Upcoming Programs for Forming Disciples

 

Exciting things are afoot at Trinity!

First, on Sunday, October 30, join us after the 10:30 service for the first meeting of the 20s & 30s Fellowship. If you’re a young adult at Trinity — student or not, single or partnered, with kids or without — you’re invited to participate in our group for fun, fellowship, and service.

Our first gathering will be an interest meeting to talk further about what we want to do this year. Lunch will be provided, so come on out and meet other young adults in our congregation. Contact me or Angel with any questions.

Second, our Theology Book Club returns on Monday, November 7, at 7pm on Zoom. We’ll read Fully Alive: The Apocalyptic Humanism of Karl Barth by Stanley Hauerwas. Find out more about the book here.

Living through an apocalyptic time, Swiss theologian Karl Barth influenced Christianity in the twentieth century profoundly. He publicly rejected Hitler’s Nazism, advocated on behalf of workers and laborers, and ministered to prisoners. Barth was named by Pope Pius XII as "the greatest theologian since Thomas Aquinas" and in 1962 even appeared on the cover of Time magazine. In Fully Alive, one of America’s best and most provocative theologians, Stanley Hauerwas, demonstrates that Barth’s radical theological perspective is particularly relevant and applicable to the challenges of our own time.

Hauerwas argues that Barth’s engagements with the social and political struggles of his day can help us see what it means to be fully human in the twenty-first century. The ecclesiastical and the political were inseparable for Barth; similarly, Hauerwas shows why it is crucial for theological claims to produce insights that make it possible for our lives to be well lived. Including chapters on race, disability, and the church in Asia, Hauerwas shows how Barth’s political theology can be read as a training manual that can help us maintain our humanity in a world in crisis.

Third, the Episcopal 101 class will be held during Advent for newcomers, as well as everyone who would like to learn more about who we are and what we believe as Episcopalians.

Stay tuned for more information!

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.— Jeremiah 31:33

Jeremiah 31:27-34

The Three Questions, by John J. Muth

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

The Noisy Paint Box, by Barb Rosenstock

Luke 18:1-18

Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems

 

In this week’s text from Jeremiah, God makes a promise to watch over the people, to write the law on their hearts, and to be their God. But wait, wasn’t God already God? And weren’t the people already God’s people? Well, yes, but the people forgot God and God’s ways. When God restores them to their home, they will all know God without forgetting because God’s ways will be written on their hearts instead of just on some scrolls. Have you ever experienced something like this?

The great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote a story called “The Three Questions,” in which he thought about how hard it can be to know the right thing to do. John J. Muth adapted this story for children and illustrated it with his signature watercolors. The main character, Nikolai, wonders, “When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?” His animal friends give him answers, but they are unsatisfying. Nikolai goes to visit a tortoise, in the hopes that he will find the answers to his questions. During his visit, he must help the tortoise in his garden and rescue a panda bear and her cub. After these experiences, he discovers that he knows the answers after all. The tortoise (named Leo) explains it this way: “There is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side.”

For older readers (teens and adults) who are curious about Tolstoy’s other work, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have completed wonderful and accessible translations of both War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

In this week’s epistle text from 2 Timothy, Paul exhorts Timothy to cling to what he has learned about God and to persevere even if he experiences suffering. Paul focuses the tradition. However, it is also important to remember that God is always doing new things. Last week, at our Youth Led Evening Prayer, Rev. Joanne pointed out that we were experiencing a new thing God is doing in our Parish life – this past Sunday was the first time the Youth of Trinity have fully led an evening prayer service. Barb Rosenstock’s book about Vasily Kandinsky, The Noisy Paintbox, offers another example of making room for creativity and newness. Vasya grows up in traditional Russian society, and his parents are trying to teach him how to be “proper.” When he receives a new paintbox from his aunt, his life changes. As an adult, Vasily Kandinsky pioneered abstract art as a new art form. He was only able to do this new thing by moving away from more traditional art forms. What are some of our traditions in the Episcopal church? How have these traditions changed over time to make room for new things that God is doing?

