In the Harshest of Circumstances

It started out as all the Program Group on Black Ministry meetings start -- with someone near the coffee pots setting out food for dinner. Then there was the exclamation, "Oh My!" as the Rev. Margaret Hudley McCauley discovered that right outside the window was a bird's nest with two eggs in it.

What is most unusual about this bird's nest is that is was built in a dangerous area -- you see there are spikes sticking up so that birds do NOT nest there. Here, in the midst of these spikes, a pigeon had made a nest and laid her eggs. Two pigeons came and sat near the nest -- resting on the edge of the window sill. In the pictures perhaps you can see the "spikes" sticking up around the eggs and silhouetting where the pigeon is sitting.

I couldn't help but think about and pray for all the families in our diocese -- and in the world -- who are trying to raise children in the most difficult of situations -- surrounded by war, poverty and/or disease.

Today I'm praying for all these families -- and for these birds.

UCI Canterbury

As the interim Chaplain is at Credo this week, I volunteered to go to UCI Canterbury last night to celebrate the Eucharist, have dinner, and chat with the students. Here is a picture that was posted on facebook of the group (not the best or biggest, but you get the idea.)

Two of the students had to leave right after dinner -- one was running to a midterm exam, the other to a rehearsal. I couldn't believe the young lady that was running to a midterm came to Canterbury before hand! She plays the piano for the group, and was very helpful to me during the service.

We had a great discussion during the service and during and after dinner. This is an incredibly talented group of young people. I felt privileged to be with them!

One of them, Jeff, is reorganizing the Orange County 20s/30s group. They are meeting on May 14th at 2:30 in Tustin at the district to plan activities, service projects, etc. -- and to see a movie after this discussion. I can get you in touch with Jeff if you'd like more information about this group for yourself or for members of your parish.

I wonder what I will find when I wander back to UCI Canterbury this fall? Hmmm.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

I couldn't help but say these words during my sermon yesterday at St. Gabriel's in Monterey Park. I was there to celebrate the re-dedication of the sanctuary after a horrible fire last year destroyed the sacristy, the altar, organ, and did major damage to the chancel and nave.

Yesterday, the "new" church was absolutely gorgeous! The altar, which was made in China, is an amazing piece of art depicting the Chinese heritage of this congregation in its design and the use of Chinese Christian motifs in the carved wood (for example, the use of the lotus flower in lieu of a lily, the use of a cross that was used by missionaries to China hundreds of years ago). Beautiful!

We celebrated together the ending of the long "Lent" of being in 1/2 of the parish hall since the fire. I had the privilege of being with the people of St. Gabriel's the Sunday after the fire to talk with them and to let them know that the diocese was there for them. During a visitation in October, I was able to see the progress (slow, but there) in rebuilding the sanctuary. I was in contact with Fr. Peter Lo, the Rector of the parish, during the months of re-construction.

Yesterday, Easter joy abounded as the "new" space was blessed and re-claimed by the people. It is a new day for the people of St. Gabriel's -- a beautiful day. Look for an upcoming Just Action video on this great day of thanksgiving, love and life.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

ENGAZED

During my recent trip to Korea, a few of us were given a private tour of the convent that is located on the grounds of the Cathedral in Seoul. Sr. Catherine, a spry 70 year old nun who is also a priest (it is interesting to see her in her habit with a clerical collar!) gave us the tour.

We came to a door that had the sign pictured in the photo in this blog entry. ENGAZED! I think they meant to write "engaged" -- but I was fascinated by this "new" word. It isn't in the dictionary -- I checked.

Gaze -- to fix the eyes in a steady intent look often with eagerness or studious attention.

Hmmm. Maybe a working definition of engazed could be: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look on our inner life or soul; self reflection. Or, better yet: to become so fully attentive to something that nothing can take ones eyes or thoughts off the object of the gaze.

I wonder if, on this Holy Saturday, we can engaze and look at the tomb so intently that we see the stone being rolled away, our Lord resurrected.

