Two other special observations are also happening that day:

Massachusetts Remembers at 3 p.m. at the Hatch Shell is a large public gathering with prayers, poems, and performances by the Boston Pops Brass and Boston Children’s Chorus. Delegations from houses of worship and religious groups are invited to gather at 2:30 p.m. on the Esplanade so that we can sit together at a reserved space. A common prayer, interfaith resources, and ways you can participate are available online.

Interfaith prayer service at 6 p.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be based loosely on the structure and prayers of the Evening Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer. The service will include meditations on the theme “Hope and Fear”  from Bishop Shaw and from Naila Baloch, the Muslim Chaplain at Tufts University, and feature the diocesan choir MagnifcatBoston, founded by Mark Engelhardt, as well as solo cello music by Kim Hardy. The hope is that the service will provide an occasion at the end of this day for people to pause, remember, reflect, and pray.

Faith Shared:Preparations for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

Donna Red Wing, Interfaith Alliance

Faith Shared is a program of Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First. It is designed to support religious liberty in this nation, and to counter the misperception that the United States is a nation defined by the widely covered images of the marginal few who would burn a Quran, or hold anti-Muslim Congressional hearings, rather than by a proud and longstanding tradition of religious freedom, tolerance, and pluralism.

In Fall 2011, COS will join Faith Shared. This service will celebrate both the Abrahamic faiths and help us all as communities of faith to prepare for the tenth anniversary of September 11. The Faith Shared Project will provide suggested readings from the Torah, the Gospels, and the Quran, but we are encouraged to choose readings that will resonate with COS. If you would like to help with this project, please speak to Tricia.

For further reading on pluralism, please read Diana Eck’s article, “What is Pluralism?”

Embodying faith must be done collectively and individually. As a Christian community, we are to be the body of Christ in the world. As individuals, we bring the light of Christ to others by our compassionate presence and righteous actions.

What has this meant for Church of Our Saviour in Arlington, Massachusetts?

During worship at Church of Our Saviour, the presence of the Holy Spirit is palpable. Through the ebbs and flows of the liturgy, it feels as if God’s breath is filling the sanctuary, flowing around and through us. We inhale and His love refreshes us like the oxygen refreshing our blood. We exhale and feel strengthened to do His work in the world. Our minds are challenged and engaged by sermons that draw on scripture and scholarship, but come from the heart and soul, inspired by God. Our bodies are nurtured by the Body of Christ, ther Bread of Heaven, and the Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation. We touch and are touched in gestures of peace and by hands of healing.

These gifts are given to us to help us become the Body of Christ in the world. A world that is broken. A world that needs us to share these gifts. To struggle and sacrifice. A world full of challenges.

Fourteen years ago, our parish faced a challenge that tested us. We were in search for a new rector. I was a member of the search committee and we had narrowed our choice to two candidates. The name we decided to give the vestry was that of a dynamic preacher with strong pastoral skills. She was also a lesbian living with her partner of several years. While the search committee knew she would be the first openly gay rector and had contemplated what impact this might have, we perhaps naively believed that this wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) matter. While most vestry members welcomed our choice, a few were vehemently opposed, either because of their own disapproval, or because they felt the choice would tear the parish apart.

I was also junior warden at the time, and together with other parish leadership, we needed to bring all the gifts of our faith to this challenge. Painful choices had to be made and difficult questions asked. We entered into a prayer-filled process, engaging people in dialogue, praying for one another, forgiving one another when anger and bitterness surfaced, loving one another when our differences seemed too painful to bear. Oddly enough, there are a number of people who came to our parish for the first time during this period, and have stayed to this day because they were drawn by how we faced this challenge.

Several people did leave the parish because of this call. But our work continued to be God’s healing presence. We reached out to them with compassion and acceptance and sorrow. And we cared for one another in our own brokenness. We also welcomed many newcomers who were drawn by the choice we had made, people who had long been marginalized and now felt welcome, people who had never before been able to breathe freely and inhale God’s love in community with others.

Our parish is now a marvelously diverse and rich place. We recently installed an outside elevator to make our space accessible to all. We continue to ask difficult questions, to love unconditionally, to work for justice, and to welcome all.

