#20: Joseph, the Beatles, Buddhists, and a little Holy Comfort

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:
This Sunday I wanted to stay in the liturgical tradition for Advent and I needed an early church so that we could have a Christmas dinner with my in-laws in South Carolina.  Holy Comforter Episcopal fit the bill.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:
Holy Comforter is located at 2701 Park Road just south of where Park splits with Kenilworth in Dilworth.  It sits up on a hill.  Parking was plentiful at 8 am and dress was church casual.

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD:

Immediately upon entering I saw a previous neighbor, Gene Humphries who is serving as a Deacon there.  I had lost touch with where Gene was serving and it felt good to see a friend and know he is well.  The mid size Gothic sanctuary is beautiful with rich stained glass windows, especially the rose window .   The bells at 8 am were a welcoming touch. When I entered only about a dozen folks were scattered around the sanctuary and the number only grew to about 30 by Communion.  I'm sure the church had a more robust feel at the later service, but the early worship felt sparse.

MUSIC:

The announcements leaflet that accompanied the bulletin had a whole column, "About Today's Music".  I like this idea and think it would enhance the worship experience. Unfortunately only 2 of the 5 highlighted pieces were used at the early service.  The organist was very accomplished and I recognized that his choices were not just Advent carols, but reflected the readings today.  Usually I lament that the pipe organ sits vacant.  That was not the case today and his Voluntaries and Offertory were exquisite, especially, Bach's Fugue on the Magnificat.  However with such a sparse crowd and no choir at the early service, the organ often drowned out the congregation, making participation difficult because I could hear no other singers and I need them to keep me on key!  Perhaps the ushers could "condense" the congregation by roping off the back pews or a music leader's voice could be miked.

MESSAGE:

The Rector, The Reverend Kevin Brown, used the Gospel from Matthew 1 about Joseph heeding the angel's call to embrace Mary and her child in a dream for his text.  He began with a story of his family using the Advent wreath as a joyful vehicle of waiting for Christmas.  I could identify with the children jostling to light and snuff the candles and I delight now as my granddaughters have taken on that role, including the "enthusiastic" use of our "snuffer", complete with wax clean up afterward! 

He then talked about a quote many think is from John Lennon, but he learned to his chagrin that it is from the cartoonist Allen Saunders (Mary Worth, Mike Nomad, Steve Roper) (He did not say which cartoonist, so I had to look it up!!  LOL) :  "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  Joseph was making other plans, but was open to listening to God.  This should remind us not to be so busy for that all that is great, is possible now.

He then went deeper into Joseph's choice.  He took the opportunity to serve God through a crazy circumstance.  Being to open to God, to the unexpected and inconceivable like Joseph, can bring us joy beyond our wildest imagination.  

I woke up this morning listening to Krista Tippet and On Being on NPR.  She was interviewing two Buddhists, Sharon Salzberg and Robert Thurman.  http://www.onbeing.org/program/sharon-salzberg-and-robert-thurman-meeting-our-enemies-and-our-suffering/transcript/9097#main_content  They spoke about the the notion of the infinite in each moment.  I think that may have been what Joseph was facing:  a choice to accept God's way and in that moment be part of changing the world forever.  Salzberg and Thurman stressed that our choices may only change the world a little, but each pinch and tilt is important.

OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS

• This church has a healthy outreach to our Latin community, offering a Spanish church service each Sunday at 12:30 and sponsoring La Escuelita Weekday school.
• A bookmark in the hymnal explained their outreach to children:  It was entitled "We welcome those Wiggles!"
• I liked the title of their Christmas Day worship:  Jeans and Jammies!  It was billed as "come as you are" and featuring the world's shortest sermon!  (I'm guessing:  "Happy Birthday, Jesus"!?)
•  Both "Deacon Gene" and Rev. Brown responded thoughtfully to my sending them my rough draft.  Brief but thoughtful interactions and email conversations with clergy have been a surprising delight in this adventure and often a source of my own growth!

THIS WEEK'S FUNNY:  

From the "Pretty Good Goods" catalogue... now this could be an interesting Christmas sermon!!  I'd love to hear it preached by the Reverend Nancy Kraft!!

BULLETIN AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: