And Jesus said to them “Come away . . . and rest a while.”

Rev. Amy Welin (8 Pentecost/Proper 11): Most weeks, Friday is a special day. That is the day that Greg and I take our Sabbath. We are often very busy the rest of the week, and we choose a different rhythm for Friday. It is not a day to do no work, because we always have some errands and chores. Sometimes we have an appointment. Sometimes we have a family obligation. We always make time to have lunch together. We spend some time in prayer. We choose not to cook and usually order a pizza for dinner. We try to decompress. We need the rest so we can continue our work for God. I suppose that people would expect that a priest would spend some time each week figuring out how to rest, so I am able to do what God wants me to do. I recognize that taking some time for Sabbath - an intentional rest - is counter-cultural. And I think that everyone who wants to know God can benefit from this sort of reflective time. It strikes me that our scripture today invites us to consider how we can live differently as children of God. God needs people who are different. God needs a king who brings peace. David’s son Solomon – a man of peace and wisdom - will build the Temple. The Letter to the Ephesians speaks of the people of God as a peaceful household in which God dwells. Read More Read more • Leer más → “And Jesus said to them “Come away . . . and rest a while.””

Grant that we may know and understand what things we ought to do

Rev. Amy Welin (7 Pentecost/Proper 10): I have just returned from three weeks of intense study in the doctoral program at Virginia Theological Seminary. It is a wonderful program. In the middle of the first week, the light bulb in the bath burned out. That should be easy to fix, I thought. Finding another bulb in the utility closet, I spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out how to take the cover off the fixture! The quick fix became a project, because I had to figure out how to ask the (largely invisible) staff for assistance. Sometimes we do not know what to do, or how to proceed, and it is difficult. Sometimes we think we know what to do, and it is still more difficult than we had anticipated. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Grant that we may know and understand what things we ought to do”

He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Rev. Amy Welin (4 Pentecost/Proper 7):The events in Charleston, South Carolina, this week have forced us to confront the giant evil of racism. Nine church members were murdered during a Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church. Their killer reportedly considered not fulfilling hid mission, because they were so kind to him. But he pulled the trigger, driven by his personal demons. This is the most recent racially-driven tragedy calling Americans to go to a new place. We have failed to find the post-racial society we thought we had found. We have instead come to dwell in a place of barely restrained violence and danger and it is often polarized by racial identity. I must acknowledge that it is difficult for me, as a White woman, to fully comprehend the anxiety of my Black friends. I live in a different experience. Yet I do understand that if one cannot find sanctuary even in church, there is no safe place on earth. Read More Read more • Leer más → “He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?””

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it

Rev. Amy Welin (3 Pentecost/Proper 6):Jesus used parables to teach his followers. The parables are more than stories about sheep, birds, farmers and mustard seeds. They are symbolic and authoritative spiritual teachings. His stories use everyday objects and situations in order to illustrate the deep truths of life in relationship with God. Read More Read more • Leer más → “With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it”

It is all about relationship

Rev. Amy Welin (Trinity Sunday): Once upon a time, in the olden days, I was in a confirmation class with a bunch of rowdy kids in New Jersey. One of our required topics was the Trinity. We were sixth and seventh graders, prone to giggling and clowning around, especially when we had something serious to discuss. I imagine that our teacher cringed as she anticipated our reaction to Trinitarian theology. Alas, shamrocks were not in season, and with a certain desperation, she used a can of Three in One Oil to explain the Trinity to us. One God, three ways that God operates. Unfortunately, this was a class that the pastor chose to sit in for observation. And then he reprimanded her for teaching heresy to us, because the Triune God is three persons in one substance (instead of one substance with three functions). Who knew? Read More Read more • Leer más → “It is all about relationship”

The Kingdom of God has been left in our hands. Jesus has trusted that we would do the right thing.

Rev. Amy Welin (Pentecost Sunday): We baptize on Pentecost because we recognize the power of the Holy Spirit. Imagine a community, moved by that Spirit, in which everyone is safe, and no one is so comfortable that they want to just sit back and admire it. What do you think was on the minds of the disciples who arrived a little later to the gathering at the apostles’ house in Jerusalem on Pentecost? They may have expected a worship service. I wonder if they heard the powerful rush of the wind as they were walking. Can you imagine arriving at church fifteen minutes late, and walking in to see the entire group gathered, everyone talking loudly in different languages, with little flames coming out of their heads? It must have been exciting, and I doubt that anyone was comfortable. Read More Read more • Leer más → “The Kingdom of God has been left in our hands. Jesus has trusted that we would do the right thing.”

Protect them in your name, so that they may be one, as we are one

Rev. Amy Welin (7 Easter):Jesus does not pray for us to be comfortable. He prays for our work. He prays that we will do what God desires for us to do. Because of this prayer, there are some things we can expect. Jesus prays for our unity – we can expect unity to be hard work. Jesus prays for our new life. The new life he promises comes through resurrection after the end of the old life, and it isn’t easy. Jesus prays for protection from evil – we can expect to confront the forces of evil in our work. Jesus prays that God will send us out, just as God sent Jesus out. It is a glorious calling. It is a wonderful and blessed vocation to share God’s good news. We remember that many did not welcome the message of Jesus– and we know that it is not easy. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Protect them in your name, so that they may be one, as we are one”

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Rev. Amy Welin (6 Easter):Love one another. Jesus is telling his disciples that the way to rise with him to new life is to practice loving. For that little community, survival depends on their ability to see one another through the eyes of Christ. Their love will allow them to continue to experience life with Christ, even after he is gone from their midst. Their love will sustain them. Their love will identify them as the people of Jesus Christ, and will empower them to transform the world. Love one another. The motherly love of Christ still has the power to transform our world. I have witnessed the people of St John’s ministering to the community and to each other. You are able to do that because you love one another, and you share that with the world. And make no mistake, it is the love of Christ that lives in you that can lead you to do great things. Read More Read more • Leer más → “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Jesus said I am the vine, you are the branches

Rev. Amy Welin (5 Easter):In the one vine, each branch has life and is valuable Through Christ, we are part of the one true vine. Our fruit is the same as that of Christ, and it is priceless. What is our fruit? It is our capacity to love and serve, across barriers and man-made boundaries. In God’s garden of true beauty, the church is not the broker of salvation or judgment. The church is the agent of God’s love for the world, as that love was revealed through Jesus Christ. We are the Body of Christ, part of the vine that offers connection to life for the rest of the world. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Jesus said I am the vine, you are the branches”

Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him, and follow where he leads

Rev. Amy Welin (4 Easter):Many of us keep an image in our minds of the shepherd who carries home the little lamb. Have you seen that picture? Jesus is the gentle shepherd, in a white robe, with a beautiful little white lamb in his arms. Frankly, he looks rather like a gentleman shepherd, one whose hands and clothes never get dirty. This is a comforting image, but I am not sure I would actually entrust this fellow with the care of my sheep. He looks like he could run joyfully across a flowery field, playing with happy lambs, but he would not be useful fighting off a hungry wolf or pulling a mother sheep out of unruly brambles. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him, and follow where he leads”