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Our Pastor's monthly letters from Covenant's newsletter, archived here for your reference.
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Max and I were just talking about things that amaze us. Not miracles, just amazing experiences that leave a smile of wonder on your face. Max finds it amazing that a squirrel has the ability to jump from tree to tree, using the smallest of branches, and never falls to the ground. That doesn’t exactly leave a smile on his face, but it does amaze him. That wondrous activity also causes Max to shake quite a bit, make funny sounds, and wag his tail in a circle. Hopefully I won’t have the same reaction to wondrous events.
I shared with Max two events I experienced recently that left me in wonder and awe. The first was the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Concert hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This year was my second time being present for this amazing concert. While the music was outstanding, that was not the thing that left me speechless. Instead, it was the setting and diversity of people.
That evening I sat in a Mormon Church next to the Bishop of that church and a Roman Catholic priest. The three of us shared in laughter as we watched the children. We sang with joy under the leadership of a wonderful Jewish musician. The evening was filled with smiles, joy, and sincere fellowship. Differences in theology, and biblical interpretation were ignored. The evening was filled with the amazing experience of gathering together as a family under the providence of God. There were no denominations represented. There were no differences in faith. We were simply God’s children getting together to return thanks.
There are still many communities in our country where that type of evening cannot happen. Prejudices, uninformed misunderstandings, and outright discrimination prevent the children of God to manifest their common heritage as a family. What a shame during this season of Advent that such sad conditions still exist. The kingdom of God is not an exclusive club. Instead, the kingdom (as described by Jesus) is a place where all the children of God gather to return thanks to the source of their being. The evening of that wonderful concert was a glimpse of the wondrous beauty which awaits us.
A second amazing event came my way this past Monday morning. As you will recall, I appealed to the congregation to bring nonperishable food to the church for distribution to families in our community. There was also a request for someone to stop by the church on Monday to deliver the food to the collection point. To my amazement, at 9:00 a.m. five automobiles pulled up in front of the church. A wonderful group of brothers and sisters from our faith community loaded the food in a matter of minutes, and were of to make the delivery. I was stunned.
The compassionate response to our community’s need has left me speechless. I have never seen such concern demonstrated through action. In addition to the food, we have also received numerous gift cards for food. These are already being distributed to those in need. Your generosity and compassion has warmed the hearts of persons desperately in need of hope. You have lived out the meaning of compassion and made our community a much better place to live.
I know these two events were not miracles. These were simply moments that caused me to wonder at the possibilities in this world. So many times in life we miss the times when blessings occur. Thankfully, I didn’t miss these moments.
Can you believe it? Max is still shaking, making those funny sounds, and wagging his tail furiously at the squirrels. He is simply amazed. I think I’ll join him!
Peace, Phil and Max
There is an old Chinese proverb which states: Those who drink the water must remember those who dug the well. This proverb seems to be a timely reminder for our country at this time. As I write this article the country is only days away from the inauguration of a new president. Each day the newscasts are filled with the plans being made for this wonderful demonstration of democracy at work. Unfortunately, the reports center on traffic woes, security risks, weather forecasts, availability of tickets to inaugural balls, and what breed of dog the new first family should pick. With all of this “important” news, it seems to me that we may have forgotten those who dug the well from which we drink.
I suppose it is understandable that traffic would be a concern in the Washington, D.C. area. After all, traffic usually flows smoothly around the nation’s capital, and we all know that I270 is never a problem. What are a few hundred thousand more cars? There may be some traffic jams, but nothing really newsworthy. Of course, January weather in this area is very predictable – maybe snow, possibly freezing rain, perhaps bitter cold and windy, all of the aforementioned or none of the above – you can count on that…maybe.
Security is high these days. Security has been high since 9/11. However, I often wonder if the security risks are terrorists or our own citizens. Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a place where all people could be trusted to live in peace? Scripture speaks of that time and place, and we are obviously not there yet.
Then there is the big question: Which breed of dog for the first family. Of course, Max and I vote for Westhighland White Terrier. After all, what other type of dog is there for any self-respecting family? One thing is certain, whatever breed is chosen the squirrels will be up a tree (so to speak).