In this week’s gospel text, Jesus reminds his disciples to pray always. He offers a parable about an unjust judge. This judge did not fear God or care about his neighbors. And yet – he gave justice to a

persistent widow, who asked and asked and asked him to give her justice. This parable is a comparison between lesser and greater things – if even a bad judge can give justice to a persistent claimant, how much more will God (who is unlike the judge because God is both good and just) hear and respond to our persistent prayers. There are a lot of weird aspects to this parable, that make it tricky for children (and adults). Mo Willems’ book, Knuffle Bunny, cuts through the confusion to focus on the importance and the fruit of persistence. When she was very small, Trixie (Willem’s real- life daughter) lost her favorite stuffed animal (The Knuffle Bunny of the title) at the laundromat. Trixie has a problem. She can’t talk yet. But she knows that Knuffle Bunny is missing, and she does everything she can to rouse and alert her parents. Trixie literally does not let her parents sleep until she had her bunny back. (Maybe you parents have similar stories from your children’s infancies and toddler days?) Finally, when they understand the cause of her distress, they run to the laundromat to find the missing bunny. Have you ever prayed for the something persistently? What was that like? Did God respond in the timing or in the way you expected? If you are still waiting on God, what makes you want to give up? What helps you to be persistent without giving up?

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. — Luke 17:15

2 Kings 5:1-15

Lion and Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (2+)

2 Timothy 2:8-15

The Light of the World: The Life of Jesus for Children by Katherine Paterson (PreK 4+)

Luke 17:11-19

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems (PreK 3+)

Saint Francis’ Feast Day

Saint Francis of Assisi, by Demi (PreK 4+)

Brother Son Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson (PreK 4+)

Francis: Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie de Paola (K+)

 

This week’s text from 2 Kings tells the story of Naaman, who was an army commander for the Arameans, Israel’s neighbors in the ancient world. Naaman became sick with leprosy. His wife, who was from Israel, told him that Elisha, Israel’s prophet, could heal him of his leprosy. So Naaman got the king of Aram to the king of Israel on his behalf. When Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house, he was decked out in all his military splendor. He expected a spectacular cure. However, Elisha instructed him to go wash himself in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman was underwhelmed. He followed Elisha’s instructions anyway. Lo and behold – he was healed! He praised God and thanked Naaman. Jerry Pinkney’s Newberry Award winning book, The Lion and the Mouse, connects well to this story. The book depicts Aesop’s fable wordlessly with. gorgeously rendered illustrations. When they were little, my kids loved to notice the details in the illustration and add in their own words to supplement the pictures. Have you ever received help in an unexpected way or from someone unexpected? If yes, how did that experience change your perspective?

In our epistle text from 2 Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy of how important it is to remember Jesus and to practice endurance and truthfulness. Remembering Jesus’ life is central to our life as his followers. Katherine Paterson’s book, The Light of the World, aims to help children remember and internalize Jesus’ life through story and picture. You might wonder together when it is easy to remember Jesus and when it is difficult. Are there other things you do as a family to remember Jesus together? Are there things we do as a church? Next time you are in church together, keep your ears open for things we say all together or words that the priests say about remembering Jesus.

After Naaman’s leprosy was healed, he returned to Elisha to say thank you. In this week’s gospel text, Jesus heals ten people suffering from leprosy. Out of the ten lepers Jesus healed, only one of them went back to Jesus to say thank you. Is this surprising to you? Saying thank you is one of the most important things we learn as children. It is also easy to forget to give thanks. Gerald and Piggy worry about remembering everyone they need to thank in The Thank You Book, by Mo Willems. Can Piggy remember everyone she needs to thank? This season, you might create a “thankfulness tree” for your family. Add leaves to your tree which name people for whom you are thankful or things for which you are thankful. See how full of leaves your tree gets in the next few weeks. If you and your family are interested in doing some biblical detective work, you

might explore what leprosy is and the how communities in the ancient world treated it. Have things changed in modern times?

This week (October 4) was St. Francis’ feast day, which we usually celebrate at Trinity with a Blessing of the Animals. Saint Francis of Assisi, who was a mystic Catholic friar (monk) was born in 1181. He found God in God’s creation—in the Sun, the Moon, the flowers, and the animals—throughout his life. At Trinity, we have a window in the south transept dedicated to Saint Francis. Try to find it next time you are in church. If you are curious about Saint Francis, there are a number of excellent picture books about him, such as Saint Francis of Assisi, by Demi, Brother Sun Sister Moon, by Katherine Paterson, & Francis: Poor Man of Assisi, by Tomie de Paola.

