Filling a Need in Florida

by Gail Schilling

Gail is away from St. Paul's for a bit, and has generously agreed to share some of her adventures with us here on our blog.

Let God use you without consulting you – Mother Teresa

When I planned my winter escape to Florida, I planned to volunteer at the nearby Bok Tower Gardens, offer musical or educational talent to the Episcopal church and, yes, work in plenty of pool time. I did not anticipate praying over or singing to a dying woman.

My sister-in-law, Dana, you see, works as a guardian for folks near the end of life who cannot make decisions. Nor do these folks have any friends or family to do it for them. Deaths, estrangements, and mental illness leave them bereft of caregivers who traditionally handle medical, legal, and financial issues.  Dear Dana goes one step further – she prays with her clients. Truly, she’s a guardian of souls.  So when she asked me to accompany  her to see “Sharon” (not her real name), I said, “Of course.” 

We were on our way to the hospital to be present when Sharon, 85 and diagnosed with schizophrenia, would be extubated  after being on life support for 3 weeks. Dana wanted me with her; this was her first extubation.  As we approached the frail woman in bed, she could not speak, yet she responded to Dana’s voice and touch by opening her staring eyes. We took turns praying: Sharon, you are not alone. You need not be afraid. I quietly sang “In Paradisum”…may the angels lead you into Paradise…  We simply stayed with her as she became very, very calm and closed her eyes.  Dana said she had never before seen her eyes water. Perhaps that was a tear?

Soon, the team from respiratory services administered morphine and removed the breathing tube compassionately and efficiently while Dana held Sharon’s hand; I sat out of the way and prayed. Interestingly, no one questioned my presence.  Nor did I.

After the team left and the transition to hospice care completed, Dana and I offered more prayers, then said goodbye.  The hospice folks would keep vigil with Sharon now.  On the drive home, Dana thanked me for being with her.

 “It was a privilege.”

God sure hadn’t consulted me, but I was right where I belonged. ###

(Note - in seeking out a photo image to use with this blog post, I searched for "a peaceful end" and found this - it seemed to fit...S.Nyhan)

Jonah and the Annual Meeting

by the Rev. Kate Atkinson

We all know the story of Jonah: God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh, Assyria’s capital, and warn the people to repent of their wickedness and turn to God.  Instead, Jonah boarded a ship for Tarshish – and through a series of misadventures ended up in the belly of a fish. Three days later, after Jonah had repented of his cowardice, God caused the fish to vomit him safely onto dry land.  Then God instructed Jonah, for the second time, to go and prophesy to Nineveh. Jonah obeyed, the Assyrian people repented, and God had compassion on them.

Jonah’s change of heart came about through a series of realizations.  He realized that there is no escaping our all-seeing God; he realized that his poor choices affected other people; he realized that failing to take a risk may have seemed like a safer option but it resulted in disaster.  And he realized that acknowledging his mistakes, and seeking God’s forgiveness, gave him the ability to start again in an entirely different frame of mind – and when he did that, he got results.  It was a transformation.

Transformation, by definition, begins when we’re in one condition and ends with us in a different condition.  But it’s more than simply a process of change.  After all, it’s simple enough to change our actions without any fundamental change in our thinking or our motivation.  The story of Jonah is about letting go of everything that holds us back from doing what God calls us to do – from being who God created us to be.

The story of Jonah is familiar, quirky, even amusing, but above all it’s a profound reminder of an all too human response to God. 

When we sat down to lunch together before the Annual Parish Meeting, we were asked to share stories of experiences we’d had during the past year. Many of those were Jonah-like experiences! It’s important for us to hear these stories from each other because almost invariably we recognize some of our own flaws and mistakes.  And when we hear how other people overcame their failings, it gives us hope that we can overcome ours. 

If you read St. Paul’s Annual Report for 2014, you’ll find lots of stories about people stepping out of their comfort zones, people discerning God’s call to new and challenging places, people taking risks and letting go of things that might hold them back.  And over this new year we’ll discover many more opportunities like these.

I wonder, what stories will we have to share at next year’s annual meeting?  Will we throw caution to the wind or will we end up in the belly of a fish?  I can’t wait to find out!

Below are some pictures of the members of our church community who turned out for our Annual Meeting - and the great hospitality team hard at work in the kitchen!

Who is waiting in line ? - thoughts about Epiphany

by Sarah Nyhan

In this season of Epiphany, I often find myself wondering and musing about this Jesus we talk about so much.  I wonder about the PERSON of Jesus.  What was he really like?  Did he joke with his friends?  Was he serious all of the time?  Could you tell he was different from everyone else just by being in his presence?   These stories we share in Epiphany tell of his acts, but only hint at his personality.

