Trinity Sunday, Homily for Morning Prayer, 05/26/24

Today the church celebrates the Trinity. The unimaginable Unity of 3 almighty beings, Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit as separate and yet 1.

Our first hymn describes and we sang praises to the Trinity in a song that has been sung by Christians for over 200 years.

In the collect for today we heard that God gives us grace through our faith to be able to acknowledge the glory of the Trinity and that if we stay true to that faith we will see the three-in-one at our end.

Wasn’t the Psalm powerful? We read aloud with Sharon about the power of God. As is often done, God’s power is described in terms of nature. “The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire” and “makes oak trees writhe” and yet he gives strength to his people (that’s us) and gives us the blessing of peace.

The Old Testament lesson tells the story of a man who saw the Lord and was terrified because he knew he had “unclean lips” and was unworthy to see the Lord. One of the seraphs in attendance touched his lips with a live coal and declared his sin blotted out.

The most important part of this reading for me is the last line (as I try to build my life on it):

God asks “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” The man replies (as I do) “Here am I; send me!”

The reading from Romans reminds us to live our lives led by the Spirit. We are all drawn away from the Trinity by human failings – lust, greed, fear, arrogance, etc. But if we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit- trust in the Trinity- we are children of God.

The Gospel reading is a story about the Pharisee named Nicodemus who was trying to understand Jesus’ saying “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water & the Spirit”. We are born from above through Baptism and our acceptance of the Holy Spirit.

Once I quit talking, we will sing about trusting the Trinity to guide us in all we do and to give us strength to handle all things.

We are SO blessed! On the bleakest day we can reach out and there is love- maybe family, maybe friends, maybe strangers or fellow Faith church goers- but DO reach out. Give love a chance AND when you are feeling and doing better “pay it forward” (loved that movie). We will be the arms, voices, listening ears for the Trinity. Here we are. Send us.

Ellen Green, Faith Episcopal Poulsbo

Sara Elizabeth Foster Memorial Service April 16, 2024

Sara Elizabeth Foster

June 19, 1959 – Feb 5, 2024

Faith Episcopal Church, April 16, 2024

Dear Friends and family, we are gathered today to give thanks for the life of our sister Sara.  She left us too soon and we wish heartily that the cancer could have been cured and that she would have enjoyed more time with us.  She wanted to build a home, continue to raise her sheep, travel abroad, read and study and enjoy the fellowship of the communities of faith that gather in this space.

Sara had a bright mind and a fighting spirit.  She was indispensable and highly valued at the law firm where she worked for decades.  After her traumatic brain injury, she traveled to Hawaii to become a licensed cranio-sacral massage therapist.  Along the way she raised sheep for both wool and meat.  She loved turtles.  As recently as last December she fashioned a beautiful swag of evergreen branches to decorate her home for Christmas.  She enjoyed watching the children of the church run around and play.

Illness took its toll, but people drove her to church and she graced the back pew in front of the choir week after week.  We were sad on the days she didn’t feel well and welcomed the days that were better.

The Gospel-writer Matthew remembered Jesus’ word about worry.  We were not to worry about food or clothing, but rather to seek the kingdom of God.  In many ways, Sara lived those words.  Now it is our turn to take them to heart.  Sara left some of you a great deal of work, cleaning out the house she lived in, figuring out where to go with books and papers.  But, as that work eventually comes to an end, I hope you will – I hope all of us will — seek the path of life, the path of love, the path of goodness, mercy, grace and peace.  These words describe what Matthew called the “kingdom of God.”

By ourselves we miss the mark, we are not able to perfectly follow the example of Christ, who walked that path of life, love, grace and peace.  But by God’s grace we support one another in our attempts.  We pray for one another when we know one another’s suffering.  We remind one another that God’s love is sufficient, that our faults and missteps can be forgiven.

Today, let us give thanks for Sara’s time with us.  Let us tell stories and share memories. And let us comfort one another with kind words.  We have begun to live the new normal of life without Sara. May her memory be for a blessing to each of us.

Now she rests, a sheep of Jesus’ flock.  He called himself a Good Shepherd, one who knows his sheep and cares for them.  They also know him.  Sara would understand and like that image.  May we hear his voice and follow where he leads.