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Of Preservation and Blessings

 

The Rev. Scott Gunn is a dear friend of mine. He’s also the director of Forward Movement (the people who make the Forward Day by Day pamphlets), and the author of a wonderful introductory book on Christian faith and the Episcopal Church (Walk in Love). He’s also, as you see in the picture, very, very tall. Recently, Scott was traveling to Singapore for work when he suffered an extremely serious medical incident. He has since made an astounding recovery, and in this little essay he talks about how almost dying has affected his Christian walk. He writes,

...when I first became aware of what had happened to me, I was struck anew by the precarious nature of my life — and of all our lives. As I thought about the possibility of dying, I realized that I’m unafraid of death. All these years, I intellectually believed that was true, but when the possibility gets serious you really ponder this stuff! Maybe you’ve had this experience. But I am here to testify that I believe that Jesus Christ has conquered death and sin on the cross and in the empty tomb. God our Father raised Jesus to new life, and he can surely raise each one of us to new life, also. “Death no longer has dominion” is not an abstraction. By God’s grace, I am not afraid.

I encourage you to read the whole thing. It was a tremendous gift to my faith, and I hope it will come as a gift to you as well.

 
 

Do you have a question about the Bible, theology, or the church? Email me!

Imputed and Infused Righteousness

 

This semester, I've been teaching an online class in Anglican Theology and Ethics at Bexley-Seabury Seminary. We recently dealt with the question of what holiness means in light of different theological models developed before and after the Reformation. One way to think of holiness is what's called infused righteousness: God works a change in us in our baptism and through the sacraments. This is a historically catholic perspective that dates to the early church. Imputed righteousness in associated especially with Martin Luther, but it emerged in several streams of Reformation thought. Under imputed righteousness, what changes is how God sees us - and then we respond to that change by living as forgiven people. The Prayer Book includes both models as part of its via media approach to theology and practice. I made a little video to illustrate the difference between the two, and I hope you enjoy it!

 
 

Do you have a question about the Bible, theology, or the church? Email me!

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

Put your trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed on its riches. — Psalm 37:3

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

Why? by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (PreK+)
& Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Grade 5+)

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Who Will I Be Lord? by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (K+)

Luke 17:5-10

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson (K+)

 

How can we pray when we are experiencing devastation? What words can we use to express our confusion, disappointment, and anger to God? What if we have to wait a really long time before anything gets better? These are really hard questions. In this week’s lectionary text from the Hebrew Scriptures, Habakkuk confronts God with his confusion over the evil he sees around him. He asks how long he will have to wait for wrongs to be made right. He gives us words to speak to God when our own words fail. His prophecies demonstrate that questioning God can be a faithful action.

One of the questions Habakkuk asks God is “Why?” This is a familiar question for parents. We have probably endured a car-ride or two with a child who just got bitten by the why-bug. However you answer their questions, whatever explanation you give, the child just keeps asking, “Why?” This is Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s theme in her book, Why? Rabbit keeps asking because he trusts that Bear will answer, and Bear does. As you encourage your children to ask God questions, you might try to come up with some questions for God together. You can incorporate these questions into your family prayer time. Remember, God might take a long time to respond, but you can keep asking anyway.

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a vivid and carefully researched historical fiction written for middle grade readers. This story connects to the theme of waiting and watching for justice in Habakkuk’s prophecy. Habakkuk laments as he endures injustice. Anderson’s story centers on Isabel, an enslaved African girl in New York before the American Revolution. Isabel experiences the evil of slavery, and laments the suffering she endures, at the same time as she refuses to give up hope for freedom. As you read this story, look for the ways Isabel keeps her hope alive. What difficult decisions does she face? What obstacles must she surmount? How does her story fit with the things you have already learned about this time period? How does her story change and enlarge your own perspective?

In this week’s epistle text, Paul encourages Timothy by reminding him that his faith is part of a legacy. Paul knew that Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois both had deep faith in God. He sees their faith living in Timothy. Last week, we had a baptism at church—we welcomed Charles Russin to our church family. Baptism is the first step in his life of faith. His parents will encourage him as he grows, and we at Trinity will get to be part of his journey as well! As a community, we are engaged in building a legacy of faith in our children. Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s story, Who Will I Be, Lord?, depicts a young girl who sees the other members of her family living out their faith in the world. Watching them sow their seeds of faithfulness inspires her to live out her own faith. This book is a wonderful portrayal of a legacy of faith. What kind of legacy do we have in our church family? What about in your immediate family? You might construct a family faith album

together with stories of faith from across generations. Working on this kind of project can be a great opportunity to ask extended family members to share their own stories of faith, and to record the many ways that God has worked in each of your relatives’ lives.

