Happy New Year

 I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10, NRSV
 
The new year is often a time when we set new year’s resolutions. When I was growing up, popular culture would always remind me that January 1st is the time to turn a critical lens on every aspect of my life. Whether it was my home, my finances, or my own body, it was time to list what was wrong and make a plan to fix it.
 
It doesn’t take long to realize that starting from a place of negativity–being constantly critical of yourself–makes our own noble goals doomed to failure. For all the ills that it has brought on our society, one positive product of social media is allowing people of different body types, income levels, and lifestyles to have a significant influence on my life. Through social media I follow parents who remind each other that we clean our homes because we love ourselves and our families (not because we’re disgusting slobs if we don’t). I follow people who saute up a tasty meal because it makes them feel good (not only because it satisfies a certain calorie goal). I follow people who find joy in consuming less, and who also give themselves grace if they don’t always meet their own standards. I’m reminded that focusing on life gives us life, which is exactly what our tradition believes about Jesus. Jesus came not to condemn but to uplift. As we step boldly into 2023 I’m grateful that the God who came to earth in human form, who at Easter proves that life always wins, is the God who fills our hearts and goals with abundant life.
 
Ginny Chilton

God comes down that we may rise

Dear friends,

I love Christmas carols.  Despite my lack of singing ability, I have many happy memories of caroling with friends and family in my childhood Pittsburgh neighborhood and later in the hill towns of western Massachusetts.  I gladly added my warble to the joyous blend of voices, singing the familiar words with gusto.  I still do (while, blessedly, our hard-working sound technicians make sure my microphone is muted!).
 
Our hymnal, which is arranged by season and theme, has a “Christmas” section (hymns 77 to 115).  In addition to beloved carols, it contains Christmas hymns that may be completely unfamiliar to you.  One such hymn, I’m guessing, is Sing, O sing, this blessed morn (#88).  In its third verse, it encapsulates the whole story and purpose of Jesus’ life in 26 words:

God comes down that we may rise, lifted by him to the skies;
Christ is born for us that we born again in him may be.
 
The tender, touching account of Jesus’ birth that we celebrate each December is only half of our story as Christians.  The full significance of his birth becomes most apparent in his death and resurrection.  This Child of whom we sing was born to suffer, and to save.  That was good news 2000 years ago, when God took on human flesh and entered our broken, sinful world as a helpless infant living in dark times.  And it is good news to us today, in our own dark times. 
 
I look forward to celebrating with you God’s gracious coming down into our midst, and I very much hope that you will take part in one or more of our upcoming Christmas services:

• Christmas Eve Family Service, December 24 at 4:30 PM with Children’s Pageant, Festival Eucharist, and Candle-lighting
• December 25 at 10:30 AM, at which The Rev. Phillip Shearin and parishioners from St. George’s and St. Augustine’s will be joining us for Christmas Day Eucharist
• January 1 at 10:30 AMService of Lessons and Carols

As is customary here at St. Andrew’s, there will be special Christmas offering again this year. There will be Christmas offering envelopes available in the church beginning this Sunday. You may also give online by clicking here.
 
I hope that your Christmas celebration this year will be a happy one.  Even more, I pray that this holy season will remind you once again of the central truth of the Incarnation:  God comes down that we may rise. 
 
Blessings and love.  -- Anne

The real meaning of Christmas

 Dear friends,

 As Advent gives way to Christmas, sometimes it’s nice just to have a little reminder about the real meaning of our preparations and celebrations:
 
Kneeling Santa Prayer
The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of his bed,
"Dear Father, " he prayed, "Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
My sack will hold toys to grant all kids' wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I can do all these things, Lord, only through You.
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
I do this only to honor the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob,
Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

-- Marc

Nov. 23 Pastoral letter from Bishop Haynes: Lighting a candle in a world of darkness

Once again, our world has been plunged into darkness. Last night, as shoppers gathered supplies for upcoming Thanksgiving festivities in Chesapeake, VA, a person entered the store and shot six of his former fellow employees before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life. The aftermath of such violence is dark and full of anguish. Our pained cries and laments rise up. We need to see you, God! As the Psalmist cries, so do we: "Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord." (Psalm 4:6) We need to see you. 

This Sunday marks the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday when we light the first candle on our Advent wreaths. As we do so, let us light this candle as an act of defiance against the darkness which falls around us. The Prophet Jeremiah reminds us that weapons of war and violence will be transformed into implements of creativity and growth. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light – the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Jesus tells us that He is coming again and will crash in unexpectedly on our darkness. As we light our Advent candle this Sunday, we are turning on the light in the world; that light is stronger than the dark and will overpower it.

Our Baptismal Promises also call us to action. We are called to prayer, we are called to resist evil, we are called to proclaim Jesus, we are called to seek justice and to respect all humanity. This call to action will look different for different people, and all authentic action born of prayer and devotion to God is needed. Say your prayers and get to work.  

As you light your Advent candle against the darkness this Sunday, remember especially in your prayers the City of Chesapeake and the people there. Pray that God would empower the churches there (St. Bride's and St. Thomas) to be the light and hope of Christ in the face of violence. Pray for the Norfolk and Suffolk convocations (The Very Rev. Stewart Tabb and the Very Rev. Dr. Keith Emerson, Deans) that they will be empowered to be beacons of hope in the face of chaos. Pray that God would empower us all to face this darkness with the light of Christ. 

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Andrew's approaching a crossroads

 

Dear friends,

As you may know, I have a terrible sense of direction.  (Just ask John Herbst!)  So when I drive, I rely on GPS to get me where I need to go.  An especially helpful feature of my GPS is a picture showing me which lane to be in when I am approaching a big intersection.  I may know my ultimate destination, but I need guidance through the major crossroads I encounter on the way there.
 
We at St. Andrew’s are approaching a major crossroads.  As you’ll hear at our December 4 congregational meeting, we cannot continue down the road we’ve been following.  Our current path in relation to facility utilization and expenses is not sustainable.  So we have big decisions to make in 2023 about how to navigate the crossroads at which we are arriving.  We need to make those decisions in light of our ultimate destination:  creating a strong foundation for the next 100 years of life and ministry at St. Andrew’s.  
 
Note that a foundation is not the same as a completed building.  We do not and cannot know exactly what will be needed decades from now, and the people who come after us in this place will have many of their own decisions to make about how best to follow God’s call in their own time.  So the questions we will be dealing with in the weeks and months to come are these:  What kind of foundation do we want to lay, with God’s help, for the future of this parish?  How can we be intentional about laying that foundation?  How can the many resources currently at our disposal, especially our facilities, help us to lay that foundation?  And how will the foundation we lay for the future be different from what we are currently doing?
 
Notice my repeated use of the word “we.”  Through God’s grace and by God’s calling, we are in this together, with the Holy Spirit as our GPS (God’s positioning system?).  The crossroads is nearing.  I look forward to navigating it with you, trusting in the Spirit who at this very moment is recalculating on our behalf.  See you at the meeting on Dec. 4th!
 
Blessings. -Anne