Blessings to you, today and always.  Amen.

Easter Homely 2024 Connie Aurand

Homily for Easter 2 (B) April 7, 2024

Given by Connie Aurand

Alleluia, Christ is Risen.  The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

These words we say every Sunday during the season of Easter.  What I ask myself and I will ask you to  ponder, do you believe these words?  And more importantly, do you share the message of the Good News and act on those words?  If I am honest, there are times when I doubt or question whether I am secure enough, equipped enough to share Christ’ message with another.  If I was to meet Jesus on the road or sidewalk of my community, would I question and believe this is my Jesus who I profess to love and whose teachings I believe in?  Or would I say nothing, and walk away.  Would I be able to greet Christ without hesitation and with the words he uttered to his disciples, “Peace be with you”?

This Sunday is referred to in many sermons and religious writings as the Thomas’ Sunday of the Gospel or the Story of Doubting Thomas.  In preparing for this service, I was reminded with the words said and written by learned people of the church, that Thomas was not with the others on Easter morning.  I then asked myself,  where was Thomas?  I submit to you that it is very possible that Thomas was so overcome with the pain and loss of his beloved teacher and friend, Jesus,  that he left his community for a time to grieve alone.  I personally do not believe he ran away from his community of brothers and sisters in fear of the Romans, but that he was overcome with his personal grief and pain of this momentous loss, and thus missed out on this great revelation in our shared story.  Although Thomas missed out on that living experience of receiving “Peace” from his beloved teacher and friend the first time, he nevertheless returned to his community so that the disciples could grieve together, to only hear the shared experiences of his fellow disciples and their telling of having Jesus in the flesh with them.  Their commentary of experiences was not enough to convince Thomas who wanted to believe – he was ready and needed to believe.  Thomas I believe was hurt and felt left out and alone not having been given the same opportunity as his brothers to see Christ once more.   After all, his fellow disciples had been first hand witnesses to Jesus’ appearance.  They had received the “Peace”  and his spirit and had been sent by Christ to continue his work in the world.  Thomas had not.  These disciples had an opportunity to begin that work sharing the “good news” with their brother, Thomas on his return.   However, it did not happen the way in which they thought Thomas would react.  Thomas’ community simply failed to convince Thomas.  I would suggest these disciples are us.  As the Rev. James Liggett, a retired Episcopal priest from Texas shared in one of his sermons on Thomas, it feels better to call Thomas “doubting” than to call the disciples, or ourselves—unconvincing”.    A week later, this community with Thomas would be given another opportunity to observe, learn and be there for one another, to watch Jesus once again appear saying “Peace be with you.”  Although, Thomas seemed to question Christ living presence, his loving teacher and friend reassured Thomas he needn’t be afraid to question, but believe what Jesus had shared.  “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”   Well, the Good News for us, including Thomas, the band of disciples and for us, the Church—Christ is risen and he comes to all of us even as we huddle in fear behind closed or locked doors.  We are invited over and over to try again—to share the good news, because we are never alone.  Jesus speaks for us, with us and to his world through the bread and wine and his words of forgiveness and peace.  We share the words of the living Christ every time we gather—“May the peace of the Lord be with You and we respond,  and also with you.”  In those brief moments, we are sharing the living Christ’ message of “Peace” in our little part of the world with one another.   We need not be afraid to fail to bring the good news to others or remain rooted in a state of despair, because like Thomas and his fellow disciples, we are given another invitation to “try again” even when it may be difficult or appear to be risky.  Thomas must have known this because he did not remain away from the disciples alone, he wanted to be with his beloved community.  He came back maybe questioning his place in the community or what was to come, but on this second visit, he did receive from Christ  the message of Peace—and the commission “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” The important message for me and I share with you today is  “show up,  remain open to learning, sharing, and loving one another,  we are being called together—in community- to struggle on—sharing the good news,  because whether we try and fail, or attempt to keep the door closed, Christ is in our midst!  He will show up for us and our Jesus will continue to be found among us.  Will we be there to greet Christ and one another and offer the words Christ shared with Thomas and the disciples, “Peace be with You”.

Let us together proclaim mightily,  Alleluia Christ is Risen.  The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia!  Amen.