I am currently reading a book by an author I really enjoy - Lauren F. Winner.  The book is called Still and in it she shares her own questioning, wondering and experiencing about Jesus and God during a time in her life full of changes and questions.

In the chapter entitled epiphany she shares this thought about the story of Jesus' baptism : "And then Jesus appears.  And John says, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?" and Jesus insists. The official reason this is an Epiphany story is that after Jesus is baptized, a dove alights, and a voice comes from heaven declaring.  "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  The voice is taken to be the answer to Epiphany's question: this is who Jesus is - he is God's well-beloved and pleasing son.  But this year, hearing in church again about Jesus' baptism, I wonder if, before the voice from heaven and the celestial dove, it is also Jesus' standing in line by the river that tells us who he is.  At Christmastime, the church calls Jesus Emmanuel, which means God-with-us - and now he is with us in the baptismal queue.  He is the One who stands with humanity in this line that is all about our sinning, our shame."

This, to me, speaks volumes about Jesus and the PERSON that he was - he was one of us.  This also is a huge part of the reason that Christianity resonates with me - we are all a part of this group - no matter who we are or where we came from.  We can all be in the line to receive God's blessing - the saints, the sinners and even the Son of God.

Have you been looking for Jesus in the lines you wait in?  Would you be surprised to find him there?

Epiphany - A season of revelation

Between Christmas and Lent we find ourselves in season of discovery, the Sundays after the Epiphany.  While we light candles to guide us through Advent, and fast and pray our way through Lent, we do not seem to observe this season in a way that sets it apart, and makes it special to us.  I wonder why?  Why do we let this time drift away from us - isn't it more than just a place holder between Christmas and Lent?

After all, this is the time during the year where we focus on the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God!  Our lectionary readings tell us of the arrival (finally) of the Magi and then jumping ahead in his life, about Jesus' baptism - with the sign of the dove, and a voice from the clouds - "THIS IS MY SON"! Jesus tells us he is the "Son of Man", that the "Kingdom of God" has come near - that the "time is fulfilled".  He teaches in the synagogue, casts out demons and proclaims the word of God.  At the end of Epiphany, we are there with his disciples, witnessing his transfiguration.  What an experience - this is Jesus' life!

So although there are no Epiphany cards or candles, this really should be a time of great celebration. The word is made flesh, and we are the better for it.  Do not put the excitement and the joy of Christmas away just yet.  Enjoy this time - let God in the form of Jesus be revealed to you.

The Epiphany

The baptism of Jesus

Distant view of Nazareth

New Year, New Possibilities, New Life

by The Rev. Kate Atkinson

Every time we hang up a new calendar, we’re full of anticipation and curiosity about what the new year might have in store for us.     Because we’ve had plenty of life experience between us, we know that there will be some challenging times over the next 12 months, but somehow that doesn’t seem to stop us feeling optimistic in this fresh new month of January.  So many people have said to me, “This is going to be a good year; I just know it!” And of course, there are others who say, “2015 is definitely going to be better than 2014 – because it couldn’t possibly be any worse!”

Central to our acceptance of God’s love for us, is an understanding of the perfect balance of God’s plan for the world – and for the creatures that inhabit it.  There cannot be birth without death; there cannot be planting without harvesting; there cannot be sorrow without joy. 

As 2015 begins, it’s not surprising that we’re preoccupied with the future.  We want to be sure that we use this new year wisely and productively.  Maybe we want to change some things about ourselves, maybe we want to take a fresh look at a job situation or a relationship that needs attention.  Maybe we want to give up a habit that’s threatening to take control of our lives.  But the problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that they can end up making us feel like a failure. 

The first step in planning and creating a new life for ourselves, is accepting that God has chosen to bring us into an amazing, dynamic relationship that has existed since time began.  We are God’s children, heirs of God’s kingdom, sisters and brothers of Christ Jesus, genetically programmed by God’s energizing, inspiring and creative Spirit. 

When we accept the truth of that relationship, we suddenly find it possible to allow God to guide our thoughts and help them flow into plans and achievements; we find that our prayer life is richer and that we’re growing in understanding of God at work in our life; we even find that we’re better able to regulate our stormy emotions so that we can sustain positive relationships with one another and with God.

More than anything else, as we step out into 2015 and all its promise, it is important to concentrate on bringing that dynamic, divine relationship into the reality of our daily lives. 

I pray that you will discover exciting new dimensions to your life of faith and that you will know God’s richest blessings in this new year.