In this week’s text from Luke’s gospel, the disciples are worried about having enough faith. Is this something you ever wonder? I know I do. But if we ask for more faith, do we even know what we are asking? What does “big faith” look like? We might imagine that big faith can accomplish dramatic things. What if it is the small, everyday acts that express our faith best? Kadir Nelson plays with this idea in his book, If You Plant a Seed. Rabbit and Mouse plant seeds and wait for the food to ripen for their feast. Nelson includes other kinds of seeds in his story as well – when the food is ready to harvest, other hungry animals gather. Will Rabbit and Mouse plant seeds of selfishness and fight over the food with the other animals, or will they plant seeds of kindness and share the bountiful harvest? What kind of seeds will you plant? If you have a chance, this is a good time to go to a farmer’s market for fall crops. There are lots of delicious things in season, like green beans, squash, brussels sprouts, apples, and pumpkins. Planning a pot-luck feast with friends, family, or neighbors is a great way to practice what you are learning about faith by sharing the bounty and sowing seeds of kindness. Because so many people are experiencing food insecurity right now, another way to plant and nourish seeds of faith is to bring a load of groceries to Arm-in-Arm’s food pantry, or to volunteer there if your schedule allows.

PUBLISHER’S PAGE (VARIOUS SELLERS)

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust. — Psalm 91:2

Jeremiah 32:1-3; 6-15

Grow, by Cynthia Platt (PreK+) & Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff (Grade 4+)

1 Timothy 6:6-19

What Is Given from the Heart, by Patricia McKissack (K+) & Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin (Grade 3+)

Luke 16:19-31

The Greedy Python, by Eric Carle (K+)

 

Note: This week’s resource corner includes texts from both Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) tracks. Typically, we read the RCL Track 2 texts at Trinity on Sundays.

Let’s set the scene for this week’s text from Jeremiah. The armies of Babylon are invading and laying siege to the city of Jerusalem. Things are looking dangerous and bleak. In the middle of all this, Jeremiah hears God’s word tell him to buy some land from his cousin. This is confusing – while most people are preparing to lose their land and their homes in the invasion, Jeremiah acquires land. His prophetic action is intended to be a sign of hope for the future – one day, the siege will be over, and God’s people will tend their land in peace. Cynthia Platt’s story Grow can help us to imagine what it is like to plant a garden in the middle of devastation. Her story is set in an urban landscape of abandoned lots, concrete, and steel. She shows how one girl’s decision to plant seeds is the act of hope that transforms an abandoned lot into a flourishing garden.

If you would like to learn about the power of urban community gardens, you might want to find out about the work of organizations like Harlem Grown, an urban organization which has acquired and transformed ten abandoned lots in Harlem NYC into thriving urban farms. Visit their website to learn more, volunteer, or donate at https://www.harlemgrown.org. To see how some churches are using their urban and rural land to promote food security and health, check out the Black Church Food Security Network at https://blackchurchfoodsecurity.net.

Patricia Reilly Giff’s Newberry Honor book, Pictures of Hollis Woods is written for middle grade readers. Giff tells the story of Hollis Woods, a foster child named for the place where she was abandoned as a baby. Her life in foster care has been one of upheaval, but she refuses to give up hope of one day finding a place to belong. Her tenacious hope echoes Jeremiah’s hope for future flourishing. The art she creates expresses her hope and allows her to dream.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul exhorts his friend to pursue contentment in following God, not in accumulating wealth. In turn, Paul advises Timothy to encourage the rich people in his church to “be generous and ready to share” instead of selfish with their riches. In Patricia McKissack’s book, What Is Given from the Heart, the Temple family loses everything they have in a fire. James Otis and his family want to help, but they are very poor themselves. James gets creative – he writes a book for Sabrina Temple, who is his age, and adds it to the love basket his church is preparing for the Temple family. He shows one way we can practice generosity even if we do not have many resources ourselves. Can you think of other ways to practice generosity as a family?

Grace Lin’s Newberry Honor winning book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, approaches the connections between wealth, generosity, and happiness from another perspective. Lin’s main character is Minli, who lives in the valley of the Fruitless Mountain. Minli embarks on a quest to restore her family’s fortunes. This story combines elements of fantasy with Chinese folklore and is stunningly illustrated by the author. If you like this book, you might want to explore companion books in this series by Grace Lin—Starry River of the Sea and When the Sea Turned to Silver. Has your family ever been in poverty? What did you take with you from that experience? How did it shape your family? Or, has your family enjoyed stability and wealth? How do you think that experience has shaped you all?

