our eyes and ears to what is all around us…to open our eyes and ears to the people who are suffering among us…to open our eyes and ears to those around us who struggle with addiction and substance misuse issues, those who are victims of violence and abuse, those who are lonely and afraid, those whose voices are often silenced, or those whose belovedness is routinely questioned and judged because their life journeys look so much different than ours, their day to day life situation is different than ours.

Many among us are searching for some form of accompaniment, acceptance, and belonging…

I’m going to step aside now, so that Loyd can share his own thoughts on this week’s Walk in Love reflection on the theme of Accompaniment.

(LOYD PLATSON –Reflections on Accompaniment

At a recent Vestry meeting we began discussing the annual “in-gathering” set for October/ November. As we were discussing how to go about it, we talked about the “Walk In Love” approach with its 5 sequential components and how each of the Vestry members could take one of the components to talk or write a brief thought about for each week leading up to the actual in-gathering. I sat there waiting, hoping someone would take the first week’s topic. Fingers crossed, eyes closed, saying silent prayers, just hoping, and as God would have it (since he works in such mysterious ways), I ended up with the first topic, Accompaniment.

I had my own ideas as to what this meant. To accompany or go with someone, but I wanted to see what the dictionary had to say about it.

 It seems that accompaniment is often associated with music.

Meriam-Webster defines it as an instrumental or vocal part designed to support or complement a melody such as “She sang the song with a piano accompaniment” another dictionary had this definition: “a musical part that supports or partners a solo instrument, voice, or group.”

I also found that Accompaniment can be associated with food: such as food items served along with another food to enhance palatability OR “something that is supplementary to or complements another food. Such as "sugar snap peas make a delicious accompaniment for salmon.” 

Accompaniment can also be associated with clothes. The definition here is “an addition intended to give completeness or symmetry to something such as “that tie is a nice accompaniment to your new suit”

I thought all of these helped me see accompaniment a bit more clearly, but I wanted to understand more about what accompaniment has to do in human relationships and the church.

Recently, Julie and I watched a documentary called “Will and Harper” which, of all things, documents a road trip that Will Farrell of Saturday Night Live and Harper Steele (formerly known as Andrew Steele, a head writer for SNL) take after Harper notifies Will of her transition into becoming female (after 20 plus years of friendship). Not only did we get to see their travels together across the country, but we got a glimpse of their interactions and struggles as they grapple with their “new” relationship.

 I was reminded of some of the definitions from the dictionary such as to “support or compliment” or to give “completeness” to something (or someone).

 I was struck by this documentary in the way Will not only decided to go with Harper, but to be with Harper, to experience Harper and their new relationship, and therein lies the significant difference I was looking for in my understanding of accompaniment.

It got me thinking about going to church versus being the church, not only within these walls, but out in the larger community. How do we, on a daily basis “support and compliment” or give “completeness” to those we are traveling with, those whose life journeys look so much different than ours, those whose day to day life situation is different than ours, those who may cause us to feel uncomfortable, out of our comfort zone, and those searching for some form of accompaniment.)

I encourage you to ponder those questions around the theme of accompaniment in these next few days….and prayerfully discern how God might be calling you anew to be the church, the body of Christ, not only here inside the church walls, but also in the larger community this coming year.

Let us cry out to God to increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity, to guide us and empower us to choose to walk in love with God and our neighbors who are searching for accompaniment, acceptance, and belonging…

It is just one more step along the way that can help all of us to be healed and reconciled to one another, so that our communities, all of God’s children, can thrive and flourish in ways that we never thought were possible.

“From the old to the new, O God, keep us traveling along with you.”

Closing Prayer/Hymn: One more step along the world I go

(My Heart Sings Out #127)

1        One more step along the world I go, one more step along the world I go;

          from the old things to the new keep me traveling along with you:

                             and it’s from the old I travel to the new;

                             keep me traveling along with you.

2        Round the corner of the world I turn, more and more about the world I learn;

          all the new things that I see you’ll be looking at along with me:

          Refrain

3        As I travel through the bad and good, keep me traveling the way I should;

          where I see no way to go you’ll be telling me the way, I know:

          Refrain

4        Give me courage when the world is rough,

          keep me loving though the world is tough;

          leap and sing in all I do, keep me traveling a long with you:

          Refrain

Rev. Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

An invitation to Walk in Love as Christ has loved us...

22 Pentecost/Year B – Walk in Love Stewardship Kick off Sunday Oct 20, 2024

Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 91:9-16; Mark 35-45

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons,  loving your neighbor as yourself?

I will, with God's help.

Opening Prayer: (WIL/TENS resources, adapted)

Creator God, as we begin our fall stewardship journey of Walking in Love with You and one another, may the gifts that we pledge in the coming weeks help us to honor the work you have given us to do, to serve You and one another, here in this place and in this time. Inspire us and guide our footsteps as we bless, break, and share our gifts of time, talent, and treasure with our neighbors, walking in love as you have walked with us. Amen.