There has been much talk about President Obama being the first African-American elected to the country’s highest office. I find that discussion somewhat sad. I realize that distinction is a sign that our country has finally grownup a bit, but it is also a sad note. I wish we could simply say that President Obama is an American – nothing more, nothing less. If we truly believe that all people are created equal skin color and religious beliefs shouldn’t enter into the discussion. We have a young, energetic, brilliantly educated president. Our nation is experiencing a revival of enthusiasm and energy that has not been seen since the founding of this country.
We live in a land that has been blessed more than any other place on earth. As citizens of this country we experience freedoms and rights that most people throughout the world only dream of having. Our system of government (flawed though it may be) assures us the possibility of hope and productive change. We have the ability to freely decide who will serve as our elected leaders. This is a free nation that was founded on liberty for all people. The dream of our founding fathers and mothers has become a reality again, and we are part of that event. Let us drink deeply from the well, and remember with honor those who provided this source of nourishment for us.
From the Treehouse,
Phil and Max
As I was working on plans for Holy Week Max kept interrupting me. He was preoccupied with the whereabouts of a squirrel. I finally told him to keep the noise down so I could concentrate, and he asked what I was working on. As I explained that I was working on liturgies for each night of Holy Week, Max asked an important question, “Why?”
“Well,” I said, “Let me go through each day and explain. We’ll gather at 7:00 each night, and follow this plan.”
April 6 (Holy Monday): “A House of Prayer” – Praying the Rosary. This liturgy is designed to help focus attention on the purpose of worship. This is a prayerful activity that developed in the Roman Catholic Church. While a rosary will be projected on the screen during the liturgy, participants are encouraged to purchase a rosary for personal use in their devotions. Various rosary booklets are being written which will be available in printed form and online.
April 7 (Holy Tuesday): “The Fig Tree” – Lectio Divina. This spiritual discipline has been used throughout the centuries as a means of discerning God’s divine instruction that is revealed through scripture. This involves reading of scripture, silent meditation, and group sharing.
April 8 (Holy Wednesday): “An Unnamed Woman” – Anointing. This liturgy concentrates on the responsibilities of a true disciple. The liturgy will include an opportunity for those who wish to receive anointing oil.
April 9 (Maundy Thursday): “Passover” – Eucharist. This liturgy will be in the form of a Seder meal, which has been adapted for Christian worship. As part of the meal we will share the Passover story, the Last Supper of Jesus and the disciples, and Holy Communion. This liturgy is designed for all ages to participate fully.
April 10 (Holy Friday): “The Death of Jesus” – Stations of the Cross. This ancient liturgy allows the congregation to participate in the journey of Jesus to Calvary, where he is crucified. Nursery care will be available for this service.
Then on April 11 (Holy Saturday): “Mourning” – Prayer Vigil.
During the daylight hours (7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
those who wish may offer personal prayer in the sanctuary. Materials will also be available to assist in this ancient practice.
“It seems to me,” said Max, “you’re trying to let people experience the whole journey of Jesus.”
“That’s the idea, Palm Sunday and Easter don’t make sense unless you fill in the days between those two events.” I said, “It’s a journey that goes on every day.”
“Cool,” said Max, “now where did that squirrel go?”
From the Tree House, Phil and Max
The following is the prayer I offered for the Maryland State Senate on March 19. The spirit of ecumenism is stressed in all prayers offered in public arenas.
With an attitude of humble servant hood, may our hearts be prepared to receive the seed of inspiration, and our minds open to the courageous vision of divine wisdom.
All knowing, all seeing, all powerful and loving Source of our being:
We offer our thanks this day for the gift of life and freedom. The blessings you shower upon us are beyond our understanding. Our individual journeys have placed us at this time and place, the purpose of which now unfolds before us. Make us mindful of the faithful men and
women who have gone before us to preserve the liberties we now enjoy. May the actions of this day rely upon your divine providence.
May your Spirit of compassion and honor rest upon this sacred chamber. Let the focus of debates disregard impending votes, and focus instead on the well-being of the citizens of this great state. Remove the divisions of red and blue, replacing them with the vision of a unified people. We have become obsessed with false idols of dollars and cents. The time has come to remove those idols and replace them with the common sense of integrity.
We place in your arms the men and women of our armed forces, asking that they be shielded by your loving protection. May the chaos and madness of these days give way to your desire for peace and justice.
