Chronicles of Canterbury
the
Chronicles of Canterbury march 2020
From the Rector
The Lord’s Call to Humility
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esus said,“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.” He said, “Do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others.” He said we should practice our works of discipleship and mission quietly and without expectation of being seen, except by our “Father who sees in secret.”
What a simultaneously comforting and unsettling notion: God is watching us always. Our fear of God — our awe and respect for God - is in large part based on the realization that we are always living before the open eyes of God. We believe that we are always seen, always known, always held close to the ground of all being — God. We are beheld. And the Lord God is our beholder. On Ash Wednesday, we impose ashes on lots of heads at St. Michael’s. It is a rite, grounded in Genesis 3.19 — which says, “You are dust, and to dust you
will return.” Interestingly, in Hebrew the word “Adam” derives from the Hebrew word adamah which means “ground.” Similarly in Latin, “human” and “humus” derive from the root for the earth. So does “humility.” Isn’t it fabulous poetry that humus, human, and humble sound so much alike? They sound alike, because they are alike. When we talk about humility we are referring to our very human nature. We are beings made of dust. We are dust people, earth people, human beings wrought by a loving God from the very ground upon which we trod. And yet in His divine image. Amazing stuff. I think it’s one of God’s great metaphors in which He says, “I am the Ground upon which the Cosmos stands, I am the context in which it dwells, and from my holy stuff the universe is made.” God says, “You — human beings — you stand upon the ground of Earth, and from Earth that you are made, atom by atom. Your bodies are See RECTOR on page 12
From the New Senior Warden
what’s inside 2 The Gift Found in Faith 3 Rise Against Hunger 4 HMF Grants 5 Hannah, Mother of Samuel 6 ECW Spring Event 8 Belize Mission 2020 9 Coffeehouse of Grace 10 Briefly 11 Lifelong Disciple
St. Michael’s Moves Toward Solar Energy
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am honored and humbled to serve as this year’s Senior Warden. Not to mention a bit confused. John Constance and Valerie Jackson served in that capacity during my first two years on the Vestry and they did so with just the sort of leadership that you would expect from two such remarkable people. So when Greg asked me to follow in their footsteps I was terribly flattered and even more surprised. But confident that Greg knows what he’s doing and that the Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways, I accepted.
Adding to my confidence is the company I keep. My fellow Vestry members are an exceptional group whose talents are considerable and whose devotion to the mission of St. Michael’s has been demonstrated in countless ways already. Their presence on the Vestry
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reflects the wisdom and sound judgment of our fellow parishioners. I am excited about working with Ashleigh Black, this year’s Junior Warden, and Marty Munt, Vestry Clerk, both important and time consuming jobs. I would be remiss if I failed to mention my fellow 2020 classmate, Karen Wagoner, Children’s Ministry Liaison, for the tireless and forwardthinking work that she has invested in unison with staff and Jamie Pahl, to our children’s Sunday School program and to build on the considerable success it has enjoyed over the years. At the Vestry retreat at Mid Pines on the weekend of January 25, we welcomed our five newest members as we gathered along with Greg, Holly, See SENIOR WARDEN on page3