All Saints Church, 10 Irving St. Worcester
Co-hosted by Kairos Spiritual Life Center in Worcester, MA with All Saints Alliance
$30/person

This is an ecumenical gathering for the LGBT community and allies to strengthen and celebrate connections between spiritual wellness and life in community. Rebecca Voelkel, Director of the Institute for Welcoming Resources and Faith Work for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and Katerine Ragsdale, President of EDS, are keynote presenters.  Day includes a wonderful variety of workshops, worship, lunch and time to connect with one another.

Lent I – March 13^th

Dear People of God,

You are afraid to call on me. You doubt that I will answer. You fear you pray in vain. Call on me now. Offer me the chance to enter your heart. You have the key to the lock. Swing the door open through willingness.  There, let me see your soul.  Let me hear your whispering. I am here with you. Tell me your fears.

Why do you doubt my love? Have you sustained too many losses, more than your heart could bear?  Bring to me your burdened heart. Speak to me of what your life has cost you. Tell me whom and what you miss. I am listening.

I will not tell you loss is trivial. I have known my own losses, many losses, and I know pain. What I can promise you is that life will comfort life. More will come to you. More will fill your heart. In grief, the heart closes. We are afraid to love. We are afraid to extend ourselves, saying, “I have done that – and it hurt.”  Of course it hurt. I understand your wounds. I have had my own and, too, I carry yours as mine. And so I know this: we must open the grieving heart to love.

Bring me your battered heart. Allow me to comfort you. Walk with me a little ways. I will share your burden. I will carry your grief. As I open my love to you, do not resist me. Allow my heart to touch your heart.  Unclench your heart for me. There, I will go softly, remembering the names of all you have lost, remembering your pain and your love.

Silence

Lent II – March 20^th

Dear People of God,

You do not feel worthy of knowing me. You are not “spiritual,” you say. Let us begin at the beginning. No matter how you deny it, you are spiritual. That is your true nature. You are a part of me and I am a part of you.

There is one power flowing through all of life, and we are that power. As you open your mind to the fact that we are already connected, our connection deepens. I am your friend I intend you nothing but good. As you open your heart to the love in our connection, our bond strengthens. You may be humble, yet you are spiritual in nature.

You do not need to become something you are not. I love and accept you exactly as you are. It is easy to get to know me. Begin as you would greet anyone, with a simple “hello.” If you greet me and then listen, you will feel a response. This is how I speak to you; this is why they call it the still, small voice.

I speak gently and quietly but you can hear me. You can feel our connection. I do touch your soul. Do not worry about being worthy of knowing me. I am your maker and I make nothing that is not of the highest worth. I value you. I esteem you. I love you. Come to me and feel your true nature.

Silence

Lent III – March 27^th

Dear People of God,

You have made a mistake and fear that there is no undoing it.I am glad to know your thoughts, but I have news for you. It is never too late to turn to me.  There is no error I cannot undo. Come to me now. That is sufficient.

I am all powerful in ways you do not understand. I mend the broken bonds of love. I heal the shattered households. I guide the safe return of love. Allow me to handle your mangled affairs. Stick close to me.  Do as I guide you to do. Behind your smallest act is the infinite strength of the universe. Allow me to act through you. Give me your heart that I may teach it to love.

Silence

Lent V – April 10^th

Dear People of God,

You are afraid to commit. You cling to half measures. You blame me for your life but refuse to allow me to alter it.  Bring me your whole heart. Open your life to me without reservation. Allow me the freedom to act on your behalf. I am the source of your good.  Allow me to flow freely into your life. Give me all of you.  Allow me to act in all areas of your life. There is no arena in which I cannot bring change for the better.

I am transforming life. At all times, in all places, I work to bring about an improvement of conditions. Allow me to perfect your life. Ask that every cranny and nook of your experience be brought into alignment with my will for you. Seek to know my will for you and to cooperate with that will’s unfolding. I promise you the betterment of your life.

As you commit to me, you commit also to yourself, to your highest good. There is no contradiction between my desires for you and your own highest good. Seek to know yourself in me. Allow me to expand your thinking and enlarge your scope of action.  I have a large plan for you. I am completely committed to your well-being. As you align your will with mine, your life is made whole and perfect. Commit to your highest destiny and allow me to act. Give me your all.

Silence

Other letters from God:

Dear People of God,

There is no distance too great for me. There is no rift too large. I am the great healer. All souls respond to me. There is no one too hardened to feel my touch. Bring me your difficulties. Invite me to solve them.  Tell me the error of your ways. I hear your heart. I know you long for healing. You do well to come to me. I am the dear and glorious physician. Nothing is too broken for my repair. Where there is life, there is hope, and I am life itself. Live within me now. Live with a quiet expectation of good. Nothing is too damaged to be fixed by me. Bring me your broken dreams.

