Here we are going into the second week of our wilderness experience. Forty days seems like a long time… The winter timing of Lent only adds to its burden. It leads me to yearn for the coming resurrection; in fact I am so eager to move into the reality of the promise of New Life that I would like to skip Lent altogether and just experience Easter. However, to do so, I know that I would be missing a tremendous opportunity for growth. From my own experience, I sense that there are amazing gifts that await us as our Lenten journey unfolds. This journey reminds me of the human struggle to accept our limitations and to discern how to balance our lives. Jesus faced temptation from the devil and only after that was he able to begin his public ministry. We can use this to reflect on our own lives.

As Jesus is led from the town into the wilderness, we can see that no two places in the human experience are further apart. The town is the place of community, intimacy and security. The wilderness is a place where the demons of loneliness, fear and apprehension threaten all things that are important to us. As Jesus leaves the comfort of the town, we know that sooner or later, we must do the same. Our reasons may be vastly different, but we all know there comes a time in life when we are called to depart from the familiar and head for the unknown. In our humanity, we cannot avoid entering some form of wilderness and we cannot sidestep the things that test and tempt us.

To be human means to honestly face our wilderness and to recognize who we are and whose we are. One of the functions I do as a member of the clergy is to help folks come to terms with the reality of the wilderness experience. I have found that our journey to the wilderness is actually a gift from God.

We rarely grow and flourish when we are on the mountaintop. It seems that serving on valley duty is when our wilderness experiences come to light.

The gifts of Lent come to us in many forms. Certainly, the invitation to reflect on the paths that we have chosen are just as important as reflecting on the paths that we have not chosen.

So, as we continue our Lenten journey, we can discover new truths and gifts. The wilderness is not a retreat: it is a place of meeting our greatest challenges where we learn about ourselves. To listen in the desert is to feel the pulsating rhythm of life: it is to feel our connections in all of our relationships (good and bad), and it is also to know that evil is never far away.

Perhaps this Lent, the wilderness experience of Jesus might model a new possibility of preparation for Easter. May it be one that comes gradually, over forty days of waiting, watching and listening... May it be one that invites us to listen for the things that we do not want to hear… May it be one that confronts us with the presence of the evil that we perpetuate… May it be one that gradually renews our faith and becomes a springtime for our souls.

In Christ,

CONCERNS…
We send our deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Fontaine Graham Jarman, Jr. on their recent loss and to the family of The Rev. Bill Williams on the recent loss of his wife, Marylyn Williams.
 

Like many of us, I have been concerned about the divisions between the conservative churches and diocese in West Africa, Asia. The election of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Shori as the first woman primate was seen as a progressive move by the North American church, while the church in Africa was outraged.

After I had read an article by Phyllis Tickle and discussed it with other clergy, I found that the patterns of communication between religions of the world have changed drastically in the past decade.

Tickle states that communication used to run in the same denomination. A friend of mine put it this way: this means that traditionalist Roman Catholics would talk with progressive Roman Catholics; Orthodox Jews would speak with Reformed Jews, and so on, through out all the regions of the world.

Things have changed over the years and now, the so-called “traditionalists” do not talk with progressives within their own denominations; they talk with like minded people of other faith traditions. For example, a traditionalist Roman Catholic is more likely to speak with a traditionalist Anglican, an Orthodox Jew or perhaps a traditionalist Muslim before they would choose to speak with progressives within their own faith traditions.

While this is great for ecumenical purposes, it can be harmful to denominational unity. I often hear the question, “why don’t people from different places in the church understand each other?”

The Rev. Dr. Richard Valentasis of Candler Divinity School at Emory, tries to explain how our lack of understanding stems from how we live theology (or how we think about God).

He used some interesting terms to describe how we live out this theology. Cataphatic theology attempts to describe God’s behavior in the world. Cata = according to + phatic = speech.

For example, the Athanasian Creed (BCP 864) is an attempt to state exactly what we believe and what we don’t believe about God. If you read it, you will see why we don’t read it on Sunday in church. It is cataphatic on steroids, and begins with the comment that if you don’t believe it, you’re going to “perish everlastingly.”