Both wealth and poverty have a profound capacity to shape us and our children. Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus is starkly direct about how wealth might misshape us, spiritually. Lazarus lies at the rich man’s gate, hoping to get a few crumbs from his sumptuous table. Meanwhile, the rich man does not even notice Lazarus. The Greedy Python, by Eric Carle, depicts a ravenous snake intent on devouring everything he sees. He seems a bit like the rich man – he does not even notice that his greed has made him eat his own tail! Eric Carle’s signature colorful collage art bring the story to life. You might wonder together: what does greed do in the lives of the rich man and the python? Do they ever change their ways? If you’d like to engage the gospel text in more depth, you might wonder why the rich man is unnamed, but Lazarus is named. What does this detail tell you? If you’d like to do some detective work, you might find where else Lazarus appears in the gospels.

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone. — 1 Timothy 2:1

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Whimsey’s Heavy Things, by Julie Kraulis (PreK and up)

1 Timothy 2:1-7

I’m Your Child, God, by Marian Wright Edelman (4th grade and up) & The Story
of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles (Pre-K and up)

Luke 16:1-3 and Amos 8:4-7

A Bargain for Francis, by Russell Hoben

 

Note: This week’s resource corner includes texts from both Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) tracks. Typically, we read the RCL Track 2 texts at Trinity on Sundays.

In this week’s text from Jeremiah, the prophet is so full of grief that he wishes his eyes were fountains so that he could cry without stopping, all day and all night. He is not just being melodramatic. He is lamenting, in the form of a poem, to God, because of the desolation that has struck Jerusalem. Possibly, in the past few years, your family has had to navigate tragedy and desolation. Others around the world are in the throes of desolation right now. Grief over deep suffering is heavy. It weighs us down as adults, so we can imagine how heavy it feels to children when they suddenly feel the full weight of grief. Hopefully, texts from Jeremiah and elsewhere in the Bible (such as throughout the Psalms) can offer you and your loved ones resources for taking this grief before God. Julie Kraulis provides a story which also explores the theme of grief, and its heaviness, in her book, Whimsey’s Heavy Things. This book is accessible for preschoolers and above and communicates the emotional impact of grief through the greyed tones of the illustrations and through the idea of heavy rocks. If you want to extend this story in an embodied prayer, you might try finding a few heavy stones in your yard to hold together with your children as you name what grieves you out loud. Then, place the stones in a small pile together. Notice how it feels to let go of the stone, to release its weight. Offer the weight of your grief to the God.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul encourages his friend to pray for everyone, all the time, always. Sometimes, we want to pray, but we do not know what to say. As adults, we might turn to the Psalms, or to the prayers in the BCP. If you are looking for an additional resource, Marian Wright Edelman has written a beautiful collection of prayers, illustrated vividly by Bryan Collier. For a story in which prayer plays a powerful role, try The Story of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles. This book is a non-fiction, illustrated retelling of Ruby Bridges’ bravery and perseverance during the struggle to desegregate public schools following the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision. Each day, before she walked to school past angry and violent protestors, Ruby prayed for the people in the mob. One day, she forgets to pray until she is in the middle of the mob. She stops walking until she has offered a prayer to God. This is a complex story and provides many opportunities to discuss how prayer works in our lives and connects us to God.

In this week’s text from Luke’s gospel, Jesus offers a parable about a shrewd, clever business manager. A Bargain for Frances, by Russell and Lillian Hoban, offers a similar vantage point on the concept of shrewdness, by focusing on Frances’ friendship with Thelma. The Hoban’s story translates Jesus’ parable into terms familiar to children. Because Thelma has tricked Frances in the past, Frances’ mom warns her to be careful when she goes to a tea party at Thelma’s house. Frances wants to be friends, though, and she forgets to be careful. Thelma manages to trick her again – this time, she convinces Frances to trade the money she had been saving to buy her own (brand new, real porcelain) tea set for Thelma’s old (plastic) tea set instead. When Frances realizes that Thelma used the money to buy herself a brand new, real porcelain tea set, Frances decides to trick Thelma in return. What happens when we get tricked by a friend? The Hoban’s gentle wit and insight into playdate ethics are a treasure. After reading the story, wonder together about resolving conflicts with friends when trading and “backsies” are involved. Have you ever been in Frances’ shoes? Have you ever been in Thelma’s position? What did you learn from those experiences?

 

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