March 27, 2019 "Stayin' Awake"

Dear Friends

Some of you know that I am always on alert for "PSI's"---possible sermon illustrations. They come in all sorts of forms, from bumper stickers to headlines to random personal experiences. But a couple of weeks ago, it came in the form of a product being sold in a shop.

SERMON is the name of a coffee blend produced by Verve Coffee Roasters. As you can see if you enlarge the picture, the ingredient descriptions include "chocolate", "blueberry pie" and "velvety".

I took this picture as a "PBI"---possible blog illustration---which it has now become. But after seeing people nod and doze during my sermons (those trade winds are so relaxing), I wish I had bought a package so I could serve it before people come into church. It could be called a "pre-service" coffee hour.

And so now I am initiating a nationwide or should I say island wide search for this product, as I cannot remember where or what shop this product was being sold. In the meantime, I guess I will have to close the multiple open windows and doors in the two churches I serve, at least during the sermon, but then provide cups of water so people don't pass out.

John

Ash Wednesday, March 6,2019

"Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return"

Dear Friends

And this week's reminder came from land (tornado victims in Alabama) from the air (helicopter crash victims in Kenya) and from Hollywood (Luke Perry). Life on earth is not only fragile but temporary and sometimes people die suddenly, without warning, way too soon.

But beyond being reminded of our mortality (and immortality!) Lent is a time to examine our souls, still in training, still growing or shrinking. The following quote from John Steinbeck's "East of Eden" was used to conclude a powerful op-ed piece in the New York Times last week about a current political situation. Our challenge, at least for this day, is to read it not as an observation about someone else, but a reflection on our own lives:

“Humans are caught — in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too — in a net of good and evil. I think this is the only story we have and that it occurs on all levels of feeling and intelligence. Virtue and vice were warp and woof of our first consciousness, and they will be the fabric of our last. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: was it good or was it evil? Have I done well — or ill.”

To this I would add Psalm 103 and 2nd Corinthians 5:20-6:10, readings appointed for Ash Wednesday, filled with good news worth feasting on this day of fasting. If you didn't get to a service today, you will be rewarded by reading these two passages.

John

"All my stoles are unpacked..." March 2, 2019

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

cause I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Dear Friends

Correction: "All my stoles are unpacked, I'm ready to preach..." 

Greetings from the vicarage at St. Paul's, Kekaha, on the island of Kaua'i, in the state of Hawai'i. Kathleen and I have returned for our second opportunity to participate in the rotating clergy program for the Episcopal Church of West Kaua'i (ECWK). I will be officiating for the 8 am service at St. Paul's and the 10 am service for St. John's, Ele'ele (about 10 miles apart).

What makes this time extra special is that we will be here for tomorrow's last Sunday after the Epiphany (green stole), Lent (purple stole), Holy Week (red stole) and Easter and the Sunday following (white stole). The stoles made it through airport security just fine, but I almost came without my collars and collar buttons. An alert TSA agent came running after me with them...they had been accidentally removed by another agent who was confiscating  my too large shaving cream canister!

Needless to say, Kathleen and I are blessed to be here again and I look forward to staying in touch through this blog. 

Now it is time to finish unpacking, settle in and start preparing for the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper which we are hosting at the vicarage. Because people prefer them, we will be pleased to prepare and present pineapple-papaya pancakes, and pray that a pleasant time is had by all.

John