Opposed to that is the “appophatic” understanding of God Appo = away from + phatic = speaking. The appophatic believer says the words of Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:6-8)

In other words, the appophatic person believes that we can never completely define what God thinks; and while God may not change, our understanding of God definitely changes over time. That explains a differing belief on topics like slavery and the place of women in the church over the course of the two thousand year history of the church.

The cataphatic believes that sin is sin for all time, and is to be condemned. The appophatic believes that while sin is to be avoided, it also presents the opportunity for repentance and may lead to a newly redeemed life. And as our understanding changes, what might have been sinful at one time may not be sinful now, and visa versa. For example even though the Bible speaks approvingly of slavery, we now believe that is sinful because we uphold and respect the “dignity of every human being.” (BCP 305)

So, Dr. Valentasis believes that cataphatic folks are attempting to apply their understanding to appophatic folks (who reject the cataphatic understanding). It’s like one person is speaking Chinese and the other is speaking Greek. He believes that is why we don’t hear each other or understand each other very well today.

There is no easy answer to this challenge, but it is food for thought. So, mull it over and let me know what you think…
 

Margie’s Bookshelf

Ann Robertson is an ordained Methodist pastor who engages practical theology with a sense of humor in The Top Ten: Blowing the Lid off the Ten Commandments. As local, national and world politics creep closer and closer to the pulpit of mainline churches, we are shown that there are many approaches to moral issues that concern not only the community of faith, but secular life as well. This book will definitely feed your spirit and stir your feelings. This is a great resource for people who are willing to take a peek at some diverse views.

Common Prayer on Common Ground:
A Vision of Anglican Orthodoxy
By: Alan Jones, Morehouse Publishing, August 2006

Alan Jones, dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and previous Director for Christian Spirituality at General Theological Seminary in New York, responds to the controversy and brokenness within the Anglican Communion. Yes, he deals with the homosexual issue. It is interesting to see how he develops the way of via media – and in so doing gives us a balanced look at controversial issues that have created diversity within the Episcopal Church. This book spoke to me about how our love for Christ can supersede our anger at things over which we have no control. This is a healing book for all, especially those of us whose are focused through the awe-inspiring mystery of Christ and the church.

Dan Simmons is an award winning science fiction writer who creates a fictional story from an historical event. It is based on two ships that become lost and isolated in the Artic Sea. Sir John Franklin led the doomed expedition seeking the Northwest Passage in 1845. It remains a mystery today as to how the men on this journey spent their last moments or how they died in the icy, cold Artic elements. This author has successfully blended historical realism, horror and a bit of the supernatural into a passionate book that will be hard to put down.
 

The disciples were involved in a heated discussion on the cause of human suffering. Some said it came from selfishness. others, from delusion. Yet others, from the inability to distinguish the real from the unreal. When the Master was consulted, he said, “All suffering comes from a person’s inability to sit still and be alone.

March 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,

At the vestry meeting following our recent election for new members, I was elected as Senior Warden, Tony Short was elected as Junior Warden, and Bill Hodge as our Secretary. I would like to thank our vestry members and officers for their service and would like to use this letter as a means of updating our church family regarding vestry business.

At our last vestry meeting, we had a discussion about improving communication between the vestry and our parishioners. We have decided to send out a copy of the minutes of each meeting in the Messenger following that meeting, and enclose any additional documents about which we feel the church should be aware. In this month’s Messenger I am also including a copy of the new 2007 budget. I want to thank Bill Pierce, Chairman, and all the members of the Finance Committee for their hard work on this year’s budget.

As you will notice in this year’s budget there are a few line items that have been cut compared with previous budgets. These were line items that we had to make decisions about based on funding available for this fiscal year. One was a line item for painting the exterior trim of the church. At some time during the year, I do hope that we will receive additional funding to have this painting done because as, time goes by, we do not want the physical building to deteriorate. Further deterioration will make it more costly to complete these repairs.