IN our gospel reading today, James and John boldly approach Jesus and say to him: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” …When Jesus asks them what they want, they say to him: “Grant us to sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your glory.” James and John seem to be seeking the honor, and power, and status of being truly great, if only they could “sit” on the throne and “rule” the kingdom they think they know something about. But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.” And he goes on to teach them and the other disciples about what being “great” is truly about…and it has nothing to do with sitting on thrones of self-importance or striving to rise to places of power and glory for oneself, that are often used to look down upon others, oppress others, or dismiss others as being unworthy…

Jesus said: “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Yes, Jesus calls us to a different kind of greatness: A greatness defined by the way we walk in love with one another, in the ways we strive to love others, care for others, and serve others…a greatness defined by serving others by being extravagant with the love we offer to one another, with the kindnesses we offer one another, with the forgiveness we offer one another, and the relationships we seek to create with one another, as we strive to build up God’s kingdom,  a kingdom that is “ruled” with love….a world-wide family and community that believes that this love, Christ’s love…is the love has the power to reconcile us to God, one another, and all of creation…right here, right now…

And, in seeking this kind of greatness, we must often give up what’s comfortable for us and cross boundaries, cross the street, be the first to extend a hand of welcome….be the first to set aside the words that destroy relationships, and divide us from one another, be the first to step out in faith in the face of change needed… be the one who pro-actively invites those we meet, to come and see…that there is another path to greatness…and that path is illumined for us every step of the way, as we strive to walk in the Way of love, that Jesus has taught us…in so many different ways…in ways that build up and encourage one another…in ways that say and show that each and every person matters and belongs…in ways that affirm that all are welcome, all are beloved children of God, all are worthy of God’s love…

If we were asked to draw a picture, to envision and capture what our communities could look like, if we followed Jesus’ way of love, by humbling ourselves, and by serving others…what would it look like? What would “greatness” look like?

Would we see hands reaching out to help one another? Would we see hands reaching out to help lift others out of the depths of loneliness and isolation, addictions, and domestic violence? Would we see hands distributing food to the hungry? Would we see long tables, filled with people of all ages, eating, and laughing and enjoying conversations with one another?

Would we see men, women, and children of all ages, and all cultures joining in the dance of life together, learning from one another, teaching one another, encouraging one another, treating one another with dignity and respect? Would we see rivers and oceans flowing, trees and flowers blooming, seasons changing in the way that God created them to? Would we see people tending to the earth and all of its creatures with care and concern for today’s world…and for the people who will inhabit this earth long after we are gone?

The possibilities are endless….no sketch pad or mural is large enough to capture the vastness of what is possible, when we strive to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves, as we strive to walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.    Ephesians 5:1-2, NRS

I’ve seen the vastness of what is possible when people walk together in such a way, unfolding in real time right before my eyes, not only this past year here at St Peter’s and in the wider Episcopal Church, but in the evolution of changes that we have been through together in my nine and a half years since being welcomed into this community.

The ways all of you have stepped up in such a wide variety of offerings this past year, continues to give me seeds of hope for the ways in which the church and its people will continue to be shaped and transformed for the labors of love and work we will be called to in the coming year.

I’ve seen how you’ve loved and supported one another through times of illness and loss; I’ve seen how you’ve loved and supported people in our community through your monetary and in-kind donations and through your volunteer efforts to feed the hungry and provide shelter for those in need, visit the lonely, encourage the young and the elderly; I’ve seen how generous you’ve been with your monetary and in-kind donations that you’ve given this past year to support the operating budget of the church, and to support all the buildings and grounds projects at St Peter’s, most recently the stonemasonry work.

I’ve seen the fruits of your labors and donations in the ways that your stewardship of our historic buildings has been an incredible gift to the community, enabling us to use the See House as a safe and welcoming gathering space for many community organizations, AA groups, youth groups, as well as for all of the church-organized activities. I’ve seen how it is possible, that even through some of the big and abrupt changes that we’ve all faced in the past few years, in our personal lives, in the church, in the community, your commitment to walking in love with one another, as Christ has loved us and gave himself up for us, continues to be an inspiring and hope-filled witness to the “greatness” of which Christ is inviting us to live out in all our days to come.

So, thank you. I’ve seen all of you, on the front lines, and those who do the everyday quiet work behind the scenes.

My hope and prayer for the coming year, is that we will bring all of those gifts of greatness together again this year, ensuring that St Peter’s can continue to offer ourselves and our buildings as “A sacred place to gather, be anchored in the beauty of God’s love, and sent forth to walk in the way of love”…

And now, as is sometimes my best way to express my gratitude for the examples of the greatness of God’s love that I have been witness to in the people and places I have been in my lifetime…I close with this instrumental offering…

Closing Prayer/Hymn: How Great Thou Art

Rev. Julie Platson, Rector

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK