St. Matthew s Online Newsletter

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1 Episcopal Church of St. Matthew Humility Within the Anglican Tradition By Fr. Rick Wilson July 2015 A few months ago, I led a Sunday morning book study on Calling on the Spirit in Unsettling Times: Anglican Present and Future by L. William Countryman. An Episcopal priest, Countryman is both a scholar and teacher. At the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), he is Sherman E. Johnson Professor of Biblical Studies emeritus. He has authored many books including Living on the Border: Renewing the Priesthood of All. I found the chapter on humility most interesting. Countryman equates our Anglican history and tradition as gifts. As such, they are occasions for humble gratitude. What are these gifts? He summarizes them in this chapter after having expounded on them at length earlier in the book. They are: We have particularly noted the gift of a life shaped by the sacraments [bold my emphasis], a way of worship that takes our whole humanity seriously and allows God s grace in the midst of it. And we have considered the gift of scriptures read within the context of prayer [bold my emphasis] a way of reading that is both ancient and still very much alive, a way (Continued on page 2) The Online Newsletter is a production of lay ministers and the clergy. Please all articles or photos to the editor, Julie Neff- Encinas at jneffencinas@cox.net Inside this issue: Matty s Men & Angels for TIHAN 2 Tree of Life Society 4 Library Corner 5 Senior Warden / First Scarf Presiding Bishop- Elect Curry Who We Are Quiet Summer Time Perfect for Self-Reflection The heat of the desert summer provides opportunities to rest in the shade / air-conditioned comfort of our patios and homes. Why not use some of that restful time to reflect on your relationship with God? Father Rick s feature article, the Senior Warden Ramblings and the book review in the Library Corner each offer possibilities to inspire you in your times of reflection and meditation. You may also want to look into one of the many writings of our new Presiding Bishop- Elect. May you and God enjoy your time together!

72] Countryman continues about our tradition: I have also identified the church as a manifestation of the communion of saints [bold my emphasis] a community that honors and fosters sainthood in an

2 Page 2 Humility Within the Anglican Tradition (cont.) (Continued from page 1) of reading that acknowledges their strangeness, their mystery, and also their power to open unexpected pathways for the voice of God. [p.72] Countryman continues about our tradition: I have also identified the church as a manifestation of the communion of saints [bold my emphasis] a community that honors and fosters sainthood in an era when sainthood is as important as it has ever been in human history but it s not getting a lot of public credit. [p. 72] After looking at all these gifts that are part of our tradition and come through what the Spirit has done in and with us, Countryman addresses our tradition with selfhonesty, also known as humility. Humility is the deep awareness that we are not God, not even when we are speaking of God, teaching about God, celebrating God. We who profess religion are perennially tempted to see ourselves as God s custodians. But the only kind of God that has custodians is an idol. [p. 76] Countryman then spends time reviewing what he calls the variety of theological impulses within Anglicanism. He acknowledges that our tradition has never been really defined in terms of theological agreement but we do have these three theological impulses that come with their own gifts, virtues and preferred idolatries: Evangelicals, Progressives (which Countryman terms Liberals ), and Catholics. His observations: Evangelicals. Gifts: great enthusiasm for the Scripture, zeal for encouraging a (Continued on page 3) Matty s Men and Angels Share Fun for TIHAN On Saturday, July 11, there were 18 men and women in the Parish Hall working together as busy as bees! They were decorating 37 bags to be used as care packages for Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network clients when Matty s Men co-sponsor the Poz Café next month for the 3rd year. More photos on pages 3 & 4.

In the past, a gift of showing great zeal against oppression.

3 Page 3 Humility Within the Anglican Tradition (cont.) (Continued from page 2) strong sense of a personal relationship with God, willing to encourage a certain warmth of emotion, and capable of summoning people to sacrificial living. In the past, a gift of showing great zeal against oppression. Problems: narrowness of spiritual vision; instead of embracing the true breadth of Scripture, there is a tendency to narrow the spiritual path to recognition that we are rightly damned, redeemed by Christ s atoning sacrifice, and embracing a new life of sanctity. This perspective seems to neglect the original blessing of creation, excludes much of the ancient and medieval portion of the communion of the saints, and excludes much of the Bible itself. Progressives: Gifts: There is much to be said about the contribution of Progressives. There is great respect for education and for contemporary thought, engaging with it and not defending itself against it. No assumption that people living in the 2nd, 4th, and 12th centuries knew everything there is to know. They have the courage to look around them, pay attention, and think new thoughts. (Examples of the results of the liberal perspective: the Nicene Creed, the vision of the Franciscans, the theology of Thomas Aquinas, and the Reformation. True, some of these results were turned into conservative idols for the convenience of successive generations.) Progressives have a strong critical faculty that cuts through pretense and gets rid of what no longer serves the Gospel. Bishop Jeremy Taylor was (Continued on page 6) The Rev. Dr. L. William Countryman Matty s Men and Angels (cont.)

future of St. Matthew s. Through one s will or estate plan, or by making St.

Matthew's continuing work in the world. People who have made such a commitment are listed below.

on it. We are appreciative of those who have made such a commitment and invite others to do so as well.

4 Page 4 Tree of Life Society St. Matthew s Tree of Life Society is composed of individuals and families who have made a planned gift commitment to the future of St. Matthew s. Through one s will or estate plan, or by making St. Matthew's the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement fund, one can leave a legacy to St. Matthew's continuing work in the world. People who have made such a commitment are listed below. The Tree of Life Mural (in the fountain corner outside the front entrance to the sanctuary) now has leaves with their names on it. We are appreciative of those who have made such a commitment and invite others to do so as well. Anonymous (3) Legh and Cheryl Burke James Fetzer Peter and Linda Ffolliott Sally Ward Goodrich Robert Greene Pauline Urbano Hechler Clare Lazar William P. Matthews Jason W. Vogler II Rev. Richard A. Wilson Thank you for ensuring a strong future for our church community and for those we serve. Matty s Men and Angels Share Fun for TIHAN

Page 5 Library Corner Greetings from Librarians Judith and Irene, Our library is open and waiting for you to come and browse through our wonderful books. New titles are arriving all of the time.

but not least, our anemic selection of children s books needs your help. If you have any children s books with religious content, we would appreciate them, as our children s section is small.

In the summer of 1995 Mary Earle returned from a vacation feeling refreshed and restored from her time away.

5 Page 5 Library Corner Greetings from Librarians Judith and Irene, Our library is open and waiting for you to come and browse through our wonderful books. New titles are arriving all of the time. We have a large selection of interesting and thoughtprovoking religious titles, an extensive reference library, selective secular titles, varied audio/ visual selections, religious fiction, and, last but not least, our anemic selection of children s books needs your help. If you have any children s books with religious content, we would appreciate them, as our children s section is small. Each month we are pleased to provide a review of a book you might like to read. This month s selection is Broken Body, Healing Spirit: Lectio Divina and Living with Illness by Mary C. Earle. In the summer of 1995 Mary Earle returned from a vacation feeling refreshed and restored from her time away. A few days later, all that changed when she was rushed to the emergency room with a case of acute and life-threatening pancreatitis. Being ill, she discovered, forces you to learn to live in whole new ways, ones often marked by limitation and fragility. As a priest and spiritual director, Earle began to explore ways in which her own prayer life might help her build a different relationship with her illness. Using the Benedictine practice of lectio divina, or sacred reading, she began to "read" her own illness, and discovered a way of befriending and helping to heal--if not cure--her body and her life. In Broken Body, Healing Spirit, Earle introduces this strategy to others who are hungry to find ways of living more fully despite chronic or serious illness or pain. Her practical, step-by-step approach to "reading the text of our illnesses," and learning to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us will be of help to those who are currently suffering with disease or limitations, as well as to those who are caregivers and counselors. So, please come and browse our St Matthew s Library and check out a book to entertain you and enrich your life. See you there!

6 Page 6 Humility Within the Anglican Tradition (cont.) (Continued from page 3) punished for his rejection of the doctrine that unbaptized infants go to hell. Progressives stayed on the alert to see what new questions are being raised about God and the meaning of the world. Problems: Progressives sometimes forget the importance of broader and more positive approaches. There is a tendency to say, That s not what it means without giving an understanding of what it means. Some Progressives specialize in telling people what they don t need to believe anymore. This message in and of itself does not help people build an intimate personal relationship with God. The problem arises when it turns into reductionism or when the cerebral, intellectual approach to faith is thought of as complete in itself. People are more than minds trapped in bodies. The most ignorant Christian in this world may have more faith than the best educated. Progressives and Evangelicals can both be ruthless and dogmatic. Catholics: Gifts: An understanding of being a part of a very long history as church; a grand tradition of music, poetry, and the arts that catholic Anglicanism has. There is an appreciation for the monastic life for women and men and for third-order opportunities. They continue to delve deeply into the mystery and meaning of the sacraments. They have partnered with other Christian traditions in the Liturgical Movement, bringing Anglicans in general toward a renewed sacramental focus. Problems: Sometimes a sense of entitlement; we see ourselves allied with history, proprietors of tradition, and default arbiters of authentic Anglicanism. Catholic Anglicans sometimes make the same mistake in our treatment of tradition that evangelical Anglicans make in their treatment of Scripture. Rather than admitting the messiness and sometimes inconclusiveness of the past, we reduce this big, organic shrub that is our history to a simple diagram and say, This is it. This is the real branch. It is perfectly formed. Forget all the rest. Tradition is not a fossil, but a living being. It lives in the communion of the saints. Countryman concludes this analysis by addressing how idolatries can form. Idolatries: each of the three perspectives can become an idolatry if they do not talk to one another; You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God s righteousness. (James 1: 19-20) The humility here is to acknowledge the gifts and weaknesses of each of these impulses. In my experience of attending various Episcopal Churches, I have witnessed these impulses in varying degrees. At St. Matthew s, we definitely have each of them active! I think that is a part of the strength of our church diversity and inclusiveness is not limited to people but also present in theologies and faith approaches. (Continued on page 7)

Page 7 Humility Within the Anglican Tradition (cont.) (Continued from page 6) However, two approaches will be frustrated by the diversity and inclusiveness of our tradition.

7 Page 7 Humility Within the Anglican Tradition (cont.) (Continued from page 6) However, two approaches will be frustrated by the diversity and inclusiveness of our tradition. One is that of close-mindedness, an inability to say I may be wrong and you may be right, and arrogance, the acting out of the fear of being wrong. As neither of these is willing to admit even the possibility of another being right, the presence of a different position is disquieting. Countryman writes that the Anglican tradition remembers that we are not God, that we cannot pretend to match God s wisdom or love, that we are not now and never will be able to speak God s mind with absolute certainty. [p. 74] Countryman cites Yale Divinity School professor and former Episcopal priest Rowan Greer s perspective that the Anglican tradition has a horror of absolutes and infallibility. [p. 74] This does not mean that we know nothing. It means we are human and from dust we came and to dust we shall return. [p. 74] Humility, then, is not self-abjection. It is actually very much like sainthood being willing for God s grace to shine through us for the world. [p. 75] This is one of the things that drew me into this incredibly blessed Christian tradition! We do not claim to be perfect. We are followers of Christ as imperfect as those who gathered around Jesus as he proclaimed the reign of God. Yet Jesus continues to invite us to share at his table and be fed by his very being, whether we are more Evangelical, Progressive, or Catholic. As long as we are open to hear the Spirit of God in other perspectives and realize that we are to be instruments of God s Peace, our tradition will continue to help us live as a people of faith, hope, and love. If we are truly attentive, we will do it with humility because we know ourselves. Amen.

For us Christians every day begins and ends with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth to give us abundant life and eternal salvation.

8 Page 8 Senior Warden Ramblings by Carol Walker On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 These familiar words remind us that God created this day, and it is up to each one of us to rejoice and be grateful. For us Christians every day begins and ends with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth to give us abundant life and eternal salvation. We give Him thanks when we treasure each day and live it to the fullest. This day is a gift from God. How will you use it? Will you obey His commandments? Will you share words of encouragement and hope to all who you meet this day? Will you offer support to those who need it by listening, understanding and showing love in any way possible? Will you love your neighbor and help wherever needed? Smiling, cheerfulness and caring go a long way in helping others feel the love of God. Will you share the Good News of the risen Christ? Will you trust in the Father and praise His Holy Name? Whatever this day holds for you, begin and end it with thanksgiving to God and rejoice in it. God s love for you is infinite. Accept it joyously, as He has given you many blessings. Diane Armstrong (right) proudly holds up her first scarf completed using her new knitting skills. Diane has been mentored by other members of the Knit/Crochet group including Gini Jones in the photo with her. The group meets together on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday afternoons each month. If you d like to learn useful skills and contribute to an important outreach ministry (Shoebox Ministry), feel free to join the group in the Education Room next to the office. If you have further questions, contact Dawn Stoner for details.

9 Page 9 Bishop Michael Bruce Curry from North Carolina Elected 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church [June 27, 2015] The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, was elected the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church on the first ballot on June 27. Bishop Curry, 62, is the first African-American to be elected Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. The election occurred during the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Of the 174 votes tallied, Bishop Curry received 121 (89 needed to elect). Following his election by the House of Bishops, Bishop Curry s election was overwhelmingly confirmed by the House of Deputies, 800 for, 12 against. Meet Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry Bishop Curry was ordained Bishop of North Carolina on June 17, His experience includes: : Rector, St. James' Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland : Rector, St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church, Lincoln Heights, Ohio : Chaplain, Bethany School : Rector, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Winston Salem, North Carolina He has served on a number of Episcopal Church Committees, Commissions, Agencies, and Boards: Chair, Board of Directors, Episcopal Relief & Development (current) Board of Trustees, Saint Augustine's University (current) North Carolina Council of Churches (current) Moral Monday movement (current) Chair, Advisory Committee, Office of Black Ministries (current) Bishop Visitor, Community of the Transfiguration (current) TREC/Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church General Convention Committees: Evangelism, Global Mission Standing Commission on World Mission (Continued on page 10)

10 Page 10 Presiding Bishop-Elect Michael Bruce Curry (cont.) (Continued from page 9) Union of Black Episcopalians Institute of Christian and Black Studies of Baltimore Ecumenical Clergy on the Square, Revival and Citizens on Patrol (Baltimore) Jubilee Ministry, St. James' Afterschool Academy, Baltimore Board, Episcopal Social Ministries, Diocese of Maryland Chair and Co-Chair, Convention Planning Team, Diocese of Maryland Commission on Ministry, Dioceses of Maryland, Southern Ohio and North Carolina General Board of Examining Chaplains Board and Faculty, College of Preachers Coordinator, The Racism Steering Committee, Diocese of Southern Ohio Board, Winston-Salem Urban League He holds a Bachelor of Arts, with High Honors from Hobart and William Smith College; a Master of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale; Continuing Studies at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, The Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary's Seminary and Institute of Jewish Christian Studies; and honorary degrees from Sewanee The University of the South, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Virginia Theological Seminary, and The Episcopal Divinity School. An author, his publications include: Songs My Grandmother Sang (Morehouse Publishing, Spring 2015) Crazy Christians: a Call to Follow Jesus (Morehouse Publishing, 2013) "Some Strange Things Are Happening in Charlotte", opinion, (The Huffington Post, Sept. 4, 2012) "Stay in the City", sermon (The African American Pulpit, Judson Press, 1999 issue) "Abyssinian Annals," a weekly column( The Baltimore Times) Essay ("Joy", Forward Movement, 1995) Article Series (Episcopal Life, September May 1994) "Servant Woman" and "There's Power in the Word ", sermons (Sermons that Work 11, Forward Movement Publications) Married to Sharon, they are the parents of two adult daughters. For more details of Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry s work, see his official biography at

Episcopal Church of St. Matthew 9071 E Old Spanish Trail Tucson, Arizona 85710 Phone: 520-298-9782 E-mail: saintmatthewsrector@live.com We re on the Web! stmatthew.azdiocese.

11 Episcopal Church of St. Matthew 9071 E Old Spanish Trail Tucson, Arizona Phone: saintmatthewsrector@live.com We re on the Web! stmatthew.azdiocese.org Everybody Needs a Home! Who We Are We seek to be an assembly of people who are fully devoted to serving God; a people who are grounded, loving, welcoming, respectful and affirming; forever seeking to grow in the ways of Jesus in everything we do. Page 11 We are with God s help, an inclusive people of God, reverent in our worship, radical in our hospitality, and devoted to growing in the Spirit of Jesus, to boldly yet humbly love and serve our neighbors. Opportunities for Involvement Worship Fellowship Growth Sundays 8:00 am Meditative Eucharist 10:30 am Choral Eucharist 5:00 pm (Monthly: call for date) Praise Now! Thursdays 10:00 am Healing Eucharist Saturdays 5:30 pm Celtic Liturgy Sundays After each liturgy Coffee Hour 1st/3rd Mondays 6:00 pm Sewing/Quilting Guild (on hiatius in July) Tuesdays 2:15 pm Yoga 2nd/4th Wednesdays 10:00 am Knit/Crochet Group 1st Saturday 8:00 am (July & Aug) Matty s Angels (Village Inn) 3rd Saturday 8:00 Matty s Men Breakfast 8:30 am Matty s Men Meeting Sundays 9:15 am Adult Education 10:30 am Sunday School Wednesdays 7:00 pm Cursillo Reunion Group Thursdays 7:00 pm Christianity & Islam Course 7:00 pm Choir Practice (on hiatus) 2nd/4th Saturdays 10:00 am Dream Analysis Class

St. Matthew s Online Newsletter

St. Matthew s Online Newsletter Episcopal Church of St. Matthew January 2017 An Invitation to a Peaceful 2017 By Fr. Rick Wilson Well, 2017 is here! Thanks be to God! Many people believe that 2016 was the worst year ever. A lot of celebrities