We have just about updated our church profile and will be sending that off shortly to the Diocese so they can begin their search for a new rector according to their “time certain” procedure. I want to make it very clear that any rector selected for All Saints Church will be interviewed and prayerfully decided upon by the entire vestry. We hope that new candidates will be able to come to our church for a visit or, if not, that members of our vestry, or a committee assigned by the vestry, can make a visit to his or her location.

It has come to my attention that there may be members of our church family who have a hard time getting to church. I would like to make our church van available to anyone who would like transportation on Sunday morning to either the 8:00 am service or the 11:00 am service. The van could also be made available to transport parishioners to or from medical and dental appointments where circumstances preclude them driving alone for a specific medical, dental, or surgical reason. In order to accomplish this we would need drivers to volunteer and we ask that if you are willing to be a driver that you contact Vickie at the Parish office and she will coordinate the van requests with available drivers.

If anyone has any comments, questions, or concerns please contact me or another vestry member so they may be brought to our attention at a future vestry meeting.

Attendance: Liz Thiele, Julie Rountree, Tom Mebane, Frank Ralph, Jack Barber, Margie Holm, Cary Whitaker, Bill Hodge, Bill Pierce (finance), Bob Burke, and Scott Harris

Approval of Minutes: 12-4-06 - Bob Burke made motion to accept, Bill Hodge 2nd and all in favor

Sr. Warden's Report
Annual Parish Meeting January 28th, 2007 with Vestry elections at that time.

Jr. Warden's Report
Bob stated he has been carrying on with normal cleanup and maintenance. He is going to fix the handrail on the right side to the steps to the altar.

Meeting adjourned with The Lord’s Prayer
Minutes prepared by Julie J. Rountree

I am delighted to announce that the Right Reverend William O. Gregg, Ph. D. Bishop of Eastern Oregon, has accepted my call to serve as Bishop Assistant in the Diocese of North Carolina. This appointment will be effective May 1, 2007.

Bishop Gregg will begin his ministry among us at that time. His wife Kathy will stay in Oregon until the conclusion of the school year. His office and residence will be in Charlotte, continuing our commitment to having an Episcopal presence in metropolitan areas of the diocese, providing availability to the surrounding communities.

Bishop Gregg and I are both in the House of Bishops class of 2000, having been consecrated that year. Together we attended the College for Bishops, sometimes referred to as “baby bishops school.” Since then we have become friends as well as colleagues in the House.

He was ordained and consecrated VI Bishop of Eastern Oregon on September 23, 2000. Together with his wife Kathy, and their son Nathan, he came to Eastern Oregon from New London, Connecticut where he served as Rector of St. James Episcopal Church. He previously served in the Diocese of Virginia (where he was ordained Deacon and Priest) as a parish priest and Chaplain/Teacher at St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, where he served as Rector of St. Thomas, Abingdon, the Diocese of Northern Indiana where he served as an Interim, supply priest and priest associate while attending the University of Notre Dame (Ph.D., ’93, Systematic Theology), and the Diocese of Indianapolis, where he served as Vicar of St. George, West Terre Haute, priest associate at St. Stephen’s, Terre Haute, and as Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. He received the M.Div. from Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA.

Among his numerous leadership roles in the church, Bishop Gregg currently serves as Chair of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations of the General Convention, as an Anglican member of the International Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialog, and as a member of the House of Bishops Theology Committee.

In addition to sharing Episcopal responsibilities and ministry with Bishop Marble and me, Bishop Gregg will serve as the area bishop for the Charlotte, Sandhills and Rocky Mount convocations. Working together with the Bishops, Canons and Diocesan Council, he will also provide Episcopal oversight and support for the implementation of Phase II of the Mission Action Plan and ecumenical and interfaith work of the diocese.

Bishop Gregg brings a depth of experience with congregations, particularly with small congregations in both urban and rural communities. He is a scholar, an ecumenist, someone skilled in administration and organization, with a background in family systems theory. At the root of all the gifts, skills and experience, he is a person of profound Christian faith and commitment, genuine wisdom, and authentic humanity. Bishop Marble and I are very much looking forward to sharing the ministry of episcopate with him here in the Diocese of North Carolina.