Monthly Archives: November 2016

23 Nov

Newsletter, November 23

Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week

Happy Thanksgiving To All Our Readers!

It seems amazing to me that just as soon as we clear away the turkey leftovers we are heading off for Christmas.  Sunday is the beginning of Advent.  It is the Church’s New Year, and we shift into the apocalyptic scriptures that point to the second coming of Christ.  Liturgically we change the color to blue: the music to plainchant, simple uncomplicated prayers to bring us solace and peace in turbulent times.  Advent is after all a turbulent season, when the world waits with baited breath for the hope and light of Christ to cut through the darkness.  Wake up, stay awake, prepare and be ready the scriptures shout..  And that may feel just right as we go into the next weeks and months of transition and change.  We should find comfort though in this season from the writings that prove that we have been this way before and that God is with us every step of the way.  The prophet Isaiah urges the Hebrew people, and us,
“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

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17 Nov

Newsletter, November 16

Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week

This Sunday we have Luke’s crucifixion narrative, an odd choice perhaps for the Sunday known as Christ the King.  Well, it would be if the story had ended there on that hill: But it didn’t – and Christ is gracious, loving and forgiving even in the midst of the most feared of all moments.  It is a timely reminder that Christ is the firstborn of all creation and that
“(H)e himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col 1:15).  Whatever rocks our world there is a bigger picture, and God has this one.  Really!  In God we trust+
Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry put out a statement Monday urging us to continue to live into our baptismal covenant promises as Christians, you can read it for yourself at http://www.episcopalchurch.org./posts/publicaffairs/statement-presiding-bishop-michael-curry

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10 Nov

Newsletter, November 9

Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week

Gosh, do we have work to do!  It’s over and it may be a shock on both sides for different reasons.  Let’s pause and breathe deeply.  Disappointed or delighted,  afraid or anxious, let us remind ourselves that we live in a democracy, and the people get to speak, and have spoken.  Almost half the nation is disappointed and angry; the other half are overjoyed.  But being a Christian holds us to a standard where we are expected to respect one another even if we find ourselves on different sides of the divide. Continue reading →

02 Nov

Newsletter, November 2

Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week

Pray. Vote. Pray.

One of the gifts of being a person of faith is the power of prayer.  Even when we think there is nothing we can personally do to change things, we can pray.  Saint Paul said we should do it constantly.  It provides us at the very least, a moment of stillness in the busyness and distractions of our day.  It provides us a moment to reflect on what is important for us and our families in the longer term, and as we make significant decisions about leadership and power in our country, it gives us a bigger context and longer lens that does not react on a minute by minute basis, as the newsfeed does.  I invite you to spend some time in prayer this week, before, during and following the election.  We are a people of peace.  That peace may be hard to find, but it is worth praying for.

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