Silence

Dear People of God,

Your life feels overwhelming. Your future looms large and unknown. Turn to me. Let me be a source of comfort. Ask me for help so that your agitation and stress may be lifted. Allow me to shoulder your burdens.

The future unfolds one day at a time. Respect that pace. Do not hurry forward into tomorrow. Allow me to lead you, to enter your days and fill them with peace. I have a peaceful heart for you. Enter my heart and allow me to share my abundant sense of wellbeing. Unfold your days with me and lose your sense of panic and loss. This earth is abundant. It holds joy for you, and contentment. Bring me your restless heart. Allow me to gentle your soul. When you go forward without me, there is always a sense of grasping. You fear there is not enough to fill your hungry heart.

Walk with me and discover bounty. There is more than enough to fill your heart. Take time with me. Allow me to set the pacing of your day. Relax with me. Allow me to grace your days with quiet productivity. There is no rush. The present well spent builds the future. Each day is a gift to you. Each day contains time enough for harmony. Give me your sense of urgency. Allow me to transform it into a sense of purpose. Give me each day and I will give it back to you transformed and shining with love.

Silence

Dear People of God,

You have a restless heart. You do not trust your life’s unfolding. You look for trouble and, in quiet times, you manufacture difficulty. You are addicted to anxiety. I offer you calm and you turn me aside. Now I ask you: quiet your heart for me. Allow me to enter your life as a soft wind bringing freshening change. It is possible to change gently. It is possible to grow without drama. I offer you that chance.  Accept my gardening hand.

When you are restless, turn to me. Ask me to take away your agitation and direct your thinking along positive lines. You can learn to live peacefully. You can learn that I am ever present to calm your fears. Let your thoughts of me become habitual. Learn to remember I am at your side, ready always to dismantle your difficulties. There is no vexation that I cannot help you with. The situations of your life are familiar to me, and I can bring my grace to bear.

Allow me to calm your heart. Trust me now with your life’s unfolding. Do not look for trouble. Do not manufacture problems. Accept my calm and come willingly into my shelter. In me, your restless heart finds a quiet abode. I am the calm center from which all things are possible. Allow me to nurture your growth.

Silence

Dear People of God,

You are afraid of being poor. You focus on what you will lack. To you, the future feels uncertain. This is false thinking. I am the source of your good. My resources are infinite. My flow is abundant. My wealth is real.  Depend on me for your well-being. Your future good is certain with me.

All of life is one energy, every expanding, ever becoming more. You are a part of this energy, and it is my pleasure to expand you and give you more. I am the great giver, ever more prosperous, ever more generous. I am ever an increase in all things. For me to partner you, you must learn to receive.  Expect my bounty to flow to you. Feel gratitude in your heart that this is so. Bring me your grateful heart as a cup that I can fill to overflowing. Expect me to further your good.

I am the source of all things. No human power can subvert my flow. At all time, in all places, my good can reach you. My goodness to you cannot be blocked, so why do you fear? Affirm daily, “God is my source.”  Boldly claim the abundance of God as your right and reward. It is my great joy to bring you fulfillment. Your wishes and desires draw me to you. Ask and you shall receive. I am your source.

Silence

Dear People of God,

You long for a more spiritual life, but you tell yourself that is too difficult. You pretend I am distant and hard to reach. You pretend I make harsh terms with you. Stop your pretending. Do not believe in God as told to you by the authorities. Come to me on your terms instead.  Simply say “hello,” and our conversation can begin.

I want to walk with you as friends walk. I want us to be casual and intimate. I want us to share secrets. I will begin with a secret of mine: I love you. I have loved you since the beginning of time. I have always seen myself as coming to join you. I am ready to listen to your heart. Please begin to talk with me. You can start anywhere, with your joys or with your sorrows. I have ears for every part of you.

You say you do not know where to begin. I say to you, “quit stalling.” Start with “good morning.” And it is a good morning any day that you make contact with me. Ask me to shape your day, to touch your consciousness with the recognition of possibility. All things are good and can be made anew. I am the water you long to drink  I am the food you hunger for. I am the full meal that nourishes and nurtures you.  Let us break bread.

