Blessing the Animals

Each year we have a service of Blessing of the animals near the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Aside from a neat thing to do what is the purpose of holding a service of Blessing of Animals?

At first glance it might seem a futile thing to do.  Do the animals understand what is happening?  Do the animals need blessing?  I think that we Bless the animals mostly for our own sake.  Very often the animals being blessed are beloved pets.  They have been brought to the service by their masters because their masters love the pets deeply and feel moved when the pets are blessed.  Pets become members of our families and we as pet owners want the best for them.

I have blessed animals that are other than pets, that is, farm animals.  Farm animals do not usually have quite the emotional ties to the owner.  They do have an economic tie, however.  The owner has a life investment in the animals of their farm.  These are important animals and their welfare is important to the welfare of the farmer and the farmer's family.  God's blessings on agriculture has long been something that has been sought.  It is a motivation that goes to the early origins of religion.

At a service of Blessing of Animals I have even been asked to pray for a pet's healing!  A very fine looking dog was brought before me and the owner asked not only for a blessing, but for healing.  The dog had terminal cancer.  I am sure that the healing was for the distraught owner.

I think there is a greater need for Blessing that we express in this once-a-year service and that is we seek to remind ourselves of our closeness to nature.  We bless God's creatures, but in so doing we recognize our need for them and our need for our environment.  We were given dominion over the earth and that implies that we were also given responsibility for that earth.  Our pets and farm animals do more than belong to us, they are our companions in this life.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that we may

not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mt 11:28 -30)

This was in the Gospel for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost which was last Sunday.  I reflected on this in the Sermon, but I want to reflect on this more here.  In fact, for all of my life part of this passage has been a part of our liturgy in a much older translation "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you."  This passage can be found in our Rite I Eucharist in the "comfortable words" following the confession and absolution.  Since Rite I is in fact mostly the Eucharist from the 1928 Prayer Book, this has been a part of my life as long as I have been alive.

What does it mean to us?  Jesus speaks in many different tones in the Gospels and this is more the tone of the Jesus Meek and Mild I learned of in Sunday School.  However, I left that Jesus behind me many years ago along with my naivete.  I have come to think of Jesus as a strong, forceful and directed person who teaches a God of Love and forgiveness.  This passage almost seems too kind and meek.  Is it though?

Jesus was facing a rough time.  He was being opposed by the very people in Judea who he was closest to in message, the Pharisees.  The Pharisees are the very strain of Judaic religion that eventually became Rabinic Judaism and has lead to modern Judaism. An if you are familiar at all with today's Judaism you know that is is very moral, charitable and demonstrative of the Love of God.  So, what was the problem?  It was for Jesus a problem that the Pharisees of his day were layering things on the Torah Law enough to make compliance very difficult, for some even impossible.  In our passage from Matthew we hear Jesus saying that his yoke is light and it is light because he does not layer impossible demands on the people.

This is something for us to keep in mind today.  The faith of the Church is much simpler by far than some would make it.  "Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it." This is a quote from the Gospel of Mary Magdalen, a non-canonical work.  It is a quote of the post- resurrection Jesus to his Disciples and it indicates the very principle I refer to.  Don't add a lot of extra things to the "way of Christ."  Let's keep the burden light!

God's Peace,
Michelle +

Care of Creation

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

Recently, a group of us have come together to recommend wording changes to our Baptismal covenant.  These changes would emphasize care for God's Creation.  This is to begin what is usually a very long process leading to experimental use and eventually Prayer Book wording change.  I am on board with the process, but I wonder about the effectiveness of a simple wording change at the time of Baptism.  We still baptize infants so the covenant is agreed to by God Parents ( who often loose touch with their God Children over the years.)  Also a simple promise made in the context of a service I believe to be a rather weak method of making a change.

As I write this there are people in California who are suffering from some of the worst fires in recorded history for the area.  California, additionally is suffering under extreme drought conditions.  This is affecting farmers and agricultural workers and probably has untold affect on all kinda of people.  This isn't the California I knew as I was growing up, full of fields of produce, orchards and vineyards.

Right next to California is Arizona, where my son and his family (with my only granddaughter) live.  They have been experiencing some of the hottest weather ever.  I cannot imagine daytime temperatures of 113 degrees!  When I visit them I cannot drink the tap water.  It is OK for showering and other things, but not so good for drinking.

I read that the polar ice is melting rapidly and may cause the rise of oceans.  I hear news accounts of islands of garbage floating in the Pacific and other places.  I also read and hear that many of our legislators are playing ostrich (putting their head in a hole and waiting for reality to pass them by.)

Somehow, I do not believe that a statement made in a Baptism is going to make a great change.  I do think that the Baptism covenant discussion can be a beginning of our awareness.  This awareness can lead to change.  In Genesis it says that God looked at Creation and thought it was good, so good we were entrusted with it's care.  So far we haven't been good stewards!

Bring Back our Girls!