When the work of this day has been recorded we pray the word will go forth from this place that divine wisdom and inspiration has invaded this building. Let the word be spoken that the actions of this body did not reflect interest groups, but represented loyal citizens. Let the word be spoken that this is not a place of government, but a sacred chamber of honor. Let the word be spoken that in this place the needs and welfare of the people are the singular purpose of this body ’s words and actions. Let the words be spoken that in this place is the model of true government.
We pray your blessing upon the men and women of this chamber. We pray your blessing upon our Governor. Most especially, Divine Creator, we pray your blessing upon our beloved President Obama —continue to inspire him as he leads our country with honor, integrity, and wisdom.
May our thoughts, words and actions this day be filled with the fruit of your inspiration and grace. Amen.
From the Tree House, Phil Ayers
The Tree House is officially reopened! Max and I journeyed onto the balcony a few times over the winter, but it was really cold. The weather has finally warmed up enough to make trips to the Tree House a regular occurrence, so, we ’re back in business. Of course, the reopening set off some interesting discussion.
On the first day back in the Tree House I made the comment that the warm weather made me feel alive. Max responded by saying it was a good thing since I was alive. My explanation just made things worse, so let me share my thoughts with you.
We are in the liturgical season after Easter. Of course, we all know what Easter is all about – celebrating the resurrection of life. On the other hand, every day is supposed to be a celebration of Easter.It shouldn’t matter if it is December or April, as Christians we should celebrate new life each day. What I was trying to explain was the way Spring –like weather makes us feel the thrill of life.
As I reflected on my inability to explain myself to Max, it occurred to me that Christians might have the same problem with the rest of the world. If we really believe in resurrection life, do people see that understanding in our daily actions? My fear is that we fail to live our faith.
It is so easy for us to get wrapped up in the winter of life. We hibernate in our own little caves, and the world forgets we even exist. We curl up and wait out the winter, looking for the signs of spring that come with Easter. Only then do we acknowledge new life. In short, our actions deny our faith statement about resurrection.
I am not saying we should stop celebrating Easter faith when we finally feel alive. Instead, I’m suggesting that we should make a conscious effort to continue celebrating Easter when the cold winds of winter come again. If we truly become people of the resurrection, the world will experience new life through our desire to minister in the name of Christ. A new message of hope will permeate society as we begin to see and realize possibilities, rather than dwell on obstacles. The world will once again feel alive.
I’ve tried my best to explain this thought to Max, but it just isn’t working. He keeps reminding me that he manages to feel alive every day. Of course, his reason for feeling alive is not exactly resurrection. Instead, Max just lives by the motto: A squirrel a day keeps boredom away. Well, that might work for him, but I think Easter works better for me.
Shalom from the Tree House,
Phil and Max
Max and I were enjoying the spring weather in the tree house the other day while reading the news from the Conference web site. I was looking over items that would be coming up at Annual Conference when Max asked what “Annual Conference ” was all about. I thought you might like to hear the response.
Each year there is a gathering of all clergy in each Conference throughout our denomination. In addition to the clergy, lay persons from each church gather at the same time. In this manner there is a balance of half clergy and half lay persons for voting purposes. This year the Baltimore- Washington Conference will gather in Baltimore on June 4-7. During this time the gathered body will review the various ministries of the Conference, commission or ordained ministers and deacons, and establish the budget for 2010. The body of the Conference will number approximately 2000 persons, and will be presided over by our Episcopal leader, Bishop John Schol.
Needless to say, this gathering is filled with re-ports, debates, sharing of information, networking, wor-ship, and reunions. In the early days of Methodism these Conferences occurred quarterly in some cases. It was extremely difficult for all clergy to be present due to the circuits they were appointed to, which in many cases encompassed congregations in numerous states. With communication being so difficult, it became a tradition that the opening hymn of each gathering was, “And Are We Yet Alive.” This hymn represented the fact of live in those pioneer days – some had survived another year, and some had joined the great cloud of witnesses.
While times have changes in dramatic fashion, there is still a sense of reunion among clergy at each gath-ering of the Conference. We sincerely enjoy meeting up with old friends whom we have served with through the years. In many cases this gathering is the only time we see some friends, and we truly relish the chance to catch up on life.