On this most Holy Night, may we be engazed as the paschal fire is lit, as we process into the darkened sanctuary -- the paschal candle cutting the darkness with its light. May we be engazed as we hear the stories of the history and of our Lord's passover from death to life. May we as we cry out "Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia!" find our lives transformed through self-reflection (engazement!) by the great loving act that was done for us.

Communication

I had a wonderful afternoon with Bob William's class on communication (web, blogs, email blasts, etc.) today at Bloy House. I talked with the class about consistency in presentation and information. Some things we talked about:

• Does your parish distribute your newsletter electronically? Paper only? Electronic and paper?


• Why provide a weekly email blast with information about upcoming events?


• Is there "payback" in terms of attendance or participation with what we're doing electronically?


• Making sure events and the dates/times of the events in the bulletin, email blast and webpage are consistent and accurate (how often we slip on one or more!)


• What is the purpose of a blog? What kind of information should a blog contain, and how should it be displayed?


• Facebook as a tool for sharing information (or not!) and sharing what parishes are doing on the diocesan Facebook page.


• What NOT to post on Facebook, and how to delete comments that some may leave that are rude.

We went through and looked at the features offered on Constant Contact, the vehicle the Diocese uses to deliver the weekly email blast. It was fun to see how an email blast is developed and used, and the stats that Constant Contact provides. I used to work on the email blast at St. Clement's, as well as the old website. Speaking of websites, we went on various websites in differing denominations talking about what just the home page says about that church as it comes up and into our view. Each spoke volumes about the community of faith it represented (or not, depending on the website). So much fun!

This was a wonderful class, with great questions and even better ideas. I learned a lot from this group. I think that's what teaching really is about: learning as we share what we learn with others. These students are talking about keeping in touch and sharing ideas/information/best practices. I'm grateful that I was invited to be part of this group this day, sharing what I know.

I wonder what it would be like if we ALL shared what we knew, what works well and what doesn't, freely with one another. I'm going to have to wander onto the websites of these students in a few months to see what they have done.

Dodging the Ball

It was so beautiful coming up over the ridge and seeing the fog lay on the hills in the Conejo Valley this past Sunday. It was a glorious early morning drive to St. Patrick's in Thousand Oaks.

Greeted warmly by the Rector, David Galletly, my chaplain Karin Sherman and her husband Jon commented on the incredible stained glass windows in the Sanctuary and the fabulous view of the valley from the Parish Hall. The service was well attended and the people warm and friendly.

The most impressive moment to me was when Michael came up to me and asked me, "Bishop, the youth group wants to know if you'd play dodge ball with us." I said goodbye to the people left in the Parish Hall and trudged up the hill with the youth group and their wonderful leader, KC.

The members of the youth group went VERY easy on this Bishop -- I could tell they didn't want to hurt me -- not that you could with the kind of balls they use for dodge ball these days (what happened to those big, hard rubber balls we used when I was a kid?) These were soft, which for me made them more difficult to throw. KC had no problem, though -- a softball champ, she had a underhand throw that was dynamite!

The youth are going to go on a pilgrimage to Ireland. I'll be going back to talk with them (and others interested) about Celtic spirituality before they go.

I had such a wonderful day -- after dodge ball, members of the vestry and the youth group and lay leaders took me to lunch. Fr. David was a gracious host! I wonder what I will get to do the next time I meet this youth group!

How do you spell GFS?

I spent the most wonderful after school hour today with the members of St. John's Costa Mesa GFS group.

This wonderful group of young ladies (from 2nd to 7th grade) had questions for me, and couldn't keep their eyes off of my IPad. We had so much fun checking out my facebook page, farmville, and all my pictures on my facebook page.

More than just checking out what was happening "online", lots was happening in he hearts of these young ladies. God is doing such a great work in them!

So, if you don't have a GFS (Girls' Friendly Society) group at your church -- consider it! Please! These young ladies were alive wih the love of God in Christ in their hearts!\

I wonder what they'll ask me the next time I wander over to St. John's!