Silence

Co-facilitators: Karen King and Lauress Wilkins
Sundays, March 13-April 17, 11:30 am-1:00 pm

All are welcome!

March 13 – Personal Transformation and Healing: Ezekiel 36:22-36 (Lauress)
March 20 – Physical Transformation and Spiritual Growth: 1 Corinthians 15 and the Treatise on the Resurrection (Karen)
March 27 – Spiritual Transformation and Forgiveness: Jonah 3-4 (Lauress)
April 3 – Moral Transformation and Building Church: Romans 12 (Karen)
April 10 – Social Transformation and Liberation: Esther 4 (Lauress)
April 17 – Transformative Faith and Social Violence: The Martyrdom of Perpetua (Karen)

It is so wonderful to be with you today and I am especially grateful for this opportunity to share a few thoughts with you about giving thanks, specifically about giving thanks for being part of this Church of Our Saviour faith community.

I first opened the red doors of this church over 12 years ago, not knowing that I needed to be here or indeed in any church. But I had a clear persistent feeling that I needed to come in that door. I sat in the back, tried to follow along with the service in the BCP, comforted, as a former Roman Catholic, that the service seemed so familiar, but still not clear that I belonged here. Then at communion time I heard the priest at that time, Linda Privitera, say these words: “the gifts of God for the people of God.” I knew that she was referring to the bread and the wine, I knew that she was also inviting everyone to come forward to partake, even me; and I understood as well that each of us, sitting in that church that day, were also “gifts of God” meant to be used for “the people of God.” Today I would like to remember more specifically this COS community – these ?gifts of God for the people of God? – people in action, making a difference,
living Christ’s mission. People who said ?yes? – sharing time, talent, treasure.

When I was a child, my father loved to gather the family together to show slide shows of photos that he had taken of all of us. He carefully clicked through each of the slides in his Kodak carousel projector (remember those?) as we all commented and sometimes laughed and groaned at what we saw. My father always left a few blank slides at the end – for the future, what was yet to be. Today I would like to offer a limited selection of ?slides,? not in any particular order, chosen because of their influence on me, shared to remind and inspire all of us as “new beginnings” occur at COS. You will see yourself in some of the circles of ministry/slides; others might inspire new action. I hope that you will fill in the blanks. I look forward to seeing new slides!

• worshipping on Boston Common with the homeless as part of Common Cathedral, later distributing sandwiches made here at COS
  and warm socks collected by parishioners
• stacking items for the Alternative Christmas Gifts fair in the parish hall and packing bags of food for the Arlington Food Pantry
• selling Equal Exchange coffee with Ginger at Arlington Town Day; promoting the Blessing of the Animals to every dog we met
• staffing a water stand in front of COS for the Affordable Housing March with Jane and Gail; watching kids come by
  with balloon hats made by Rob and Kevin
• hanging the Art for AIDS show in the sanctuary; hosting the reception in the parish hall; work to support Jubilee Ministry; wonderful calendar designs
• purchasing and wrapping Christmas presents for the holidays for families in need
• COS participating in Gay Pride March with other Episcopalians; our parish witness to the equality of marriage
• setting up Godly play classrooms in the basement and parish hall –Valentina asking us to pray for Albus Dumbledore, Elisa wearing
  Bishop Tom’s mitre when he came to visit
• walking to the Arlington Rest Home with Kelly S. and Margaret K. and the children because outreach is necessary for all
• the stations of the cross for children on Good Friday– Suzanne H., Selina M., Elizabeth G., Viktor B., telling the
  stories; making butterflies afterwards
• Karen King’s Bible studies – getting the “scoop” on the Gospel of Judas
• Palm Sunday processions with Chester the donkey; Creation of the icon cross with each of us placing mosaic tiles; Easter Vigil
  dedication of the new round altar
• so many meals: sharing a harvest meal with members of the Korean Methodist church; Holy Thursday under the tent; ice cream
  social to mark the start of summer (How much ice cream to buy?)
• our priests: Linda, Bill, Joyce, Lily, Tricia and many seminarians and deacons. Remember Eric Bond preaching with his newborn son
  in his arms?
• my discernment process to become a Deacon (grateful to those who accompanied me) . You have given me the courage to claim new ministry!

Between now and the Feast of Pentecost, I will be serving as a Deacon Intern at St. Michael’s in Holliston. Although I won’t be with you
in person on Sundays, please know that I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers . Please do the same for me. Many thanks!