Annual Conference is also a time of debate, and in some cases conflict. The Elders of the Conference begin with an Executive Session, where we vote on issues involving ordination, retirement, and instances of clergy miscon-duct. These issues are deeply serious, and sometimes very confrontational. Elders are ordained to the responsibility of maintaining the order of the church, and most of us take this charge extremely seriously. We are called to seek the health of the church, while demonstrating the compassion of Christ.
The Lay Member to Annual Conference from our congregation is Janet Fujikawa. This is Janet ’s second year in this position, and she does an outstanding job in translating the work of the Conference for the congregation. Please keep Janet and me in your prayers during Annual Conference, and please pray for the rest of those in attendance.
Shalom from the Tree House,
Phil and Max
September 2009:
Summer brings so many opportunities for us - chances to rest as we vacation. That much-needed rest allows us to refocus our energies for family and career. Children have a break from schooling, allowing them to renew their youthful exuberance for life. Fresh vegetables fill our kitchens as we enjoy the bounty of the earth. This season is one of renewal.
While this season offers a needed time of renewal, it also presents a difficult situation for some organizations. In particular, churches tend to experience difficulties with cash flow during the summer months. This is understandable to some extent. Churches rely on offerings
and tithes to fund operating budgets and missions. When people are away on vacation, attendance at worship decreases, and offerings diminish proportionally. The difficulty is that certain budgetary items remain constant, and some actually increase.
Salaries remain constant, as do denominational re-sponsibilities. Utilities tend to increase due to weather conditions which demand additional air conditioning. Summer is actually the best time of the year to engage in mission, but these opportunities depend upon cash flow. In addition, the month of August is a very busy time of preparation for the fall season, thus requiring additional financial expenditures.
All of this is presented to remind us that while summer is a time of rest, it is a time of worry in churches. During our vacations we sometimes forget that our community of faith continues to function in the work of ministry. A point of reality is that ministry requires adequate funding. Our financial commitment to the community of faith must be a constant in life. If we forget to
pay utility bills, mortgages, or loans, there are serious consequences. If we fail to fulfill our pledge to the church there are serious consequences for the community of faith.
It is necessary that each of us take time to vacation, and rejuvenate ourselves. Resting and recreating is a God-given requirement to humans. Still, we must remember that the ministry of the community of faith continues each day of the year. Ministry takes no vacation. As we enter the fall season, please take time to check on your financial commitment to our community of faith and make sure your giving is current.
Shalom, Phil and Max
Advent has dawned upon us, and the Christian faith has begun its journey back to Bethlehem. I sometimes find it difficult to live out certain traditions, and Advent is one of those practices of the church that challenges me each year. How can a four-week tradition have the same meaning each year without becoming a mere exercise? Are we truly preparing ourselves for the arrival of the Messiah, or are we just counting the days until we can open the presents? Is this tradition real or just something to entertain us?
This past Sunday morning I experienced Advent in a way that brought new life to this tradition in my life. After offering some Ministry Opportunities for the 10:00 liturgy I remained in the chancel rather than processing with the choir. As I sat in meditation, Tom played that wonderful Chorale Prelude of J. S. Bach, Wachet Auf (Sleeper ’s Awake ). My heart bounced with the delightful dance-like theme that forms the background for the stately melody calling the world to awaken. We spoke and sang Psalm 122, which led us into the processional hymn.
My eyes were open, my heart was ready, and then it happened. The processional came walking into my view.
Leading that processional was Leah Lowrey, who served as the Crucifer. As Leah approached the Chancel I was shocked into the reality that something special was happening. Leah held the cross in a dignified and elegant manner as she slowly led the choir. Approaching the Altar, she turned and waited patiently as the choir members found their seats. The she gracefully placed the cross in its stand and took her seat. It was all done with elegance and grace which left me speechless. In a quiet unassuming way, Leah had brought new meaning to the Advent season for me – we should not only prepare to receive the gift of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, but also to receive that gift each day.
The reality of Christ ’s presence should be a daily celebration for the faithful. We should be following the example of Leah, who so graciously led us into worship by carrying the cross of Christ. So often we simply go through motions with traditions. However, each day of our life should be a tradition of Christian service to the world by following the example of Christ. My sincere thanks to Leah, and all of the young people at Covenant Church who offer their service to the church, and demonstrate Christian discipleship to the world.
Shalom,
Phil
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