It has been very disturbing to me that about a month ago 276 School Girls from Nigeria were kidnapped and taken violently from their school.  It has taken about three weeks for most of the world to become aware of this sad event.  The Militant group that kidnapped the girls is threatening to sell the girls as brides for $12!  The basic reason for the kidnappings is that the girls were being educated.
The Nigerian Government has been slow to act and the safety of the girls and their future is in doubt.

I am asking each of you to include the following prayer in your daily prayers:

O God, we cry out to you
for the lives and the freedom
of the 276 kidnapped girls in Nigeria.
In their time of danger and fear,
pour out your strong Spirit for them. 
Make a way home for them in safety.
Make a way back for them
to the education that will lift them up.
Hold them in the knowledge
that they are not captive slaves,
they are not purchased brides,
but they are your beloved daughters,
and precious in your sight. 
Change the hearts and minds of their kidnappers
and of all who choose violence against women and girls.
Cast down the mighty from their seat,
and lift up the humble and meek,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

this prayer has been written by Elizabeth Smith, Diocese of Perth, Australia

some links to news articles:

Anglican Communion News Service

New York Times

The Huffington Post

Blessings!

Michelle

Presiding Bishop calls for prayers for South Sudan

The Presiding Bishop has called the Episcopal Church to prayer and action for South Sudan in response to the continuing crisis there. South Sudan became a nation in July 2011 following almost half a century of civil war. Fighting continues in parts of South Sudan and the humanitarian crisis is vast. The conflict has left thousands dead and more than 1.2 million people have fled their homes.

Since May 16 marks the commemoration of the Martyrs of the Sudan in the Episcopal Church, Sunday, May 18 has been chosen as a specific Day of Prayer for South Sudan and Sudan. All are invited to join in prayer for our brothers and sisters in South Sudan. 

 

Here is the collect for that day:

 

O God, steadfast in the midst of persecution, by your providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church: As the martyrs of the Sudan refused to abandon Christ even in the face of torture and death, and so by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest, may we, too, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Resources:  

• The Presiding Bishop's call to prayer and action
• Interview with Archbishop Justin Welby on the crisis: "We must be battering down the gates of heaven in prayer." 
• Joint statement of solidarity from the heads of:
  --The Anglican Church of Canada
  
  
  • --The Episcopal Church
    --The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
    --The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
  • Pray / Study / Act
  • As South Sudan rivals agree truce, church plays pivotal role
  • Episcopal Relief & Development resources (includes ERD bulletin inserts on South Sudan)
  • Bulletin Inserts
  • Follow / Tweet at #martyrsofsudan

East of the River Lenten Series 2014

LENT East of the River

A Collaboration of Episcopal Churches

Matthew on Mission
(or, Got Mission?)

Simple supper, conversation, and worship. 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Exploring the theme of mission in the Gospel of Matthew, we will discuss select scripture passages
and how they relate to current issues of importance to the Body of Christ in community.

Wednesday, March 12: “Satan” | Grace Church, Stafford Springs

Wednesday, March 19: “Let Our Eyes be Opened” | St. John’s, Warehouse Point

Wednesday, March 26: “Jesus’ Healing Touch” | All Saints’, East Hartford

Wednesday, April 2: “In As Much” | St. John’s, Vernon

Wednesday, April 9: “Out of the Water—Into the World” | St. Peter’s, Hebron

Tenebrae

(with simple supper)

Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m. | St. James’, Glastonbury

The Great Vigil of Easter

Saturday, April 19. 8:00 p.m. | St. Mary’s, Manchester
The Rt. Rev. Gordon Scruton, Celebrant 

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop’s Christmas Message 2013

Christmas message 2013
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.    Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah pronounces these words to a people who remember the yoke of slavery laid on their shoulders.  They’ve been waiting for this child, whose birth transforms that yoke into a mantle of authority.  They are promised that this authority will continue to grow as the peaceable commonwealth is established – with justice and righteousness for all, and for ever.
This promise is spoken anew to people in every age, to those who have lived under oppression or in dark depression, to the hungry and ill and imprisoned.  The birth we celebrate offers hope, in Word made flesh, who comes among us to heal and walk this way with us.  The mantle of authority on his shoulders begins in the swaddling clothes of a child born in the humblest of circumstances.  Yet that authority is recognized even by foreigners from far away.  That mantle of authority does continue to grow, through a life offered for others, raised into new life, and passed on to new generations of fleshly God-bearers.  Wherever justice and righteousness is done, that authority is growing, borne on the shoulders of the Prince of Peace.
He comes again, bearing the grace of the One whose image he wears in flesh.  Seek him, sing his new song, declare his glory, and tell out the good news to all the nations:  God reigns, and he is coming bearing righteousness and truth on his shoulders.
May you discover that humble authority born again on the edges of the world’s notice.  May that royal inheritance and authority of the stable be born in you, enliven your heart, and rest on your shoulders.  Bear it abroad in peace, this year and throughout the ages.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church